Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/12 ❤️

Jul 12, 2023

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday.

I slept and dreamt that life was joy
I awoke and saw that life was service
I acted and behold, service was joy
Tagore

I want to thank the reader who sent me these lines yesterday. So beautiful, and so absolutely relevant to what we’re doing here.

While it can sometimes seem that political engagement must live in a sphere utterly separated from the “spiritual,” I think for us it can’t. For in order to continue in the face of what often feels like insurmountable odds, we must be able to draw on inner resources that enable us to act through our anger, fear, and exhaustion. These inner resources look different for each of us, but they share a common trait: an orientation towards doing for others, building instead of tearing down, and seeking the common good.

For me, who has no religious faith, the surest way to orient myself positively is to simply try to place my work on a service plane. So instead of saying, for example, “I have to make these calls. I have to show up to this phonebank,” I try to say “I get to make these calls! I get to show up to a phonebank!”

That tiny shift in words takes me from being a victim of circumstances to being a person with agency and privilege, one who is fortunate to be able to serve my country.

The side effect? Calm. Strength. Connection. And yes, even joy.

That, my friends, is something the other side will never attain, for when our actions are fundamentally self-seeking and fear-based we will never, ever be satisfied.

So let’s go forth and do this work one more time, for the purely selfish reason that we’ll feel better for it. Bonus points? So will our country.

P.S. I thought you’d like to know that AB 28, the bill I wrote about yesterday, advanced out of committee by a 3-1 vote. Our Moms Demand lead wrote “We had enough volunteers, partners, and allies to fill two hearing rooms and we dominated the phone lines 37 to 11. You are heroes!” I’ll keep you posted on the bill’s progress, but the larger point is that people power is a formidable thing! Never forget it!

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m calling about two separate issues.

First, I know that Juli Su’s nomination is stalled and I’m really frustrated about it. She is exceptionally qualified and incredibly good for workers. Is the Senator making her confirmation a top priority? I want him/her to.

Second, I’m furious that Tommy Tuberville is holding up 265 military confirmations to protest the Pentagon’s abortion policy. The Marine Corps is now officially without a confirmed leader for the first time in 164 years. More than half of the current Joint Chiefs are expected to step down from their posts during the next few months without a Senate-approved successor in place. It’s outrageous. Has the Senator made a statement calling on Tuberville to withdraw his blockade? He is putting our national security at risk, harming recruitment, and endangering our servicemembers. He needs to knock it off now. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I understand that Representatives Barbara Lee and Mark Pocan have introduced an amendment to the Pentagon spending bill that would cut $100 billion from its massively bloated budget and instead redirect that spending to priority human needs. I’d like the Congressmember to support it. I’m upset that we’re spending so much on military bloat while our own citizens are going without. Especially since the DOD has failed its last five audits. I 100% support our troops getting a raise, but the current budget goes way beyond that. It’s too much. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Methane pollution from oil and gas operations is accelerating the pace of climate change and harming the health of our families and communities—and it is a problem that is only getting worse.

Right now, EPA is working to finalize new standards to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. These standards would reduce methane pollution from sources covered by the rule by 87% below 2005 levels. The EPA needs to know that we support these strengthened standards and want to see them finalized as quickly as possible.

Please use Moms Clean Air Force’s tool to send in a public comment—if you don’t personalize it, though, it will be rejected. Let’s do this!

Get Smart! 📚

This Thursday, July 13, join Indivisible for their Powering Progress Campaign Launch call at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Indivisible Project is launching a new campaign to help celebrate and amplify the tangible benefits of President Biden’s landmark legislation: the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This historic legislation provides so many benefits through job creation and investments in renewable energy -- AND it puts in place new ways to finally hold big corporations accountable by requiring them to pay their fair share of taxes.

Indivisible will be celebrating these accomplishments in order to increase public awareness of the benefits (if people don’t know that the benefits exist, they won’t know to take advantage of them) AND prevent extremist Republicans from enacting their plans to roll back the IRA’s benefits to the detriment of the American people.

Spread the Word! 📣

Please amplify this!

The IRS recently released guidance about the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) “Direct Pay” program, which allows tax-exempt entities such as schools, hospitals, and nonprofits, to claim tax-free cash funding for clean sustainable projects for the first time ever. This is for projects like a solar system that feeds EV charging stations at City Hall and community-owned solar on our community schools.

The Direct Pay program will help expand publicly-owned sustainable energy infrastructure, support communities transitioning to renewable, affordable energy, and create good-paying jobs. This highly-anticipated guidance provides further clarity on how eligible entities can apply for, and receive, Direct Pay funding.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC) breaks down the IRS guidance about Direct Pay in the following resources and their website:

Sign up for their email list here to receive updates and new information about Direct Pay as it comes out from the federal government and the implementation of the IRA generally.

Win Races! 🗳

The DNC is calling into four key, critical states in the coming weeks. These zoom events are Tuesdays (6-8 EST), Thursdays (6-8 EST), and Sundays (2-4 EST). Here’s the weekly breakdown:

Week One (July 8th – July 16th) – Kentucky (Gov Beshear is up for reelection)

Week Two (July 17th – July 23rd) – Virginia

Week Three (July 24 – July 30) – Mississippi

Week Four (July 31 – August 8) Election in OH

Don’t want to call during those times? You can sign up here for their “call anytime” phonebanks.

[H/T Small Deeds Done]

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

[to all 3 reps plus POTUS] [H/T and petition] [Quick send: text SIGN PPUULA to 50409]

The Supreme Court is issuing extreme rulings that are deeply at odds with both precedent and public sentiment. Recent ethics scandals highlight the justices’ lack of accountability.

As your constituent, I’m asking you to rein in the Court by enacting term limits by statute for Supreme Court justices.

Justices hold too much power to control an entire branch of government for life. Rhode Island is the only state with life tenure for its state supreme court. Every other major democracy in the world has term or age limits for their high courts. And it’s a policy that routinely receives strong bipartisan support among the public. Strong bipartisan legislation is the answer.

An 18-year term is more than enough time for one person to wield such immense power. The Court has proven that it is unwilling or unable to hold itself accountable. It’s time for Congress to restore checks and balances by passing term limits legislation now. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water