7/27/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
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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.
Realizing
they lacked the support for an impeachment of Rosenstein, “Rep. Mark
Meadows (R-N.C.) says he is tabling his efforts to impeach Deputy Attorney
General Rod Rosenstein after having several meetings with Republican
leadership, stating that he would instead pursue contempt if the Justice
Department (DOJ) does not turn over documents Congress is seeking.” http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/399010-meadows-swaps-rosenstein-impeachment-efforts-for-contempt-after Let’s
remember that this is ruse to help make it easier for Trump to remove
Rosenstein so he can replace him with someone else and stop the Mueller
investigation.
2.
In yet
another human rights scandal on American soil, many immigrants seeking a better
life here were mislead into signing away the rights to their children. https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180726/migrant-parents-were-mislead-into-waiving-rights-to-family-reunification-aclu-tells-court This
inhumanity is being done in our name. Let’s ask our MoCs what they are doing to fix
this and make sure it does not happen again.
3.
In
another attempt to appear to codify the language, the Dept. of Justice has “decreed
that U.S. attorney offices should refer to immigrants unlawfully in the country
as “illegal aliens,” rather than “undocumented.”” http://time.com/5349694/doj-press-illegal-undocumented/ This
is a step backwards in addressing the humanity of those not in the country legally. The DOJ claims that “undocumented” is not
based in U.S. code. However, neither is “illegal
alien”: http://time.com/5349694/doj-press-illegal-undocumented/ Let’s
let the DOJ and our MoCs know that we do not agree with this decree nor its
reasoning: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-justice
4.
We can
actually support the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes
(R-CA), for coming out in favor of a ban on electronic voting systems. http://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/398949-house-intel-chair-calls-for-ban-on-electronic-voting-systems
Let’s tell our MoCs to join that call and
introduce legislation that would mandate that all voting systems have an
accountable paper trail. And let’s thank Rep. Nunes (202-225-2523) for speaking
out to make voting traceable. While we’re on the phone with Rep. Nunes and any
of our House members who are Republicans, we might want to ask them why they
recently blocked the extension of a program that would have provided greater election
security.
|
6.
Kaitlan
Collins, a White House reporter for CNN, was recently banned from a rose garden
event for asking the president “inappropriate questions.” The questions were:
“Did Michael Cohen betray you?” and “Why is Vladimir Putin not accepting your
invitation?” https://money.cnn.com/video/media/2018/07/25/cnn-reporter-kaitlan-collins-banned-white-house-press-pool.cnnmoney/index.html.The incident prompted a strong response from
the White House Correspondence Association and showing of solidarity from other
members of the White House Press Corps, including Fox News. https://money.cnn.com/2018/07/26/media/kaitlan-collins-white-house-rose-garden/index.html. While we can thank these other news outlets
for speaking out on Collins’ behalf, we also need to be mindful of this and
other tactics the president is using to constantly undermine the free press in
order to put forth his own false version of events. If our MoCs are
sympathetic, let’s talk to them about whether this incident can be legally
challenged as a violation of the First Amendment.
7.
On the
eve of the anniversary of signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
disability rights' activists from ADAPT and The National Council for Independent Living were at the Congressional Visitor
Center protesting a briefing to promote HR5658, the so-called Workplace Choice and
Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act. This bill resurrects walls
of exclusion by segregating people with disabilities both socially and
economically, allowing service providers to keep disabled people in workplaces
that are isolated from the rest of society, and to pay those workers pennies on
the dollar for the value of their work. We can read more at this press release from ADAPT. Per the National ADAPT Facebook page, 24 ADAPT Warriors put their bodies on
the line and got arrested. Let's contact our representatives to let them
know that we are opposed to HR5658 and want inclusion for people of all
abilities.
8.
While
the administration likes to position itself as “tough on crime,” at least when
it comes to immigrants, one area in which the White House has totally failed
the American people is on enforcing corporate violations. The statistics in
this new report from Public Citizen show that EPA
enforcement penalties plummeted from $23.9 billion in 2016 (last year of Obama)
to $1.46 billion in 2017. Let’s read the report, and then contact our MoCs and
insist that “law and order” resources be diverted to protect our planet from
corporate abuse, rather than to deport and separate hard-working immigrant
families
9.
Senator
Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has introduced the No Money Bail Act (S. 3271), which would prohibit the use of money bail
in federal court cases (https://usat.ly/2LDno6o). The legislation would provide funding for
a national pretrial reporting program, as well as grant funding to develop
programs for "evidence-based pretrial practices and result in annual
statistically significant decreases in the pretrial detention populations of
the States and units of local government." Importantly, the bill would
also revoke grant funding for states which continue to use money bail systems
three years after the bill has been enacted. Let's learn more about the money
bail system here, then contact our MoC and ask them to
cosponsor and support the No Money Bail Act.
10. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) has
introduced a bill, HR6463, that would introduce a tax on carbon
dioxide emissions, in a departure from the party’s decade-long hostility toward
any measure aimed at addressing climate change. Let's read more at The Guardian. While this bill has virtually no chance of
becoming law, we can encourage movement in this direction by asking our representatives to support it. Let's also flood Carlos
Curbelo with support by calling
and writing his offices to
encourage him to keep working toward climate change mitigation.
11.
The
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrote in a report released earlier this month
that Utah’s Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has helped shield
archaeological sites from vandalism, bolstered tourism and spurred scientific
discovery all without displacing cattle operations that have long used these
public lands. Then the BLM pulled this report and then re-released with these
references redacted. Critics contend the redactions were made because the
material undermined Interior’s rationale for shrinking monuments. Let's read
more at The Salt Lake Tribune. Let's stay aware of the ways that Ryan
Zinke's Interior Department is undermining our protection for public lands. We
can contact
the Interior Dept. and the
BLM to
express our displeasure.
12. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA, and Bernie
Sanders (I-VT) have introduced the U.S. Territorial Relief Act of 2018 (S. 3262) along with cosponsors Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Ed Markey (D-MA), which would help
provide comprehensive debt relief for Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories (https://reut.rs/2JZfbV0, https://bit.ly/2JZeU4q). Let's learn more about Puerto Rico's debt crisis, which
has been many years in the making, then contact our senators and tell them that
we want them to support this important legislation.
13. Updated:
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) want a vote on a
bill, S2313, the Defending Elections from Threats
by Establishing Redlines ("DETER") act, that would impose new
sanctions if U.S. intelligence officials determine Russia meddled in U.S.
elections. The DETER Act would make sanctions more automatic and aim to punish
Russia’s finance, energy, defense and other sectors. Let's read more at Reuters. Let's tell our
own senators that we want the DETER Act brought to the Senate floor
for a vote and that we support it. The identical bill in the House is HR4884 if we want to contact our
representatives too.
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.
We all
love good news, but when it comes to our activism, good news changes how we
think and act. https://politicalcharge.org/2018/07/26/when-good-news-depresses-activism/ Let’s
celebrate good news but keep our activism level just as high the next day.
2.
Movement Voter Project (MVP) works to create sustainable
progressive power at all levels of government by funding local groups that get
out unlikely voters in key states and districts – especially groups that
organize young people and communities of color. They work at the intersection
of community organizing and electoral politics, by lifting up the most powerful
ground organizing in the country, altering the relationship of power between
funders and grassroots movements, and moving donors to embrace a new model of
funding organizing first and foremost. In less than two years, MVP has become
recognized as the best-in-class platform for progressive donors to get money
where it needs to go: directly to the most credible and effective groups on the
ground, in the most critical states and races across the country. To date,
they’ve helped more than 1,200 donors - large and small - move more than $5.6
million to more than 150 organizations working on elections in 26 states. But
that's just the beginning if we're going to seriously use this election cycle
to start to take back our country. If we
want to join in on building the wave, here’s how we can start. When we click here, we will find a Digital Toolkit to help us
spread the word, with prewritten tweets we can send out to raise
awareness of this project, ways to donate, if we are able to, and to
share why we’re supporting MVP with our friends on Facebook. We can also follow them on Facebook: Movement Voter Project
Election 2018 –
By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
July 28
|
Tennessee
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
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July 30
|
Arizona
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
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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)
3.
FL: A
federal judge this week struck down a Florida ban on college campuses
being used as early voting sites. U.S. District Judge Mark
Walker ripped
the “lopsided” burden on college students that was put in place four years ago
calling the prohibition unconstitutional and saying it appeared to be done
to stop younger voters from participating in elections. Let's read more
at The HIll. Let's make sure that people we know
attending college in Florida are aware of this important change.
Other Actions
1. Norm
Eisen tweeted yesterday, “BREAKING: Federal investigation opened of DHS and HHS
for destroying child separation records based on our @CREWcrew
complaint. Here’s NARA’s letter to me &
@NoahBookbinder.” CREW,
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, have long been the watchdog
of Washington happenings. They are behind
the emoluments case against Trump: http://time.com/5349217/judge-trump-emoluments-clause-lawsuit/ Let’s take the time to thank Norm Eisen and Noah
Bookbinder for the important work they do:
https://www.citizensforethics.org/contact-us/
2. The
Kalamazoo Promise is a program that will fund college for students who live and
attend all years K-12 in that Michigan school district. Zaviona Woodruff
graduated last spring with a 3.57 and had her heart set on using the Promise to
attend college. However, due to a period
of homelessness for her family, where the available housing was across the
street from the school district, Woodruff was denied the Promise. https://fox17online.com/2018/07/25/kps-graduate-crushed-after-she-was-denied-kalamazoo-promise/
Her chosen university, Oakland University, in Michigan has taken notice and
others are offering help as well. If we’d like to make a donation to Zaviona's
GoFundMe page, we can click here. Let’s also contact the Promise program and
register our dissatisfaction of their decision:
https://www.kalamazoopromise.com/Contact/contact
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.
Movement
Voter Project is holding two calls on Tuesday July 31 to
let people know how they can plug into becoming house party hosts and donor
organizers! More information here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1051862484963388/ We can join one of these calls to get more
involved! We can register for one of the
two times here:
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 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.
5.
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
1.
NJ: If we are looking for ways to make our state great,
Action Together NJ is a great organization to check out. It’s is a progressive
group that encourages members to get off the sidelines by running for office,
educating voters, reaching out to voters and creating calls to action that
address civil rights, the environment, health care and drug reform. We can
check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ActionTogetherNJ/
Then go to atnj.org to join. They have county chapters in almost every county in NJ. Atlantic County meets every month. We can find our county chapter and get active
Then go to atnj.org to join. They have county chapters in almost every county in NJ. Atlantic County meets every month. We can find our county chapter and get active
2.
OH: If we live in or near Columbus, Ohio: Uriahs
Heating Cooling and Refrigeration very clearly does NOT want our
business:
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/1022189305563774976. Let's vote with
our wallets.
Reading/Watching
1.
“No, Dems Aren’t Disarrayed, Riven, Imploding,
Eating Their Young or Battling for the Soul of the Party” - http://www.rollcall.com/news/opinion/no-dems-arent-disarrayed-riven-imploding-eating-their-young-or-battling-for-the-soul-of-the-party
2.
“Why
Michael Cohen Is a Triple Threat for Donald Trump” - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/07/why-michael-cohen-is-a-triple-threat-for-donald-trump/
3.
“An
Extremely Detailed Map of the 2016 Presidential Election” - https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/upshot/election-2016-voting-precinct-maps.html#5.00/39.66/-112.98
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