Thank you and everyone who helped with the SS fairness act. I am one of the people it will help. I worked in insurance industry and made good money. But I always wanted to be a teacher. In my 30s I went back to school and became a high school teacher, and knew I'd never make a lot of money, but I'd be OK with combo of teachers retirement and SS. Until l learned that they would take about 1/3 of my SS and call it double dipping. They've taken $18,000 ( so far) I was due. I never made a fortune. I'm not wealthy. But I did work hard and gave back as I taught over 2000 kids how to be better readers. This is right and I'm in utter shock that something that can really help me in my golden years actually may come to pass from this inept Congress.
Oh. My. God. I began teaching in mid 90s and not til I surfaced after first 3 grueling years of FT teaching did I pay attention to union issues. I had just gotten tenure in a district I loved, but it was low paying, yet with good retirement benefits. I just didn't want to leave as I loved the kids and had freedom to actually teach English. But I really took hit when I retired. This news is unbelievable. I need to move and this can make all the difference! I'm stunned! But also scared that president elonia will stop it somehow.
I'm really happy though! It really is the right thing to do and it seemed to be supported widely and bipartisanly. Yay! (I have mild unsettling notion that we are being used as some kind of props to show that Congress is working for middle class America and look what we did, can we have our raise now? But if it gets me my money they had no right to take, I'm good!)
Timothy Snyder suggests the portmanteau "Mump." Specifically, "the Mump regime," although "President Mump" works just fine. Maybe we could refer to just the pair of them as "the Mumps."
It's doubly apt given the anti-vax leanings of Mump appointees.
Hi Jess - Voki and I live in Washington's 3rd Congressional district and Perez is out"Democratic" representative. We called her office last night and let her know how disappointed we are in her.
This is not the first time. A year ago she voted to approve a defense bill that had anti abortion language. She called on Biden to resign. the list goes on and on. Mostly, if the MAGA fascists like it so does she.
She continues to vote with MAGA crowd to please Republicans. Personally, I am of the opinion that she is just a Republican at heart taking Democrats money (IMHO).
Anecdote here: As background we met with her staff to discuss universal healthcare. They had not read HR 3421 (Medicare for All) so I wrote a fairly long white paper describing how it would serve her constituents - urban and rural making more care available and for far less than we pay now.
When we met with the Sr. legislative analyst she just told us to forget it - Marie Perez doesn't trust the government to implement Universal Healthcare so she will never support it.
Doesn't trust the government. No wonder she supports MAGA.
Anyway keep up the good work - up here we really appreciate it.
Thank you, Jessica, for all you do. You are loved and appreciated. It so warmed my heart to see your call out to HCR and here amazing newsletter. You are two of my all time favorite women, and are true American sheros!!
Thank you, Jessica! I had trouble finding out how my Democratic Representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez voted, and thankfully, you had a paywall-free link to the NYTimes where I learned that she once again has sided with the MAGA GOP reps. I made an angry phone call to her DC office and told her I was profoundly disappointed in her recent votes, and that she might find herself challenged by a REAL Democrat.
If it weren't our government and the services our government provides, the pleasure of watching the various factions of the GOP coalition eat each other would be wonderful..
The next 6 hours will be very interesting as the House rushes to come up with a CR, with or without President Musk's or King Trump's approval.
I hope they can save Christmas for our public servants. It can be an update to the traditional Grinch classic.
Often times when I call my senators, especially, their voicemail is "full." I did copy Jessica's script, personalize it, and send send it via their form requesting a response. That way I know they got it. Just FYI for anyone who was as frustrated as I was!
Great article on the happenings on the Hill. Amidst the chaos and confusion, it can be challenging to figure out who is doing what with whom. I appreciate the clarification.
Good to know that the inability to send the email about Charles Littlejohn might be temporary. I'll keep trying to send it as I believe he did us a great service.
Is anyone else finding that the Write to the President option is grayed out on the White House website? I was trying to write to Biden about the IRS hero, and it is not working. I use this link and site often... Quite odd.
Clicking Contact Us goes only to "Request Assistance with a Federal Agency"...
Yes, I just found that out too. I called the White House switchboard number and they said they were very aware that the contact form is not working, and that it's being worked on. They did not have a timeframe though.
Thanks, Lynell. For a couple years now I have been receiving and sending texts using this number. Today I copied the IRS hero letter into a text message and sent it. Good enough.
I thought maybe it was something I was doing wrong. But after several tries, I decided to come here and see if anyone else was having that issue. Thanks for posting!
The email link to whitehouse.gov is not working in order to request a commutation of Charles Littlejohn’s sentence. It just takes you to a page that says contact us, but the button just says request government assistance. I ended up texting the letter from the template to President Biden since I signed up for texting options previously.
Hi, Jess, I watch your reels now when they pop up on Instagram, and I want to say what a gift it is that your energy comes through your writing and your videos! So here's my year end "Here, here!!" to all that you do, and to your taking some sweet breaks this holiday season. Miss Kitty agrees!!
Thank you and everyone who helped with the SS fairness act. I am one of the people it will help. I worked in insurance industry and made good money. But I always wanted to be a teacher. In my 30s I went back to school and became a high school teacher, and knew I'd never make a lot of money, but I'd be OK with combo of teachers retirement and SS. Until l learned that they would take about 1/3 of my SS and call it double dipping. They've taken $18,000 ( so far) I was due. I never made a fortune. I'm not wealthy. But I did work hard and gave back as I taught over 2000 kids how to be better readers. This is right and I'm in utter shock that something that can really help me in my golden years actually may come to pass from this inept Congress.
I hope I'm the one who gets to break the news to you! https://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-security-fairness-act-senate-vote-passed/
It passed the Senate tonight!
Oh. My. God. I began teaching in mid 90s and not til I surfaced after first 3 grueling years of FT teaching did I pay attention to union issues. I had just gotten tenure in a district I loved, but it was low paying, yet with good retirement benefits. I just didn't want to leave as I loved the kids and had freedom to actually teach English. But I really took hit when I retired. This news is unbelievable. I need to move and this can make all the difference! I'm stunned! But also scared that president elonia will stop it somehow.
I'm really happy though! It really is the right thing to do and it seemed to be supported widely and bipartisanly. Yay! (I have mild unsettling notion that we are being used as some kind of props to show that Congress is working for middle class America and look what we did, can we have our raise now? But if it gets me my money they had no right to take, I'm good!)
Well now I’m going to REALLY happy when it passes! Yay! Thank you for your service, Marilyn!
Timothy Snyder suggests the portmanteau "Mump." Specifically, "the Mump regime," although "President Mump" works just fine. Maybe we could refer to just the pair of them as "the Mumps."
It's doubly apt given the anti-vax leanings of Mump appointees.
Oh I love it! What was Snyder’s precise reasoning? I’d be curious to know if he feels this will bother Trump.
Hi Jess - Voki and I live in Washington's 3rd Congressional district and Perez is out"Democratic" representative. We called her office last night and let her know how disappointed we are in her.
This is not the first time. A year ago she voted to approve a defense bill that had anti abortion language. She called on Biden to resign. the list goes on and on. Mostly, if the MAGA fascists like it so does she.
She continues to vote with MAGA crowd to please Republicans. Personally, I am of the opinion that she is just a Republican at heart taking Democrats money (IMHO).
Anecdote here: As background we met with her staff to discuss universal healthcare. They had not read HR 3421 (Medicare for All) so I wrote a fairly long white paper describing how it would serve her constituents - urban and rural making more care available and for far less than we pay now.
When we met with the Sr. legislative analyst she just told us to forget it - Marie Perez doesn't trust the government to implement Universal Healthcare so she will never support it.
Doesn't trust the government. No wonder she supports MAGA.
Anyway keep up the good work - up here we really appreciate it.
Yeah she’s a pill, that one. Thank you for trying to educate her.
Thank you, Jessica, for all you do. You are loved and appreciated. It so warmed my heart to see your call out to HCR and here amazing newsletter. You are two of my all time favorite women, and are true American sheros!!
She’s a legend. And thank you. 🙏
Thank you, Jessica! I had trouble finding out how my Democratic Representative, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez voted, and thankfully, you had a paywall-free link to the NYTimes where I learned that she once again has sided with the MAGA GOP reps. I made an angry phone call to her DC office and told her I was profoundly disappointed in her recent votes, and that she might find herself challenged by a REAL Democrat.
Yep she was one of the three. I had a special script for her and the other two in the Call Your House rep section dis you see?
If it weren't our government and the services our government provides, the pleasure of watching the various factions of the GOP coalition eat each other would be wonderful..
The next 6 hours will be very interesting as the House rushes to come up with a CR, with or without President Musk's or King Trump's approval.
I hope they can save Christmas for our public servants. It can be an update to the traditional Grinch classic.
They did!
👍
Often times when I call my senators, especially, their voicemail is "full." I did copy Jessica's script, personalize it, and send send it via their form requesting a response. That way I know they got it. Just FYI for anyone who was as frustrated as I was!
Good for you!
Great article on the happenings on the Hill. Amidst the chaos and confusion, it can be challenging to figure out who is doing what with whom. I appreciate the clarification.
No problem! I make videos explaining these situations too. So many people want to understand but can’t.
So can we push “President Musk” trending just by searching for it and clicking links?…. sorry to be so uncool as to have to ask lol
Yes you can!
Thanks for everything you do!
Happy to be of service.
Loser Kirsten Sinema‘s office “is closed as of December 20.” I can’t leave a voicemail. I did leave a voicemail with Senator Kelly.
She’s the worst.
Just Googled “president,” and “president Musk” came up #3 behind “president” and “presidential polls”
AWESOME!
It appears that the White House has turned off their incoming email. Talk about just fading away.
Yes some commenters above found the same to be true but apparently it’s down for technical reasons—not deliberately switched off.
Good to know that the inability to send the email about Charles Littlejohn might be temporary. I'll keep trying to send it as I believe he did us a great service.
Is anyone else finding that the Write to the President option is grayed out on the White House website? I was trying to write to Biden about the IRS hero, and it is not working. I use this link and site often... Quite odd.
Clicking Contact Us goes only to "Request Assistance with a Federal Agency"...
Yes, I just found that out too. I called the White House switchboard number and they said they were very aware that the contact form is not working, and that it's being worked on. They did not have a timeframe though.
I am experiencing the same issue, Eric. For the past month I have been writing daily with no problem. Then yesterday, it stopped working.
You can try texting him at 302.404.0880.
Thanks, Lynell. For a couple years now I have been receiving and sending texts using this number. Today I copied the IRS hero letter into a text message and sent it. Good enough.
Oof that’s weird!
I thought maybe it was something I was doing wrong. But after several tries, I decided to come here and see if anyone else was having that issue. Thanks for posting!
I am having the same problem, Jessica please advise!
Sorry that was not the case when I sent mine! Ack! Resistbot!
The email link to whitehouse.gov is not working in order to request a commutation of Charles Littlejohn’s sentence. It just takes you to a page that says contact us, but the button just says request government assistance. I ended up texting the letter from the template to President Biden since I signed up for texting options previously.
Yep see the above comments! Sorry about that!
Hi, Jess, I watch your reels now when they pop up on Instagram, and I want to say what a gift it is that your energy comes through your writing and your videos! So here's my year end "Here, here!!" to all that you do, and to your taking some sweet breaks this holiday season. Miss Kitty agrees!!