May 2, 2023
National debt ceiling, workers’ rights, nursing homes, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: democracy.io
By US mail: Representatives / Senators
By fax: Representatives / Senators
By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
NATIONAL DEBT CEILING
Congress has contended with the debt ceiling for ages, but the current use of the negotiations was not originally intended. Raising the debt ceiling, which has been done 78 times since 1960, including three during the Trump administration, is not a time to discuss budget issues. Some legal experts say that the debt limit itself is unconstitutional. In his Substack newsletter today, Robert Reich, former Sec. of Labor, advised President Biden to invoke the Constitution’s 14th Amendment’s 4th Section which states that “The validity of the public debt of the United States … shall not be questioned.” He goes on to say that the President is obligated to “to ignore the debt ceiling and continue to pay the debts of the United States.” Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary, says we may hit the limit earlier than originally expected if the debt ceiling is not raised or suspended. President Biden can suspend the debt limit. It may well get thrown into the courts, but we could end up with a clearer process of budgeting and repaying our debts. Let’s ask President Biden to consider this option and get on with the business of running the country.
SUPREME COURT ETHICS
Not only has Justice Roberts declined the Senate Judiciary’s request to testify about the recently discovered ethical lapses of Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Gorsuch. Now, it’s been reported that his wife made millions of dollars as a legal recruiter, including matching lawyers with firms that had cases in front of the Supreme Court. Let’s ask our MoCs loud and clear what they are going to do about the blatant lack of Supreme Court Ethics, and demand that they take action now.
STRENGTHEN WORKERS’ RIGHTS
The demise of union strength is a central cause of gaping economic inequalities in the United States. The bipartisan Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023 would, if enacted, protect workers’ rights to join a union and bargain for better wages, benefits, and work conditions. It’s sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Boby Scott. Let’s read the details. Then, let’s tell our U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R.20 and our U.S. Senators to co-sponsor S.567.
POSTCARDS FOR A BLUE VA LEGISLATURE IN 2023
This year, the entire Virginia state legislature is up for election. The state has been redistricted, and many voters will need election guidance. Currently, Democrats control the Senate, while Republicans control the House. There’s a lot at stake. Virginia’s governor is a Republican. If Democrats lose the Virginia legislature, the Republican party will have complete control of the state. The organization Postcards for Virginia is dedicated to keeping Democratic-leaning voters informed and getting them to the polls. Postcard campaigns are live now. Let’s sign up to write postcards with Postcards for Virginia.
DON’T LET WALL STREET GREED HURT NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
The pandemic exposed systemic problems with quality of care at nursing homes owned by private equity firms. For instance, residents at Trilogy Health Services homes died from COVID at twice the national nursing home average as the company repeatedly cut patient care hours and violated safety rules, while the CEO of their parent firm received millions in stock options. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies are pushing for some very simply protections to force nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid to be more transparent about who owns them. Let’s join Americans for Financial Reform in supporting this new regulation here.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
AZ, FL, GA, IL, MI, NC, NJ NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WI, and Puerto Rico – VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS TO HELP POTENTIAL VOTERS
With so many states enacting stricter ID voting requirements, those without birth certificates have a difficult time becoming registered voters. We the Action, whose mission is to link lawyers to causes, is helping people get the ID and other documents they need not only for voting, but for housing, healthcare, jobs, etc. We the Action is seeking attorneys in the above-mentioned states “to assist clients who need to obtain their birth certificate but lack the requisite ID to complete the order. Counsel is needed to represent the client for the limited purpose of obtaining the birth certificate. We will pay the costs for the birth certificate.” If we, or someone we know could help with this project, here is where to sign up to volunteer. (h/t Your Weekly Pep Talk & Action List)
Thanks for explaining a debt limit solution.
Great ideas as always.