Hi, all, and happy Monday!
Hope you had a great weekend.
On Saturday I joined a large phonebank to stop the GOP recall election of Gavin Newsom here in California. It was great to feel like I was part of the solution—this recall is going to cost the state 276 million dollars (!!) and is being funded by anti-vaxxers and Trump supporters. Should it succeed—an outcome we must all work to prevent—we could lose our majority in the Senate. Dianne Feinstein, after all, is 88; were anything to happen to her the Governor would appoint her successor.
So no matter where you live, please consider helping to get the word out. Ballots drop on August 16th, election day is September 14th, and everyone in California needs to vote no. You can find information on writing postcards here, or on phonebanking here.
Because action is ALWAYS the answer.
On that note, let’s make some calls!
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, we need an independent investigation by a special counsel into the sexual assault allegations by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. We must learn the truthfulness of Justice Kavanaugh’s responses to these accusations. The conduct and character of a Supreme Court justice is relevant to the lives of every single person in this country. At stake is the very legitimacy of the court, and this nation’s trust and faith in the entire confirmation process. [H/T] Also Christopher Wray needs to be fired immediately.
Finally, the Senate’s upcoming recess should be cancelled until the bipartisan infrastructure bill, another, larger bill that focuses on human infrastructure, and voting rights legislation are all passed.
[If Dem add:] Stop waiting for Republicans. Reform the filibuster, pass things through reconciliation, get creative. All they do is obstruct. Don’t let them get away with it.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m extremely disappointed in Merrick Garland. I feel he’s not holding Bill Barr and other former Trump administration officials accountable for their norm-breaking and sometimes illegal acts. I’d like the Congressmember to push Merrick Garland to get more aggressive in prosecuting wrongs that occurred during Trump’s tenure. Otherwise they will be repeated.
Also, I know Representative Adam Schiff has introduced the “Protecting Our Democracy Act, which will institute safeguards to prevent many of the abuses that took place in the DOJ under Trump. It’s urgent that it pass, and I’d like the Congressmember to support it. [H/T]
Extra Credit
Let’s call the Senate Judiciary Committee at (202) 224-5225
Say:
“My name is ______ and I live in ______. I’m calling to say that I’m furious that allegations against Brett Kavanaugh were ignored during his confirmation process. I want the Senate Judiciary committee to examine and hold hearings on the handling of the investigation by the FBI and the previous administration’s White House counsel. Thanks.”
[H/T]
Extra Extra Credit
Please tweet the below (or post it on FB, but remove the first period and make sure you tag Biden and Schumer using their FB handles). Also sign the petition!
.@POTUS We cannot out-organize 400 voter suppression laws. We can't out-litigate that. We're asking you to support ending the filibuster & doing whatever is necessary to protect our right to vote.
P.S. @SenSchumer #CancelRecess & pass #ForThePeopleAct!
https://secure.everyaction.com/bbmBLIB7kESiDHSmoqxfwg2?sp_sn=twitter&spclid=C7DE510C-9517-4150-AC25-5FBE2F950F09&snw=2&ref=6df9f28c-ebfa-414b-8279-51ba0f1973eb
Get on the Phones! ☎️
Center For Common Ground volunteers will meet one more time on Zoom this week before they take a break during the month of August to recharge. Join them this Tuesday, July 27 from 5 to 7pm ET.
(1) We will be calling voters of color in Georgia and connecting them to (or asking them to call) their state representatives and demand transparent and fair redistricting (for the US House, Georgia State Senate, Georgia State House, and the Public Service Commission).
(2) We will also continue calling voters of color in Arizona and asking them to call Senators Sinema and Kelly to modify the filibuster and pass the 'For The People Act' so we can guarantee everyone's right to vote.
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86979266707?pwd=UFZZNDBpcWg5RnVoV0ErMTdHUVFNdz09
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your HOUSE rep] [H/T]
I am writing today to implore you to support efforts to reverse the previous administration's unscientific and widely-opposed national delisting of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act.
After being on the brink of extinction in the 1970’s, decades of recovery efforts along with strong federal protections have bolstered the gray wolf population, even though they only occupy a fraction of their former range.
The removal of federal protections has already been taken advantage of in several states. In February, only a month after protections were lifted, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources authorized a hunt with a quota of 200 wolves. Hunters blew through that quota in less than 3 days, killing 218. Since then, another 100 wolves have been killed, bringing the total population loss in the state to 33% since the protections were removed.
Montana and Idaho have enacted or are in the process of enacting brutal and unscientific wolf eradication policies that could lead to the killing of 90 percent of the wolves in those states.
The Biden Administration must act to correct the irresponsible and reckless removal of Endangered Species Act protections from gray wolves. And it must to do expeditiously as multiple states are planning yet more hunting and trapping of these still-recovering animals.
I urge that you join the Rep. Beyer, Rep. Grijalva, and Rep. DeFazio letter urging Sec. Halaand to re-list the Gray Wolf as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act.
Thank you for considering my perspective.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess