Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/1 ✊🏼

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

I’m at the CA Public Utilities Commission meeting (virtually) waiting to make public comment, so I’ll offer only a quick opening today.

I did want to let you know that the House passed two bills pertaining to the Railroad agreement yesterday—both the one forcing the workers to accept the deal, and a bill adding 7 days of paid sick leave. Bravo!

The final vote count, however, was less laudable. It was 221-207. All but three Republicans opposed a simple provision giving rail workers seven days of sick leave when they currently have none.

The next time your Trump-loving relative tells you “Republicans are the party of the working people” kindly remind them of this vote for me, would you?

I’ll say it for the hundredth time: We must stand with workers. Always. This cause is not only just; it is right, and it is intensely practical. Exhausted and over-stretched workers quit, have accidents, or become purposely unproductive—all of which are completely understandable responses to being treated abusively.

If we want our rail system—and our country—to keep working efficiently we must care for those operating it. THAT is a value that should be central to all we do.

On that note, let’s make some calls!

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I know the House voted on two bills yesterday–-one to force rail workers to accept the labor agreement they’ve been offered and one to provide them with the paid sick days they’ve been demanding. While I know the Senator will likely vote yes on the first bill, I want him/her to only do so if s/he also supports the paid sick days bill. There is no way we should be forcing workers to accept an agreement they oppose when such a reasonable request as this is within Congress’s power to provide. Will the Senator vote yes on both bills?

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

[IF THEY ARE DEM]

I’m very concerned about a Republican House majority in 2023. We know the Republican playbook is based on sabotage, hostage taking, and an extremist agenda.

We need Democrats to stay in session for the rest of the year so we can minimize the harm Republicans can do by:

• Passing popular bills like the Marriage Equality Act, and the Electoral Count Act that are ready for the floor, but a Republican majority would block. 

• Lifting the debt ceiling through budget reconciliation so Republicans don’t have a hostage to take next year–threatening Social Security, Medicare and the entire global economy!

Will [Representative] commit to staying in DC and getting these priorities across the finish line?

[IF THEY ARE GOP]

I want the House to stay in session for the rest of the year so we can pass important and popular legislation. I am asking [Representative] to vote yes on popular bills like the Marriage Equality Act, and reforms to the Electoral Count Act that are ready for the floor.

Will the Congressmember commit to staying in session and getting these priorities across the finish line?

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s call Chuck Schumer at (212) 486-4430 or (518) 431-4070 or (202) 224-6542 and say:

My name is ______ and I’m calling from [city, state]. I’m calling the Senator in his capacity as Senate Majority leader to ask him to prioritize a couple of must-pass bills. They are S. 4573 the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 and S 1486 the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These two bills have bipartisan support and only need a floor vote. Please ask him to bring them to the floor before this legislative session ends. Thanks.

Extra Extra Credit! ✅✅

Demand that T Mobile drop Patriot Mobile, the far-right wireless provider that has helped fund a conservative takeover of several North Texas school districts. Sign here.

Win in Georgia! 🍑

[Don’t forget, the whole “Help Us Win in GA” doc is here.]

Y’all, I just can’t say enough good things about making calls with the Environmental Voter Project. I did it yesterday, and found it, as always, so gentle and pleasant. Because these are non-partisan calls you NEVER talk politics. You are simply helping people access the information they need to vote. These are the phonebanks my 13-year-old did. If they did it I know you can! And we need you!

Please take a look at their weekend GOTV shifts and consider signing up for one. Every session starts with a training, and you'll be given scripts that have been proven to increase turnout in prior phonebanking campaigns. You’ll likely love it, and you’ll definitely make a difference.

(If none of those times work the DNC has excellent phonebanks happening pretty much constantly. Their dialer is the besssst! Sign up here.)

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

[to your House rep] [H/T subscriber Seymour Mansfield] [Quick send: text SIGN PKPAQH to 50409]

I’m writing to urge the House to pass H.R.7647, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2022, during the lame duck period ending January 3, 2023.

This proposed Act establishes an enforceable  Code of Conduct for the US Supreme Court. Right now all federal Judges and judicial officers (and those of nearly all state court systems) are subject to an enforceable Code of Conduct. This is not true, however, for SCOTUS. Over the years, and especially recently, we have seen wildly unethical conduct from its justices—conduct that would plainly violate such Ethical Codes if they were in place.

The House Bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in May and must be passed by the House in the lame duck period, so that it can be passed by the Senate’s Democratic Majority immediately. If the only way to do that is to remain in session seven days a week and extend the adjournment dates, then that is what I urge you to do, even if it is inconvenient. This has to happen, and it has to happen now. Thanks!

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess