Chop Wood, Carry Water 2/16
Hi, all, and happy Thursday!
The above GIF deserves a chef’s kiss, no? As always, it’s free to download at Into Action’s awesome website; they have a whole section called “Protect Social Security” filled with great content like this.
It may seem silly, but these days many Americans absorb content like the above as if it’s news. We live, to put it mildly, in a simplified information environment. GIFS, memes, and other social media content can make or break us. To a great extent—and for better or for worse—they are the messaging we seek. So use them liberally!
Anyway, I’m late again today, (at this point perhaps I should stop saying that and just call this “on time,”) but I’ll just say one thing more before signing off:
Seeing some of you on the Wisconsin phonebank yesterday brought me so much joy. Didn’t we have fun? I know calling voters isn’t easy, but if and when we win this Supreme Court race and that awful abortion bill gets overturned, or those awful gerrymandered maps get thrown out, or Trump finds himself unable to use the courts to overturn the election in Wisconsin, YOU will be partially responsible!
It’s an amazing feeling. I’m so proud of you for showing up, and so glad you’ll get to feel it.
Helping democracy survive is, in general, a pretty great deal. And boy, can it keep us hopeful! So let’s do it again one more time!
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that Sen. Chris Murphy is reintroducing legislation to require background checks on all commercial gun purchases in the aftermath of the Michigan State University shooting. Will the Senator be a co-sponsor? [Add personal note about how gun violence is affecting you].
Also, I know that Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have introduced a bill in the Senate that would both increase Social Security payments and ensure the full funding of the program through at least 2096. Will the Senator be co-sponsoring the Social Security Expansion Act? This is VERY important to me. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I know that Reps. Schakowsky and Hoyle have introduced a bill in the House that would both increase Social Security payments and ensure the full funding of the program through at least 2096. Will the Congressmember be co-sponsoring the Social Security Expansion Act? This is VERY important to me. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit
Please personalize and send this follow-up email to Pete Buttigieg, (it’s based on the Lever’s new reporting and borrows from a quote by Jeff Hauser of The Revolving Door Project).
Buttigieg’s email address is SecretaryScheduler19@dot.gov (it’s case sensitive.)
I’m writing in response to Secretary Buttigieg’s recent assertion that he doesn’t have the power to compel the rail industry to upgrade its safety equipment and procedures. Nonsense. He can and should immediately order a new cost-benefit analysis on an ECP rule, as that is a necessary first step that only he can take.
I’d also like him to publicly denounce Trump’s rollback of this rule, and to push back on corporations deciding how the Transportation Department regulates them. Anything short of that only signals to the railroads—and Americans—that this type of incident will be tolerated. That is not an acceptable message from the Secretary of Transportation.
Thanks.
Extra Extra Credit ✅
Please personalize and sign this letter asking Florida State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo not to bring forward the Permitless Carry gun bill Republicans are trying to pass. Click to send your email HERE (it doesn’t matter whether you’re in state or out—I just said I wouldn’t travel there anymore if it passed.)
If this is an issue that’s important to you—and especially if you live in FL!—the Newton Action Alliance has a toolkit with lots of other ways you can help fight this bill. Check it out here!
Get Smart! 📚
January 6th Justice is having a call for activists today at 4pm ET about the rapid response they’re planning for possible Trump indictments. They’ll also be calling Black voters in Wisconsin for next week's Supreme Court primary in Wisconsin.
Speakers will be Andrea Miller, founder of Center for Common Ground, CNN commentator Norm Eisen, Brad Woodhouse and Jamie Carter from DemCast USA.
Spread the Word! 📣
DNC War Room: The GOP’s MAGA Economic Agenda: Increase the Federal Deficit by $3 Trillion and Bail Out Wealthiest and Special Interests
“Republicans talk a big game about cutting the deficit but the truth is that the MAGA Republican majorities' extreme economic proposals could blow a combined $3 trillion hole in the national deficit to give wild tax giveaways to the wealthiest one percent and special interests.”
Win Races! 🗳
Postcards to Voters has a Florida municipal campaign they need help with! You’ll need to provide your won postcards.
The Republican challenger to Democratic Tampa City Councilman Bill Carlson is a DeSantis and Trump mega-donor. PTV has been asked to remind Democratic voters about the March 7 election to defend this seat.
If you have time, postcards, and postage, they could really use your help with just 5 or 10 notes to vote.
Text HELLO to (484) 275-2229 or
CLICK HERE for SLACK to message Abby on Slack Messenger or
CLICK HERE for EMAIL to their volunteer team or write to Request@AbbyAddresses.org
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PZMPWY to 50409]
Congress has proven itself incapable of making sure the United States pays its existing debts. It’s dangerous and unacceptable.
It is time to pass the newly introduced Protect Our Credit Act of 2023 to give the president the authority to raise the debt limit, subject to a two-thirds override vote by Congress. This was good enough for Mitch McConnell in 2011, the last time we had a debt limit crisis. Time to make it permanent.
Everyone agrees that the full faith and credit of the United States can never be called into question, and a default would be catastrophic. But some House Republicans cannot sense the magnitude of this responsibility, and must have that power taken away. It is time. Please pass this legislation. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
A WaPo story today; https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2023/02/16/food-stamps-gop-proposed-cuts/
I've written a lengthy e-mail to my representative, Jason Crow about my concern [I am LIVID]. Most of my comment reflects my middle son's need for food aid as a recipient of SSI which is a "supplement" from Social Security to people with disabilities. [Before the recent cost-of-living increase it was about $800/month-- just the amount any American can live on, right?]
Here's how I ended the e-mail;
Please call on me if there's any way our story, which is like so many others in the disability community, can help in this ridiculous fight to take food away from the poorest people in our country. Their argument is absurd, yet shows the lack of character of those holding office as Republicans. People matter.
Done! 👍🏼
Thank you for making it so easy to make a difference. Seriously! ❤️