Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
I got an update on voting rights from the Indivisible leadership team yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you.
To put it in a nutshell, we should see Chuck Schumer bring the For the People Act to the Senate floor once again before break. It will fail. Then he will bring votes on two different provisions of the bill, the DISCLOSE Act (the part dealing with campaign finance reforms and transparency) and the gerrymandering & redistricting compromise.
All of them will fail. Then everyone is going to go on vacation.
It’s going to be discouraging and angering, but that is NOT the end of the story.
The point of this is to put the GOP on record as opposing any and all voting rights legislation, no matter how stripped down. Schumer plans to bring a new voting rights bill up as soon as they return, and he seems to believe that a) he can get it passed through some sort of filibuster carve out and b) that it won’t be too late to stop most of the Republican redistricting that will have started.
It’s a gamble, but he seems to feel confident that it’ll work. And he’s well aware that it’s crucial to get it done.
What does he need from us? To keep. The pressure. Up. He needs us to attend town halls. Call our Senators every day. Go to voting rights events. Attend a protest. Write a letter to the editor.
In short, we need to continue to act as if voting rights legislation MUST happen.
Because it must.
And a whole lot of other stuff, too. So let’s get to work.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I’m frustrated that the Senate hasn’t yet passed voting rights legislation. We absolutely must do something about partisan gerrymandering, dark money in politics, and voter suppression. This should be the Senator’s top priority. Same with climate legislation. We are facing catastrophe if we don’t act aggressively Every piece of legislation Congress takes up right now should be geared towards these two priorities.
TO DEM SENATORS ONLY ADD (this is important!):
Also, I am deeply disappointed that the current Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill language does not address the looming debt ceiling crisis, give the CDC eviction moratorium authority during this health emergency, or include IRS funding to crack down on high-end tax cheats. I want the Senator to push to add those three provisions into the upcoming Budget Resolution. If Debt Ceiling repeal or long-term extension is not included in either the Infrastructure Bill or the Budget Resolution, Republicans can -- and certainly will -- use it to nullify the Democratic agenda. Thanks. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
[to DEM reps:] I strongly support Democrats’ refusal to debate or vote on the Senate’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill until after the Senate also passes and sends to the House legislation that fully implements the President’s American Jobs & Families Plans. That legislation should restore the taxes on the super-rich and giant corporations that Trump cut, and fund IRS enforcement against high-end tax cheats.
Also, it’s imperative that Congress quickly pass legislation to repeal the debt ceiling law, or if that is not possible, suspend the law or raise the debt ceiling for the duration of the pandemic economic crisis and recovery period. Thanks. [H/T]
[to GOP reps] I’m frustrated that Congress hasn’t yet passed aggressive climate legislation. We are facing catastrophe if we don’t act now. Every piece of legislation Congress takes up right now should be geared towards this. I want the Congressmember to make the climate emergency a top priority. Thanks.
Extra Credit
On twitter or FB? Post this and tag your two Senators! (Also sign the petition please!)
Law enforcement can now kill water protectors in South Dakota. A proposed federal bill would greenlight other states to follow suit. It’s passed the House and it’s making its way through Senate committees now. @[tag Senator 1] @[tag Senator 2] vote NO!
https://action.lakotalaw.org/action/hr-1374?ms=tw_share&snw=2&ref=3c6114d7-2513-4e81-81f6-810436e753bf
Get Educated!
Friendly reminder that tonight at 7:30pm PDT is the Vote NO on the recall messaging and effective actions event. Have I mentioned that this recall election, if successful, could lose us our majority in the Senate? THIS AFFECTS US ALL!
Please consider attending to learn lots of easy ways you can help!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Dem Senators] [H/T]
Fossil fuel corporations like Exxon Mobil have known for decades that their pollution was causing catastrophic climate impacts. They not only failed to share their science, they took deliberate action to mislead the public and raked in massive profits at the expense of our air, water, land, and health.
When you make a mess, you’ve got to clean it up. Fossil fuel companies profited heavily from polluting our planet. Now it's time to make them pay to clean it up. As your constituent, I strongly urge you to do everything you can to include the Polluters Pay Climate Fund as part of the budget reconciliation package. Thanks!
P.S. Also please demand that President Biden stop the Line 3 pipeline! We MUST stop building fossil fuel infrastructure NOW.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess