May 26, 2023
Debt ceiling debacle, Clean Water Act, election officials, 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:
DEBT CEILING DEBACLE CONTINUES
It’s getting to be old hat, but the powers that be are still wrangling over a solution to the debt limit crisis. Most people are not fully aware of the seriously devastating domestic and international consequences will be if the US defaults on our debt. The GOP approved lifting the debt ceiling (without strings) three times during the former administration, even though the huge tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations added to that debt. Rep. Katie Porter reminds us this is not something we can do with our own personal debt, and that we certainly can’t do it as a country either. It is time to stop playing games and either do away with the debt ceiling concept or raise it now. We can keep contacting our legislators in the usual way or we can use Resistbot to sign the petition to discharge the debt ceiling now.
BUILD THE CLEAN WATER ACT BACK BETTER
Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Sackett v. EPA that limits the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate certain wetlands under the Clean Water Act, yet another in a series of opinions making it harder for the agency to do its crucial work. While the vote was unanimous, the court's three liberal members and conservative Brett Kavanaugh were concerned enough to say that the test could undermine water quality and flood control in the United States. This case is statutory interpretation rather than constitutional interpretation, which means Congress does have the power to fix it by specifically clarifying they intended for the now-excluded waters to be regulated under the CWA, and anticipating this decision the EPA has already been at work at a new Waters of the United States regulation. Let's reach out to our members of Congress and urge them to do so, and also take the opportunity to remind them of the need to reform the Supreme Court. Further, let's contact the EPA and encourage them to be as aggressive as possible in writing the new rules to ensure the Clean Water Act protects as much as it can.
SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE FIGHTING ABORTION BANS
Recent weeks saw anti-abortion rights action in multiple states, with a 12-week ban with burdensome clinic regulations and obstacles to medication abortion made law over the governor’s veto in North Carolina, a new 6-week ban moving forward in South Carolina, a 12-week ban rushed through with a ban on care for trans kids in Nebraska, and a bill securing rape and incest exceptions to Louisiana’s near total ban abortion funds blocked by the GOP. Let’s show support to those impacted by the bans and consider donations to abortion funds in Nebraska, the Carolinas, or Louisiana if we are able, and let’s make sure our lawmakers know we’re not going away by contacting our members of Congress and urging them to back the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act (S.237) to ensure folks in these states will still be able to get mifepristone and misoprostol through telehealth and mail-order pharmacies.
COUNTER THE DOG WHISTLES OF HATE
Republican politicians, conservative media and pundits, and far-right entities have been evoking three (at least!) common lies to arouse their base, slander those who disagree with them, and garner power through fear and hatred. One lie involves conspiracy theories around progressive Jewish philanthropist George Soros; one invokes critical race theory to justify erasing discussions of racism and sexism in public schools; and one targets the LGBTQ+ community with accusations of “grooming.” These lies are authoritarian tactics, and they’re slipping into the mainstream (example). The Anti-Defamation League has written short, excellent pieces on each of these lies. Let’s read and understand them so we can be prepared to respond: on George Soros, on critical race theory, on grooming.
PROTECT ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS
We’re losing election officials because they’ve been facing death threats, harassment, and abuse in the wake of The Big Lie. Yet, we can’t have free and fair elections without people to run them. The Protecting Election Administration from Interference Act , introduced by Democrats, would, if passed, make it a criminal offense to interfere in the counting and certifying of ballots, protect the preservation and security of cast ballots, and more. Let’s tell our US Senators to co-sponsor S.1487 and our US Representatives to co-sponsor H.R.3130.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
OH – SAY NO TO BATHROOM BANS
Ohio Republicans are pushing more transphobic legislation, with more than 20 signing on to House Bill 183 to force transgender students into the bathroom of their assigned gender at birth. The legislation would apply at both the K-12 and college levels. Let’s contact our state legislators and Governor Mike DeWine and demand they oppose this effort, as well as bills to block trans girls from school sports and barring gender-affirming care for trans kids.
Thank you I will reference your article in Healthcare Advocacy today!