Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Feeling stressed? Anxious? Overwhelmed? Me tooooooo! Everyone is. But our answer is always the same: We chop wood. We carry water. We do something.
As usual, Robert Hubbell said it perfectly in his email from last night:
A bias toward action. That should be our mantra.
Worrying about catastrophic outcomes is a waste of energy. Taking action to prevent a possible catastrophe is the best way to change the outcome. The next time your anxiety level climbs because someone tells you all may be lost, ask yourself, “What can I do to change that outcome?” Then do it. If enough of us take that approach, we cannot fail.
Let me repeat that: If enough if us take that approach we cannot fail.
There is no question that there are enough of us. The only question is whether enough of us will act.
So let’s be among those who do. There are plenty of opportunities below.
I hope you take them all. 💙
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, we need to seriously expand health care coverage. I strongly urge the Senator to do everything in his/her power to keep the health care provisions in the Build Back Better Act, and pay for them by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
Second, I’m very worried about our democracy. We need to aggressively prosecute everyone associated with the January 6th insurrection—including those flouting subpoenas—up to and including Trump himself. We also need to pass the Freedom to Vote and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Acts. [If a Democrat add:] On that note, we need to abolish the filibuster. It’s being used to thwart democracy. Democrats should get rid of it and pass the many excellent bills sitting on Chuck Schumer’s desk. You guys have the power now, but if you don’t do this you won’t keep it. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, we need to seriously expand health care coverage. I strongly urge the Congressmember to do everything in their power to keep the health care provisions in the Build Back Better Act, like expanding Medicare to include dental, vision & hearing and lowering the age of eligibility to 60. We should pay for it by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices.
Second, I support the permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit and want the Congressmember to as well. Same goes for paid family leave. And Universal Pre-K. It’s time to take care of our children and those who care for them. Thank you.
Extra Credit
Call or Resistbot the President (WH phone lines are open from 11-3 EDT today) and say:
I’m calling because I’m worried about our democracy. The President gave a strong, comprehensive address to the nation in defense of voting rights on July 13, 2021. Yet the threats and intimidation of election officials have continued so that in September the FBI task force had to ramp up its activities. The continued violence makes it imperative that a filibuster exemption be made for voting rights. Please use your bully pulpit and private pressure to get that done now. We need the Freedom to Vote Act and we need the President’s help to get it passed. Thanks.
[WH line 202-456-1111. I got through, although I waited on hold for several minutes.]
Get on the Phones! ☎️
(Want to know why the VA election matters enormously? Find out in 60 seconds here.)
1) If celebrity phonebanks are your thing, the Pod Save America guys are co-hosting Sister District phonebanks into Virginia this week and you’re invited!
Wednesday, October 13 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT with Dan Pfeiffer
Saturday, October 16 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT with Tommy Vietor
Sunday, October 17 at 2 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT with Jon Favreau
2) If celebrity phonebanks AREN’T your thing come make calls with me TODAY! Also into VA! 3PM PDT!
I. Need. You. Too. Sign up here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T]
It is time to stand firm, resist the pressure from lobbyists, and empower Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of its millions of consumers. This is the fiscally responsible course of action that will fund other important parts of the Build Back Better Act.
Lobbyists may favor using a system like the ASP-plus (Average Sale Price, plus overhead) introduced for drug reimbursements for Plan B of Medicare in 2005, touting it as a transparent, market-based solution. The problem is, the Plan B ASP is based on average prices in the USA, the most expensive drug market in the world.
Standing firm against lobbyists’ pressure in this instance will also provide excellent practice for protecting our national security with the strong and effective measures included in the Build Back Better Act to address the climate emergency.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess