7/18/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
********************************
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.
Even GOP
congressional members are speaking up with concern about Trump’s relationship
with Russia. “Congress should pass three
bills immediately. First, the Secure Elections Act [S.
2261] would
strengthen our cyber defenses and provide much-needed assistance to state and
local election officials on the front lines of defending our democracy. Second,
the Honest Ads Act [S.1989] would help prevent manipulation by foreign
actors by requiring that online political ads disclose their sponsors, just
like ads on TV or radio. Third, the DETER Act [S.
2785] would
lay out specific sanctions that would be automatically imposed on Russia if the
intelligence community determines that it has interfered in the 2018 elections.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/07/16/donald-trump-sells-us-russia-vladimir-putin-treason-summit-talker/787960002/ Let’s
call our MoCs and demand action on these pieces of legislation.
2.
Given
Trump’s Russian meeting fiasco, it is more important than ever to protect our elections. “The new bill, known as the Protecting American
Votes and Elections Act [S.
3049],
proposes two significant measures. First, because not all digital voting
systems produce a paper trail, it would require all state and local elections
to ensure that their equipment produces voter-verified paper ballots that can
be cross-referenced. Second, for all federal elections regardless of outcome,
state and local governments would be required to conduct audits comparing
digital ballots to a random selection of paper ballots. The latter policy would
cover the 22 states that currently don’t require audits following elections.” https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/13/protecting-american-votes-and-elections-act/ Let’s
tell our senators to co-sponsor and support this essential safeguard.
3.
On
Monday, an arrest was made of a young Russian woman with links to the NRA. She was charged with espionage: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/maria-butina-russian-activist-linked-nra-charged-conspiracy/story?id=56626626 The
NRA has already admitted to accepting money from Russia: https://www.npr.org/2018/04/11/601534305/nra-in-new-document-acknowledges-more-than-20-russian-linked-contributors Also
yesterday, “Trump’s Treasury Department
made it easier for anonymous foreign donors to funnel dark money into
nonprofits the same day a Russian national linked to the NRA was
arrested for attempting to influence our elections,” Wyden said. “It’s the
latest attempt by Secretary [Steven] Mnuchin and Donald Trump to eliminate
transparency and keep officials and lawmakers from following the money.” http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/mcconnell-cheers-new-irs-limits-political-donation-reporting The
Disclose Act (S. 3150), which has 48 sponsors is sitting in
committee, “would require organizations spending money in federal elections to
disclose their donors, and help guard against hidden foreign interference in
our democracy.” https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-democrats-intro-bill-targeting-dark-money-/760086203 Let’s
tell our senators to co-sponsor and support this solution. (h/t to Your
Weekly Pep Talk & Action List)
4.
“The
House rejected a resolution yesterday that would have rebuked President
Trump for his remarks at a press conference with Russian President Vladimir
Putin. The House ruled the measure,
offered by House Foreign Affairs ranking member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), was out
of order. The measure would have had the effect of endorsing Speaker Paul
Ryan’s statement criticizing Trump’s remarks, in which he cast doubt on Russia’s
meddling in the 2016 election by saying he believed Putin’s denial.” http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/397478-resolution-rebuking-trump-over-putin-ruled-out-of-order-by-house. If we have a Republican Senator
call and ask why they sided with Putin over the United States.
5.
As the
reality of Trump’s summit in Helsinki with Putin settles in, we can take a deep
breath and then get into action: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/397338-trump-stuns-the-world-at-putin-summit Let’s be in touch with our MoC
via phone, email, and Twitter today to say that we will not abide treason and
then let Trump know that we await his resignation: White House Comment Line:
202-456-1111 (these are volunteers who answer the phones), online: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/, Twitter @realdonaldtrump , and in writing:
The White House,1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20500. We can
visualize the avalanche of telegrams that citizens sent Nixon during Watergate.
6.
Excellent
piece from The Brennan Center for Justice about the Kavanaugh nomination and
Mueller investigation: https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/kavanaugh-one-end-mueller-other-and-trump-middle As we are contacting our
Senators about treason, let’s be sure to mention that Trump has no business
nominating Supreme Court justices, or any other justices, at this time. And, if we needed other reasons, let’s check
out Indivisible’s guide: https://www.indivisible.org/resource/must-stop-kavanaugh-becoming-trumps-next-supreme-court-justice/
7.
The only
people in the room with Trump and Putin during their one-on-one private meeting
in Helsinki were the interpreters. No
one else really knows what was discussed or agreed upon. However, yesterday, TASS, the Russian news
agency reported that “The Russian military has announced that it is “ready” to
implement “international security” agreements reached by U.S. President Donald
Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a Helsinki summit on Monday.” https://www.newsweek.com/russian-defense-ministry-ready-implement-putin-trump-security-agreements-1028922 Let’s
ask our MoCs what this all about and what it means for our NATO agreements.
8.
In
addition to their horrific treatment of undocumented immigrant children and
families, the Trump administration also secretly closed a program that allowed
children of legal immigrants to come and join their families. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-central-american-refugees-20180626-story.html. Let’s tell our MoCs that keeping families
together should also include reinstating this important program immediately.
9.
There’s
a lot going on in the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Let’s
pause today to say thank you to him and to his team: https://www.justice.gov/contact-us
10. The House Appropriations Committee has
approved an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education
funding bill for FY2019 that would allow federally-funded child welfare
services to discriminate against qualified prospective parents if they were a
same-sex couple: (https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/07/house-appropriations-committee-approves-adoption-discrimination-amendment/). Let’s call our reps and tell them we want
them to support the removal of the Aderholt Amendment from the bill. We can use
this script from Friend -0f-the-List Jen Hoffman here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aOivIUYgtNFLM2yivT8hI6sSWqGLdthE2yMoHXeQcK0/edit
11.
“The Trump administration’s
recently unveiled “domestic gag rule,” as its popularly known, while
technically aimed at curbing abortion, imperils the future of hundreds of Title
X-supported family planning clinics providing contraceptive services to
low-income households.” http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-op-0622-contraception-restrictions-20180620-story.html The
public comment period for Trump’s domestic gag rule will end July 30.
Here’s the official form for submitting our comments opposing the rule:
12. Following Trump's outspoken alignment with
Putin, rather than U.S. intelligence agencies, numerous Democrat and Republican
members of Congress have spoken out (http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-putin-summit-reaction-20180716-story.html). However, in order for things to change, we
need our MoC to take action beyond words. Former Obama senior advisor Dan
Pfeiffer has many suggestions we can make to our MoC as we contact them,
including passing legislation to protect the Mueller investigation, subpoena
the interpreter to find out what was said in Trump and Putin's closed-door
meeting, and passing tougher sanctions against Russia. Let's read through his
recommendations here, then contact our MoC and go through these
points with them.
13. When asked about the president’s recent
defense of Putin and discrediting of American intelligence, Sen. John Cornyn
(R-TX), second ranking majority leader after Mitch McConnell, told a Washington
Post reporter, “He’s the president of the United States. He’s the choice of the
voters. And like I said, I think he’s conflated some issues, and I would try to
keep those issues separate. But he represents the United States, and I’m always
going to support the president — particularly abroad.” https://twitter.com/WaPoSean/status/1018948345409261568. Let’s remind Sen. Cornyn and our own MoCs
that there’s a major problem with this argument--he is likely NOT the choice of
the voters, as Mueller’s new indictments are casting a growing cloud over the
illegitimacy of this election that cannot be ignored. Let’s also remind Sen.
Cornyn that the president’s actions of publicly blaming our own government for
U.S./Russia relations and defending the actions of a dictator amount to
treason, which is a violation of our Constitution, as stated by former CIA
director, John Brennan. https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/john-brennan-donald-trump-treasonous-vladimir-putin/index.html, and to support him simply because he is the
president, is to be complicit in treason and an enabler of abuse of executive
power.
14. Yesterday, Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA),
Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant
Toddler and Other Children Expeditiously (REUNITE) Act (not yet
numbered) which would "immediately reunify all families and establish a
permanent system of coordination between agencies and non-governmental
organizations to protect detained immigrants with children." https://www.newschannel5.com/newsy/democratic-senators-unveil-new-family-reunification-bill and https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-merkley-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-reunify-and-protect-immigrant-families Let’s
call our senators and ask them to co-sponsor and support this bill to get these
families together and show that we are more humane than has been shown.
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.
The
evidence that Rep. Jim Jordan knew about the sexual abuse of wrestlers he
coached at Ohio State by the team doctor and turned a blind eye continues to
grow - as does the speculation that he's going to "weather the storm: (http://thehill.com/homenews/house/396808-jordan-weathering-political-storm-but-headwinds-remain#.W0iRuwHGY8s.twitter). It's more important than ever that the
voters hold him accountable. Let's follow, donate
to, and sign up to make remote phone calls for Jordan's Democratic opponent, union
leader and retired teacher Janet Garrett.
2.
We can
join Indivisible's massive phone bank during the 100 days before the midterms
in an effort to flip the Senate. The sign-up is here: https://www.indivisible.org/100daysout-phonebank-signup/
3.
We know
that if enough Democrats turnout, we can flip the House and Senate Blue, and
have a dramatic effect on State and local races as well. So how do we get our
fellow Democrats to the Polls? Swing Left tells us that the “most
effective way to get people to vote is by having conversations with them in the
four days before Election Day (Saturday, November 3rd–Tuesday, November 6th).” Therefore,
a diverse coalition of progressive organizations, including Swing Left, OFA,
Indivisible, OFA, Latino Victory, Sister District, United We Dream and more are launching The
Last Weekend, a coordinated effort to turn out volunteers right before
Election Day. If we join The Last Weekend, we will gain tools
to make the best use of our time this fall. The Last Weekend will
provide training modules, clear pathways to action, and access to a nationwide
network of volunteers. All of this will prepare us for the most critical
weekend leading up to the midterm elections, November 3 through November 6,
and every day between now and then. We
can sign up here: https://thelastweekend.org/ofa
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
July 20
|
Louisiana
|
Filing Deadline
|
|
|
July 22
|
Alaska
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
July 23
|
Georgia
|
Early voting ends
|
runoffs
|
|
July 24
|
Minnesota
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
July 24
|
Georgia
|
Election date
|
Runoffs
|
|
July 28
|
Tennessee
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
July 30
|
Arizona
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
July 30
|
Florida
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
July 30
|
Arkansas
|
Early Voting begins
|
State Senate Dist 8
|
|
July 30
|
Hawaii
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
July 31
|
Kansas
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u by
state: https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
Other Actions
1. Even
though he was speaking at the 2018 Nelson Mandela lecture in South
Africa celebrating Mandela’s 100th birthday, Obama’s words were also
for us. ““Two very different visions of
humanity’s future compete for the hearts and the minds of citizens around the
world,” Obama said. Invoking Mandela’s tribal name, he added, “How should we
respond? Should we see that wave of hope that we felt with Madiba’s release
from prison, from the Berlin Wall coming down? [Or] should we see that hope
that we have as naive and misguided?” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/17/barack-obama-trump-criticism-725977
Let’s continue to live that wave of hope
for us all.
2. Tom
Steyer’s group, Need to Impeach, has laid out eight different impeachable offenses,
and another activist group that has been working to end Citizens United,
Free Speech for People, has joined the campaign to bring the discussion
of impeachment to the table. With the president’s latest treasonous incidents,
it’s even more important that we let the administration know that the American
people will not stand for this behavior. Let’s learn more about how we can help
these two organizations at https://freespeechforpeople.org
and http://www.needtoimpeach.com.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
Hundreds of democracy vigils will be held across
the country this evening, July 18 to confront corruption and demand
democracy. We can learn more, find vigils near us, or launch our own here: https://www.confrontcorruption.org/
2.
July
21,
the youth of America are converging on Washington, D.C. for this year’s Youth
Climate March. We can find more
information, including sister marches, here:
http://thisiszerohour.org/the-march/
3.
July
22 at
3pm EDT, Issue Voters of Northern Nevada will be presenting a webinar on “Voter
Mobilization: Strategies and Best Practices”. Here is the
event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/191292124873267/ We can register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vEbS2tQKQKyrs-yoroJ2qA
4.
The immigrant-led activist group Cosecha is calling
for us to take the next step, with a national day of action to end cooperation
with ICE on July 31st, demanding cities, counties, companies and
all institutions stop working with them. Let's get involved. We can check out
the #WeWillNotBeComplicit Action Guide at this link.
States
Reading/Watching
1.
“What Is
The Penalty For A President Committing Treason? There's A List Of Consequences”
- https://www.romper.com/p/what-is-the-penalty-for-a-president-committing-treason-theres-a-list-of-consequences-30692
2.
“It’s no
longer acceptable for Democrats to look at politics as a way to win the next
election so as to jam through a bunch of their preferred policies before the
Republicans inevitably take back power. They must instead see the purpose of
politics as building sustained power for Democrats, period—but, unlike the
other side, they must do this in part by strengthening the democratic process,
not by undermining it. If passing this or that liberal policy helps in that
effort, fine, pass it. If not, don’t. The overriding aim has to be getting and
holding power—not for its own sake, but to keep the flame of democratic
self-government alive unless and until the Republican Party abandons its
authoritarian ways or is replaced by a new, small-d democratic party.” Read
more from this remarkable article: https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/july-august-2018/winning-is-not-enough/
3.
Let’s
watch/listen to President Obama’s reasoned, thoughtful words upon Nelson
Mandela’s 100th birthday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W58kWkSNeI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.