Chop Wood, Carry Water 4/9
Help on the way!
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
I’ve got a slammed workday today, so this opening will have to be quick.
Right after I get done here I’m hopping on a meeting with the White House to hear all about President Biden’s new student debt forgiveness plan. I expect to learn a lot, but some things I already know:
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the Administration’s original student debt relief plan, President Biden announced that the Department of Education would pursue alternative paths to debt relief under the Higher Education Act. He vowed to use every tool available to cancel student debt for as many borrowers as possible – no matter how many times Republican elected officials tried to block him.
This series of plans – if finalized as proposed – would benefit over 30 million Americans, when combined with actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken.
The plans include:
Canceling runaway interest for millions of borrowers
Automatically canceling debt for borrowers eligible for forgiveness programs like SAVE, PSLF, and others, but who have not applied for those programs
Canceling debt for borrowers who entered repayment 20 years ago or more if they have undergraduate loans and 25 years ago or more if they have graduate loans
Canceling debt for borrowers who enrolled in low financial value programs
Canceling debt for borrowers experiencing hardship in their daily lives preventing them from being able to pay back their loans now or in the future
These plans build off of the historic actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to cancel $146 billion in student debt for 4 million people across the country through various actions. THAT’S HUGE!
This is a President that is working every day to find ways to help struggling Americans. That’s really something to celebrate!
It’s also something worth fighting for. So let’s do that, one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I understand that the window is fast closing on the tax bill that would have expanded the Child Tax Credit for half a million American families. I find this really frustrating. We shouldn’t have to beg our government to help our neediest citizens. Please tell the Senator that expanding the Child Tax Credit, whether through that bill or another, more expansive one, is really important to me. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I am deeply disturbed by the legitimacy crisis on the Supreme Court. Has the Congressmember yet co-sponsored the Supreme Court Tenure Establishment and Retirement Modernization Act (HR 5566)? This bill would establish 18-year term limits for current and future Supreme Court justices, just like every other peer democracy has. It’s the bare minimum that should happen.
Second, now that the House is back from recess I want Ukraine aid to be the first thing it takes up. It’s unbelievable that Republicans have delayed it this long. We are betraying our allies. Enough! Get Ukraine the aid it needs now, please.
Extra Credit ✅
Let’s call Mike Johnson in his capacity as Speaker of the House ( I left a VM at 202-225-2777 but you can also try 318-951-4316 or 337-423-4232 or 318-840-0309) and say:
I’m calling the Congressmember in his capacity as Speaker of the House. Now that the House is back from recess I urge him to make aid to Ukraine the first thing he takes up. It’s horrifying that it’s been delayed for this long. Please ask him to do everything he can to get Ukraine the aid it needs. Americans will support him, even if his most extreme members won’t. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
On Wednesday, April 10th at 7:00PM ET, BigTent is thrilled to welcome back former Congresswoman Liz Cheney! In a conversation with award winning journalist Katie Couric, Cheney will explore a range of topics including insights from her book Oath and Honor, the dynamics within the Republican Party, perspectives on Trump and the January 6 insurrection, and previously undisclosed stories from Congress.
Additionally, they will delve into ways we can safeguard American democracy.
Spread the Word! 📣
This new Biden abortion ad is absolutely devastating. Please share it everywhere. You can caption it with something like:
In states across the country, women are facing devastating consequences because as Donald Trump himself says, he “was proudly the person responsible” for ending Roe v. Wade.
Yesterday, Team Biden-Harris released an ad called “Willow’s Box,” featuring the testimonial of one of these women. Amanda Zurawski of Texas nearly died twice after she was denied care for a miscarriage because of the state’s abortion ban — a ban that was only possible because of Donald Trump. Because she was unable to get the care she needed, Amanda and her husband may never be able to have the child they desperately want.
Trump did this, and he won’t rest until abortion is banned in all 50 states. Please watch and share this ad.
[T/W miscarriage]
Give 💰!
OOH YOU GUYS I am so excited! My wonderful subscriber who funded our last matching campaign for Run For Something saw yesterday’s post and offered to do another one! She is putting up another 10K for Run For Something and will match ALL donations up to that. This is a special Chop Wood, Carry Water exclusive, folks! Let’s show them what we can do! You can give here to be matched. And if you know anyone who’s wondering where best to give, please forward this to them.
Also, let them know that RFS has a new poll being highlighted in Teen Vogue: 61% of young Democrats in battleground states say they are more likely to turn out if there’s also a young, progressive candidate running down-ballot.
RFS is racing against filing deadlines to get folks on the ballot, so every donation helps!
Win Races! 🗳
Activate America just launched a new California postcard campaign!
They’re reaching younger Democratic voters who sometimes miss elections, with a message promoting the Democratic candidate for Congress in their district and that candidate’s strong support for reproductive rights. In each of these races, the choice is clear: a Democrat who will defend abortion access and a MAGA extremist who supports a national abortion ban.
They have campaigns in support of Adam Gray (CA 13), Rudy Salas (CA 22), George Whitesides (CA 27), Will Rollins (CA 41) and Dave Min (CA 47). The first 4 of these are running to unseat incumbent vulnerable Republicans; Dave Min will be trying to keep Katie Porter’s Congressional seat Blue.
Interested? Sign up HERE!
Chop Wood, Save the Planet 🔥
This $20 fix will improve your shower and cut your water bill. I’m ordering one!
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[To: all 3 reps] [H/T
—this is their Resistbot!] [Text SIGN PRHFET to Resistbot at 50409 or via Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER]I am among a growing number of Americans who are concerned about the possibility of a president abusing the Insurrection Act to put the U.S. military in our streets for political purposes. Such a move would not be reviewable by the courts and is currently subject to few restraints. As experts like Jack Goldsmith and Bob Bauer have argued, addressing this risk should be a priority for lawmakers regardless of their party.
The Brennan Center has proposed to Congress multiple reforms we can make to the Insurrection Act to put obstacles in the way of its misuse, including restoring judicial oversight and setting time limits on the use of troops unless an extension is explicitly approved by Congress, limiting the circumstances in which the Insurrection Act may be invoked, and forbidding its use to impose martial law or suspend habeas corpus. The CIVIL Act introduced in 2020 would also require the President to consult Congress before deploying troops and get joint certification from the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General. As your constituent, I am asking you to push for action on these or similar bills to limit this government power as soon as possible.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
THANK YOU! Did my 5 min to save democracy today. It's not much but it's something. Thanks for making it easy!
I made a donation to Run for Something and will call Johnson this afternoon. Big thanks to you, Jess, for empowering us, and also to your subscriber who put up the matching donation. It's a motivator, for sure.