Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/18

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

You’ll notice some repetition in our call scripts right now—specifically in our calls to House members. If you’ve been with me for a while you’ll know that this is a tactic we resort to when a specific matter requires the proverbial full-court press. This, of course, is where we are with the debt ceiling. So I’ll remind you once again that our legislators are tallying how many calls they get on a particular subject on a given day—not who is making them. Every day, in other words, we get a clean slate where our constituent outreach is concerned.

I say all of that to assure you that yes, it is worthwhile to call repeatedly on the same issue. On the looming debt ceiling crisis, which will have ramifications for all of us if we don’t thwart Republican sabotage, we can’t call often enough. Especially if we have GOP representatives. Be loud and proud in your activism—you can be sure the other side is doing so.

I’ll close with this: I know it’s tough out there right now. Reading the news can cause almost physical pain, and, even given what we’re used to, prognostications everywhere feel especially grim.

It is at times like these that we must remember to breathe, to keep our eyes on the road directly in front of us, and to bear in mind that the future never, ever plays out as predicted. We are in for some brutal fights, that’s for sure, but we are in for surprises, too. Some will be unpleasant, but others will play to our advantage.

It’s also useful to remember that the GOP is more frightened than we are. It’s true! Their bluster may be greater, their threats more aggressive, but that’s because they’re cornered and they know it. They are well and truly hopeless. A party in its death throes.

The only way we lose the longer battle, in short, is by giving up.

I’m here to help you not do that.

So grab the hand—figuratively speaking— of the citizen-activist to either side of you—remembering there are millions of us—and take the next small step forward. You’re not alone. Not by a long shot.

And through our determined, persistent actions we will win.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling to ask the Senator to sign on to the December 2022 Senator Baldwin letter to the HHS Inspector General asking for a review of the alleged hospice fraud discovered by the New Yorker magazine and ProPublica in November 2022.  

Additionally, I want the Senator to press for more hospice audits and inspections of hospices that take Medicare funds and ensure that they meet minimum quality standards.  We all deserve quality care, especially at the end of our lives. Thanks. [H/T and more info]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

Once again, I’m calling to ask the House to vote to raise the debt ceiling, and soon. A default could plunge the country into a deep recession and lead to even higher costs for families like mine on everything from mortgages and car loans to credit card interest rates. We’ve suffered enough. Don’t let this happen.

[If GOP add:] Republicans need to stop taking our economy and our children’s future hostage. Your constituents are watching this vote closely. We want a clean debt ceiling increase and we want it now. Thanks.

[If Democrat add:] Please do not negotiate with Republican terrorists. No cuts to Medicare, Social Security, or nutritional assistance programs. No cuts to military paychecks. Again, do NOT negotiate or they will do this every time. We want a clean debt ceiling increase and we want it now. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Send this message to the DOJ through their Contact Us form. Feel free to edit. [H/T Demand Justice]

The Biden administration helped expand access to medication abortion with the FDA finalizing a rule to make the pills more readily available in pharmacies.

This is very important as about half of the country could ultimately ban or heavily limit abortion access since the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade. Expanding the availability of abortion pills gives more Americans an opportunity to access this medical care.

But despite federal regulations and expanded access, some states are still trying to enact full dictatorship over bodily autonomy.

Just days after the FDA announcement, Alabama, which has a near-total ban in place, announced the intention to criminally prosecute people who use abortion pills to terminate a pregnancy. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time in sending an ‘ignore the federal government’ note to medical providers.

When federal and state law is in conflict, federal law prevails. The Department of Justice must use its power to challenge all state bans that violate federal law.

If banning abortion is no longer unconstitutional, it is imperative that we use every method at our disposal to restore abortion access. From the grassroots level, to state legislatures, to the Oval Office, we all have a part to play—and this is the DOJ’s. Challenge all state abortion bans that violate federal law. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

At 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19th Together We Elect will present a special thank-you event featuring nationally known experts on elections and campaigning.  

To begin the event, keynote speaker Simon Rosenberg, founder of the New Democrat Network and New Policy Institute, will offer his insightful analysis of the results from the 2022 elections

A panel of leaders who are experienced in organizing remote campaign efforts will then follow Rosenberg’s Q & A session.

Ronnie Cohen, from Activate America; Marlene Silva, from All in for North Carolina; and Tearanie Chin, from Mission for Arizona, will conduct a frank discussion about the impact of volunteers in 2022 and the lessons we can learn that will affect future elections. 

Sign Up Now for Jan. 19 Event.

Spread the Word! 📣

Our friends at ASO Communications and Research Collaborative have put together messaging guidance for talking about the Republicans' control of the House of Representatives. It’s got helpful do’s and don’ts we should all pay attention to, and even suggested social media content.

You can grab memes and GIFs that link Republicans to Trumpism at this library from Into Action's meme and gif library!

Win Races—PA! 🗳

Because we have Special Elections coming up in PA on both January 27th and February 7th I’ve put together a document with all the ways folks can help. If PA is important to you—and it should be!—please check out the doc here and sign up for something! And please share!

And if you hear of volunteer events related to these races please send them my way so I can add them! Thanks!

Win Races—WI! 🗳

Activate America is having a postcarding campaign to remind voters to request a ballot to vote by mail in the upcoming Supreme Court elections. The election is just around the corner, with a primary on February 21st and the general election on April 4th. Voting by mail makes a lot of sense in Wisconsin in February, and the state requires voters to sign up again each year to do so. There is only a short window for voters to request a ballot, so we want to get these reminders out to them as soon as possible.

The cards need to be mailed by January 26th. Provide your own postcards. Sign up here. [H/T]

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[to your HOUSE reps] [Quick send text SIGN PPKIOB to 50409]

As your constituent, I vehemently oppose the MAGA plan for a US government shutdown to force President Biden to destroy essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans benefits, public schools, college loans, and climate jobs.

Playing "Russian Roulette" with the debt ceiling is not a "negotiating tactic." Defaulting on the national debt could trigger a global Depression that would be catastrophic for the American people.

* Stock markets will collapse, wiping out pension funds, 501ks, and IRAs.

* Interest rates will soar, canceling investments in construction and manufacturing.

* The U.S. government will be unable to pay the military, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.

* State and local governments will be unable to pay police, teachers, firefighters, hospitals, etc.

The House must immediately vote to raise the debt ceiling to pay for all the programs Congress previously authorized by law. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess