Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/10
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you had a restful weekend, and that yesterday’s “Extra! Extra!” newsletter brought you a little extra joy. You certainly deserve it.
There’ll be a lot going on this week, as Congress comes back into session for a short but extremely vigorous stint. We’ll have important votes on the NDAA, the Farm Bill, and various appropriations bills, and Republicans are looking to do dastardly things in all of them. But don’t worry—I’ll be here to tell you exactly what kind of noise to make, and when.
In the meantime we’re going to do our usual Monday push on gun violence, because every day in America is a day that 500 people die from just that. I’ve also got lots of ways to help in Ohio, as winning that election is just so crucial to slapping back Republicans’ anti-democratic momentum. Then there’s a great webinar on abortion, a Resistbot on election funding—just so much to do in this Monday edition!
Remember, YOU are the secret weapon that will enable us to prevail in this fight. So walk with your head held high, knowing that your small actions are helping to change policy, increase justice, and ultimately save the country. It’s no small thing.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
[*Yes, we have made this call many times before. Remember, repetition is key to success. KEEP PUSHING!]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling in support of S.25 the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023. [Insert personal comment about gun violence here]. Inaction on assault weapons is, at this point, criminal. The Senate needs to bring this bill up for a vote and it needs to pass it. Same with S.173 Ethan’s Law and same with S.494 the Background Check Expansion Act. Enough is enough. We don’t have to live this way, and we shouldn’t have to either. Please ask the Senator to make passing common sense gun laws a top priority. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling in support of H.R.698 the Assault Weapons Ban Act of 2023. [Insert personal comment about gun violence here]. Inaction on assault weapons is, at this point, criminal. The House needs to bring this bill up for a vote and it needs to pass it. Same with H.R.660 Ethan’s Law and same with H.R.715 the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2023. Enough is enough. We don’t have to live this way, and we shouldn’t have to either. Please ask the Congressmember to make passing common sense gun laws a top priority. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Newtown Alliance is asking us to please make this call. It’s to Dick Durbin, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here are his numbers:
Say:
Hi, My name is ____________ and I am a (gun violence survivor/student/gun owner/veteran/faith leader/educator/practitioner/law enforcement family member/Gen Z voter/whatever.)
I saw the Chairman’s July 4th tweet calling for concrete action to end gun violence. Yet we’ve had more carnage since. Tweets won’t suffice; we need action. Every Senate Judiciary Democrat has cosponsored the Assault Weapons ban. Can you please let the Chairman know I called to urge him to mark it up? He has the votes for it to pass out of committee. It’s up to him to make sure it does. Thanks.
Get Smart! 📚
I spent part of Sunday watching this recording of Shout Your Abortion’s “Abortion Academy Session 1.” It’s a webinar about late term abortions—when they happen, why they happen, and how we should talk about them. It’s a subject I’ve wanted more information about for a while, since late-term abortions are a favored right-wing wedge issue; this webinar does NOT disappoint. It’s extraordinary. I learned so much and I think you will too. It’s not short, but worth every minute if you can find the time. Watch it here.
Win Races—Do Voter Protection in OH! 🗳️
The upcoming Ohio election is confusing: you vote No in August and Yes in November if you support reproductive freedom. In addition, there are new voter ID laws, and there will be 30 days of early voting before the election in August. It is important to make sure every voter's question is answered, so this hotline will be crucial to accomplish that.
On-demand training is available at your convenience every day. Once trained, you will staff as many shifts as you can.
To join the team, hit reply to this email and let me know you’re interested. I’ll connect you with the right person at VoPro Pros. If you’re already on the VoPro Pros Slack you can DM @SonjaMurray.
Win Races—WRITE! 🗳
✍🏼 I’ve got two more writing opportunities for the Ohio 8/8 election! Let’s do this!
Activate America has a new Ohio postcarding campaign! You can order addresses here. You’ll need to supply your own cards.
I’ve started writing letters for Working America. They’re so easy—you only write one sentence and then hand address the envelope—the rest is pre-printed for you. WA has an incredible track record and this is a smart and targeted campaign. Sign up for 25 letters here!
And don’t forget, ALL of your OH related volunteer opportunities are listed here.
Win Races—CALL! 📲
I’ll be on a Swing Blue Alliance phonebank into Ohio today at 2:30 PT / 5:30 ET. Please join me? Sign up here. This election is WAY too close. We need to talk to as many voters as we can!
If that time isn’t convenient Activate America is phone banking every Monday and Wednesday at 3 pm Pacific / 6 pm Eastern through the August 8th election, and you can sign up HERE. Training will be provided, so don’t worry if you are a first timer.
Win Races—TEXT! 💻
Monday, July 10, Noon - 2 p.m. Eastern
With early voting about to begin, join Field Team 6 to contact eligible voters in Ohio and make sure they’re registered, ready to cast their ballots, and know they can vote safely from home. Sign up here.
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PACQNW to 50409]
Across the country, local election administrators and poll workers face massive challenges to provide voters with safe, secure, and modern elections. Since 2020, they have been sounding the alarm about our crumbling election infrastructure—from voting machines running on outdated software to increased harassment of poll workers to limited funds available to purchase paper ballots.
Last year, Congress provided $75 million in election funding, a fraction of what states and localities actually need to run our elections. This year, administrators have made it clear they need a $400 million investment from the federal government to provide safe and secure elections for all. As your constituent, I am urging you to vote to provide this investment.
States and localities need more resources to keep our elections secure and ensure every eligible Americans’ vote is counted, but they cannot do that without the federal government’s support. Please fund our elections at the $400 million amount! Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
“we’re going to do our usual Monday push on gun violence, because every day in America is a day that 500 people die from just that.”
I find it very concerning when somebody is killed by gun violence and reports say that they “lost their life“. As if it was something that they carelessly misplaced rather than had violently taken from them. It’s a wording that lays the onus for the act on the victim, rather than the murderer.
It is should not be said that 500 “people die“ from that, but that 500 “people are killed“.
I agree with Christopher Foxx about wording that people are killed, Also I have a paranoid schizophrenic son who should not legally own a firearm under any circumstances. But Nancy and I have an isolated rural home and should not be without a handy shotgun under any circumstances.