Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/31
Don't fear to attempt.
Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
– William Shakespeare "Measure for Measure"
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Thank you all for your kind words over the weekend—it was lovely to hear from so many of you, and deeply moving to receive your words of encouragement and understanding. For those of you who advocated for some self-care I am happy to report that I’m rejuvenated after a weekend in which I actually took a day off! Like, a full one!
That was Saturday. Yesterday I phonebanked into Texas. Because after all there are primaries coming! 😂
Still, I feel much better.
Today we make calls for healthcare, gun safety, and wildfire support. We help educate folks about Secretaries of State. We ask our Senators to confirm Biden’s excellent Fed nominees (this is really important, so you’ll notice I’ve included it in a few newsletters. Repetition is important!) We consider ways to help win in Texas.
We do all of this because change doesn’t happen without persistent action. Action taken whether or not we believe it will work.
Thank you for not listening to your doubts. Thank you for what Shakespeare might call your “hopeful attempts.”
Because of them we will win.
P.S. Speaking of winning, and healthcare, if you live in CA call your Assemblymembers now in support of AB 1400! CalCare is up for a vote today!
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I want the Senate to get back to work passing as much of the Build Back Better Act as possible. We especially need the healthcare provisions—like allowing Medicare to negotiate prices for certain drugs, capping the monthly cost of insulin to $35, and limiting out-of-pocket costs for seniors using Medicare Part D. Thanks.
I’d also like him/her to support the Western Wildfire Support Act (S 2404), which would help prevent future wildfires, fund state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and programs, and support recovery efforts for communities impacted by fire. Thanks!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
Is the Congressmember yet a co-sponsor of Ethan’s law, HR 748? It would require storage of a weapon in a “secure gun storage or safety device” in a residence where a minor could potentially gain access. If s/he isn’t yet will s/he please become a co-sponsor now?
I’d also like him/her to support the Western Wildfire Support Act (H.R. 6336), which would help prevent future wildfires, fund state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and programs, and support recovery efforts for communities impacted by fire. Thanks!
Get Social!
Please post this on your favorite social platform (if you do it on FB you’ll have to change the tag to @Democratic Association of Secretaries of State). And if you want to post the link to give it’s https://demsofstate.org. My tweet is here.
Allowing an election-denier to become Secretary of State is "like putting arsonists in charge of the Fire Department."
Please, if you can, make a donation of any size to @DemsOfState. And if you live in a state with an SOS election get involved now!
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/30/us/politics/election-deniers-secretary-of-state.html?smid=tw-share
Extra Credit
McDonald's, Costco, and Staples are just a few of the many corporations who thrive by promising fake pay rates and listing false positions to lure in job applicants, only to take it all away in the final job offer.
These corporations are using bait & switch tactics to screw over workers by falsely advertising higher wages than they actually pay. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing Truth in Advertising laws. It’s time they took action.
Please watch the report and then sign the petition to the FTC.
Win Races—TEXAS! 🗳
1) Want to help get out the vote in the Texas primaries but hate phonebanking? Good news! NextGen has texting into Texas almost every day starting TODAY!
The shifts are from 1-3 ET and they will train new folks! Please sign up and help GOTV for early voting, which starts in two weeks!
2) Love phonebanking? Reclaim Our Vote volunteers are calling Black voters in Texas and asking them to vote early for the March 1 primary. Sign up for a supported/guided phone bank here or call at your own convenience using the resources here.
Only seniors and certain groups are eligible to vote by mail, the rules are confusing, and 40% of the applications are being rejected for one reason or another. The folks we’re calling will get valuable information about how to vote. (For the intricacies of Texas voting, look at ROV’s excellent new Texas Primary Election Guide.)
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send—but personalizing is best!—text SIGN PLXUOJ to 50409]
President Biden has nominated Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson to fill critical vacancies on the Federal Reserve Board and I ask you to support their confirmation.
The country needs leaders at the Federal Reserve who will hold big banks accountable, prioritize families and communities, advance racial and economic equity and address the systemic risk presented by climate change.
These highly qualified nominees will bring experience, diversity, and expertise to the Fed, a welcome step forward towards a better-regulated Wall Street, protecting America’s financial stability, and building a more just economy.
Please confirm President Biden’s nominees to the Federal Reserve Board now. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
Thank you for all you great suggestions on being useful. You are inspiring. I get a deluge of e-mails asking for donations— they are always desperate. James Carville suggested one donate to races that have a chance. How does one figure out the best chances? Especially since I am a senior with very limited resources.
MoveOn.org has begun to tackle the state secretary of state issue; I've been donating to DASS for months and wonder if they make better use of my donation than MoveOn.org would. Any opinions or knowledge on that issue?