7/25/18
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.
In
another effort to interfere with the Mueller investigation, “…Donald Trump’s
top allies in the House are considering a last-ditch attempt to circumvent
Republican leaders and punish Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who
oversees Special Counsel Robert Mueller.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/24/rosenstein-impeachment-trump-congress-allies-ryan-738005 This
method could bypass Speaker of the House, Ryan (R-WI). Let’s contact our representatives and tell
them that we are counting on them to do whatever necessary to keep this
investigation going and to let Rosenstein do his job.
2.
In what
may the first of other federal bailouts due to tariffs, yesterday, the Trump
administration announced that it would use a Depression-era program, the
Commodity Credit Corporation, to send $12 billion in emergency relief to
farmers facing looming financial losses as a result of Trump’s tariffs.
Condemned by Republicans and trade groups alike, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)
said “This trade war is cutting the legs out from under farmers and White
House’s ‘plan’ is to spend $12 billion on gold crutches. . .. This
administration’s tariffs and bailouts aren’t going to make America great again,
they’re just going to make it 1929 again.”
https://www.npr.org/2018/07/24/631953880/trump-administration-to-provide-farmers-12-billion-to-offset-tariffs Let’s ask our MoCs to join farm state
congresspeople in letting Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue know that we want
an end to Trump’s ignorant and reckless trade war: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250 or (202)
720-2791. This is not at all fiscally responsible.
3.
Not
surprisingly, the news about families at the border is worse than originally
reported. Now it is reported that more than 450 migrant parents may have been
deported without their children: http://thehill.com/latino/398481-more-than-450-migrant-parents-may-have-been-deported-without-their-children Let’s let our MoC know that
we are horrified by these human rights abuses and then contact DHS Secretary
Kirstjen Nielsen and HHS Secretary Alex Azar to let them know that their
resignations are past due: https://www.dhs.gov/contact-us and https://www.hhs.gov/about/contact-us/index.html
4.
Just in
case treason and taunting Iran via Twitter were not enough, the Trump
administration is now threatening to revoke security clearance for prior
officials who have been critical of their actions: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/23/trump-security-clearances-brennan-comey-rice-latest-news Let’s let these members of the
Cabinet know that their continued involvement in the Trump administration makes
them complicit to the abuses: A) Director
of National Intelligence Daniel Coats: https://www.dni.gov/index.php/more, B) Secretary
of Defense James Mattis: https://www.defense.gov/Resources/Contact-DoD/, and C) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: https://register.state.gov/contactus/
5.
Kaiser
Health News has learned from the Dept. of Justice that the “Trump
administration has summoned at least 70 children under 1 year old to
immigration court for their own deportation proceedings since Oct. 1.” Due to the “zero tolerance” policy the number
of these non-speaking children, who are usually representing themselves, is growing.
How, exactly, are these babies deported?
To whom? https://khn.org/news/from-crib-to-court-trump-administration-summons-immigrant-infants/ Let’s
tell our MoCs that is time for some legislation that will better handle this ridiculous
situation with the little lives.
6.
Amidst
the never-ending story of Rep. Devin Nunes and his memos, Rep. Adam Schiff has
continued to speak out forcefully about his concerns about Trump’s relationship
with Russia: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-house-intel-democrat-president-acts-compromised-russian/story?id=56736305 Let’s make sure our MoC
hear from us that it is going to take a lot more than a week going by for us to
forget what we saw in Helsinki a week ago.
7.
From Small
Deeds Done: A new website – brilliantly branded as
the Department of Reproductive Control – educates us about the Trump
administration’s goals [for Title
X] in
a very ingenious way. They also make it dead simple to oppose the Gag Rule
before the deadline of July 31. So head over here, check it out, click the ‘Take Action’
button at the bottom and submit your comment by July 31.
8.
“A
Republican lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a bill on
Monday calling for a carbon tax, saying he hoped the legislation would at the
very least renew a U.S. debate on climate change that has languished for a
decade.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-carbon/us-republican-unveils-bill-calling-for-carbon-tax-idUSKBN1KD21Q Let’s
tell our reps to co-sponsor and support this Market Choice Act, which is yet unnumbered.
9.
