November 19, 2024
One more judicial race, full disclosure on Gaetz, stand with Sarah, and more!
GOTV POSTCARDS FOR RUNOFF – MUST BE MAILED TODAY
Postcards To Voters has a rapid response postcarding opportunity for those who can write and mail postcards TODAY. Next Tuesday, November 26th, Mississippi Supreme Court candidates Jenifer Branning and Jim Kitchens will compete in a runoff election. While incumbent Justice Kitchens is considered a centrist and has served on the court since 2009, State Senator Branning has expressed her position as a "constitutional conservative," and campaigned on "conservative values" in the judiciary. This has also been reflected during her time in the Mississippi Senate, where she opposed Medicaid expansion, introduced anti-LGBTQ legislation, and opposed equal pay for women. Runoff elections have historically had low voter turnout, and with the election happening during a holiday week, getting voters to show up and vote will be an even bigger challenge - and we're on a very tight timeline. Let's take some time ASAP today write postcards with Postcards to Voters, contacting PTV via email, text or Slack.
We can also sign up to get involved with the campaign directly in its final days here.
TELL HOUSE ETHICS TO RELEASE GAETZ REPORT
The House Ethics Committee is meeting tomorrow to decide whether to publicly release their report on the allegations of sex trafficking and statutory rape against attorney general-designee and former Rep. Matt Gaetz. Let’s reach out to members of the committee and tell them to make sure we see the report - whether by the normal process, one of them reading it into the record or by leaking it to the press (h/t Jennifer Fisher):
Republicans:
Rep. Michael Guest (MS, Chairman) - 202-225-5031
Rep. David Joyce (OH) = 202-225-5731
Rep. John Rutherford (FL) - 202-225-2501
Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY) - 202-225-7896
Rep. Michelle Fischbach (MN) - 202-225-2165
Democrats:
Rep. Susan Wild (PA, Ranking Member) - 202-225-6411
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (CA) - 202-225-2095
Rep. Veronica Escobar (TX) - 202-225-4831
Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD) - 202-225-8699
Rep. Deborah Ross (NC) - 202-225-3032
STAND WITH SARAH MCBRIDE, NOT HER TRANSPHOBIC COLLEAGUES
We saw history made on Election Night as Democratic State Senator Sarah McBride won Delaware’s at-large seat in the House, becoming the first openly transgender member of Congress. In the wake of a relentlessly hateful campaign, her new Republican colleagues have immediately pivoted to her as their next target. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has introduced a resolution barring lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex” and expressing open contempt for McBride. This cruel act of bullying needs to be resoundingly rejected. Let’s contact our members of the House and tell them we expect them to stand with Sarah McBride and say hell no to a Capitol Hill bathroom ban.
TELL THE FEDERAL RESERVE TO USE THEIR INDEPENDENCE TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE
Trump cannot fire the head of the Federal Reserve. And the Fed maintains the power to create incentives for renewable energy and to ask banks to consider climate change when funding fossil fuel projects. We can remind them, as this petition does, that they spared no efforts to bail out the banks during the Great Recession. We expect just as much involvement in fighting climate change. In addition to signing the petition, we can contact them directly and leave a message by phone or on-line here.
FAIR TAXES FOR AMERICANS ABROAD - COMMENT TODAY
"Investing and saving for retirement, a rainy day, or just to pad your nest egg is essential for achieving financial security. But PFIC (Passive Foreign Investment Company) taxation and IRS Form 8621 for reporting non-US investment funds (like ETFs or mutual funds) creates an unnecessary burden for ordinary middle-class Americans abroad just trying to engage in responsible financial planning. IRS rules on how non-US investment funds are taxed and reported simply don’t take into account the reality Americans abroad face. It’s so confusing that just determining whether a non-US investment is a PFIC requires an in-depth legal analysis that no individual of ordinary means could possibly do themselves, and support from the IRS for reporting these investments is non-existent. This is a critical opportunity for our voices to be heard on why PFIC Form 8621 is confusing, burdensome, and how it affects Americans abroad just trying to save for their future." This website from Democrats Abroad walks us through how to make our voices heard - today is the last day to comment!