6/5/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Fax legislators for free: Reps: https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.php
and Senate: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php
White House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
********************************
Many newspapers,
including New York Times and Washington Post require
subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each month. We can also check with our local libraries to
find out how to get online access through them.
1. Over the
weekend, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) traveled to an immigration detention
facility and was denied entry: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/390499-dem-senator-barred-entry-to-immigration-detention-facility Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
also tried to tour the same facility and was refused. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/390569-menendez-says-he-was-also-turned-away-from-migrant-processing-facility-were Let’s
let Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen know that we find both the
refusal and the separation of families unacceptable: https://www.dhs.gov/contact-us Let’s tell our MoCs that it is
time for this policy to stop and that we demand hearings on the oversight of
these children and families, many who come seeking asylum, which has never been
considered a crime before now. And let’s
thank Senator Merkley (https://www.merkley.senate.gov/connect) and Senator Menendez (https://www.menendez.senate.gov/contact) for standing up.
2. “The
U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory on narrow grounds to a Colorado
baker who refused based on his Christian beliefs to make a wedding cake for a
gay couple, stopping short of setting a major precedent allowing people to
claim religious exemptions from anti-discrimination laws. “ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-baker/us-supreme-court-backs-christian-baker-who-rebuffed-gay-couple-idUSKCN1J01WU Our
laws for equal treatment and protections against discrimination are severely
lacking in the U.S., and we need legislation to catch up with where we are
culturally. Let's contact our MoC and ask them to cosponsor and support the
Equality Act (S. 2006/H.R. 2282), which would amend the Civil Rights Act of
1964 "to include sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among
the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation in places of public
accommodation." The bills already have 197 cosponsors in the House, and 47
in the Senate; it's time to move them forward out of committee. We can also sign this ALCU petition: https://action.aclu.org/petition/congress-pass-equality-act-now
3. Ronald
Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis, wrote a powerful op-ed for The Washington Post this weekend
about what she thinks her father would think of the current state of affairs:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mourning-america-what-my-father-ronald-reagan-would-say-today/2018/06/03/a0fe1cfe-65be-11e8-a69c-b944de66d9e7_story.html?utm_term=.3fdbea71de4a Let’s share it via email or snail mail with our
Republican MoCs and ask them to find their backbones.
4. Secretary
of the Interior Ryan Zinke is defending his decision to send National Park
Police to the border: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/390257-zinke-cites-environmental-disaster-in-sending-park-police-to-border. Let’s let him know that we want our
park police in our parks: https://www.doi.gov/contact-us
5. We know
families are being separated at the border as they try to enter the country.
Children in the country whose parents are arrested by ICE are also in danger.
So Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and House Representative Lucille Royball-Allard
(CA 40) have “introduced legislation that would protect the safety and
well-being of minor children who have been left alone and vulnerable after
their parents have been arrested or detained by U.S. immigration
authorities.” https://roybal-allard.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398452 The HELP for Separated Children
Act is called S.2937 in the Senate. The House bill is not published yet. There
are already a number of cosponsors for both bills - let’s call our MoCs to
encourage them to sign on if they have not. Protecting children and keeping
them with their parents should be a no-brainer.
6. Net
neutrality rules will officially expire June 11th, and we’re running out
of time to save them (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/us-net-neutrality-rules-will-expire-on-june-11-fcc-idUSKBN1IB1UN). But we still have a chance. Supporters in
the House are trying to force a vote by getting a majority of members to sign
on to a discharge petition. Let’s see
where our reps stand: https://checkyourreps.org/ then,
let’s use this script from 5Calls to tell our reps we want
them to be part of this effort.
7. The
Interior Department is planning on easing regulations on sport hunting in
Alaska national reserves. The new rule would allow bear cubs to be killed along
with their mothers, caribou to be killed while swimming, and wolves and their
pups to be killed in their dens (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-admin-push-expand-access-public-lands-leads/story?id=55392471). The proposed rule has a 60-day open
comment period. Let's make sure we leave a comment opposing the rule at
this link: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NPS-2018-0005-0001.
8. June
12 is the deadline for comment to the FCC on the Sinclair-Tribune
merger:
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/388658-fcc-will-take-public-comment-on-sinclair-tribune-merger “Sinclair is already the country's
largest broadcast company, and even with adjustments to its original Tribune
buyout plan, it would still own more than 200 stations—far above the legal
limit.” Without Ajit Pai’s intervention, it is not clear this merger
would even be under consideration: https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/fcc-re-starts-clock-on-sinclair-tribune-review and https://www.thewrap.com/sinclair-broadcasting-hires-trump-white-house-alum-as-new-executive-political-producer/ To comment: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express
9. Citing
national security as usual, on Friday Trump ordered the Energy
Department to force power-grid operators to buy from coal and nuclear plants
that otherwise would be forced to shut down because of competition from cheaper
sources. He wants Rick Perry and the Department of Energy to invoke
emergency authority under Cold War legislation to require regional electricity
grids to purchase electric power from a list of plants chosen by the
department: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-coal-nuclear-power-plants-20180601-story.html In the interest of the planet, we must
urge Perry to resist Trump’s blatant attempt to reward his supporters at the
expense of our well-being: 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20585 or
800-DIAL-DOE (800-342-5363).
10. New data has revealed that white
Congressional staffers are paid more on the average than staffers of color, a
practice that threatens the ability for Congresspeople to truly represent the
American people they serve. http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/390496-white-congressional-staffers-are-paid-more-than-their-non-white. Let’s let our MoCs know that we expect them
to review and correct this disparity as soon as possible.
11. While
the U.S. is coming down hard and cruel on immigrant families, punishments
remain lax for gun sellers who violate federal laws. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/03/us/atf-gun-store-violations.html or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdMs-kfm4-g. A review of more than 100 inspections has shown
that senior officials often overrule lower-level inspectors, enabling gun
sellers to keep their licenses, even when they have admitted to actively
circumventing gun laws, sold a gun without a background check, or sold a gun to
a felon. Let’s tell the ATF (202)-648-8520; 99
New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20226, or via this
feedback form that our
safety depends on strict enforcement of our gun laws,. We should also ask our
MoCs to do something about these blatant violations that put us at even more
risk of gun violence.
12. The White House and the EPA have been working
to block a report from the Department of Health and Human Services that claims
the current EPA threshold for “safe” levels of chemical toxicity is far too
high. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/14/emails-white-house-interfered-with-science-study-536950. Let’s tell the White House, the EPA,
(pruitt.scott@EPA.gov; https://www.facebook.com/EPA/; Twitter: @EPA) the Department of Health and
Human Services, (1-877-696-6775; https://www.facebook.com/HHS/; Twitter: @HHS.gov) and our MoCs, that the
role of government is to protect the health of the people, not to protect
polluters in order to avoid the public relations nightmare they are afraid of,
and demand that this report be released immediately.
Election 2018 –
General
An election guide from Postcards for America: In this Google doc (updated
regularly), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates running for Congress,
Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State (if applicable) with
links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a Twitter Thread, a
Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States, there are also Info
& Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots, Early Voting & Voter
ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker. Let’s check
this out and use and share it:
1. It is
Tuesday which means Primary Day in California – land of the jungle primaries
where the top two-vote-getters end up on the ballot. Why does this matter?
Because having too many Democrats on the ballot can mean no Dems get on the
general election ballot. https://www.economist.com/democracy-in-america/2018/06/01/why-democrats-are-worried-about-california. Here is a guide from Crooked Media
(Pod Save America folks) about the California races. They are not declaring
endorsements but helping people understand the field: https://crooked.com/crooked8/ Whether we live in California or
have friends and family there, let’s do what we can to get out the vote and
remind folks to tune into this crucial issue to prevent a shutout.
Election 2018 –
By State
1. Voting
dates and deadlines this week:
|
June 05
|
Hawaii
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 05
|
Massachusetts
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 05
|
Minnesota
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
June 5
|
Maryland
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
New Hampshire
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Change of party
|
|
June 5
|
California
|
Election date
|
Special-State assembly 39
|
|
June 5
|
California
|
Election date
|
Special-State Assembly 45
|
|
June 5
|
California
|
Election date
|
Special-State Senate 29 recall election
|
|
June 5
|
California
|
Election date
|
Special-State Senate 32
|
|
June 5
|
Alabama
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
California
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
Iowa
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
Mississippi
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
Missouri
|
Election date
|
Special-State Senate District 17
|
|
June 5
|
Montana
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
New Jersey
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
New Mexico
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
June 5
|
South Dakota
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
(source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WJiqNAZNlWPSCAvuRpQ5e5dFiC5IY3O3epicrCuHINs/edit#gid=514224366 We can also see this info by state here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IMWqHIktIBS7jPxS4mVV1--YKYVa-2yYWjV8QHsi1F4/edit#gid=1798528701)
1. Eight
states have primaries today. GO VOTE and
help others vote, too!
2. KS: Introducing FLIP KANSAS, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the
group out, then, if we like it, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipKansas/
3. MI: Introducing FLIP MICHIGAN, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
the Bluest it can be, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state!
We can check the group out, then, if we like it, join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipMichigan/
4. TN: Introducing FLIP TENNESSEE, a
Facebook group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project
that came out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones
elected by squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here,
get some new ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state
Blue, so let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the
group out, then, if we like it, join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipTennessee/
5. UT: Introducing FLIP UTAH, a Facebook
group dedicated to winning elections! It's part of a 50-state project that came
out of the success of FLIP ALABAMA in helping to get Doug Jones elected by
squeezing every possible vote out of the state. We can join here, get some new
ideas and meet new folks. Together we can turn our beautiful state Blue, so
let’s start getting our country back, state by state! We can check the group
out, then, if we like it, join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/FlipUtah/
Other Actions
1. While
the outpouring of support and funds for Parkland was outstanding, perhaps
because of their vocal, activist survivors, it has not been the same for the
survivors of the Santa Fe, TX school shooting.
Let’s use this from Postcards for America
to show our concern to/for them: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f6IPcKnNmLJMy0JjeQR-M-DE4rOS7EgTjKZj8aFxh6k/edit
2. The students of March for Our Lives are off on a
summer tour across the country with the goal of getting young people registered
to vote and to promote gun law reform. https://www.axios.com/march-for-our-lives-parkland-students-msd-summer-tour-e6223292-7d96-4fc8-ad8d-217c43719abb.html
Let’s text CHANGE to 977-79 to
learn more and get the word out.
3. From
Action Together Network: Noor and Alaa - The story of two brave girls
from besieged Eastern Ghouta in Syria who are using their voices to help
families in Syria. This beautiful film
was created by 7th grade students in Kewanee, IL who became pen pals with Noor and
Alaa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEI4PCnI6Q&feature=youtu.be
Thank you to everyone who helped Noor and Alaa make it out safe. Let's help
Noor and Alaa and amplify their voices as they speak out on behalf of the
families still in Syria. Please share.
4. From
the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC): "On the first
anniversary of the agency’s removal of climate change info from its website, a
look back at one of the earth’s roughest years on record and the fight to set
things right." Let's continue to be aware of the
changes impacting our environment.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. Join Progressive HackNight tonight, June 5, in
NYC! LGBTQ HackNight: What does a
post-Gay Marriage policy look like? Ever since the momentous passage of
Marriage Equality in 2011, New York has yet to pass any laws protecting or for
the benefit of the LGBTQ community. But we all know a lot of issues still
exist. Protection from violence and discrimination, poverty, and lack of
healthcare, are some of the issues still plaguing the community, especially in
the trans community and communities of color. We can hear a speaker, join the
discussion and strategize. More info
here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-hacknight-what-does-a-post-gay-marriage-policy-look-like-tickets-46579365135
2. Given updated information, the March for Stolen
Children rallies on June 14 have been rebranded Families Belong
Together. Cities across the
country will host marches, rallies, and vigils to protest the current
administration’s callous treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. We can
find more information and sign up here: https://familiesbelong.org/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/familiesbelong/ If we want to
attend or organize a rally, we can check here:
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/families-belong-together
States
1. ALL: Perhaps it has not happened to us or someone we love….yet, but the lack
of oversight for guardianship of older persons is fraught with problems that
cause people financial ruin, heartache, and legal problems. https://www.bustle.com/p/john-olivers-guardianship-segment-picks-apart-the-disturbing-system-so-many-senior-citizens-face-9280790/amp In
addition to securing someone to serve as a health care representative and
"durable power-of-attorney" should the need arise, as the video clip
shows, we also need to be in touch with our local, state, and federal
legislators and demand answers and investigations because of the extraordinary
numbers of people being victimized and railroaded into guardianships. There is
so much fraud so many these cases need to be criminally investigated.
2. MOST: Federal oversight of gun dealers
is lax, and only about half the states require some sort of state
licensing. http://lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/gun-sales/gun-dealers/#state The Firearm Dealer License
Certification Act just passed by the Illinois legislature aims for gun-dealer
oversight that has teeth. Let’s read the details of that bill here, https://www.thetrace.org/rounds/illinois-house-gun-store-licensing-bill-rauner/) , and let’s tell our state reps that we
want a similar act passed in our state. https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
3. MA: Mothers
out Front is
conducting a statewide campaign to organize town Boards of Health to write to
the governor about the environmental and health impacts of gas leaks from
current pipelines and ask that the governor require a full impact assessment
before authorizing any new pipelines. So far, 67 towns representing nearly 40%
of the state's population have come on board. We can get more information on these issues from the Union of Concerned
Scientists and check this map to get information about gas leaks in our
own town. Then, let’s make sure to ask our town Board of Health to write a
letter with their concerns.
4. MA: Governor Charlie Baker is cooperating with the Trump administration’s
misguided border security efforts by sending a National Guard helicopter and
two-person flight crew to the Mexican border later this month.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/massachusetts_national_guard_s.html Let’s tell Baker to cancel these plans
because we do not want the Massachusetts National Guard to have anything to do
with Trump’s cruel border policies: http://www.mass.gov/governor/constituent-services/contact-governor-office/#email
5. MA: The Refugee Immigration Ministry is an interfaith organization that
offers support to immigrants who are fleeing violence. Services include
resettlement help, spiritual care for those in detention, and English-language
tutoring. They’re looking for volunteers. Let’s learn more and see how we might
help: http://www.r-i-m.net/
6. MI: “Education experts have long questioned the accuracy and fairness of
judging educators based on student test performance. In addition, many parents
are pushing back against policies that place a greater emphasis on test scores
over creativity, problem solving, citizenship, and other important factors in
students’ education.” Let’s sign this
Michigan Education Association (MEA) form saying that we do not want student
outcomes to be 40% of Michigan teacher’s evaluation: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/change-evaluation-laws-now
7. MI: The Michigan Civil Rights Commission has made a landmark ruling,
"vot[ing] 5-0 to approve a statement legally interpreting the
Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act's ban on 'discrimination because of ... sex' to
include discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity" (https://wapo.st/2kLdGzQ, https://bit.ly/2suYVoY). While this is a huge step forward, let's
be sure to contact our state legislators and ask them to write these
protections into law: https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/
8. NY: From one of our own: According to this CNN piece, some of the
children separated from their parents at the border are being brought to
facilities here in NYS.
https://www.facebook.com/AC360/videos/10160609849420533/ Let’s ask that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand
demand to visit these facilities like Senator Merkley did: https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerkley/videos/10155510407061546/
Reading/Watching
1. “In
Masterpiece, the Bakery Wins the Battle but Loses the War” - https://www.aclu.org/blog/lgbt-rights/lgbt-nondiscrimination-protections/masterpiece-bakery-wins-battle-loses-war
2. “The
Antidote to Trump Is Decency” - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/fighting-fire-with-water/561818/
3. “How
Trump changed everything for The Onion” - https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/20/donald-trump-onion-stories-597809
4. “How A Mule Train From Marks, Miss., Kicked Off
MLK's Poor People Campaign” –
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.