Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
The good news: progressive Congressmembers—mine included—and activists like you put enough pressure on President Biden that he reversed course and extended the eviction moratorium. This is a huge relief, and a testament to the age-old truth that “making noise works.” Bravo!
There’s still much to do, however. Voting rights, climate action, democracy protection and more hang in the balance in these final days before August recess. It’s a time to call, and call again. I’ve already done my daily dials about the For the People Act using Stacey Abrams’ number (888-453-3211); have you? Later today I’ll call a second time about everything else. It’s all so urgent, and making phone calls really is that easy.
But you knew that already, right?
Thanks for all you do! 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 disappointed that the Senate hasn’t yet passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The PRO Act is the most significant worker empowerment legislation since the Great Depression. May I ask where the Senator stands on it?
Second, please press Leader Schumer to introduce the Preventing Election Subversion Act immediately. It addresses urgent dangers like the intimidation of election officials, as well as the most extreme subset of 2021 election laws being rushed out in Republican-controlled legislatures, which give partisan bodies the ability to determine election results. [H/T]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I’m glad that President Biden extended the eviction moratorium, but Congress still needs to act. We need legislation to ensure that we don’t end up in a similar crisis two months from now. Please ask the Congressmember to make it a priority.
Second, we now have hard evidence that Donald Trump attempted a coup. His call to the acting attorney general in which he said “Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me” – should trigger section 3 of the 14th amendment, which bars anyone from holding office who “engaged in insurrection” against the US. Merrick Garland should issue an advisory opinion clearly stating this. He should also hold Trump accountable in court for his crimes. Please ask the Congressmember to push AG Garland to act forcefully, and immediately. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit
Today is a National Call in day to the Senate: #RecessCanWait, Democracy cannot. Demcast is doing a social media blitz at 1 ET (but anytime today is OK) . Here is the toolkit for it. Please pick your preferred social media platform, a post, a hashtag, an image, then share widely! Takes about 15 seconds!
Text Out the Vote (by Mail!) 📬
Turn PA Blue is texting voters every Thursday from 3-6 EDT starting this week to encourage them to sign up to vote by mail for the November 2, 2021 Election. You can sign up for this week’s action here.
A robust Vote By Mail program is key to victory in 2021 and beyond. Data show that low-propensity Democratic voters were ten times more likely to vote in 2020 if they requested a mail-in ballot than those who did not. Building strong vote by mail habits is vital to our quest to solidly turn PA blue.
They're using the platform Spoke. If you're new to texting or want a refresher, you can sign up for their training on Tuesday, 8/10 at 7 PM HERE.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to all 3 reps] [H/T]
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill now being debated in the Senate is a sad shadow of what President Biden originally proposed. And failure to extend the CDC eviction moratorium threatens a new wave of homelessness at the very moment we're facing a new upsurge in COVID infections and transmission rates.
As your constituent, I want you to:
Insert language into the BIB restoring the CDC's authority to declare health emergency-related eviction moratoriums, adding new emergency financial support for renters, and changing rules and policies in any way necessary to get the previously appropriated help for renters into the hands of those who need it to remain in their homes.
Restore the IRS enforcement funding that Republicans removed from the original proposal. After ramming through huge tax cuts for wealthy individuals and rich corporations, it's outrageous that they continue to starve the IRS of the funds needed to track down and recoup illegal tax evasion by those who benefited from the cuts. Everyone, rich as well as poor, must be made to pay their fair share of taxes.
Adamantly reject Republican demands to eliminate the Davis-Bacon Act "prevailing wage" standard from BIB-funded infrastructure contracts. Without that standard, there will be a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions rather than the “good-paying union jobs” that President Biden originally proposed. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess