Hi, all, and happy Friday!
OK, so here’s where things stand: We have a package. It omits a lot of stuff we love, and we can still ask for that stuff later. BUT if we get what’s just in it now, we are getting something really extraordinary. From the NYT’s The Morning:
“Because they started big, there’s a tendency to say, ‘Oh, it’s disappointing’ — but it’s huge,” said Jane Waldfogel, a longtime scholar of children and families. “If you had told us a year ago that there was going to be a bill this fall that would have an extension of the child tax credit, big funding for child care, pre-K, health care, et cetera, I would have said, ‘In your dreams.’”
She’s right. This IS the stuff of dreams. It’s the stuff that one year ago would have felt absolutely inconceivable. And it’s stuff WE CAN HAVE. All we need to do is keep the pressure on. So today we’re focussing on calling Democrats and urging them to seal the deal. I didn’t even give you a script for Republican MOCs, because this is such an important effort.
(It also gets harder and harder to write scripts for people who are obviously and unapologetically uninterested in legislating. But that’s a subject for another day.)
So. Today we ALL call. Even those of you who generally just skim this newsletter and go on with your day. Call. Seriously. If we get the BBB through it’ll be absolutely transformational. AND we will live to pass more, and better, legislation in the future.
If it doesn’t pass that will become much, much harder to do.
So let’s get to work.
Then go eat (sustainable) candy. 🎃
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
[If a Senator other than Manchin or Sinema] I want the Senator to vote to pass the reconciliation bill, immediately after the House sends it over. This cannot take a back seat to an inadequate bipartisan bill. So no bipartisan bill until the reconciliation bill is passed. Thanks.
As far as the reconciliation bill goes, I am very heartened by the climate provisions in it and want the Senator to support them all. This is a “code red moment for humanity,” and the Build Back Better Act is our best, last chance to tackle the climate crisis. I also still support Paid Family Leave, a Pathway to Citizenship, free Community College, and lower drug prices, and I want the Senator to keep pushing to get these provisions back into the package. But either way, pass it, please!
If Your Senators are Manchin or Sinema
You get your own script:
I’m a constituent from [part of state] and I’m furious that [Senator] has threatened to undermine the budget reconciliation bill currently being written.
There’s no excuse for risking urgent proposals like lowering drug prices, strengthening Medicare, universal child care, and climate action. Instead of political stunts, I expect them to support the Democratic agenda. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I want the Representative to vote no on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework until Congress passes the reconciliation bill.
As far as the reconciliation bill goes, I am very heartened by the climate provisions in it and want the Senator to support them all. This is a “code red moment for humanity,” and the Build Back Better Act is our best, last chance to tackle the climate crisis. I also still support Paid Family Leave, a Pathway to Citizenship, free Community College, and lower drug prices, and I want the Congressmember to keep pushing to get these provisions back into the package. But either way, pass it, please!
Extra Credit
Today’s a big day in the climate movement. Youth and climate finance activists are mobilizing at financial institutions across the globe to demand a FOSSIL FREE FUTURE. Altogether, there are actions in 56 countries on every continent in the world calling out fossil fuel financing. Can you take a quick moment to support them? All you need to do is call and email JPMorgan Chase executives TODAY!
It only takes five minutes (actually I just did it and it took about 2 1/2) using this handy online tool and script: Contact Chase bank executives to demand a Fossil Free Future. (scroll down to find the phone and email tool). I spoke to a very nice woman who took my message very respectfully. YAY!
🚨 One more thing: if you’re on social media today please look for posts with the hashtag #defundclimatechaos and amplify/share them! It’s an easy way to help! 🚨
Get Smart!
Right after I send this, at 11AM PDT, the Sierra Club will be hosting a webinar explaining what, exactly, is in the BBB framework, with an emphasis on its climate provisions. I’m attending—after all, the better we understand what’s in this framework the more easily we can amplify it to others!
Get on the Phones! ☎️
On top of my regular phonebank today at 3PM PDT and ALL of the other Virginia phonebanks in this document, the Environmental Voter Project has a ton of GOTV shifts for not only Virginia, but ALL of the critically important elections happening on Tuesday. Please, can you choose one and attend? Everything is too close!
Oct. 29 (TODAY): GOTV Phonebank #2 - VA, AZ, NC, NM . 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT
Oct. 30: GOTV Phonebank #2 - VA, AZ, NC, NM. 3pm ET / 12pm PT
Oct. 31: GOTV Phonebank - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM. 1pm ET / 10am PT
Oct. 31: GOTV Phonebank #2 - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM . 3pm ET / 12pm PT
Nov. 1: GOTV Phonebank - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM. 12pm ET / 9am PT
Nov. 1: GOTV Phonebank #2 - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM . 6:30pm ET / 3:30pm PT
Nov. 2: GOTV Phonebank - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM. 12pm ET / 9am PT
Nov. 2: GOTV Phonebank #2 - VA, GA, AZ, NC, NM. 4:30pm ET / 1:30pm PT
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T]
Please support the "Make Polluters Pay" plan—a commonsense, straightforward plan based on the simple rule: If you make a mess, you clean it up. Introduced by U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the plan would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years that could help foot the bill for enacting the bold climate action we desperately need.
The proposal would require the worst polluters (fossil fuel giants who can easily afford to pay) to contribute to a climate fund, where the fee is calculated based on their emissions over the past 20 years.
Since the plan isn't industry-wide, costs won't get passed on to consumers, and only the biggest contributors to climate change would be paying their fair share. A $500 billion fund could help offset the costs of new climate solutions in a major way, and be used to invest in solar and wind energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and more.
This would be a win-win for Americans. Please support it. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Thank you! 💜