Contact Federal Government Officials
Find senator’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/RLiotu
Find representative’s contact info here: https://goo.gl/5i7SXC
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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.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) is introducing a
Congressional Review Act resolution that would restore the Open Internet Order
and reverse the FCC’s historic mistake of repealing Net Neutrality. He needs 30
co-signers to force a vote and only needs one more. https://www.recode.net/2018/1/4/16846978/net-neutrality-internet-donald-trump-ajit-pai-fcc-democrats-advocates-election Let's check if our senators have
supported this defense of our Internet freedoms: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-leads-resolution-to-restore-fccs-net-neutrality-rules If they have, we can thank them and ask them
to press their colleagues to do the same. If not, we can help them understand
how important this is to us.
2.
While we take steps to ensure net neutrality
remains in place, by contacting our MoC and asking them to overrule the FCC's
vote, let's check to see where our members of Congress stand on net neutrality,
at Battle for the Net: https://www.battleforthenet.com/scoreboard/ Then,
we can use Free Press Action Fund's call tool and talking points to get in
touch with our MoCs:
3.
There is increased concerned on Capitol Hill
about Trump’s mental fitness for office and, in December, twelve lawmakers met
with a Yale psychiatrist to discuss this for two days:https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/03/trump-25th-amendment-mental-health-322625 Let’s let our MoC know that we share
Dr. Bandy Lee’s conclusion: “He’s going to unravel, and we are seeing the
signs.” and that we expect their action to protect our nation.
4.
The federal budget, on which Congress will
vote January 19, includes a cut to the Social Security Administration of
$400 billion+— a 4% cut, bringing to 16% the cuts since 2010. This, despite the
fact that the final 2018 appropriation needs to increase to keep pace with
inflation and the aging of the baby boomers: https://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/more-cuts-to-social-security-administration-funding-would-further-degrade We need to make it clear to our MoCs
that they cannot both support this budget and claim to have the public interest
at heart. Unless the 2018 budget restores the full federal contribution
to CHIP (http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/14/politics/chip-extended-states-funds-kimmel-authorization/index.html), offers relief to DACA recipients, and
includes no cuts to Social Security, we should insist that our representatives
in Congress oppose its passage.
5.
Today—Jan 5, 2018—is the last day to comment on
the proposed repeal of regulations that keep new trucks outfitted with
pollution-spewing old engines off the road, according to the Union of Concerned
Scientists. Let’s use this form to tell EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt that we
oppose the revival of the “glider vehicle loophole.”
6.
From our friends at Alt National Park
Service: National Alert: The GOP has created a new bill House
Resolution 3990. This bill is called "National Monument Creation and
Protection Act." The name is completely misleading and deceptive it should
be called, "No More Parks Act." The bill was created by Rep. Rob
Bishop the same person who dismantled Bears Ears and Grand
Staircase-Escalante. This bill is being co-sponsored by eight other Republican
representatives and would
prohibit the president from creating new national monuments larger than 85,000
acres and add a requirement that all state and county officials approve their
creation. Without their approval, new monuments would be limited to a tiny
fraction of that size - 640 Acres if within 50 miles of another monument, and
5000 if not. Let's speak up and call our representatives. (Washington DC
switchboard at (202) 224-3121.) Source: Alt National Park Service - FaceBook page. Let's follow them if we are not already
doing so.
7.
The Justice Department is pushing for a question
on citizenship to be added to the 2020 census, a move that observers say could
depress participation by immigrants who fear that the government could use the
information against them. That, in turn, could have potentially large ripple
effects for everything the once-a-decade census determines — from how
congressional seats are distributed around the country to where hundreds
of billions of federal dollars are spent. Let's read the full story
at ProPublica. We need to let our MoC's, both our
representative and our senator, know that we oppose putting the citizenship
question on the census. Congress can stop this; let's encourage them.
8.
Nominee for the Dept. of Interior's Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Karen Budd-Falen has a narrow perspective and alignment with
fringe interests that make her uniquely unqualified to lead an agency charged
with managing multiple uses across a diverse landscape. (source: The Hill.) We can read more about Budd-Falen
at WyoFile. Let's tell
our Senators that we oppose Budd-Falen for BLM.
9.
The election of November 2016 taught us that it
is imperative that we make all our elections safer. We know that 21 states had hacking issues
then: https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/22/electronic-voting-state-hacking-russian-government-cyber-actors/ With
the mid-terms coming up in ten months, something needs to be done soon to get
protections in place. There is a pending
bipartisan bill that addresses this, but it seems to be going nowhere. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/sl-election-cybersecurity-senate-bill-states.html
Let’s tell our MoCs that we see this as a high need and it needs to get
done soon.
10. Trump
thinks that DACA will be “terrific” as long as the Dems include it in an
immigration package with a wall and other items: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/04/trump-daca-terrific-if-democrats-back-his-own-immigration-plans/1003768001/ The Dream act has been delayed too long,
and the time to pass a clean Dream Act is now. We can help by calling our
Congress Members and asking them to be “Dream Heroes”, insisting on
including the act as part of every spending bill until it passes and not part
of Trump’s immigration plan. We can find
tailored call scripts here: https://www.dreamerpledge.org We
can click here to send pre written tweets to Members of Congress whose votes
have not supported Dreamers, thus keeping them at risk of deportation: http://weareheretostay.org/deportationcaucus/
11.
In the light of renewed debate about the costs
of the War on Drugs, more and more states have been legalizing or
decriminalizing marijuana. While there is considerable disagreement on whether
or not this is the right direction for our country, the Obama Administration
sensibly chose a policy of non-interference in states that had exercised their
power to change the law. Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions are going the other way,
leading to widespread confusion and the possibility that state laws will be
respected or not depending on who the U.S. attorney in each district is (http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/politics/jeff-sessions-cole-memo/index.html). Let’s continue to allow experimentation
at the state level, and contact our members of Congress and ask them to adopt
the “Cole memo” standards as Justice Department policy through the
appropriations process.
12. We
earned a real victory on Wednesday, as state officials’ refusal to hand
over our information led Donald Trump to disband his voter suppression
commission (http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/367343-trump-dissolves-voter-fraud-commission). But while we’ve won this battle, the war
to protect our right to vote rages on. Let’s take this opportunity to remind
our reps that we want the federal government combating voter suppression rather
than promoting it, and that starts with Congress finally coming together and
restoring the Voting Rights Act.
13. In
a bigger move than originally stated and designed to resurrect the oil
industry, Trump has authorized oil drilling -- the largest expansion of
offshore drilling ever on nearly all the U.S. outer continental
shelf. Environmentalist and coast
governors have fought against this for some time. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/04/trump-aims-to-open-arctic-pacific-and-atlantic-to-offshore-drilling-in-ambitious-new-plan.html Trump
is “playing a dangerous game with our oceans and coastal communities. By trying
to expand offshore oil drilling while simultaneously rolling back
drilling-safety standards put in place after the Deepwater Horizon disaster,
Trump is making more major oil spills inevitable.” http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/367327-trumps-offshore-drilling-expansion-deregulation-is
Let’s ask our MoCs to sign on to S. 1996 and H.R. 4114, the Environmental Justice Act as soon as possible to help allay
any damage.
14. Yet,
at the same time, the “Trump administration wants to roll back some of a
wide-ranging Obama-era regulation that was meant to improve the safety of
offshore oil and natural gas drilling.” http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/366669-trump-seeks-to-roll-back-offshore-drilling-safety-standards We have until January 29th to
comment on the proposed rule change. Let’s submit a comment (https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=BSEE-2017-0008-0001) urging the Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement to keep the rule as is.
1. Most
of us not ever really thought too much about mid-term elections, but we now
know we must do so. It can all be pretty
overwhelming, bu there are many ways to approach them to make them more manageable
to follow and participate. One
Thing You Can Do suggests
the “Core Four” method: https://onethingyoucando.com/2017/12/24/choose-your-core-four-for-2018/
2. There
are 36 governorships up for election this year.
Governors will continue to play an even bigger role in protecting
citizens as the Trump era continues.
Let’s look and check out our blue candidates and see how we can
help: https://ballotpedia.org/Gubernatorial_elections,_2018
Election 2018 – By
State
1. FL:
Election 2018 - On Dec. 19, Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton
Beach, cast the lone "no" vote on a widely bipartisan human
trafficking bill that passed unanimously through the U.S. Senate in September
before sailing through the House by a count of 418 to 1. The bill was
co-sponsored by both of Florida's U.S. Senators: Democrat Bill Nelson and
Republican Marco Rubio. Let's read more at Orlando Weekly. If we are constituents of Gaetz in
Florida's 1st district, let's contact him to let him know we do not approve of
his vote for human trafficking. Gaetz's will be defending his seat this year.
Let's work to vote him out. This seat is listed as Safe/Solid Republican
on Ballotpedia.
If we are independent or non-party affiliated voters in FL1, let's consider
registering as Republicans so we can vote in the August 28 primary.
2. CO:
"Time and again, Senator Cory Gardner has shown disregard for his
constituents in the great state of Colorado." There is a very active, well-organized
Indivisible scene in Colorado, but more help is always appreciated. Let's
pledge here to help unseat this notoriously unresponsive, party-line-voting
junior Senator:
Other Actions
1.
Due to
nutrient runoff (fertilizer pollution) from farms in the Midwest, which then
drains into streams and rivers, the Gulf of Mexico suffers from a massive dead
zone, where there is not enough oxygen for fish and other organisms to
survive http://n.pr/2ETRv38 This
year, the dead zone was the largest it's been, roughly the size of New Jersey.
While it is unknown if congress will include runoff regulations in the 2018
Farm Bill, in the meantime, we can contact large farming corporations and ask
that they take steps to clean up their act. Sierra Rise has a form letter that
we can edit and send to Tyson CEO Tom Hayes, as well as a tweet we can send to
Tyson Foods http://bit.ly/2E6rmNB
2.
The
Freedom Caucus, as well as other GOP members, is calling for Attorney General
Sessions to be gone https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/04/jeff-sessions-resign-freedom-caucus-mark-meadows-jim-jordan-324022 They
know that he is the key to the Mueller investigation. If Sessions were fired, it leaves the
opportunity for a new Attorney General to remove Rothstein from overseeing
Mueller. Many feel that the Sessions/marijuana story We cannot let that
happen. Let’s watch and make noise if we
need to do so.
3.
Right
now, activists in Florida are working hard to get enough signatures to put a
proposal on the ballot which would restore voting rights for convicted felons.
More than 1.6 million Floridians are permanently barred from voting due to a
prior conviction http://bit.ly/2fIXyxI Let's
join the effort to acquire the signatures needed to get this initiative on the
ballot! If we are a Florida resident, let's make sure we've signed the
petition. If we do not reside in Florida, we can still help by donating
petitions: https://florida.ourstates.org/
4.
George
Lakoff, noted American linguist and philosopher, has a fascinating insight into
how Trump tweets to control the news and what we can do about it: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/948424436058791937.html
5.
Want to
keep up with what is happening in Congress regarding Net Neutrality? “Fight for the Future, will allow
net neutrality supporters to receive updates via
text notifying them if their elected representatives don’t support overturning
the order. Alerts will go out on the eve of the next election as well,
reminding voters where lawmakers fell on the issue. To sign up for the alerts,
you can enter your phone number on the campaign
website or text “VOTE” to 384-387.” https://gizmodo.com/text-alerts-will-tell-net-neutrality-supporters-who-to-1821742995 Let’s sign up.
6.
The
group Spread the Vote has been helping people get the IDs they need to be able
to vote in Virginia, Georgia, and Tennessee. Now, they’re expanding into
Florida and Texas. Let’s sign up to help! https://www.spreadthevote.org/
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to
attend/organize
1. Swing
Left will be hosting a conference call this Sunday, January 7th, to focus
on fundraising for the 2018 primaries. Let's sign up for the call, and learn
how we can participate in the Swing Left Winter Challenge: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X8JYZVhKSFi2R3Ym2MDTQg
2. The
Women’s March is planning their 2018 “Power to the Polls” inaugural events for
the weekend of January 20-21. Let’s find
out where we can meet up and take part:
http://www.powertothepolls.com/anniversary.html Do not be confused by a similar sounding and looking group that is also doing similar things that weekend. Look for “Women’s March” to be sure!
http://www.powertothepolls.com/anniversary.html Do not be confused by a similar sounding and looking group that is also doing similar things that weekend. Look for “Women’s March” to be sure!
3. Let’s
mark our calendars! On Sunday, Jan. 28,
from 3-4:30 pm, Showing Up for Racial Justice will be hosting a webinar for feminists of
all genders on “Centering Intersectional Feminism for the Win!”. More info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2102743643287459/
States
1. ALL: Trump has signed an executive order to
disband his sham voter “fraud” commission: https://apnews.com/b3d4e5974aba421b81763c153541ea06 First things first, let’s raise a
toast to each other in the resistance as this commission was met with swift
fury and action when it was announced and this is a victory against voter
suppression efforts! Then, if our Secretaries of State and Attorneys General
did the right thing, let’s take a moment to thank them. Postcards for
Kate has particularly called out Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap of
Maine, who served on the commission and filed suit against them, as worthy of
special thanks so let’s say thanks! Office of the Secretary, Matthew Dunlap,
148 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0148 or @MESecofState on Twitter
2. ALL:
“States are moving to write their own net neutrality regulations after the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in December decided to scrap the
Obama-era internet rules.” http://thehill.com/policy/technology/367254-states-pursue-net-neutrality-rules-after-fcc-rollback Let’s contact the legislators in our
own states urging them to move forward with this.
3. MA: Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets
people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA
Signup Project is spreading the word through social media. They have 15
days to get 21 more supporters. We can them reach their goal to set off a
Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click,
add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. THEN cut,
paste and share: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65115-massachusetts-enrollment-alert Find out more about how Thunderclap helps
grassroots organizing here: https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/
4. MA—Anti-immigration
activists are conducting a disinformation campaign against the Safe Communities
Act. http://www.progressivemass.com/sca-takeaction-hatemailersIf enacted, the Safe Communities Act would
be in compliance with federal law and bar state and local police from acting as
ICE agents, ensure that constitutional rights and due process are accorded
equally to citizens and non-citizens, and bar state support for a Muslim
registry. https://www.miracoalition.org/safe-communities If we’re in Massachusetts, lets tell
our state legislators to sponsor and pass the Safe Communities Act, S.1305 and
H.3269. Contact info here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator .
5. NY: Huge budget cuts crippled outreach that lets
people know when, how and where to sign up for the ACA, so Indivisible ACA
Signup Project is spreading the word through social media. They have 22
days to get 42 more supporters. We can them reach their goal to set off a
Thunderclap, a social media flash mob message blast. First, we can click,
add our social media support on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. THEN cut,
paste and share: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/65573-new-york-enrollment-alert Find
out more about how Thunderclap helps grassroots organizing here: https://www.socialworkhelper.com/2013/10/02/thunderclap-can-help-grassroots-organizing/amp/
Reading/Watching
1.
In case we missed it...After the Rose Parade,
200 people marched for Universal Healthcare in Pasadena. Let's read about it at
the Pasadena News. Let's be inspired and continue to push for
Universal Healthcare in 2018.
2.
"It’s hard to weather a hundred-year storm
when you start out with political powerlessness, crumbling infrastructure,
crushing debt, and poor housing. However, Puerto Ricans know what Americans are
rarely taught: Most of those problems were imposed by the United States. Here’s
what you should have been taught about Puerto Rico." http://bit.ly/2CsUtgG
