Contact Federal Government Officials
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Resistbot: https://resist.bot/
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.
This
week in Congress: The House is on recess from Washington DC with District
Work Weeks thru Tuesday, Sept. 4. (Source: House 2018 Calendar.)
Let's try to see our representatives in person if we can. The Senate is in session this week.
The Monday, August 27 session starts off with sixteen (16)
departmental and judicial nominees. (Source: Senate Executive Calendar.)
The Senate may then move on to its final $172B “minibus” funding package. We
can read more about the week ahead at Countable.
2.
Due to
recent revelations that have implicated Trump in federal crime, all ten Democrats
on the Senate Judiciary Committee have called for a postponement of the
Kavanaugh hearings that were set to begin on September 4th. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/403487-senate-democrats-postpone-kavanaugh-hearing and
https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-hold-that-supreme-court-seat-sen-blunt/article_e515eabf-34d2-50dc-ab17-94292916e67c.html Instead, they are asking Chairman Grassley to
hold a special meeting "to discuss a bipartisan, fair, and transparent
process for moving forward." Let's join them and ask Senator Grassley to
postpone the hearing: Mailing address: 135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: (202) 224-3744 Fax: (202) 224-6020 Online: https://www.grassley.senate.gov/constituents/questions-and-comments
3.
After
yesterday’s mass
shooting in Jacksonville, FL , a
Maryland teen, Rebecca Heimbrock, @radishrebecca,
is organizing a sit-in at noon on Tuesday at the DC offices of four senators
who accept money from the NRA: @marcorubio , @SenateMajLdr, @tedcruz, and
@senrobportman. They want us to participate if we can (DM the
organizer) and if we are not able, if we fill out this
form,
they will take our letter to a senator of our choice or they will give it to a
random senator that takes money from the NRA.
4.
From one
of our own: This is big. Senators from both parties are
pressuring ES&S
(44% US election equipment) to allow independent security analysis of its
machines. ES&S has installed remote access software & cellular modems
on its machines in some places; it won't say where. The company responded (http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/403366-major-voting-system-vendor-announces-new-efforts-to-boost-security) it
is still not enough as they still have not revealed where they put the cellular modems and remote
access software. Let’s tell our own
senators to join in and make sure the midterm elections are as secure as
possible….and to have paper backups as well.
5.
When FCC
chairman Ajit Pai repealed net neutrality rules earlier this year, he promised
that fair access to the Internet would instead be protected by the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). Now we're hearing that ISPs have been busily lobbying
the FTC hard, to convince it to abandon any defense of net neutrality as well.
Furthermore, they are pressuring the FTC to issue new rules to prevent states
from passing their own net neutrality laws, as California has done. (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/08/comcastcharter-lobby-asks-ftc-to-preempt-state-broadband-regulations/) Let's
tell the FTC to be better than the FCC, and to not drop the ball on this
crucial issue: https://www.ftc.gov/policy/advocacy/public-comment-topics-process. More
than ever before, democracy depends on free access to information!
6.
Not one
Republican ever said that the 4-year Benghazi investigation (without any indictments)
or the 2-year email investigation (again without any indictments) went on too
long, but we hear it repeatedly about the Russian investigation that in less
than two years already has countless indictments and numerous plea deals, and guilty
verdicts. Now Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s current attorney, wants the investigation
done before the midterms and says that if Trump is cleared, they will know it
was impartial. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/403575-giuliani-when-muellers-report-shows-trumps-innocence-we-will-admit-he Let’s tell Giuliani that the investigation
will be over when it is over and that we trust Mueller to do the right
thing. He’s already uncovered more illegalities
than were ever found against both Clintons.
We can tweet him here: @RudyGiuliani or
at his legal firm: http://www.giulianisecurity.com/contact/
7.
Senate
Republicans have introduced the deceptively-titled Ensuring Coverage for Patients with
Pre-Existing Conditions Act (S. 3388).
While it is being touted as a bill to ensure that those with pre-existing
conditions are able to receive health insurance coverage, the bill still
includes loopholes, and allows for pre-existing condition exclusions (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-24/new-senate-gop-bill-eyes-damage-control-over-obamacare-lawsuit).
