“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom.”
—Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
Hi, all, and happy Friday!
Hope you had a chance to rest yesterday and restore your spirits somewhat.
If you still need a boost, Tokyo Sand from Political Charge just published a great roundup of the week’s good news—she does every Friday—and there was rather a lot of it! Check it out here; it’ll definitely make you smile. There’ll be even more positivity for you tomorrow in “Extra! Extra!” if you’re a paid subscriber, although Tokyo covers quite a bit!
Speaking of good news, so many of you signed up to adopt a state that my inbox almost broke! THANK YOU! It’ll take me a minute to get you your first materials, but know that I’m on the task! With this many volunteers we cannot lose!
OK, all. Here are some calls to make before we take a well-earned weekend off. Thanks for all you do! 💙
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling today because I’m very worried about climate change, especially in light of the fact that the Build Back Better Act has stalled. I’m also worried about child hunger, which was greatly alleviated by the Extended Child Tax Credit, but which will now start to rise again since that credit has ended. I want Congress to break the Build Back Better Act up into smaller components that can be passed separately, and to make the climate provisions and the Child Tax Credit top priorities.
[If GOP add:] Neither of them should be partisan issues. We all want our kids to thrive, and we all need our planet to be livable. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling today because I’m very worried about climate change, especially in light of the fact that the Build Back Better Act has stalled. I’m also worried about child hunger, which was greatly alleviated by the Extended Child Tax Credit, but which will now start to rise again since that credit has ended. I want Congress to break the Build Back Better Act up into smaller components that can be passed separately, and to make the climate provisions and the Child Tax Credit top priorities.
[If GOP add:] Neither of them should be partisan issues. We all want our kids to thrive, and we all need our planet to be livable. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Let’s contact the Kroger Corporation at 1-800-576-4377 (press 8 and then 3) or via their comment form and ask them to do better by their workers (if you’re unaware of the strikes happening at over 80 King Soopers stores you can read about them here). We can say something like:
Hello, I’m a [CUSTOMER/CONCERNED CITIZEN] contacting you in solidarity with your employees demanding liveable wages. A recent survey of over 10,000 Kroger workers showed that more than two-thirds of your employees struggle to afford food, housing, and other basic needs due to low wages and part-time work schedules. I’m supporting their calls to increase workers’ wages to reflect inflation rates and provide your employees with a living wage.
[H/T AOCC]
Win Races! 🗳
Last week I attended Environmental Voter Project’s presentation on “The Year Ahead.” I have a lot of admiration for this organization—they’re quite smart and use a data-driven approach that makes excellent sense. Of course as an environmentalist I feel an affinity for their motives, which are 100% to elect more people who will act on climate, but since their overarching goal is to expand our Senate majority, hold the House, and win down ballot races you don’t have to be an environmentalist to want to work with them. If you have an hour, I highly recommend watching this recording of the presentation. It’ll leave you feeling educated, hopeful, and ready to get to work.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[To President Biden] [H/T] [Send through the WH comment form, as Resistbot isn’t working for me right now 😱.]
You ran on an agenda that puts working people and families first―and takes on the greed of wealthy corporations. While your administration has made important progress to provide jobs and lift the incomes of working people, bold transformation reforms included in Build Back Better have been held hostage to corporate influence in Congress. The continuing effects of the pandemic stress the dire need for structural reforms.
You should send a clear message: If Congress can't act, you will. This year should be a year of bold executive actions. Here's a few that your administration should take:
Lower prescription drug prices that are bankrupting U.S. families by benchmarking U.S. drug prices against prices in other countries, allowing the federal government to purchase medications in bulk and at lower prices for critical populations that lack access, and permitting U.S. pharmacies and patients to import drugs from other nations.
Take on the climate crisis and create millions of jobs in a renewable energy economy by setting aggressive emissions standards for vehicles and power plants.
Fix the student debt crisis so that receiving an education doesn’t equal a lifetime of student loan payments by canceling federal student debt, as he promised to during the campaign, and automatically enrolling every student debtor in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Reform our marijuana laws so that possession of a small amount of marijuana doesn’t mean jail time or the loss of a job, and offer blanket pardons to those currently incarcerated.
These are all things you can do through EO. Please do; if Congress is broken then sidestep them at every pass. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk Monday.
Jess
I am a new reader. Is it OK to cut and paste the phone script on to an email and send to my representatives?
essica. Just writing to appreciate what you are doing. I have taken up the banner. It is easy and fun and makes me feel useful. I am going to write postcards, I do your to dos every day (send emails, texts and re-tweets mostly) but always do every one! I am a kid from the 60s: Marched on Washington, went door to door with leaflets, made signs, went to rallies barefoot, sang freedom songs til I was hoarse. Now I'm retired and have time again. Gotta do something! Thank you thank you. May GOOD prevail and the arc of of the universe bend...