More great info from our friend, Karen!
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| Excerpts:
12/3/18
Contact Federal Government Officials
Find elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Fax legislators for free: Reps: https://faxzero.com/fax_congress.phpSenate:
https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php ;
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 ;
1. This week in Congress: The House will consider fifteen (15) bills this
week with votes scheduled starting Tuesday. Let's review the Majority Leader's
Schedule so we know what's coming. Of note is HRes1165 – Condemning the Assad
regime and its backers for their continued support of war crimes and crimes
against humanity in Syria. Let's contact our representatives to let them know
we want them to support HRes1165. On Monday, the Senate will resume
consideration of the nomination of Bernard L. McNamee, of Virginia, to be a
Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Since the president
nominated him earlier this year, McNamee has faced fierce opposition from
Democrats and environmentalists. We can read more at The HIll. Let's tell our
Senators that we oppose McNamee for FERC. We can check the Senate calendar
daily for updates on what's is coming the next day.
2. The Department of Education’s proposed new guidelines for enforcing campus
sexual assault are open for public comment.
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/01/672222364/devos-new-sexual-assault-guidelines-are-open-for-public-comment
The proposals have been met by serious concern, because they will further
raise the burden of proof, making it much more difficult for sexual assault
survivors to seek justice, and likely deterring the reporting of these crimes.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/16/18096736/betsy-devos-sexual-assault-harassment-title-ix.
Considering that 1 in 5 women will experience campus sexual assault, and 63%
of men who have self-reported rape or harassment have admitted to repeated
occurrences, let’s make sure to add our voices in support of survivors, not
perpetrators. We can add our comments here. For stats, check out this fact
sheetfrom the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
3. For the first time in ten years, the number of uninsured children has
increased, due to Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare and the
administration’s actions and regulations to weaken the bill.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/29/18116371/uninsured-rate-children-health-insurance-medicaid-trump.
Let’s tell our MoCs that we are disturbed by this increase and we want to see
legislation that assures that all people, especially children, are able to have
affordable health insurance. Let’s also publicize Obamacare Open Enrollment,
(which closes December 15), wildly on our networks, as the administration has
done as little as possible to promote it and shortened the enrollment time
frame, which is another reason that the rates of the uninsured are increasing.
4. From one of our own: Sen Schumer is considering appointment of Sen Manchin
(D-WV) as ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee. Manchin is an advocate for fossil fuels and his environmental record
is deplorable. He would likely block any legislation on climate change.
Indivisibles are hearing about this and starting to mobilize.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/30/ocasio-cortez-manchin-energy-committee-1002853
I oppose allowing Senator Manchin (D-WV) to become the ranking member on the
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This appointment would make a
travesty of Democratic initiatives against climate change. Manchin supports
Trump's EPA and the fossil fuel industry. His lifetime score from the League
of Conservation Voters is a deplorable 47%. I totally oppose this appointment
and I urge you to advise Senator Schumer against it.
5. General Motors is cutting 14,000 jobs and closing five manufacturing
plants—ostensibly to increase savings. But, GM “has spent $10.6 billion since
2015 buying back its own shares,” which does nothing for its productivity—but
does make its stock more valuable, which is attractive to investors and
executives who are paid in stock.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gm-bought-back-10-billion-in-stock-since-2015-double-what-job-cuts-will-save/
Since the 1980s, corporations have been increasingly directing profits to
stock buy-backs that benefit shareholders, while workers’ wages remain flat.
https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warren-introduces-accountable-capitalism-act
The Accountable Capitalism Act (S.3348) addresses this problem. Let’s tell
our Senators to co-sponsor S.3348, and let’s tell our Reps to introduce
parallel legislation in the House.
6. Let's remind Trump we don't want to pay for his wall. "The House and the
Senate ... have to pass seven spending bills to fund multiple government
agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of
Justice, and the State Department. But Trump has renewed a push for border wall
funding, throwing a major wrench into these negotiations."
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/11/28/18112713/trump-border-wall-funding-shutdown
Let's call our Democratic Members of Congress "and demand they reject Trump’s
deportation machine and the wall." We'd rather have a "short-term CR that funds
the remaining parts of the government only through the early part of the next
Congress." Indivisible will hook us up directly, here:
https://act.indivisible.org/call/cr-reject-trumps-deportation-machine-and-wall/
7. From one of our own: Public comment time: I added a link to all the
items closing soon and new this week as there are dozens relating to specific
pesticides, underground storage of hazardous waste - often state or
subject-specific, too many for me to list but people can peruse if they want.
The big one closing soon is the Inadmissibility on Public Charge that can be
applied to some permanent residents who may uses services - could include
school lunches and ACA. Here's the link to this week's list:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Delwh-2Noz4imfujfVGPRjZD59yvcJk4
8. “The Trump administration is taking a major step toward allowing a
first-in-a-generation seismic search for oil and gas under Atlantic waters,
despite protests that the geological tests involve loud air gun blasts that
will harm whales, dolphins and other animals.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-30/trump-said-to-advance-seismic-tests-for-oil-in-atlantic-waters-jp3bw60l
The companies need to get individual permission from the Interior
Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management before work can begin. Let’s
tell that department that we do not agree with this move motivated by greed:
https://www.boem.gov/Contact-Us/ Let’s tell our MoCs the same. ;
Election/Voting
1. Tuesday, December 4th is the Secretary of State runoff election in
Georgia:https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article222518640.html
Let’s reach out to anyone we know in Georgia with gentle reminders to get out
the vote for John Barrow. Georgia deserves fair elections!
2. In North Carolina, the Board of Elections will not certify a Congressional
race because of concerns of election fraud perpetrated by the GOP:
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/01/672531061/amid-fraud-allegations-state-election-board-wont-certify-north-carolina-house-ra
If we are in North Carolina, let’s contact our state reps and the governor to
express our concern: https://governor.nc.gov and https://www.ncleg.net If we ;
have family and friends in North Carolina, let’s be in touch to encourage their
involvement.
3. There are enough votes to bring the legislation forward that would protect
Special Counsel Robert Muller, but Mitch McConnell (R-KY) refuses to bring it
forward.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mcconnell-senate-republicans-block-vote-mueller-protection-bill-n941291
Let’s join in contributing to McConnell’s 2020 opponent:
https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/389893/lets-fund-mitch-mcconnells-2020-opponent
Other Actions
1. We’re currently in the open enrollment period for healthcare coverage
under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Here’s the bad news: there’s been a ;
9.2% drop in sign-ups compared to last year. One likely cause: cuts to the
advertising budget by the Trump administration—fewer people know that it’s time
to enroll.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/28/obamacare-insurance-numbers-drop-995227
In most states, the enrollment period ends Dec 15. Let’s help spread the word
by (1) sharing this link on social media https://www.healthcare.gov/ , and ;(2)
contacting radio, television, and print media in our communities and asking
them to report on the open enrollment period. If we use Twitter, here is an
easy way to help spread the word that it’s time to sign up for health care
coverage under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare): we can visit
https://twitter.com/2019ACASignup/media and retweet their graphics. Let’s get ;
started and turn around those dismal sign-up numbers!
2. This week, Sinclair news outlets issued a “must-run” segment that defended
the U.S. tear-gassing migrant families at the border.
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/418651-sinclair-runs-must-run-segment-defending-use-of-tear-gas-at.
Sinclair currently has the largest share of TV news outlets, reaching 39% of
U.S. Homes. The company recently bid to merge with Tribune, which would have
resulted in the station owning nearly ¾ of all TV outlets. While that deal was
killed, we need to keep our eyes on Sinclair's attempts to seek additional
stations, and also do whatever we can to counteract their “alternative facts.”
Let’s write letters to the editor of our local papers, or submit public
comments to our TV and radio stations stating why spewing tear gas at people
seeking to apply for asylum, which is their right by law, is an immoral and
reprehensible act that is of questionable legality.
3. As citizens we're told to understand our government, know the issues, and
vote accordingly. Yet, with new crises and important revelations constantly
emerging, sometimes daily, being an informed citizen can be daunting. That's
why ProPublica offers its User's Guide to Democracy, an electronic newsletter
tailored to a recipient's voting district. "From understanding political ads to
seeing what your representatives are actually doing (or not doing), this series
of short guides will help you become a more informed, more engaged, more
confident voter."
https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/users-guide-to-democracy
4. Showing Up for Racial Justice, http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/ , ;
has a project to help families seeking asylum at the US/Mexico border. If we’re
interested in raising funds to support families being held in detention,
organizing to help get people released, or sponsoring a family, let’s sign up
here: http://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/end-family-separation.html
5. Through Hands Across the Hills,
https://www.handsacrossthehills.org/about-us , two groups of Americans—one from ;
deep blue Massachusetts and one from deep red Kentucky—have been having a
dialogue since the 2016 election. While they still have many points of
political disagreement, they have built deep friendships and learned to see the
world through each other’s eyes. Let’s listen to this remarkable radio segment,
and let’s think about how we might repair the divisions that plague America:
https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/11/28/conservatives-kentucky-liberals-massachusetts-politics
6. What is happening at CNN? During the past week, in response to the
National Climate Assessment that Trump tried to bury, CNN aired a chorus of
climate deniers, including their in-house paid denier Rick Santorum, claiming
that scientists are “getting rich, really rich” propagating a false myth of
climate change:
https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/how-tv-news-fumbles-climate-change
Meanwhile, Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist and co-author of the Assessment,
was bumped from Anderson Cooper’s 360 at the last minute:
https://www.salon.com/2018/11/29/author-of-report-on-global-warming-calls-out-cnn-for-bumping-her-for-climate-denier-rick-santorum/
And on Thursday, CNN announced that it had severed ties with Temple
University Professor and CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill after he gave a UN
speech in support of Palestinian human rights:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/29/media/marc-lamont-hill-cnn/index.html We, ;
perhaps foolishly, expected better from CNN and should tell them so: CNN
President Jeff Zucker at: Jeff.Zucker@xxxxxxxxxx or CNN (404) 827-1500 or
comment at: www.cnn.com/feedback.
7. In case we thought we were having no impact, according to Friday’s
Washington Post, new “Guidance Regarding Political Activity” was issued by the
Office of Special Counsel, NOT Robert Mueller’s office but the independent
agency that enforces the Hatch Act barring federal employees from using their
work resources and social media accounts for political purposes; this
Orwellian “guidance” prohibits federal workers from using terms like
“resistance” or “#resist” or expressing their views on impeachment:
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/419074-government-warns-employees-not-to-discuss-trump-impeachment-or-the
Let’s join the ethics nonprofit American Oversight and express our
“significant concerns” and call for the withdraw of this “guidance”: OSC
Headquarters (202) 804-7000 or 1730 M Street, N.W., Suite 218, Washington, D.C.
20036-4505.
8. This week, delegations from countries all over the world are meeting in
Poland for COP24, the United Nations’ international climate change conference.
The US government may have sidelined itself, but we can make our voices heard
loud and clear by tweeting #TakeYourSeat, courtesy of the Peoples Climate
Movement.
9. “The deadliest fire in California history has set into motion the largest
charitable collaboration ever among the nation's breweries, as more than 1,200
have signed on to brew a beer to raise funds for those affected by the Camp
Fire in Northern California.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2018/11/28/camp-fire-relief-beer-brewed-sierra-nevada-and-1-000-others/2124195002/
Let’s make a point of supporting those breweries who are helping:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14CSqVrsN6M2p7gx5MeAnhXlMaCUJ-kMh54-Amq7KCvI/htmlview#gid=0
State Actions
1. MI:This year's lame duck session has been rife with legislation that
would not only gut the proposals that Michiganders overwhelming passed during
the midterms, but would strip away executive power, and gut protections for the
environment (https://bit.ly/2Q7KJ3e and ;
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/11/29/bill-would-allow-legislators-intercede-any-court-case-involving-state/2150818002/).
These bills are not being presented in good faith, and have not followed
normal order, rather they are being rushed out of committee and voted on before
any real debate or hearings can be held. In order to fight back, We the People-
MI have organized a week of actions in Lansing. For those of us who are able to
attend, let's sign up and show our Congress that we do not accept their lame
duck tactics.
2. WI: In the span between the November election and the January swearing-in
of the new Democratic governor in Wisconsin, the Republican House is trying to
make some very dodgy moves to limit the power of incoming Governor, Tony Evers:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/30/lawmakers-consider-changes-early-voting-transportation-funding-2020-presidential-primary/2162684002/
If we are in Wisconsin, let’s reach our reps to cry foul:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov If we know people in Wisconsin, let’s reach out to ;
ask them to get involved before it is too late. We can also sign a petition
asking that the will of the people be respected here:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-power-grab-to-limit-the-role-of-governor-elect-evers
Marches/events/webinars/Tweetstorms to attend/organize
1. From ADAPT: ADAPT is calling for a Day of Action on December 4th in
support of the Empower Care Act (Money Follows the Person) [H.R. 5306/S. 2227].
Use the attached flyer on the Empower Care Act to email, text, tweet, visit
local offices, protest, rally, press conference, etc. & repeat. .so we can keep
freeing our people from institutions with Money Follows the Person (MFP), the
massively effective federal program that ADAPT helped invent. At a minimum
include your name and contact information with the flyer when you send it or
drop it off.
2. EmpowerandHelpand The Swell Collective have gotten planning underway for a
wellness and community engagement retreat for community organizers in April of
2019, venue and location TBD. The retreat will give those of us in need an
opportunity for a weekend away to focus on resilience building activities,
personal intention and goal setting, and “in real life” collaborative social
networking with others in the movement. We can sign up here to stay in the loop
or get involved:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYVFWZy-t1N0OcKknDdwegFnUpt-RQWzE7jrNpL74Nuj0Wew/viewform
Reading/Watching
1. The Democrats’ 1st Move in the Next Congress -
https://politicalcharge.org/2018/12/01/the-democrats-1st-move-in-the-next-congress/
2. Dan Rather: We Are Losing A More Basic Foundation For Outrage -
https://www.newsandguts.com/dan-rather-losing-basic-foundation-outrage/
3. Trump aides caught in web of deception over Russia contacts -
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/trump-aides-caught-in-web-of-deception-over-russia-contacts
Read on »
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