11/9/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Fax legislators for free:
Or
use Resistbot: https://resist.bot/
Or
use StampsLicked to have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators: https://stampslicked.org/
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.
While we might expect the president to frame
Tuesday’s elections as a win for him, despite Democrats taking back the House,
we should not ever expect or tolerate his recent spate of emboldenment that led
him to oust AG Jeff Sessions and put in an acting AG who has been on record
advocating a strategy to subvert the Mueller investigation and who may face
legal challenges to be in the position: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/415637-5-things-to-know-about-new-acting-attorney-general-matthew-whitaker
and https://www.axios.com/trump-acting-attorney-general-whitaker-legal-challenges-a9199197-9817-42b4-8df2-95f92cabc861.html
For the sake of our democracy, we need
to tell our MoCs to act now in passing HR 3771/S 1741,
the Special Counsel Integrity Act, and S 1735/HR 3654,
the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act. We also need to tell our MoCs,
both Republicans and Democrats, that they swore an oath to protect our
Constitution and our democracy and they must therefore call on Whitaker to
recuse himself from the Mueller investigation based on his obvious bias and
conflict of interest. No one, including the president, is above the law.
2. We took to the streets in over 900 protests nationwide on Thursday night
because of Trump’s abuse of the rule of law: https://www.apnews.com/f81e807661a1475babefb889a53be14b Let’s
also make sure our MoC are hearing from us directly about this constitutional
crisis.
3.
Another week, another massacre, this time in a
bar in Southern California with twelve lives taken:
https://www.apnews.com/d2737a3853bc4aea8a27c957c75c88ab As
we are contacting our MoC about Mueller, let’s be sure to state, as
appropriate, that their inaction makes them complicit or to ask for their
continued support in sensible gun legislation.
4.
In addition to threatening the Mueller
investigation by demanding AG Jeff Session’s resignation, Trump heightened his
attacks on independent journalism by revoking the press pass of CNN reporter
Jim Acosta, after he challenged the president on calling the caravan of
migrants seeking asylum an invasion. https://www.npr.org/2018/11/07/665497382/white-house-revokes-press-pass-of-cnns-jim-acosta.
One of the first steps in any fascist take-over is to discredit the press,
which Trump continually calls “an enemy of the people.” https://www.usnews.com/news/at-the-edge/articles/2017-10-26/trump-propaganda-and-the-destruction-of-the-free-press.
Let’s demand that the White House immediately reinstate Acosta’s credentials.
And let’s tell our MoCs to show their support for independent journalism and
the First Amendment by passing H.Res. 179,
which upholds freedom of the press.
5.
With the Democrats taking control of the House
in January, Richie Neal (D-MA) will be taking over the leadership of the House
Ways and Means Committee: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/07/politics/richard-neal-trump-tax-returns/index.html.
While there’s been some appropriate talk of bi-partisanship once the Democrats
take the House in January, the president has also warned Democrats against
investigating him https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-07/trump-vows-war-like-posture-if-democrats-investigate-him.
But for the sake of ethics, decency and democracy, this is exactly what they
must do. Richie Neal (D-MA) will be chair of the Ways and Means Committee and
in the position of requesting the president’s tax returns. We need to make sure
that Chairman Neal and the rest of the Democratic delegation know that we have
their back and we want to see these returns, as well as complete and thorough
investigations of the numerous ethical issues that have faced this
administration. Let’s contact Neal, (https://neal.house.gov/contact)
as well as our own Rep. and let them know what we’re expecting.
6.
Using the conservative reasoning that these
programs promote abortion and encourages illicit sex, Trump’s State Department is
pulling support for overseas sexual and reproductive health programs. https://www.businessinsider.com/state-department-decreases-womens-health-programs-2018-10
We know that these programs and services
are essential to women’s health and the consequences could be dire. Let’s ask our MoCs what they are doing about
this.
7.
And, at home, the Republican administration will
allow religious groups, nonprofits, small businesses and some other employers
to opt out of a requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide
birth-control coverage for their employees, a victory for religious conservatives
who mounted a years-long legal battle to eliminate the mandate. Under the
new set of rules, which take effect immediately, most publicly traded companies
and government entities wouldn’t be exempt and will have to continue providing
coverage for all available forms of contraception without any out-of-pocket
costs. https://www.wsj.com/articles/hhs-to-let-some-employers-opt-out-of-birth-control-mandate-1541634002 While we have our MoCs on the phone regarding
overseas’ women’s health, let’s ask about our own at home, too.
8.
In environmental and climate news: a) the EPA no
longer has a climate page on its website. We can read about this at Ecowatch.
b) Two weeks after it put the case on hold, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed
a lawsuit brought by 21 children and young adults against the federal government
over climate change to proceed. More at Inside Climate News.
c) The NRDC tell
us that the EPA is trying to obscure environmentally risky projects. d)
The National Butterfly Center, a 100-acre wildlife center and botanical
garden on the border in South Texas is threatened by Trump's Wall. Let's read
more at NPR.
e) A federal court has ruled against Wyoming’s ag-gag laws. More at The Wildlife News.
Let's continue to be aware of environmental issues and to give our legislators
feedback so they know we are paying attention.
Other Actions
1.
Although the midterms already somehow feel like
they were weeks ago, it has really only been three days. There have been many
sweet victories, some difficult losses, and some important races still too
close to call. Let’s take a moment to say some thanks: to our favorite
candidate who won, to our favorite candidate who lost, to our favorite fellow
resistor, to our favorite journalist, and to someone in our circles who has
pushed beyond her usual boundaries when it came time to get out the vote.
2. Healthcare
is America’s number one issue and it’s that time again. Enrollment is open for
ACA healthcare from November 1 thru December 15. Three red states
expanded health care on Wednesday’s election. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/three-deep-red-states-vote-to-expand-medicaid/2018/11/07/6586ae58-e1dc-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html?utm_term=.0269b79ec418
and https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/07/664661676/a-winning-idea-medicaid-expansion-prevails-in-idaho-nebraska-and-utah Let’s make sure to use and share this link to
sign up for healthcare: https://www.healthcare.gov
3. You
know what? Everyone is allowed a break. Self-care. Respite. Whatever people
prefer to call it. Let’s all take some time to be kind to ourselves, whatever
that entails. We should also think about our activism going forward. Here's a
great list of questions that can allow us to refocus and redirect "beyond
the midterms."
4. Last
week, thousands of employees at Google offices across the globe walked out in a
call for change (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/nov/01/google-walkout-global-protests-employees-sexual-harassment-scandals). While
mishandling of sexual harassment allegations were at the forefront of many
protests and media headlines, the organizers do have very clear, specific
demands of Google's executive team: a) end forced arbitration, b) end pay and
opportunity inequity, c) create a publicly disclosed sexual harassment
transparency report, d) create "A clear, uniform, globally inclusive
process for reporting sexual misconduct," e) have the Chief Diversity
Officer report directly to the CEO, and f) appoint an Employee Representative
to the Board. Let's read about these demands in detail from the organizers of
the walkout here,
then let's call on executives at Google to meet these requests and create a
safer work environment for Google employees around the world. We can contact
Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Twitter @sundarpichai or via e-mail at sundar@google.com and
Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt on Twitter @EricSchmidt or via e-mail at
5. Dion
Ortiz, 22, one of the Standing Rock/Dakota Access Pipeline protesters, was
sentenced to federal prison late last month.
He was targeted as an indigenous Water Protector and is one of the
NoDAPL political prisoners. As a show of
support, we can send him mail, love, prayers, and money for his commissary: Mailing Address: DION ORTIZ 16559-059, FCI Terre Haute, FEDERAL
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, .O. BOX 33, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808. We can send money via: https://www.westernunion.com/us/en/send-money/app/sendinmatestart
His inmate number is 16559-059
Election/Voting
1. ALL:
If we believe our employer may have tried to influence our midterm vote,
we can contact The Intercept investigative reporter Lee Fang at lee.fang@theintercept.com
2. ALL:
The election is over, but one thing that hasn't changed is our need to
build strong progressive infrastructure for the local and state elections that
happen every year, elections that choose the officials and policies that
affect us most directly. Strong infrastructure starts with strong funding,
and Every District is rewriting the book on political fundraising, flipping the
script from top-down shakedown-style tactics (we've all been getting too
many of those emails!) to bottom-up cooperative grassroots fundraising networks
that can outlast the current election cycle and become perennial centers for
political organizing. Let's get involved for the long haul! https://www.everydistrict.us/
3. GA: The governor's race remains
extremely close, with incumbent Brian Kemp up by less than 70,000 votes as of
Thursday morning. Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams is vowing to make sure
every vote is counted before she concedes (https://cbsn.ws/2F9NdZK
and https://www.apnews.com/90bf71450a134b638502ad7564a8271d).
Let's help her out: if we or anyone we know in Georgia voted absentee, early,
or used a provisional ballot, let's check to see that our votes were counted:1.
Log into the Georgia My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov 2. Under "Absentee ballot
application," select "Click here for absentee ballot status" 3.
Make sure that we see "Status: Accepted." If our Status as anything
other than “accepted,” let's contact the Georgia voter protection hotline at
1-888-730-5816. We can also find other
ways to help Abrams here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/183gBa9FhB3czfUofB-pFriGpJxZgow7kMrcubfVGlA8/mobilebasic
If we cannot get through to the
line, we can fill out the form at this link https://goo.gl/q6jixU We can also try the Asian Americans Advancing
Justice hotline number at 470-765-8683 as they too are working to have votes
counted. If we are already trained to do voter protection work, we can sign up
for duty at our home organization.
This race is not over until every vote is counted!!
This race is not over until every vote is counted!!
4. MI: The Michigan Advisory Committee to
the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights is conducting a study of
voting rights in Michigan. The Committee is asking that Michigan voters share
their experiences with registering to vote and voting in the state by January
1st, 2019. Statements can be sent to: Regional Programs Unit of the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights, 230 S. Dearborn, Suite 2120, Chicago, IL 60616; or
by email at mwojnaroski@usccr.gov or
fax at 312-353-8324.
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. While
lauding new pro-science representatives elected and initiatives passed on
Tuesday, the Union of Concerned Scientists is already planning its next move, a
telephone briefing on Thursday, November
15 from 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET / 4:00–5:00 p.m. PT to propose ways we can defend
science and advance science-based safeguards that protect our health, safety,
and environment. To register, go to:
2.
January
19, 2019 is the date of the third Women’s March with the main event to be
held in Washington, D.C. with sister marches all over the country. Let’s find more information here: https://www.womensmarch.com/2019
Reading/Watching
1.
Let’s check out some of the women that won this
week: “With women making up only 20 percent of Congress, there are many types
of women — especially women of color — who have never been represented on
Capitol Hill. The record-breaking wave of female candidates in 2018 comes with
a list of firsts among those women. Here's a list of some of those firsts,
which we will keep updating as results come in.” https://www.npr.org/2018/11/06/664951794/a-list-of-firsts-for-women-in-this-years-midterm-elections
2.
Amid Pervasive Voter Suppression, the Big
Winner on the 2018 Ballot was Voting Itself: The ACLU gives us a rundown of
the voting protections that were passed in each state: https://www.aclu.org/blog/voting-rights/fighting-voter-suppression/amid-pervasive-voter-suppression-big-winner-2018
3.
A Quick
Primer On the Legality of Appointing Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney
General - https://www.justsecurity.org/61386/quick-primer-legality-appointing-matthew-whitaker-acting-attorney-general-whitakers-power-influence-russia-investigations/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.