Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/13
A good way to live.
Hi, all, and happy Monday!
It’s a big day here in CA--we have just over 24 hours to ensure that our Governor keeps his seat. I intend to spend as much time phonebanking as humanly possible during that time.
After all, we need to win this election, and win big. I *think* we can, but I certainly don’t intend to take my foot off the gas now. I hope you don’t either.
We need to achieve a victory so sweeping that the (inevitable) claims of voter fraud from the sore-loser GOP elicit nothing but gales of laughter.
And I know we will, because I know how hard you’re all working. I’ve loved seeing some of you at phonebanks, and hearing from others about canvasses you’ve attended. I know many of you have been texting, postcarding, and/or friendbanking.
Our little army is making a big difference; no matter how this election turns out, we can go to bed tomorrow night knowing that we did all we could to help win it.
Pretty good way to live, isn’t it?
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I’d like the Senator to co-sponsor S. 2275, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act, which would increase funding to Violence Intervention Programs, something we know is extremely effective at reducing community gun violence.
Second, I want the Senator to fight to keep all of the climate provisions in the budget bills currently being marked up. The climate emergency is here. We have to act with urgency.
Finally, I want the Senator to support Joe Manchin’s voting rights bill. This is a civil rights emergency and only federal voter protection legislation will stop it. [If Democrat add:] If Republicans in the Senate won’t support it Democrats MUST reform the filibuster to get this done.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I know the budget reconciliation package is in the final stages of negotiation. I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to make sure it has strong provisions to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices and expand coverage of essential services, and also to ensure the ultra-wealthy pay their fair share.
I want Congress to expand and improve Medicare in the following ways [say all of this or choose one or two that matter the most to you]: by lowering the eligibility age to 60 years old; adding comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing services; empowering Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, limit high launch prices, and impose restrictions on increasing prices; ensuring that low-cost prescription drugs must be available to everyone; capping the price of prescription drugs in the U.S. to the average price in peer countries and including strong inflation protections & negotiation enforcement, like tax penalties.
On taxes: we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to un-rig our economy and prevent billionaires and giant corporations from avoiding taxes or simply breaking tax laws altogether. It’s time for this to happen. In the Reconciliation package I want Congress to close the “stepped-up basis” loophole, which would generate $325 billion in revenue from millionaires and billionaires, and also dramatically increase funding for IRS enforcement. Thanks. [H/T]
Extra Credit
Right now two House committees, Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means, are working on key parts of the $3.5 trillion budget package. The committees will finalize their mark-ups today and tomorrow. We need to call NOW.
Call the House Ways & Means Committee at 202-225-3625 and say: “My name is _____ and I’m calling from _____. I support an end to fossil fuel subsidies. We are in a climate emergency. We shouldn’t be propping up the oil and gas industry.”
Then call the House Energy & Commerce Committee at 202-225-2927 and say “My name is _____ and I’m calling from _____. I support bold climate action. That means the Clean Electricity Performance Plan, a big Civilian Climate Corps, electric vehicle charging, and more. We’re in a climate emergency. We need drastic action. Thanks.”
Extra EXTRA Credit
Plan C NEEDS US to help them collectively distribute 25,000 stickers across the country. I took the liberty of asking for 1000, so if you want just a handful (they’re asking us specifically to put them up around college campuses) email me your address and I’ll send you ten when I get them--as long as you promise to put them up! Want more? Order from Plan C directly.
We have the chance to not just thwart the GOP attempts to control women’s bodies, but actually to EXPAND access to abortion care by educating people about the safety and efficacy of medication abortions. But that can only be done by letting them know this kind of care is out there! Can you help?
Get on the Phones! ☎️
LAST DAY BEFORE ELECTION DAY PHONEBANK!
I’ll be there training in the PDI breakout room. Not sure what that means? Come find out! 4-7 PM PDT yes it’s 3 hours but no pressure--just stay for as long as you can.
Rose McGowan came out for Larry Elder yesterday (why is there no “forehead slap” emoji?) 😩
Sign up here.
If that’s too late in the day the Center for Common Ground has one earlier-- at noon Pacific / 3pm Eastern--where volunteers will call Black voters in California to alert them to the anti-democratic process that may result in a loss of civil rights for many communities.
Gabe, the Director of Phone Banking for Center for Common Ground, will lead a special training for this campaign to call voters who really need to hear from us before this Tuesday’s election. To join this phone bank at 12:00 PM PDT click here.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T]
I am very, very worried about plastic pollution and its effects on both our environment and human health.
Every step of the production of virgin plastic items -- extracting the oil and gas, transporting and refining it, shipping it to factories to be molded into plastic bags, foam cups, soda bottles and more -- is damaging to our environment.
The REDUCE Act would tax manufacturers for creating products out of new, virgin plastic -- and ultimately encourage the shift to the use of recycled materials.
I urge you to support the REDUCE Act, and to also support policies to go even further in reducing our use of plastic, such as bans on single-use plastic products we just don't need. To that end I’d also like you to co-sponsor the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.
Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess