Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/21-22

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday! Also happy Solstice!

Tomorrow I will hopefully be on a plane flying to Detroit—assuming we are able to avoid the “once in a generation” storm that is hitting much of the country—so this short newsletter may be the last you hear from me for a spell. (It won’t be too long—I just can’t help myself.)

First, some good news: I’m hearing that two bills we’ve called about a lot are being included in the Omnibus bill that’s almost certain to pass. They are the Electoral Count Reform Act and the MAT Act. You know what the first one is, but may or may not remember that the latter will make it far easier for opioid addicts to receive the treatment they need. It’ll save thousands and thousands of lives. It’s a big deal.

It also sounds like the National Labor Relations Board will be fully funded for the first time in years—something else we’ve written and called about. This is a HUGE deal, as now there will be funding to go after union busting companies and further protect workers. We love this!

Of course other things we wanted badly are being left out of the package—there’s more work to do, as always. But overall it’s been a good week for Dems—lots of our priorities are being realized. Could it be that our making a ton of noise about them helped?

I believe the answer is yes. So good job, all of you!

Now, a couple of quick things:

Is Healthcare Your Jam? 🩺

One of my subscribers, Alan Unell, has started a wonky but easy-to-understand Substack about healthcare policy in the U.S. I love it, because every issue ends with a suggested action! I highly recommend that, if healthcare is an area of passion or even interest for you, you subscribe here.

Either way, please send this Resistbot letter, crafted mostly with text Mr. Unell had in his last newsletter, to all 3 of your reps!

[Quick send text SIGN PISUUJ to 50409.]

I’m writing as a constituent to ask you to work to pass HR 1976, Representative Jayapal’s Medicare For All Act. We all know that the American healthcare system is broken; this legislation is a way to fix it.

Universal healthcare will provide better quality care at a lower cost, making the US more competitive as a country. It will eliminate medical bankruptcy. It will provide better care in rural parts of the country.

It would also save the US Government a staggering amount of money each year. As I’m sure you’re aware, the US has the most expensive healthcare system in the industrialized world. Our spending is now at $4.3 trillion, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.  That’s 18.4% of our GDP. Most of our peer industrialized countries are in the 10% to 12% range.

For all of the above reasons, please make passing the Medicare For All Act a top priority. Thanks.

Spread the Word #1! 📣

Please help amplify this amazing news!

Gas prices have dropped to the lowest level since July 2021, with a national average of $3.10 according to AAA. This marks a more than 60 cent per gallon decline in the past month, and according to experts prices could drop below $3 a gallon in time for Christmas. New reports also show that releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve turned a $4 billion windfall for taxpayers. President Biden worked to help lower gas prices, and now Americans are paying less at the pump and taxpayers turned a profit. Help us uplift these stories: 

• Wall Street Journal: U.S. Scores $4 Billion Windfall on Oil-Reserve Sales

• CNN: Gas prices tumble to 15-month low. Sub-$3 could be next

Spread the Word #2! 📣

Thinking of upgrading your heating system? Federal dollars on the way https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/environment/2022/12/20/inflation-reduction-act-reduce-rhode-island-heating-energy-bills/69740915007/

Key Point: “The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, passed by Congress in August, aims to help remove obstacles by channeling a record $370 billion in federal funding to clean energy technologies, including subsidies for new heating systems, as well as solar panels and electric cars, but, for the most part, people will have to apply for the incentives. ‘It’s one thing to have these programs available,’ U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said. ‘But if no one knows about it, it’s not going to make any difference.’”

Make sure your friends and family know about these amazing incentives!

---

OK, all, that’s it for now. I’ll be back soon with more actions, but in the meantime I encourage you to get lots of rest! Next year’s going to be a doozy!

Hugs to every one of you. Happy holidays.

Jess