Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/28

Apr 28, 2023

Hi, all, and happy Friday!

Welp. What a week. They say that relentless pressure is required for the formation of diamonds; we must all be pretty sparkly by now.

It’s tough, but we’re tougher. Our kids—in fact all the kids—are counting on us to keep fighting. So that’s what we’ll do, and we’ll do it the only way that’s sustainable: together.

You’ll find our calls right now to be repetitive; do them anyway, please. Remember, your lawmakers’ offices aren’t tallying how often you call on an issue—they’re just tallying how many calls they get on it in a given day. So every morning presents a new opportunity to advocate for your issues. Do so, and urgently. Because believe me, the other side most definitely is.

Hang in there, folks. One day at a time we’ll get through this, and we’ll absolutely win.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

[Please note: if you’re a Dianne Feinstein constituent I have a special script for her below.]

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

I’m disgusted by the terrible, cruel, and destructive budget bill House Republicans just passed. Their plan hurts veterans, people on Medicaid, those relying on nutritional assistance, children, students—I could go on. It also rolls back climate progress—even though polling shows that voters overwhelmingly support the clean energy transition. I want to be really clear that this bill is unacceptable and the Senate must not pass it.

Also, I want the Senate to confirm Juli Su. I’m exasperated at the delay. She’s an extraordinary nominee who would make a tremendous Secretary of Labor. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m furious that Republicans passed such a terrible, cruel, and destructive budget bill. This plan hurts rural communities, transportation safety, seniors, children, and our education system. It also rolls back climate progress—even though polling shows that voters overwhelmingly support the clean energy transition. The fact that Republicans are tying this catastrophic bill to the debt ceiling is unforgivable. We want a clean debt ceiling increase and we want it now.

[If GOP add:] If the economy tanks we will blame Republicans. Period. Thanks.

[If Democrat add:] Stand strong. Do not give in to Republican hostage taking. Fight for a clean debt ceiling increase and against Republicans’ cuts. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

This action is so important I’m putting it here one last time:

Just days after Fox’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion, the network began negotiating a massive increase in its cable and satellite provider fees, which would be paid for by subscribers. If the network is successful, it will earn nearly $2 billion annually from this revenue alone. New reporting has shown that Fox is expecting a loss in these negotiations, so now is the perfect opportunity to fight back by telling providers to stop bankrolling Fox’s malevolence and deceit.

Please visit NoFoxFee.com for information about how to contact your cable company and demand they not raise the fees of the most destructive network in America.

For CA Residents Only

Y’all, yesterday we lost a really important environmental vote because Dianne Feinstein was absent. Biden will veto the measure, but still, the writing is on the wall. More than 70 judicial vacancies are sitting empty right now because the committee can't move forward on nominees while Senator Feinstein is out. We can’t subpoena Justice Thomas. We can’t confirm a Labor Secretary. If Senator Feinstein resigns, Governor Newsom can replace her with a Democrat and the business of the Senate, including judicial confirmations, can resume immediately.

Let’s call her office again, at ‭(310) 914-7300‬ or ‭(202) 224-3841‬ or ‭(415) 393-0707‬ or‭ (559) 485-7430,‬ and say something like:

My name is ____ and my zip code is ____. I’m calling as a constituent to say that while I really appreciate the work that Senator Feinstein has done for California, she needs to do the right thing now by stepping down. Her absence is hurting us badly. Please ask her not to ruin her good legacy by sabotaging our progress at a time we need it the most. She needs to resign immediately. Thanks.

Get Smart! 📚

On May 2nd, from 7-8:15 PM ET, the amazing group NOPE will be holding a meeting with Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Tram Nguyen, co-leader of New Virginia Majority. It’s called “Winning Virginia with the Grassroots.” Sen. Kaine and Tram Nguyen will talk about how we win critical Virginia state legislative races in 2023 and carry the state for Dems in 2024.

All are welcome. There will be an opportunity to donate, but no obligation to do so. Sign up here.

Spread the Word! 📣

Here are more resources on how harmful the GOP’s budget bill is. Please share them! I’m astonished at how little people know about it!

Fact sheets/analyses:
- House Republicans’ bill hurts rural communities
- House Republicans’ bill jeopardizes transportation safety and infrastructure (includes state specific fact sheets)
- House Republicans’ bill hurt children, students, and borrowers, and undermines education (includes state specific fact sheets)
- House Republicans’ Medicaid red tape would jeopardize health coverage and access to care for 21 million Americans
- Moody’s Analytics analysis: Speaker McCarthy’s bill would mean 780K fewer jobs, would slow economic growth, and increase unemployment
Topline impacts – full blog here on how this would harm American families, seniors, and vets.
Spectrum: VA sec. says GOP’s debt limit bill could harm America’s veterans

Win Races! 🗳

Speaking of Virginia, please come to a webinar this Sunday, April 30, at 6 pm ET to meet some of the women running for office there this year. All 140 seats in the Virginia legislature are up for election, and redistricting has caused an unprecedented number of retirements.

Join Andrea Miller and the Center for Common Ground this Sunday, to meet their new 501(c)(4) partners, the National Women's Political Caucus of Virginia, and their slate of women candidates for 2023. RSVP here.

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

[to all three reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PGSSJX to 50409]

I’m writing as a constituent to ask you to please sign on as a co-sponsor for this year’s Medicare for All bill, which will be re-introduced imminently. Our healthcare system is broken, and Medicare For All would go a long way towards fixing it.

Medicare for All would guarantee health care for all as a fundamental human right and fix massive inequalities in our current health care system.

Every American deserves high-quality health care that won’t bankrupt them just for addressing their medical needs.

I’m counting on you to add your name as an original co-sponsor of Medicare for All legislation this year. Access to affordable healthcare is a top priority for me. Thank you.

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

Talk soon.

Jess