Just in
case we need another reason to tell our Senators not to vote for Supreme Court
nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, stories emerged this week that he questioned the
unanimous Supreme Court decision that compelled Nixon to turn over the
Watergate tapes. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/22/17600344/kavanaugh-watergate-executive-power-nixon. The argument needs to be made loud and
clear, and over and over: We cannot have someone on the Supreme Court who will
make it harder for the president to be subject to the same laws as any American
citizen, especially as the Mueller investigation is uncovering more and more
evidence related to the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia. Let’s tell our
Senators that regardless of partisanship and party politics, they need to put
the integrity of the Constitution and the good of the country first and make
sure that any Supreme Court Justice will protect the separation of powers and
the rule of law. Otherwise, our entire democracy will be at risk.
10. The administration is devising plans to block
California’s strict auto emission standards. http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/398372-trump-admin-to-propose-blocking-californias-clean-car-standards. Let’s tell the EPA (wheeler.andrew@EPA.gov;
https://www.facebook.com/EPA/; Twitter: @EPA) that California’s stricter
emissions goals are necessary in making sure that LA doesn’t become the smoggy
mess of a city it once was, and we want to see these standards as an
inspirational guideline for the country, rather than something that should be
loosened. Let’s also make sure to monitor this proposal so we can make a public
comment when it becomes official, and (especially if we live in California)
express our opinion to our MoCs and our state legislators.
11.
“In the
past two weeks, more than two dozen pieces of legislation, policy initiatives
and amendments designed to weaken the [Endangered Species Act] have been either
introduced or voted on in Congress or proposed by the Trump
administration”—which has attempted to loosen not only environmental
protections but banking rules, car fuel efficiency standards and fair housing
enforcement: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/climate/endangered-species-act-trump-administration.html or http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2018/07/24/endangered-species-act-lawmakers-overhaul The current push is being led by David
Bernhardt, the deputy interior secretary and former oil lobbyist. Let’s contact Bernhardt--@DOIDepSec
or Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington DC 20240 or
(202) 208-3100—and our MoCs and try to block laws and regulatory changes that
would give the natural world over to fossil fuel and other industrial
interests.
12. Paul Ryan may dismiss Trump’s threat to
revoke the security clearances of a number of Obama’s intelligence
officials as “trolling,” but we have seen the impact of political “enemy lists”
in the past and in other authoritarian regimes. One of those threatened, James
Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, asks whether “A pledge of
fealty or loyalty to President Trump” will now become a criterion for obtaining
a government clearance: https://www.npr.org/2018/07/24/631870467/ryan-trump-threat-to-revoke-security-clearances-is-trolling-people Our MoCs should not dismiss this
threat; we and they need to inform the administration that “fealty” to Trump is
not the basis of security clearances.
13. Ron Wyden (D-OR) designed “The Chronic Care
Act,” which was included in budget legislation signed recently by President
Trump; it allows Medicare Advantage plans to offer new benefits like social and
medical services, home improvements like wheelchair ramps, transportation to
doctor’s offices and home delivery of hot meals. Sounds good, no? But 2/3 of
seniors do not use Medicare Advantage plans; the effect of this law is to
encourage the privatization of Medicare, so it is no surprise that the Trump
loyalists love it: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/20/health/medicare-advantage-benefits.html Let’s tell Medicare administrator
Seema Verma that we want these benefits extended to ALL Medicare recipients not
just those who sign up with private insurers: Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, HHS, 7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore MD 21244 or @seemaCDS or
877-267-2323
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.
Michelle
Obama “has launched When
We All Vote, a 50-state effort aimed at getting people registered to vote.” https://politicalcharge.org/2018/07/24/michelle-obama-jumps-into-midterms/ Let’s
sign up and see how we can help: https://www.whenweallvote.org/
2.
The NYT
devoted its Sunday editorial column to Katie Fahey and her successful
effort to get a constitutional amendment on the 2018 Michigan ballot that would
take electoral map-drawing power from lawmakers and give it to an independent
and transparent citizens commission. We can learn much from Fahey’s model: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/21/opinion/redistricting-gerrymandering-citizens-michigan.html And we can read about the organization
she founded here:
3.
Postcards
To Voters has launched Campaign 97: Alessandra Biaggi for NY State
Senate. Her race is important for the entire state of New York because
she’s running against a DINO (Democrat in name only) who votes republican,
blocking progressive legislation for millions of vulnerable New Yorker’s. Let's
write 5 postcards to NY voters. If we're new, we can sign up here.
4.
One of
the most powerful ways to reach people and convince them to vote for Democratic
leadership and change is canvassing. While we know it can be very effective, it
may seem challenging to get started. Fortunately, Resistance School has come to
our aid, and we can sign up here to learn all about canvassing through an
expertly prepared online course. We can click here to find out more and sign
up. https://www.resistanceschool.com/course/how-to-launch-a-canvass-coming-soon/ We
can also read about Deep Canvassing here, a powerful method of listening to and
connecting to voters that can change hearts and minds: https://www.ctctogether.org/
5.
“Oil
drillers, miners, land developers and others will no longer be required to pay
the federal government to offset damage to wildlife and habitats on public
land, the Trump administration plans to announce Tuesday.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-24/trump-to-stop-seeking-compensation-for-damage-to-public-lands We
know that every company will take advantage of this, but our MoCs need to know
that protection and restitution are essential to our natural environment and
now apparently requires legislation to see that it is saved.
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
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
|
|
August 1
|
Arizona
|
Early Voting begins
|
Primary
|
|
August 2
|
Oklahoma
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 2
|
Tennessee
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 6
|
Wyoming
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (postmark)
|
|
August 6
|
Alaska
|
Early Voting Begins
|
Primary
|
|
August 6
|
Kansas
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
August 6
|
Ohio
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Special-12th congressional district
|
|
August 7
|
Kansas
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 7
|
Michigan
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 7
|
Missouri
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 7
|
Ohio
|
Election date
|
Special-12th congressional district
|
|
August 7
|
Washington
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 9
|
Connecticut
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 9
|
Hawaii
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
August 10
|
Wisconsin
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
August 10
|
Wisconsin
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 11
|
Delaware
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 11
|
Hawaii
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u by
state: https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
Other Actions
1. Fox
mistakenly invited the wrong Democratic candidate to appear on a morning show
to defend ICE. When MA Congressional
candidate, Barbara L’Italien, showed up instead, the audience got
quite a different message. As the
coordinating staff member said, “I showed the exact same commitment to the
truth and accuracy that Fox News always has.” https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/23/barbara-l-italien-fox-and-friends-735963 Let’s
thank L’Italien and her staff for using this opportunity to speak truth to
power: Barbara L'Italien for
Congress, PO Box 1936, Andover, MA 01810
2. Northeastern
University, John Hopkins University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham,
The University of Maryland at College Park, and The Vermont State College
system have been facing pressure to cancel their contracts with ICE. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/07/24/calls-universities-end-their-contracts-us-immigration-agency
and http://thehill.com/latino/398617-colleges-pressured-to-cut-ties-with-ice.
If we have affiliations with any of these universities, let’s add our name to
the call. And let’s contact any universities we are affiliated with to make
sure they don’t engage in any business with ICE going forward.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1.
This coming weekend marks #100DaysOut from the
midterm elections in November, and Indivisible is commemorating it with a
weekend of action:
https://www.indivisible.org/blog/100daysout/ During the weekend, we'll be out canvassing,
phone banking, and registering voters. Let's find an event nearby (filter by selecting "2018
Elections"), or if there isn't one yet, create one and let's get to work!
2.
“As the Trump Administration drags its heels on
reuniting thousands of separated children with their parents, it's time we once
again take action and demand a solution to this crisis and dignity for all
immigrants. On July 28, we're stepping up to say Families Belong
Together: We Demand Justice!” Let’s
find an event to attend or create our own:
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/families-belong-together-we-demand-justice
3.
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 learn more here: http://www.lahuelga.com/abolishice#copy-of-call-to-action and we can check out the #WeWillNotBeComplicit
Action Guide at this link.
4.
On August 4, March for Our Lives, Road To
Change, and National Organization for Change are marching on the NRA. The main march will be in Fairfax, VA at NRA
headquarters. We can find more
information here: https://www.marchonnra.org/ and we can find
an even here: https://www.marchonnra.org/findmymarch If none are near us, we can register an event
here: https://www.marchonnra.org/regevent
States
Reading/Watching
1.
“How Activists Avoid Exhaustion, and Get
Recharged” - https://politicalcharge.org/2018/07/13/how-activists-avoid-exhaustion-and-get-recharged/
2.
“Voter
Suppression Is Warping Democracy” - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/07/poll-prri-voter-suppression/565355/
3.
Here’s
an earworm for the resistance. Let’s listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB-BBVQLnxI
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