Let's ask our senators to oppose S. 3388. If we have Republican senators,
let's contact them and tell them that if they truly wanted to protect their
constituents, they would stop attacking the ACA.
8.
After
telling the president last year that he would not confirm a new Attorney
General, if Jeff Sessions were fired, https://www.businessinsider.com/grassley-trump-sessions-confirmation-2017-7,
Senate Judiciary Chair, Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has done a complete about face
and now says he would hold confirmation hearings for a new AG. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/23/17773828/trump-fire-sessions-senate-mueller.
Firing Sessions would be a first step toward firing special prosecutor Robert
Mueller. Let’s express our dismay at Senator Grassley’s turn-around and tell
him that legislation protecting the Mueller investigation absolutely has to be
in place before any confirmation hearings for a new AG are held. We can reach
Senator Grassley at 202-224-3744. We should also contact our own Senators about
this extremely important issue.
9.
Ranking
member of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-NY) said yesterday that
the role of Congress is to be a check and balance on the executive branch, not
to protect the president. http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/403679-its-not-congresss-job-to-protect-trump-nadler-says.
Yet Republicans are basically telling their voters to keep them in office in
order to protect the president from being impeached. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/06/trump-midterms-republicans-presidency-571550.
Let’s thank Congressman Nadler (202-225-5635) for speaking out and also remind
our MoCs that their role is to investigate the numerous allegations regarding
the president that have surfaced over the past few weeks, not to blindly
protect him from impeachment.
10. Kremlin informants have largely gone silent,
likely out of fear for their own safety, and officials have noted that this may
be due in part to the House Intelligence Committee's outing of an FBI informant
earlier this year (https://nyti.ms/2wqXFVa, https://bit.ly/2wpBUot).
The FBI and DOJ had previous warned Chairman of the House Intelligence
Committee Rep. Devin Nunes about the possible consequences of releasing
documents, but Nunes has been unwavering in his effort to
protect Trump and derail investigations into Trump as well as the Russia
investigation. We can read more about
how Rep. Nunes, worked to out the informant. Then, let's continue asking
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to call for Nunes' resignation: https://www.speaker.gov/contact Twitter: @SpeakerRyan
We can also help make sure that Nunes does not get re-elected in the midterms
by campaigning
for or contributing towards his challenger in the election, Andrew
Janz.
11.
The
majority of Americans don't want to arm teachers. But apparently this doesn't
matter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos: "The Education Department is
considering whether to allow states to use federal funding to purchase guns for
educators," and they want to use money earmarked for Student Support
and Academic Enrichment in lower-income communities to do so. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/us/politics/betsy-devos-guns.html While
the WH is trying to deny the truth of the NYT story, we're betting there is
more than a kernel of truth to it. https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/23/politics/nyt-betsy-devos-funding-plan-arm-teachers/index.html Let's
contact the Department of Education to let them know we frown on the use of
taxpayer funds to arm teachers, in any form: Call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
or email answers@ed.gov.
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
taxi-alternative company Lyft is offering 50% rides to the polls and free rides
to underserved communities. Let’s learn more and spread the word:
2.
Election
officials in majority black Randolph county in rural southern Georgia took less
than a minute Friday to scrap a proposal to eliminate most of the
local polling places, after the plan drew criticism from all over the country.
We can read more at NBC
News. Our criticism and feedback made a
difference! Let's continue to use our voices to fight any voter suppression.
3.
Republicans
are privately circulating a document of all the investigations that Democrats
will pursue if they gain control of the House. https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-elections-republicans-preparation-investigations-180abf7b-0de8-4670-ae8a-2e6da123c584.html While
this is a cause for Republican alarm, it can be a source of motivation for us
as we work to flip the House.
Election
2018 – By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
August 28
|
Arizona
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 28
|
Florida
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 28
|
Oklahoma
|
Election date
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 28
|
Arizona
|
Early voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
September 1
|
New Hampshire
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary by mail: in person-same day
|
|
September 3
|
Alaska
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
REAA
|
|
September 4
|
Massachusetts
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
September 6
|
Delaware
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
September 11
|
New Hampshire
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
September 12
|
Rhode Island
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
(source: by date: https://goo.gl/gjFv2u / by state:
https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
2.
Upcoming Primaries:
A) Tuesday, 8/28
B) Tuesday, 9/4
C) Thursday, 9/6
3. AZ and FL: If we are
looking for a pro-choice voter guide for the primary, check here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kpuBdN5BUz07cu8sKCBCTKe3wHzaoGIRd83pAhSjEBo/edit
Other
Actions
1. The
Hyatt Hotel in Crystal City, Virginia has agreed to host the annual conference
of ACT for America, which been designated by the Southern
Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim hate group. ACT’s founder has publicly claimed that a
practicing Muslim who believes in the Koran cannot be a loyal citizen of the
United States. https://wjla.com/news/local/virginia-hyatt-anti-muslim-group-conference. Contrary to what Hyatt is claiming, there
are no anti-discrimination laws that require the hotel to host this group.
Let’s contact Hyatt’s consumer affairs department at (800) 323-7249 and ask
them to cancel this event. We can also tweet @HyattCrystalCity, post on their
Facebook Page, and sign
this MoveOn Petition.
2. From
Postcards from Kate: Kroger
plans to ban single-use plastic bags by 2025. Although it seems like a long way
off, let's encourage them for doing something. Hopefully other stores and
grocers will be inspired to follow suit. And until this happens, we can all try
to bring our own bags when shopping, reuse the plastic ones over and over, and
recycle them when they start to break down. Read more here. Thanks,
Kroger! Mike Donnelly, COO, Kroger HQ, 1014
Vine Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
3. In
light of yet another mass shooting, the @NoNotoriety campaign reminds us that how these
shootings are reported can make a difference. Rather than glamorizing the
shooter, making mass murder a way to become famous, place emphasis on the
victims and the tragic loss of life. While media coverage is improving in this
regard, one sensational story can undo the good restraint has established. link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/07/no-notoriety-media-focus-victims-shooter
Let’s
join families and gun sense activists in demanding that overall policies need
to be set by contacting our local and favorite media.
Marches/events/webinars/TwitterStorms to
attend/organize
1.
On September 8, the Peoples Climate
Movement will lead a
national mobilization for climate, jobs, and justice. We can find a Rise for Climate event near us here, or we can sign up to organize our own.
(Note: Rise for Climate,
Jobs, and Justice action in New York City will be held on THURSDAY,
SEPTEMBER 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Battery Park.)
2.
On September 22 there will be a
protest at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago in Florida in commemoration of the first
anniversary of Hurricane Maria:
http://thehill.com/latino/401578-trumps-mar-a-lago-to-be-greeted-with-massive-protest-on-hurricane-maria-anniversary Let’s put this on our calendars
if we will be nearby.
3.
The 2018 March
for Black Women will occur in Washington, D.C. on September 29
and New York City on September 30, with sister marches all over the
country. Let’s fine more information
here: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/march-for-black-women and here: https://www.facebook.com/events/187741818714062/ Let’s learn how to start a sister march/townhall
here: https://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/town-halls-sister-marches
States
1.
CA: From one of our
own: "As you know, we have surpassed significant hurdles to advance SB 1421 and AB 931— and we are closer than ever to passing landmark
legislation for police transparency and accountability! AB 931 is headed to the
Senate Floor and may be heard as early as Monday, 8/27. AB 931 will need
to be voted on in the Assembly Public Safety and Assembly Floor by August
31. SB 1421 is headed to the Assembly Floor and may be heard as early as Monday,
8/27, as well. Both bills will then need to be signed by the Governor. Our
representatives MUST COMMIT to police transparency and accountability."
More information and call scripts are available here.
Reading/Watching
1.
America's Real Economy: It Isn't Booming - https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergeorgescu/2018/08/22/americas-real-economy-it-isnt-booming/#7402b69f60b7
2.
Don’t Just Impeach Trump. Annul His
Presidency - http://robertreich.org/post/177349093095
3.
The Greatest Disappointment of the Trump
Presidency: The institutional fabric of
the United States has proven more tenacious and resilient in responding than
many feared. The Republican Congress has not - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/looking-backward/568546/
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