Contact Federal Government Officials
Fax legislators for free:
or use
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.
There is
so much at stake right now in our country. Our reputation, our ethics, our
environment, to name a few. It would only take one GOP senator at this time to
do the right thing and be that “profile in courage”. “With Republicans clinging to a precarious
50–49 majority, every individual GOP senator can serve as a check on Trump’s
excesses whenever they choose to act.” https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/senate-inaction/568606/ Let’s look at the list of possibilities and contact
these senators asking them to make a decision that reflects love of country over party.
2.
So very
many groups are against the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh and find many
reasons he is not Supreme Court Justice material. https://civilrights.org/100-civil-human-rights-groups-urge-senate-oppose-brett-kavanaugh/ Let’s join in Women’s March’s
letter-writing campaign to our senators:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/cancelkavanaugh
3.
Because
they feel it is easier to meet their goals by changing a legal ruling rather than live
by it, the Trump administration is attempting to change regulations concerning
the way migrant families are treated by doing away with the Flores agreement
which has been in effect for 20 years and “requires the government to provide
certain housing and nutritional requirements to immigrant children. It
also mandates the release of those children to relatives or other known family
friends within a timely manner.” https://www.revealnews.org/blog/government-seeks-to-end-court-oversight-of-how-it-treats-immigrant-children/ Let’s be on the lookout for the public
comment period to begin on this rule change and tell our MoCs that should this happen
that legislation be proposed to put it back in place.
4.
From The Loyal Opposition: After repeatedly failing to derail Mueller’s
successful investigation, Trump has now directed his Republican allies in
Congress to concoct contempt charges against Rosenstein - so he can shut down
Mueller’s investigation of him. A vote for contempt is a vote for a cover up. https://www.theloyalopposition.net/daily-ctas/urgent-cta-protect-mueller-reps-must-vote-no-on-rosenstein-contempt/ We need
to call our representatives and tell them to vote against a trumped-up contempt
charge against Rosenstein.
5.
Republicans
are following the president's false rhetoric and exploiting the death of Mollie
Tibbetts as a reason to continue the administration’s hardline immigration
policies,
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/25/politics/mollie-tibbetts-death-republicans-immigration/index.html.
Mollie’s family has pushed back, insisting that “evil comes in many colors,”
and that the real cause of Mollie’s death was not her killer’s immigration
status, but the culture of toxic masculinity that supports men not to take “no”
for an answer when women want to be left alone. https://www.kcci.com/article/family-dont-exploit-mollie-tibbetts-death-for-racist-view/22828334 . Let’s remind our GOP MoCs that data has continuously shown that violent
crime rates among immigrants are lower than violent crime rates of American
citizens,
and if they really want to prevent people like Mollie from being killed, they
should renew HR 6545,
the Violence Against Women Act.
6.
The top
student loan ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Board has resigned
due to the administration’s new policies that favor large financial companies
and are detrimental to students. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/403773-top-student-loan-official-resigns-accuses-trump-admin-of-turning-back. At
the crux of this issue is the Department of Education’s new policy not to share
student loan information with the CFPB and their attempts to limit student loan
refunds for students claiming they were defrauded by their colleges. We can
comment on this new regulation here,
but only until this Thursday, August 30. We should also contact the Department
of Education (202-401-3000; US Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW,
Washington, DC 20202; betsy.devos@ed.gov) to
protest these policies, and tell our MoCs that we want to see the Consumer
Financial Protection Board do the job it was intended to--protect consumers, not
companies.
7.
Making
it clear once again that he has no interest in achieving peace in
Israel/Palestine, on Friday, Trump cut $200 million in aid to Gaza and the
West Bank, “weaponising humanitarian and developmental aid,” some say, engaging
in a “series of provocative and harmful acts,” according to others: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/25/donald-trump-cuts-more-than-200m-in-aid-to-palestinians We
should tell Trump and his minions in the State Department what we think of this
move: 202-647-4000 or U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW,
Washington, DC 20520.
8.
From one
of our own: here is a list of links to
all important federal rule proposals that have open official public comment
periods: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YL0EnNx8_CJ0lVORdSC06_g7dideeFpU
9.
The Virginian-Pilot,
along with students from Marquette University in Milwaukee, tracked the deaths
of 404 people with mental illnesses who
have died while in jail since 2010. The research revealed cruel and inhumane
treatment within jails, preventable deaths, lack of treatment options for those
with mental health issues, and insufficient data and tracking to ensure
accountability and reform (https://bit.ly/2Pz7VTM).
While the government will begin collecting data on deaths in police and jail
custody in 2019, it will not collect data on mental illness, ensuring that the
overall picture of what is happening will remain incomplete, and therefore
proposed solutions to prevent death in jail will also likely be lacking in
efficacy. Let's contact our MoC at the state and federal level and ask them to
introduce and support legislation that would track mental illness in jail to
ensure that those with mental health issues are treated with dignity and given
humane conditions when they are detained.
10. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) intends to
introduce legislation on Sept. 5 that would require large companies
like Amazon to pay a tax to cover the cost of federal assistance for their
employees. The intention is to incentivize large corporations to pay a
fair living wage. Let's read more at Business Insider.
Let's go ahead and contact our Democratic senators and candidates for Senate to
ask them to support this bill.
11.
The
Republican administration is taking aim at a law designed to protect military
service members from getting cheated by shady lending
practices. Separately, the administration is taking broader steps to roll
back enforcement of the Military Lending Act (MLA). The MLA is supposed to
protect service members from predatory loans and financial products. Let's read
more at NPR.
Let's put pressure on our US representatives and senators to step up to protect
our service members from these roll-backs.
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. Texas Senate Democratic Candidate Beto
O’Rourke has pulled within one percentage point of incumbent Republican Ted Cruz.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/403786-poll-cruz-leads-orourke-by-one-point-in-texas-senate-race. A sensitive and impassioned response to the
issue of taking a knee at the national anthem, which went viral, may have made
the difference. NFL players plan on showing the video to team owners as a
defense of their position. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/403763-nfl-player-plans-to-show-beto-orourkes-defense-of-kneeling-to. We can watch Beto’s video here and also learn more about volunteering or
donating to his campaign at https://betofortexas.com/
2.
From one
of our own: Virtual Callers wanted: Hi
all, if you are living in a safe area and have the time to make calls, my
campaign could use your help. We have an automated dialer, so you don't need to
come to the office, you can work from your house and join our team. The bigger
the team we have the more calls we can get through. I am running for PA State
Senate 16 - The Allentown area. I need at least 5 more people this
Tuesday (tomorrow). Can anyone help....either leave me a message here or
email my Field guyjoshf@votemarkpinsley.com
3.
NextGenAmerica, https://nextgenamerica.org, trains young people to organize and work
for the climate, equality, health, immigration, and prosperity. A big focus now
is getting out the vote. Let’s check it out and sign up to help.
4. “With only 10 weekends left between today and
Election Day, now is the time to get in the game, double your efforts, and
leave it all on the floor. Not only should we be personally involved, but we
should also do what we can to invite others to join us and help out.” Let’s check this out: https://politicalcharge.org/2018/08/27/10-weekends-left-until-midterms-challenge-for-the-week/
5. Some folks have
been talking about creating business cards that give local voting information
and encouragement to vote and just leaving them places they go: restaurants,
offices, etc. For some examples of this
easy, creative GOTV effort, let’s take a look at these created by one of our
own: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9ahiiykbvjiv774/AACsTgPGjlKjq-IcteNJVaC9a?dl=0 While geared toward Pennsylvania, we can take
this idea and run with it!
6. “The “South is Rising
Tour" sponsored by Black
Voters Matter aims to spur more African Americans to vote
in November's crucial midterm elections. The group kicked off its bus tour
in Georgia Wednesday and stopped in Mississippi Friday before heading to
Florida. The group also plans to visit Alabama and Tennessee in the fall.” https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/24/midterms-groups-urge-more-blacks-mississippi-vote/1074806002/ Let’s
follow Black Voters Matter on Facebook and
see how we can get involved and help: https://www.facebook.com/BlackVotersMtr/
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
|
|||
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
|
|||
September 13
|
New York
|
Election date (State primary)
|
State Primary
|
|||
September 17
|
Alaska
|
Early Voting begins
|
REAA
|
|||
September 17
|
Illinois
|
Early Voting begins
|
General
|
|||
September 21
|
Minnesota
|
In person absentee voting begins
|
General
|
|||
September 21
|
South Dakota
|
In person absentee voting begins
|
General
|
|||
September 21
|
Wyoming
|
In person absentee voting begins
|
General
|
|||
September 22
|
Vermont
|
Early Voting begins
|
General
|
|||
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u / by state:
https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
2.
Upcoming Primaries:
A)
Tuesday, 9/28
B) Tuesday, 9/4
C) Thursday, 9/6
D)
Tuesday, 9/11
E) Wednesday, 9/12
3.
TX: The Texas
Department of Public Safety says it has a solution for the
hours-long lines at driver's license offices: closing 87 of them. Last
Friday, Lt.
Gov. Dan Patrick became
the most high-profile Texas lawmaker to express his opposition to the
department's recommendation. Let's read more at Dallas News. If
we are Texans, let's contact Governor Greg
Abbott (R)
to let him know we want to keep these license offices open.
Other
Actions
1. From
one of our own: We are in the midst of a
moral crisis. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, poses a direct
threat to our freedoms. Healthcare, racial justice, immigrant rights, voting
rights, and LGBTQIA+ rights are on the line, and women around the country are
answering the call to put their bodies on the line to
#CancelKavanaugh. Women’s March and a coalition of twenty women’s
organizations plan to gather in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, September
4thto make our voices heard as we engage in non-violent civil disobedience.
This is our chance to look our Senators in the eye and show them that women are
watching, and women will hold them accountable for their votes. Please
visit http://www.cancelkavanaugh.com to register and find additional
information. Can’t make the action? We need volunteers to sign up to phone
and text bank. Sign up here:
2. From
Sleeping Giants: "'Hey GivingFuel, Are you aware that violent hate group
Patriot Prayer is using
your platform to raise money for an upcoming rally
in support of fellow hate monster Alex Jones? Looks like this is against your
ToS, which prohibits the following: "Hate, violence, racial intolerance,
or the financial exploitation of a crime." We're sure this is an
oversight! Please let us know how you plan to proceed. Thanks, Sleeping
Giants.' Team SG: Want to help us flag this with the GivingFuel team? Send an
email to their customer support team: team@webconnex.com"
3. Indivisible
is asking us to take part in their survey.
The results “will help us begin to chart our post-election strategy --
for the lame duck Congress, first 100 days, and all the way to 2020 -- to make
sure we’re working toward the goals that reflect our movement’s priorities and
values.” Let’s help: https://www.indivisible.org/2019-policy-strategy-survey/
4. There’s
a 12-day, free, intensive workshop on how to use data, design, and code for
journalism taking place Oct 1-12 in New York City. Called the 2018
Data Institute, it’s offered by the Ida B. Wells Society and ProPublica. If
we’re journalists, we can sign up here: https://www.propublica.org/atpropublica/ida-b-wells-society-and-propublica-announce-the-2018-data-institute
5. While
it is notoriously difficult to find out what is happening in prisons, a 19-day
prison strike that started on Aug. 21 has apparently begun to spread, with
reports of protest action from California and Washington state to the eastern
seaboard as far south as Florida and up to Nova Scotia: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/23/prison-strike-us-canada-forced-labor-protest-activism At the top of a list of 10 demands is
an end to forced or underpaid “slave” labor:
https://pastebin.com/4JTBvzF6 We can all help by spreading the
word any way we can and by watching the FB page of Jailhouse Lawyers
Speak: (https://www.facebook.com/BlkJailhouselawyer/) for local and national support actions.
6. Last
week, a video showing Texas Democratic Senate candidate Beto
O’Rourke defending NFL players who kneel during the national anthem went
viral. We can read more about this and see the video of Beto's thoughtful
response at The
Hill. We can thank Congressman O'Rourke at his House website.
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: We have a chance to save the Mohave aquifer
with SB120, which will be voted on today. Federal scientists have
determined that the Cadiz water mining project would extract 25 times the water
it replaces, so the Obama administration did not approve it. Trump, however,
reversed that, then Cadiz hired influential former friends, colleagues and staffers
of key legislators to lobby for them against this bill and now the desert’s
ecosystem is at risk. We can read more about this urgent issue here: http://capitolweekly.net/clock-ticking-desert-protection/ We can find
our legislators’ contact information here, ask them to vote YES on SB120 and
then ask our friends and family to join us. Together we can protect and
preserve the Mohave! http://www.legislature.ca.gov/legislators_and_districts/legislators/your_legislator.html
2.
CA: California’s Legislative session is coming to
a close with many important pieces of legislation now hanging in the balance.
This is a key time, when lobbyists for Big Money are pressuring our
representatives hard, and our lawmakers need to hear from us. One way to make
sure our voices are heard is to join the California Clean Money Campaign’s
Twitter Storm today Tuesday August 28 from 8-9 pm, where we can tweet to
key Assembly members and Senators. We’ll be asking them to vote Yes on AB 2188 (the Social Media DISCLOSE Act) and SB 822/SB 460, restore Net Neutrality to CA on their final floor
votes! Once we use this link to sign up, we'll receive instructions and example
tweets on Tuesday night. We can also ask friends to join us on social
media. http://yesfairelections.ngpvanhost.com/ngpvanforms/17689
3.
NY: The State Attorney General
Barbara Underwood tweeted, “It is crystal clear that @POTUS is willing to use his pardon power to thwart the
cause of justice. We need to act now to ensure that anyone who has violated
NY’s criminal laws cannot escape accountability due to a strategically timed
presidential pardon.” http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-close-this-loophole-now-20180824-story.html Let’s tell
our state MoCs that we want this protection passed.
4.
VA: “Virginia could
become the 38th and last needed state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment,
more than four decades after it was approved by Congress and nearly a century
after it was first introduced.” https://pilotonline.com/news/government/virginia/article_f628c6b6-a551-11e8-bc8b-8fe0256f7fbc.html Let’s check these links and see how we can help
make history: http://vanow.org/ratify and http://virginiaeranet.com/ and https://www.women-matter.org/
Reading/Watching
1.
This
fascinating and succinct piece from Zeynep Tufekci tells us “How social media
took us from Tahrir Square to Donald Trump.” Indeed, many of us have
wondered, “How did all this happen? How did digital technologies go from
empowering citizens and toppling dictators to being used as tools of oppression
and discord? There are several key lessons.” Let’s read her article to learn
these, and the way forward:
2.
The fractured politics of a browning America - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbjciJvacXY&feature=youtu.be
3.
How This Will End: Sooner or later, tyrants are always abandoned
by their followers - https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/08/the-end-of-trumps-reign/568480/
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