Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!
Well, that happened. 😉
Thank you and congratulations to every single one of you who made phone calls, sent texts, wrote postcards, made a donation, or otherwise helped us beat the GOP Recall. Last night felt really good, didn’t it?
Make no mistake, the energy of the Resistance is still here; it’s still vital; it’s more skilled and honed than it’s ever been. We proved it yesterday; we’ll prove it in Virginia next.
And thank Heavens for that. Because, as Teri Kanefield so eloquently points out in this must-read piece, the attacks on our democracy won’t stop. Like it or not, they’re a feature of democracy. Our job is to pace ourselves, not freak out at every new assault, and keep working on “strengthening our democratic institutions.”
Guess what we did yesterday? And guess what you’re doing by making these calls?
Exactly that.
Never forget: Working to win elections and to hold our elected representatives accountable is key to establishing a democratic “immune system” that will withstand even the most virulent assaults.
So let’s go get healthy one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I want the Senator to support the family leave provisions in the current reconciliation package, and to ensure that they stay in whatever bill gets passed. The US stands alone in not providing any sort of paid leave for parents after the birth of a child. That’s ridiculous. The proposal in the Reconciliation Bill – 12 weeks – is modest in comparison to what other countries provide. Canada provides over 50 weeks! I urge the Senator to invest in Americans and ensure paid leave is included in the Reconciliation Bill. [H/T]
Also, I urge the Senator to support S 2669, the Preventing Harmful Exposure to Phthalates Act.
Finally, I want the Senator to support the Freedom to Vote Act. [If Democrat add:] And if the Republicans block it I want Democrats to create a “carve out” in the filibuster to get it passed. Thanks!
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to ask the Congressmember to please support COVID recovery legislation which extends the temporary increases in the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. These policies have lifted millions of Americans out of poverty. We must continue them. I’d also like to see Congress extend and expand the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program. [H/T]
Also, I’d like him/her to support HR 4963, the Preventing Harmful Exposure to Phthalates Act. Thanks.
Special Extra Credit for CA folks! ☀️
Please post this on your social media and DO IT, too!
Hey, California! Furious about 300M up in smoke?
Text “sign PUBVNG” to @resistbot. This will send a letter to your CA reps telling them to #reformtherecall. Click below for more info. Enough is enough.
https://resist.bot/petitions/PUBVNG
For Everyone Else
Please call the White House Comment line (open Tuesday-Thursday, 11Am-3PM EDT) at (202) 456-1111 and say:
“My name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling to ask President Biden to call for a halt to the construction of the Line 3 pipeline. The recent IPCC report couldn’t be clearer - we can’t keep building fossil fuel infrastructure and expect to stop climate change. Thanks.”
On to Virginia!
Vote Forward’s “Big Send” to Virginia is on Saturday, and they still have letters to distribute! Can you take 5 off their hands and get them done in the next few days? How about 10? All you need is a printer, business envelopes, a couple of pens, and first class stamps. We know these letters increase turnout significantly, and early voting starts in a few weeks! 😳
Now that we’ve defeated the CA Recall let’s take our energy and show the GOP that we’ll beat them EVERYWHERE by the same devastating margins.
Go here to get your letters.
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your DEMOCRATIC Senators] [H/T]
It’s time for Democrats to stand up for economic justice!
We want—we need—a reconciliation bill that fully incorporates President Biden’s original proposals, including these priorities:
The provisions from the PRO Act
The provisions from the THRIVE Act
A national $15/hour minimum wage
We also need provisions that authorize the CDC to issue and enforce common-sense orders and directives, such as eviction moratoriums, to slow the spread of infectious diseases during a national public health emergency.
To those ends, I support Speaker Pelosi’s commitment to delay a final House vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill until after the Senate passes and sends to the House a Reconciliation Bill that fully implements the Democratic Party’s climate, housing, child and family, education, health care, and tax justice agenda.
And if the parliamentarian recommends omitting any of the essential provisions, I urge you either to reject her opinion or to end or reform the filibuster rule so that the bill can be passed. Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess