Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/8
Hi, all and happy Tuesday.
I’m sorry this is so late today. I’m still moving a bit slowly due to the loss of our dog on Sunday. I’ve also been trying to do as deep a dive as I can into the reaction to Joe Manchin’s statement this weekend. I was looking for a consensus from my many different sources of political information, and I’ve more or less found one.
We’re not giving up.
Manchin is playing a frustrating game, and we’d all rather we weren’t depending on him to pass voter protection. BUT a strategy is forming, and there is real reason to hope we can still get major voter protections passed. Will they be called the For the People Act? Maybe. Maybe not. Will we keep asking for them under that name for now?
Yes.
And the key thing now is to be very, very loud.
If you’re interested in joining the bi-weekly Democracy Leaders meeting where S1 strategy is being discussed email me back and I’ll send you the info. Next meeting is tomorrow at 8:30 PM EST.
If you just want a script based on what most groups think is the best way forward?
I’ve got you covered.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is [name].
First, I understand that today the Women’s Health Protection Act will be re-introduced by Senators Schumer, Baldwin, and Reps Chu, Frankel, Pressley and Escobar. Will the Senator immediately sign on as a co-sponsor?
Second, I am unwilling to give up on the For the People Act. I want the Senator to support it and fight like hell to get it passed. 67% of Americans support this legislation. It’s the only way to keep our democracy functioning. Tell the Senator to make it a top priority. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is [name].
I understand that today the Women’s Health Protection Act will be re-introduced by Senators Schumer, Baldwin, and Reps Chu, Frankel, Pressley and Escobar. Will the Congressmember immediately sign on as a co-sponsor? I want them to. Thanks.
Extra Credit
Turn PA Blue is out with a new postcarding campaign! PA law requires mail voters to re-apply to vote by mail every year. Urging swing-state Democrats to vote by mail now will build good habits going into federal and presidential elections.
70% of all mail in votes in the 2021 Primary came from Dems! Let’s keep the momentum going! Order your postcards here!
Let’s Save Democracy!
Today I’ll be at a RepresentUS phonebank into West Virginia from 5:30 to 8:00 PM EST.
Here is the link to RSVP if you’d like to join.
We will continue to make calls to patch West Virginians through to Senator Manchin to urge him to support pro-democracy reforms in the Senate. The messaging will be tailored to address Manchin's recent statement on the For the People Act. Our efforts to secure federal legislation to address the voter suppression bills being passed in states all over the country are now more important than ever.
Here's Tommy Vietor of Pod Save America's assessment of where we stand now: "One, grassroots organizing in West Virginia is good and important and people should do that. Two, Schumer is going to have to work with his caucus to figure out a narrower version of S1 that could actually pass...there's a narrower version that we could all be really happy with."
Let's do our part to make sure Manchin feels as much pressure as possible to pass a comprehensive bill that secures our democratic processes.
Resistbot Text (New to Resistbot? Go here).
[To your Senators] [H/T]
In the light of this weekend’s news I want to share my strong and unwavering support for the For the People Act. I want to encourage the Senator to support it no matter what, as their top priority bill. Over 100 experts in democracy have raised the alarm about voting restrictions that are being passed in states across the country – with non-existent fraud as the rationale for passing them. We are at a crossroads, and our right to vote – our very democracy – is at stake. I’m calling on the Senator to do what’s right for the country. I’m sure you’re aware that Americans overwhelmingly support this legislation. What we need right now are lawmakers who put party over country to do what their constituents want: protect our right to vote. I’m counting on the Senator to be one of those people. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess