Hi, all, and happy Friday!
I was about to send a fully cheerful intro, and then the Rittenhouse news broke. Ugh. Nonetheless, I will persist with a mostly—that news excepted—upbeat email.
I will only add that the Rittenhouse new is a heartbreaking, frightening travesty. I’ll refrain from saying more, lest you see too much of my dark side.
Moving on.
We woke up this morning to news of the Build Back Better Act’s passage! Obviously we still have to get it through the Senate, but momentum is a real thing, and passage in the House was far from a foregone conclusion even a week ago. I am so proud of— and grateful to—every single one of you who called to support it.
This is how history is made.
If you want to know what provisions are in the House version, by the way, you can find them here. It’s not everything we wanted by a far cry, but BOY is it amazing nevertheless.
In other good news, President Biden announced today that he won’t be re-upping Ron Bloom’s term on the USPS Board of Governors! This, again, is largely due to the noise he heard from folks like you and me; the article actually says “Biden’s decision came as a surprise to the postal industry and policymakers in Washington.” It’s not a surprise to us, though, right?
Now we have to work to make sure the President replaces Bloom and Barger with members who will actually vote to fire Louis DeJoy. That’s what we’ll focus on next.
Brick by brick, ya’ll. Remember, we are building a wall of justice and true democracy, but that wall is made up of one small win on top of another. Each one may feel like not enough on its own, and some days we’ll lose a brick or two, but if we keep at this someday we’ll stand back, see an enormous structure, and say: “Wow! I helped build that!”
At which point we can, justifiably, feel proud as heck.
So let’s go do our daily masonry. So proud to be working in the same crew as you.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I am thrilled that the Build Back Better Act has passed in the House. I want it to pass in the exact same form in the Senate as soon as possible. In fact, I think the Senate needs to delay any holiday break until it’s done.
I would also ask that the Senate not take a recess until they’ve passed the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. I’m tired of reading that our democracy is doomed. You have the power to save it! Do it! [If Democrat add:] This is why we gave Democrats a majority! We did our work, now you do yours. Abolish the filibuster and get this done. We’ve got your back. Save our democracy. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I am thrilled that the House passed the Build Back Better Act. Did the Congressmember vote yes? [If yes thank profusely. If no add:] I’m disappointed to know that they don’t support provisions that would help regular Americans like me AND stave off a climate catastrophe. I will remember it when they are up for re-election.
Also, I am very glad that President Biden is going to replace Ron Bloom and Jon Barger on the USPS Board of Governors, but there is more work to do. First, please make sure that the people he replaces them with will be willing to vote to fire Louis DeJoy. Second, I want the House to pass H.R. 695, the USPS Fairness Act, and H.R. 3076 the Postal Service Reform Act of 2021. Is the Congressmember a co-sponsor on both?
Extra Credit
Please sign this petition calling on Wisconsin political leaders to protect racial justice protestors. (There will be more actions on this, but I need time to figure them out.)
Get on the Phones! ☎️
The Build Back Better Act has passed in the House. Now we need the Senate, and one of two Senators standing in the way (maybe) is Kyrsten Sinema!
So please join NexGen TODAY to make calls to supporters in Arizona to ask them to contact Senator Sinema to urge that she support and pass the Build Back Better Act without delay.
Today’s call shifts are from either 3-5 EST or 5-7 EST. Sign up here. ☎️ 📲
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PMQIIE to 50409]
While I am thrilled about the passage of the BBBA in the House, and I very much want it to pass in the Senate, I want to make one comment about the way we’re paying for it, because we could have had SO MUCH MORE!
While the BBBA is a leap forward for tax fairness, it is disappointing that it did not include other important reforms that could have doubled the revenue raised from the rich and corporations and doubled the benefits delivered to working families. These include a hike in the corporate tax rate that was slashed by 40% four years ago, smarter taxation of capital gains income from selling assets so that wealth is taxed more like work, and a Billionaires Income Tax that would ensure America’s very richest contributed more to the country that helped make their success possible. The wealth of American billionaires has grown by $2.1 trillion, or 70%, since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s unconscionable that they aren’t being directly required to pay more of their fair share of taxes in this legislation.
Going forward I want Congress to use the above methods to raise more money to fund good programs for ALL Americans, like Medicare For All, more weeks of Paid Family Leave, a permanent extension of the Child Tax Credit, and more investments in clean energy. We have had enough of protecting corporations and the rich at everyone else’s expense. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Hooray!!
"good news, President Biden announced today that he won’t be re-upping Ron Bloom’s term on the USPS Board of Governors!"
Brick by brick...
THANK YOU!💜💜💜
Also to anyone hesitant about Resistbot, super simple to use and highly recommend it. Been on it via text for a few years and you have complete control over what you choose to sign and share (whether to get others involved and who, and whether to post etc.).