Hi, all, and happy Tuesday! I got a bit stressed this morning when I realized, with a groan, that I’d triple-booked myself for this afternoon. I somehow set things up so that between 4 and 6 PM I am scheduled to be a) running a Virginia phonebank, b) participating in an Instagram Live with the
With respect, I think term limits for SCOTUS offers insufficient relief for us and for coming generations. Expanding the Court now would offer much more.
Term limits is one remedy. As I'm sure you've seen if you read me regularly, I advocate for court expansion and a code of ethics pretty much weekly. We need all of it. (:
In order for us to pass any legislation re SCOTUS, term limits, ethics, or otherwise, we need to have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, control of the House and our candidate in the White House. That is a tough lift for all of us.
However, there is something we can do to help all of our lives, legally speaking, that is much easier to accomplish. That is to be sure to elect or appoint liberal judges to every State Supreme Court in the nation. 22 states hold elections for their State Supreme Court Justices, so we have a chance, as we did recently in Wisconsin, to affect the outcome of those elections and get a majority of liberal judges on those courts. Apparently between now and Nov ‘24 there are several dozen of these races occurring around the country. And these are state-wide races, so not a problem if the state is gerrymandered.
In the remaining 28 states, judges are appointed by the Governor or a commission. So we can protest at their offices, write letters, make calls, etc., as NY state recently did, to get the Governor to reconsider their choice, if it is too conservative. And many of these judges, in both categories, must run for re-election after their first term is up, so we can also affect the outcomes of those races.
Why does this matter? Because SCOTUS cannot rule against state passed laws for most of the items passed, because they are based on that state’s own constitution. So these laws can protect the residents of that particular state, regardless of what SCOTUS has passed. And it is much easier to elect a judge at a state level than to try to flip Congress and keep the White House. So pay attention to those judge races in your and neighboring states. Only about half of the voters, if that, ever vote for judge races, so it can be quite easy to win a particular race without a ton of effort.
Thank you,Jess ! for alerting about the proposed WIC funding cuts.I was a Nutritionist/Supervisor and worked many years locally with the WIC program. I also experienced those funding cuts 30 years ago…we don’t want to go there again.
I learned something today. I usually call my Rep’s DC office to voice my opinion on a national issue/concern/bill but this was personal.I called the local office and I got a “ constituent services rep” .For the first time, I actually felt she was listening to me instead of “ checking off boxes/votes”.
He’s Freedom Caucus GOP, obviously far right, although much less caustic than many. IAs you well know, if the GOP cares about “life”, they should care about WIC…
Jessica, I appreciate your work so much. Here's a quotation that I have framed on my desk, for when I feel overwhelmed. It's from the novel *A Dry White Season," by the anti-apartheid writer, Andre Brink. "There are only two kinds of madness one should guard against. One is the belief that we can do everything. The other is the belief that we can do nothing."
Jessica, I didn't get to your newsletter until too late for today. But we can still ask people to call, right? I want to make sure before I post. I'm so angry at Republicans (so, new?)!!! So much for the "pro-children party!!
Yes! I saw this on IG (trying to expand my social media smarts!) You are my hero!
Ok I"m going to share your video and the link to the calling. I love DC but sometimes I don't. We have no one to call who would be affected by how I vote.
Thanks for the reminder of "a cinch by the inch!" Do you know David Mallett's "Garden Song" also known as "Inch by Inch." Same philosophy and beautifully expressed. Take good care of you!
Love, "It's a cinch by the inch." thank you. I too make calendar mistakes, but it is a cinch by the inch. yes
Good one, right?
Love the Mike Lux article!
So good, right?
Just donated to Brandon Presley. Thanks for the heads up.
Whoo-hoo! Thank you!
Love this. I’m going to grab some more postcards and start writing 🙏
Yaaay!
Cinching the inching......great advice.
With respect, I think term limits for SCOTUS offers insufficient relief for us and for coming generations. Expanding the Court now would offer much more.
Term limits is one remedy. As I'm sure you've seen if you read me regularly, I advocate for court expansion and a code of ethics pretty much weekly. We need all of it. (:
In order for us to pass any legislation re SCOTUS, term limits, ethics, or otherwise, we need to have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, control of the House and our candidate in the White House. That is a tough lift for all of us.
However, there is something we can do to help all of our lives, legally speaking, that is much easier to accomplish. That is to be sure to elect or appoint liberal judges to every State Supreme Court in the nation. 22 states hold elections for their State Supreme Court Justices, so we have a chance, as we did recently in Wisconsin, to affect the outcome of those elections and get a majority of liberal judges on those courts. Apparently between now and Nov ‘24 there are several dozen of these races occurring around the country. And these are state-wide races, so not a problem if the state is gerrymandered.
In the remaining 28 states, judges are appointed by the Governor or a commission. So we can protest at their offices, write letters, make calls, etc., as NY state recently did, to get the Governor to reconsider their choice, if it is too conservative. And many of these judges, in both categories, must run for re-election after their first term is up, so we can also affect the outcomes of those races.
Why does this matter? Because SCOTUS cannot rule against state passed laws for most of the items passed, because they are based on that state’s own constitution. So these laws can protect the residents of that particular state, regardless of what SCOTUS has passed. And it is much easier to elect a judge at a state level than to try to flip Congress and keep the White House. So pay attention to those judge races in your and neighboring states. Only about half of the voters, if that, ever vote for judge races, so it can be quite easy to win a particular race without a ton of effort.
Yes! And Pennsylvania has a very important Supreme Court election coming up November!
Thank you,Jess ! for alerting about the proposed WIC funding cuts.I was a Nutritionist/Supervisor and worked many years locally with the WIC program. I also experienced those funding cuts 30 years ago…we don’t want to go there again.
I learned something today. I usually call my Rep’s DC office to voice my opinion on a national issue/concern/bill but this was personal.I called the local office and I got a “ constituent services rep” .For the first time, I actually felt she was listening to me instead of “ checking off boxes/votes”.
💙
That's amazing! Is your rep GOP or Dem?
He’s Freedom Caucus GOP, obviously far right, although much less caustic than many. IAs you well know, if the GOP cares about “life”, they should care about WIC…
Oh man, stay on him!
Jessica, I appreciate your work so much. Here's a quotation that I have framed on my desk, for when I feel overwhelmed. It's from the novel *A Dry White Season," by the anti-apartheid writer, Andre Brink. "There are only two kinds of madness one should guard against. One is the belief that we can do everything. The other is the belief that we can do nothing."
Hooooo I LOVE that! Thank you!
Take a deep breath, focus on family first and most of all relax.
Jessica, I didn't get to your newsletter until too late for today. But we can still ask people to call, right? I want to make sure before I post. I'm so angry at Republicans (so, new?)!!! So much for the "pro-children party!!
You can absolutely still call! And funnily enough I just made a TikTok about that today. You can see it here. https://youtu.be/dXx5mBMQtck?feature=shared
Yes! I saw this on IG (trying to expand my social media smarts!) You are my hero!
Ok I"m going to share your video and the link to the calling. I love DC but sometimes I don't. We have no one to call who would be affected by how I vote.
Ugh. That really is so unfair.
Thanks for the reminder of "a cinch by the inch!" Do you know David Mallett's "Garden Song" also known as "Inch by Inch." Same philosophy and beautifully expressed. Take good care of you!
https://youtu.be/2m0LewjkO4s?si=U_ISNcLSDuNPyhw-