2/4/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
|
Contact all Federal
Members of Congress
(includes contact info and
links to social media)
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
|
IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL: The Democratic House Managers made impassioned,
convincing, and wise pleas in their closing remarks on Monday at the Senate
Impeachment Trial and it is up to us as constituents to carry the force and
clarity of their message to our Senators:
https://apnews.com/568c14515d129e679f9d7b411974bb31 Let’s
contact our two Senators on Tuesday to say that Trump has broken the law and
violated his office and must be removed. Let’s ask at least five people to do
the same and let’s give them the Capitol Switchboard phone number
(202-224-3121) and simple language to use in their calls.
CALL OUT
REPUBLICAN SENATORS FOR COVER-UP: Let’s make sure to tell Senator Lisa
Murkowski (R-AK) (202-224-6665) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (202-228-3398) that
we have no use for their specious half-baked explanations of why they refused
to call for witnesses. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/01/impeachment-trial-lamar-alexander-explains-vote-against-witnesses/4620079002/
and https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/480863-murkowski-to-vote-against-witnesses-dashing-democrats-hopes-of-extending.
And let’s tell every Republican Senator who voted for witnesses that we see
their actions as perpetuating lawlessness and a complete disregard for the
Constitution. And while we are at it, let’s not let Senator Susan Collins
off the hook. It’s likely she voted for witnesses, only because she could do so
without affecting the outcome. Let’s make sure to work hard to support her
opponent in 2020.
NEW ATTACK
ON MEDICAID: Trump has a
new plan for decimating our health care: the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” allows
states to ask for a waiver to end their traditional, open-ended Medicaid
program and to place hard caps on how much money states and the federal
government will spend on the poor and disabled. This move would reduce
health benefits for the millions covered by the Affordable Care Act:
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/480984-democrats-face-uphill-battle-against-trumps-medicaid-overhaul or https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/health/medicaid-block-grant-trump.html
Democrats vow to fight this, but it’s unclear what they can or will
do—especially if we do not press them to take action. As important as
contacting our MoCs, however, is ensuring that our state does not buy into this
plan; we must stop our state legislators from making draconian cuts in Medicaid
or from imposing work requirements, cutting provider payments or demanding new
cost sharing and premiums—all of which they will now be allowed to do without
federal consent.
LANDMINES, AGAIN: The Trump administration has lifted a ban on the U.S. military's use of landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula; the White House said the ban “could place them at a severe disadvantage during a conflict against our adversaries" and this Trump finds unacceptable: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/31/801632498/trump-administration-loosens-obama-era-restrictions-on-land-mine-use or https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/02/01/land-mines-trump/ Apparently, it is of no concern to our government that UNICEF estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines every year, 1 in 5 of them children: https://www.unicef.org/french/protection/files/Landmines_Factsheet_04_LTR_HD.pdf We need to tell the White House and, especially, the Department of Defense (703- 571-3343) that we will not tolerate the use, in our name, of a weapon that violates nearly all the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
LANDMINES, AGAIN: The Trump administration has lifted a ban on the U.S. military's use of landmines outside of the Korean Peninsula; the White House said the ban “could place them at a severe disadvantage during a conflict against our adversaries" and this Trump finds unacceptable: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/31/801632498/trump-administration-loosens-obama-era-restrictions-on-land-mine-use or https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/02/01/land-mines-trump/ Apparently, it is of no concern to our government that UNICEF estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 people are killed or maimed by landmines every year, 1 in 5 of them children: https://www.unicef.org/french/protection/files/Landmines_Factsheet_04_LTR_HD.pdf We need to tell the White House and, especially, the Department of Defense (703- 571-3343) that we will not tolerate the use, in our name, of a weapon that violates nearly all the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
FOOD STAMPS
AND OUR MILITARY: “About 900,000
veterans and 5,000 active duty troops face cuts in their food stamp benefits
beginning Thursday as $5 billion is automatically trimmed from the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program for low-income families.” https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/10/29/nearly-1-million-vets-face-food-stamps-cut.html The notion that our military and veterans
qualify for food stamps should be a national embarrassment. Then, to take away a benefit that helps them
and their families survive, when they have given their all to us, is
shameful. Let’s tell all our MoCs
that our military and veterans deserve way better than this.
RACIST
MASCOTS: Racist mascots are back
in the spotlight with the Kansas City "Chiefs" having won the
Super Bowl. From headdresses to the "tomahawk chop" with its
accompanying chant, the game was rife with appropriation and imagery that normalizes
racism. For the parents and educators among us, let's check
out Teaching
Tolerance's resources on lesson plans and conversations we can have that
focus on Native American appropriation in sports:
READY-TO-GO
POSTCARDING: From one of our own: Let's stay fierce and commit ourselves to
demanding what is right and holding up a mirror to indifference and injustice. Let’s use this list:
PODCASTING
TRAINING FOR WOMEN: “Millions
listen to podcasts but not enough are hosted and produced by women. How
can we fix this? An
exclusive Be Your Change workshop will train fifteen
women to harness the power of podcasts for social good. Attendees will learn
how to create and distribute their own podcast at this four day
retreat in Arizona. DemLabs is offering two free scholarships.” Let’s learn more here: https://mailchi.mp/thedemlabs/podcastingretreat
ELECTION/VOTING
PRIMARIES/CAUCUS CALENDAR: From Ballotpedia:
|
New Hampshire
(statewide)
|
Primary election
|
February 11, 2020
|
|
|
Wisconsin
(statewide)
|
Primary election
|
February 18, 2020
|
|
|
Nevada (statewide)
|
Primary election
|
February 22, 2020
|
|
|
South Carolina
(statewide)
|
Primary election
|
February 29, 2020
|
IOWA CAUCUS - FEB. 3. Iowa kicked off the
primary/caucus season last night at 7pm CT. We can check NPR for
results and analysis.
PHONEBANKS FOR SUPPRESSED VOTERS—Reclaim Our Vote lets
us make calls to voters who have been removed from the voter rolls in states
throughout the South. Let’s sign up and help folks to
re-register: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/reclaim-our-vote-signup
SEND SWING-STATE REPUBLICAN SENATORS PACKING: Indivisible’s Payback Project is “a comprehensive,
four-pronged approach to make sure Republicans Senators are held accountable
for their actions, their votes, and their enabling of Donald Trump.” We
can sign up here for peer to peer texting in nine key states, persuading voters
to work with their local Indivisible groups and flip their Senate seats blue:
https://indivisible.org/payback-project-p2p
All levels of experience are welcome.
Once we sign up, we’ll get all the material and support needed to reach our key
voters!
GROW A PRO-ENVIRONMENT ELECTORATE—The Environmental
Voter Project is looking for volunteers to help get pro-environment voters to
the polls. Let’s sign up: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/get-involved
SUMMER 2020 INTERNSHIP, BOSTON, MA (UNPAID): “The Environmental
Voter Project is looking for highly motivated undergraduates to join our
selective Summer Internship Program. Interns will work closely with the Field
Director and the Executive Director to learn about subjects such as field
campaigning, nonprofit communications, and data analytics.” Let’s
spread the word: https://www.environmentalvoter.org/jobs/intern
REGISTER-TO-VOTE EMAIL SIGNATURES—We can raise awareness
of voting and help register voters every time we send an email by adding the
following signature to our email messages: Register to vote. Sign up
for election reminders. https://turbovote.org/ . Let’s
search “how to create an email signature” or follow the instructions on our
email programs and apps and add a register-to-vote signature!
VOTING FOR EXPATS—Even if we’re US citizens living overseas, we
can still vote in the primaries! Let’s visit Vote from Abroad so we can
do so—and let’s share with our expat friends. https://www.votefromabroad.org/
TX: From #VOTEPROCHOICE : Are you or do
you know an org in TX that endorses candidates? VOTEPROCHOICE is
looking to partner with organizations and feature their endorsements in our TX
Primary Voter Guide (available in English + Spanish). Please reach out to julielyn@voteprochoice.us
NEW POSTCARDING CAMPAIGN. Postcards to Voters (P2V)
just kicked off Campaign 193: Ammar Campa-Najjar for Congress (CA-D50).The 50th
Congressional District in Southern California presents a chance to pick up a
seat that has been untouchable for nearly two decades. The ruby-red district
hasn't elected a Democrat to Congress since 2000. Democratic challenger Ammar
Campa-Najjar has a golden opportunity following the resignation of former
incumbent Duncan Hunter. When P2V wrote for Ammar in 2018, he came within 3% of
defeating Hunter and winning this seat! Let's request 5 addresses today.
STATE/LOCAL
MA: PASS CRUCIAL IMMIGRATION RIGHTS LEGISLATION—Tomorrow, Wednesday February
5, is the deadline to move the Safe
Communities Act (S.1401/H.3573) https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/01/24/massachusetts-sanctuary-state-bill-safe-communities-act/,
and An Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility, (S.2601/H.3012),
which allows undocumented people to get drivers’ licenses, out of committee.
Otherwise, the legislative process starts all over again next year. Let’s
call our state
legislators and make it clear that we want these bills to be passed.
Let’s also call the chairs of these committees: (For Driver’s License Bill:
Joseph Boncore, (617) 722-1634; Eric Lesser (617) 722-1291; William Straus
(617) 722-2400; and Adrian Madero (617) 722-2400. For Safe Communities Act:
Michael Moore (617) 722-1485; Paul Feeney (617) 722-1222; Harold Naughton (617)
722-2230; and Alan Silvia (617) 722-2230) We can remind our legislators that
the Family Mobility Act has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Police Chiefs
Association and will make our community safer for everyone. Let’s
also call Governor Baker (617-725-4005) and tell him to reconsider his decision to veto the bill if it should
pass.
WA: CANDIDATE TRAINING FOR UNION MEMBERS: If we are union members
thinking about running for the city council, school board, or some other
elected public office, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the
national AFL-CIO, have a workshop just for us. The Path to Power: A
Political Candidate Training Program, held on March 25-27th at the Painters
District Council 5 Hall in Seattle, will help us get the tools, tip and
training we need to win. We can learn more or apply by emailing Cherika Carter,
Field Mobilization Director — ccarter@wslc.org.
We can also learn more about The Washington State Labor Council at their
website here: https://www.wslc.org/
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
REJECT THE COVER-UP MASS MOBILIZATION ON TOMORROW:
In response to the GOP cover-up of the president’s crimes, there will
be a mass mobilization in many cities across the United States on Wednesday,
February 5 – with more being added by the minute. Let’s plan to join or
host one: https://rejectthecoverup.org/
ATTEND LOVE NOT HATE EVENTS ON THE BORDER:
FEBRUARY 14-17. Four days’ worth of activities are being planned for the weekend of
February 14-17 as part of the witnessing actions on the border of Brownsville
Matamoros. These include attending tent courts, witnessing deportations at the
Brownsville Airport, vigiling at the courthouse, and participating in several
protest rallies. Let’s see if we can attend and/or let our friends and
neighbors know. The schedule is here. More information is available on the Witness
at the Border Facebook Page.
NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE TO CLOSE THE CAMPS—Tsuru for
Solidarity, a non-violent, direct action project of Japanese American social
justice advocates, is leading the planning of a gathering of Japanese Americans
from across the country in Washington, DC, June 5-7, 2020. The purpose
of the gathering is to express solidarity with immigrant and refugee
communities under attack in the US. Attendees will bring 125,000 paper cranes
(tsuru) to represent the Japanese Americans who were imprisoned in
concentration camps by the US government during World War II. We can support
the pilgrimage by holding “Tsuru Fold-ins” to bring to D.C. or to mail them to
Tsuru for Solidarity by May 1, 2020. To organize a fold-in,
receive updates, register to attend and learn of other ways to participate,
let’s visit: https://tsuruforsolidarity.org/2019/11/13/125000-paper-cranes-to-dc-in-june-2020-for-tsuru-for-solidaritys-national-pilgrimage-to-close-the-camps/
READING/WATCHING
From
Brave New Films: “Trump does not tell the truth. We felt it was “in our
national interest” to fix Trump’s [Super Bowl] ad and tell the truth….” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMZNhBzfMsE
What
Happens To Women Who Can’t Get Abortions - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-happens-to-women-who-cant-get-abortions_n_5e30bedec5b693878a8822e6
My Vote
Don’t Count - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wMALeR1i-FM&feature=youtu.be
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We can stay
up to date on Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House
publishes a weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday)
as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates
their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.