Chop Wood, Carry Water 1/4

“But remember, there’s more important things in life than winning or losing — there’s making fun of Kevin McCarthy for losing.”

— STEPHEN COLBERT

Rep. Kevin McCarthy sits in the House chamber during the third round of votes for speaker on Tuesday. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

Happy if you’re not Kevin McCarthy, that is.

Like many of us, I’m experiencing almost perilously high levels of schadenfreude, but make no mistake—the chaos we’re witnessing in the GOP will cause us all pain eventually. So while we can take some small delight in witnessing “Republicans in disarray,” we must remember that the terrorists who are currently sabotaging McCarthy’s run for speaker will next sabotage legislation to help the American people, the debt ceiling vote, and many other things we care about.

It’s going to be trying. But our job is to remain “in array,” strong, and determined. We will outlast the maniacs. We must.

And we must fight back against the awful policies they’re already promising to implement—policies like defunding the recently bolstered IRS, gutting the Congressional Office of Ethics, and abolishing the newly formed House Staffers Union.

So we will fight back.

Today’s Congressional call is only for those of you with Republican representatives. But if you have one, please make it. The GOP tried to abolish the COE in 2017, too, and public outcry made them back off. It’s time to create such outcry again.

As I listen, McCarthy looks likely to be defeated in a fourth vote. I celebrate his debasement, and I mourn the functional government we so long took for granted.

But never fear. We will have it again. Our only job is to not quit before the miracle.

Call Your *REPUBLICAN* House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I’m calling because I understand that Republicans are using their new majority to try to shut down the Office of Congressional Ethics. This is an outrage; they need to stop it right now. Please ask the representative to put his/her focus on helping the American people–not on attacking offices that help keep our representatives honest. Thanks.

Hit the Streets! 🪧

The Not Above the Law and Declaration For American Democracy coalitions are partnering to hold nationwide actions on the second anniversary of the violent attack on our Capitol. Go here to find an event near you, and go here to learn more about the actions!

Spread the Word! 📣

Post this on your social!

The Inflation Reduction Act provides assistance for families wishing to shift to clean energy and save on energy bills. This assistance comes in the form of tax credits and rebates for things like rooftop solar, upgraded home weatherization, energy-efficient heat pumps, electric vehicles, and more.

Tax credits and rebates start rolling out in 2023. Sign up for updates here https://whitehouse.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c2703e4c5744511c4475d3999&id=f0fd3ebb6e&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

[H/T]

Win Races! 🗳

Exciting! The Civics Center has a postcarding campaign for the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign, sending hand-written postcards to young voters!

Most young people are never asked to register to vote, and judicial elections typically have very low turnout. But Wisconsin’s next state Supreme Court Justice will play a critical role in protecting democracy and fundamental rights. You can help make sure young people know their votes will matter. Through this campaign, volunteers will send tens of thousands of hand-written postcards to young voters in Wisconsin. By writing personalized postcards to young voters, you can get them to ask a friend to register and remind them to show up to the polls for all upcoming elections.

You do have to cover the cost of the cards. Sign up here.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[To all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PKATYM to 50409]

When President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law last year, it included $80 billion in much needed funding to the IRS. Almost immediately, Republicans and right-wing activists began spreading outright lies and conspiracy theories about armed IRS agents coming to raid the homes of middle-class taxpayers.

While over half of the allotted $80 billion will go towards enforcement, it’s specifically dedicated to go after ultra-rich criminal tax evaders who under-report their income by an estimated $600 billion per year. Both Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig have stated that audits on small businesses, or any household earning less than $400,000 per year, will not increase.

But none of this matters to House Republicans. All they care about is consolidating their power and protecting the ultra-wealthy donors who help get them elected.

Paying taxes is a civic duty and a benefit to societal health. Almost all ordinary Americans pay the taxes they owe every year. Why should wealthy criminal tax evaders be protected? Defunding the IRS will not make things better for the average taxpayer. In fact, it will increase processing times, delay refunds, and make it much more difficult to contact the IRS with questions about your tax bill or return.

All it will do is help rich criminals avoid paying what they rightfully owe.

We need a funded IRS. Please vote this legislation down.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess