“So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote I do not possess myself. I cannot make up my mind — it is made up for me. I cannot live as a democratic citizen, observing the laws I have helped to enact — I can only submit to the edict of others.”
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., May 17, 1957
Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Hope you’re all staying healthy and relatively sane amidst the COVID surge. So far no one in my house has gotten it, but we’re more or less surrounded, so it seems likely to come. Still, I try to stay in the day; today I am healthy and able, so I’m going to use that fact to try to do a bit of good.
Assuming you are also healthy and able, I hope you will join me.
But first, a couple of newsy items:
You probably won’t have heard about it, because the MSM doesn’t like reporting on Democratic wins, but we did sweep a whole bunch of special elections yesterday. Read about it here. And tell your friends! If the media won’t amplify our victories then we will have to do it ourselves.
Also, yesterday President Biden forcefully called for creating a carve-out to the Senate filibuster to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act! This is historic. We have pushed and pushed, and he has responded. Your. Calls. Work. Bravo!
On that subject, if you don’t already subscribe to Dan Rather’s Steady (and you should), he published a great piece yesterday about why he’s come around to supporting filibuster reform. If this is a subject you find opaque or confusing, his words make the entire debate crystal clear. He also articulates beautifully why now is different than “before,” and what exactly we’re fighting for when we say “the filibuster has to go.” It’s a must-read.
Finally, I just received a message on the voting rights situation from my “inside source” on the Hill:
Update on the state of play. Flexibility is the name of the game right now. Expect a series of votes over the next several days, on motions to proceed, there could be votes on a series of rule changes, and there is a good chance the Senate will stay in session over the weekend. Things are changing rapidly and we will likely not get any or very little advance notice of when things are going to happen. I'll drop updates as I get them. It's SHOWTIME!
When I asked if there was any progress at all on the Sinema and Manchin front she added:
Yes. Manchin is in serious talks. If you saw his interview yesterday with McFarlane, he said Senate rules need to change. Sinema is also now in meetings with Senators. Biden will be at the Dem caucus lunch tomorrow as well. [Sic] she drops updates I’ll pass them along to you.
She also posted this tweet.
All of this is to say that we’re still “in the maybe,” but that’s better than being in the “nope.”
OK, all. Onwards we trudge, side by side. Never, ever forget that there are millions of us—in fact millions more than there are on the other side—and that we are seasoned, strong, creative, smart and determined. We will not give up.
And we will win.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want the Senator to support and fight to pass the Womens Health Protection Act (S. 1975). I am very concerned about attacks on reproductive rights happening across the country.
Second, I am calling to urge the Senator to support the Freedom To Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This legislation is so crucial, and there’s no time to waste. Please tell the Senator that the right to vote is important to constituents like me, and shouldn’t be a partisan issue.
[If Republican]: The Senator needs to rise above politics and support democracy before we lose it.
[If Democrat]: If we need to reform the filibuster to get this across the finish line, do it. The Senator’s oath to the Constitution is more important than a senate rule. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m very concerned about the attacks on reproductive freedom happening in our country. While I know the House has already passed the Women’s Health Protection Act, its chances in the Senate are shaky. But there’s more Congress can do:
One impediment to abortion access is the Hyde amendment, which prohibits the use of federal money for abortions. It is urgent to repeal this amendment permanently, as H.R. 2234 proposes. This bill could evade the filibuster if it were included as part of the budget reconciliation process. Congress should also make the provision of abortion services available to all Medicaid eligible patients.
Finally, the FDA should make clear, with an express authorization from Congress, that states may not interfere with the use of mifepristone, a federally-approved drug, whether for abortion or other purposes. It’s time to think outside of the box to protect the right to choose. Thanks. [H/T]
[Since this is a long script I made it into a Resistbot letter of its own. You can text SIGN PFDUKW to 50409 to send it to your House rep.]
Extra Credit
The Biden Administration is requesting public comments regarding the government’s cruel and systematic separation of thousands of children and families.
The ACLU has created a great tool to enable us to easily submit such a comment. Their suggested text—which you can modify slightly so it doesn’t get counted as spam—reminds the Biden Administration of its basic moral obligation to reunite separated families and provide relief to help them heal. Will you do this?
What Are You Doing on MLK Day?
Please join a Movement Call tonight where organizers will update us on the path forward for federal voting rights legislation, and provide more information on MLK Day events and how you can plug in! It’s from 8-9 PM EST. Rep Jayapal will be there! Register here.
Can’t make the call? You can still plan to join MLK day events all over the country, particularly in AZ and DC, to support voting rights. Find an Event.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PYKPGW to 50409]
The American economy is on the road to recovery thanks to investments like the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. But we are still feeling the effects of the shockwaves the pandemic has sent through our economy with rising prices that are exacerbated by corporations using the cover of inflation to boost their bottom line.
We all know—and economists agree—that the best way to help families deal with higher costs is to pass the Build Back Better Act, which lowers the cost of prescription drugs, utility bills, childcare, education and health care for families, allowing them to keep more money in their pockets.
Beyond that, the BBB starts to address our very scary climate crisis, which is worsening visibly and drastically every day.
All of this is to say that I want the Senate to get back to work passing Build Back Better. Americans need and want the provisions in it. Please don’t give up on it, and definitely don’t obstruct it. Work with your colleagues; get it done. We are counting on you. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
For people in CA, I just had an experience with Diane Feinstein's phone numbers. I tried her DC number: 202-224-3841 3 times, getting a sound like the number had been disconnected, but it just said 'your call did not go through, try again. So I looked up her San Francisco number, 415-393-0707 and tried it. I got a menu that was very hard to understand, but one item said press 1, so I did. It took me to her DC voice mail!!?? Just FYI.