Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/17
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
This is going to be a quick one—I’m in D.C. for the White House holiday reception today and I’ve got to go get ready! I have only a vague idea of what the day will hold, but if I have any opportunity to exchange words with President Biden I promise I’ll send him your regards. So many have reached out to ask me to do so, and I take that responsibility seriously.
I did want to ask if we could all make an effort to call our Democratic House reps on the early side today, so we can put in a plug for AOC before the big vote today. If you hadn’t heard, there was an initial vote in the Steering and Policy Comittee yesterday, of which there are about 70 members; Rep Ocasio Cortez lost it narrowly to Pelosi’s pick, Gerry Connolly. That’s not the end of the story, though. While the Steering Committee’s pick usually goes on to get the nod from the full caucus, that’s not always the outcome. AOC can still win the vote, which is happening today, but we need to make a lot of noise if she’s going to do so.
So let’s hit the phones!
Tomorrow’s my day off from publishing, but I may send a few pictures of the party, as I expect it’ll be something to see.
Sending so much love, my friends. It’s the honor of a lifetime to be in this fight with you.
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 oppose H.R. 9495, a bill that could be used to target any non-profit organizations that Trump dislikes. Please vote no if it comes up as a standalone bill, or if it gets snuck into a “must-pass” package. I expect my Senator to stand up against authoritarianism - not rubber stamp it. [H/T Indivisible]
Also, I know the Senate will begin debating the National Defense Authorization Act tomorrow. I want the Senator to vocally oppose the inclusion of the provision prohibiting the Pentagon from paying for gender dysphoria treatment for individuals under 18. It will be deeply harmful to LGBTQ kids and their families. Make sure it gets taken out! Thanks.
[If Dem add:] Also please ask the Senator to keep working to confirm every judge and pro-democracy appointee possible before Biden’s term is up. Stay late, work extra days—do whatever needs to be done. We can’t leave one spot vacant. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want Congress to pass HR 660, Ethan’s Law, to require secure firearm storage and protect kids from preventable tragedies like the one at Abundant Life Christian School this week. We’ve got to do something about gun violence. That starts with making sure that kids can’t access their caregivers’ firearms. Enough is enough. Thanks. [H/T Newtown Action Alliance]
[If Dem add:]
I know the vote is happening today to decide who will be the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee. I’m calling to say that I fully support AOC and I want the Congressmember to as well. Rep Ocasio Cortez is the brilliant and fearless leader we need at this moment. We want HER, not another old guard member. Please show us that you’re listening to us. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Do you know about 5 Calls? If you don’t you should! It’s a terrific website that provides call scripts so you can contact your representatives about many different issues. Considering our current situation, they’re starting to focus more on state governments, and they’ve got a great script for asking our Governors not to assist with Trump’s mass deportation efforts.
Click here to see the script. If you set your location they’ll give you your governor’s phone number, too! Please call!
Get Smart! 📚
Not sure if this is up anyone’s ally, but Donor Organizer Hub and Blue Tent created and distributed a post-election political donor survey from November 6-December 6 with 18 other fundraising networks. This survey focused on:
How donors make giving decisions
How political fundraising can be improved
They now have the final results from over 3,200 respondents and will be presenting the findings and takeaways tomorrow. Join them to learn!
What: 2024 Political Donor Survey Debrief
When: Wednesday December 18, 1-2 pm PT/4-5 pm ET
RSVP: Here
All RSVPs will receive the recording and slides.
Give 💰!
Early voting begins tomorrow in Loudoun County, VA for two pivotal special elections that could reshape the balance of power in Richmond. Republican Tumay Harding and Democrat Del. Kannan Srinivasan are running to represent Senate District 32. Democrat JJ Singh and Republican Ram Venkatachalam are running to represent House District 26. Both districts cover Eastern Loudoun County. The final day to vote in the special elections is January 7, 2025.
My Chop Wood, Carry Statehouses Giving Circle is raising money for these races. If anyone isn’t tapped out, please give here! We MUST not lose these seats!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
From Climate Change Resources newsletter.
Too Good to Go is a company that calls itself “the world’s largest marketplace for surplus food.” They operate in 19 countries, connect with 100 million registered users and work with close to 200,000 food businesses (including Whole Foods, Aldi and Starbucks). Their purpose is to minimize waste, mitigate climate change, and make surplus food accessible. 40% of all food produced globally is wasted; food waste is responsible for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and by saving just one pound of food, we can prevent around three pounds of carbon dioxide emissions, avoid the unnecessary use of 105 gallons of water and protect 15 square feet of land use per year. Download the Too Good To Go app here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T] [Text SIGN PRQLXC to Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, Telegram, or by text to 50409]
As your constituent, I am urging you to vote to extend the current expanded levels of the Affordable Care Act Advance Premium Tax Credits and make health care affordable for millions of Americans.
The Congressional Budget Office released a report stating that if current levels of the premium tax credits were not extended, as many as 4 million Americans would lose their health care and see health care premiums increase as high as 8%.
The credits provided families an average of $2,400 in savings and the country saw record high health care enrollment of over 20 million people, with Black, Latino, and low-income communities seeing the greatest health care coverage gains.
All of that good work is at risk of being undone if Congress doesn’t act and extend the premium tax credits. At a time when millions are dealing with higher health costs, I’m counting on you to communicate with Congressional leaders that extending current levels of the ACA Premium Tax Credits is a top priority.
OK, you did it again! You’re helping to save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
It’s such a pleasure to actually talk to human on behalf of Congressional action. Francisco is the staffer who has answered before in Tony Gonzales office. The gun bill is so common sense I could envision this Republican voting for it.
Francisco said he would pass along my message.
I just called Jamie Raskin's office, which feels silly because he's always way ahead of me, but I guess it can't hurt.