October 26, 2023
Election-denier Speaker chosen, another mass shooting, texting to increase voter turnout, and more!
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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:
THE HOUSE IS OPEN AGAIN – 22 DAYS UNTIL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The House has elected a new speaker at last – Mike Johnson, a former spokesman and lawyer for the Southern Poverty Law Center-designated hate group Alliance for Defending Freedom who has pushed for radical proposals to slash Social Security and Medicare, a national abortion ban and a national don’t say gay law; opposed Ukraine aid; embraced white nationalist conspiracies; indicated he’d pursue a federal ban on gender-affirming care for kids; has introduced bills to make it harder to seek asylum, criminalizing helping minors get abortions across state lines and stripping the Federal Trade Commission of their antitrust enforcement powers; and led the House amicus brief in support of Texas’ lawsuit to invalidate the 2020 election results - “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections” in the House. His first major task will be government funding, which is set to run out in just over three weeks. He has proposed a continuing resolution through January or April. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and tell them we want no games – they need to do their jobs and pass a clean continuing resolution at current appropriation levels ASAP.ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING
Last night in Lewiston, ME a gunman shot and killed at least 20 people. As of early this morning, the suspect was still at large. Normally, this is where we’d tell you to contact your legislators to have them pass some commonsense legislation that could save lives. However, when every single GOP member voted yesterday to elect a new Speaker who has little experience, is an election denier and a pro-Trump extremist “who is staunchly anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ rights, anti-union, and anti-immigration. He has close ties to the Israeli right wing, and he opposes further aid to Ukraine, saying such money would be better spent at home, but he has also called for extensive cuts to domestic spending programs”, it is not a good use of our time. These situations demonstrate why it is essential that we continue working to get more people registered and then help get out the vote. Let’s sign up to work with Field Team 6 and let’s listen to Jess Craven who tells us she has “resource documents with lots and lots of ways to help in PA here, VA here and Ohio here. There are phonebanks, letter-writing campaigns, texting opportunities, and places to donate.”
INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT WITH FRIEND-TO-FRIEND TEXTING
As election season heats up, it is so important to get out the vote and one of the best ways to do that is through our own networks. A Columbia University study showed that texts between friends were over 8 % more effective in getting out the vote than traditional outreach efforts. wow, with the SWIPEBLUE app we have an easy way to to try this for ourselves, increase progressive turnout and win! We can start by downloading the app here, matching our contacts with our local voter files, then swiping and reminding our friends to get out and vote!
STOP A GOP TRIFECTA IN VIRGINIA
The stakes couldn’t be higher in the Virginia legislative elections. If Republicans win both houses, they could pass abortion bans, book bans, more restrictions on school libraries and elevate their supposedly moderate governor Glenn Youngkin to the national stage – observers warn they could make Virginia the next Florida. If Democrats win both houses, we’ll send a message to the country about the destructive GOP agenda and set the stage for major policy gains after the next gubernatorial election. Let’s get to work! We can sign up to phonebank with Sister District here or Swing Blue Alliance here and split donations between candidates in critical races here.
MINNESOTA DEMOCRAT THREATENS BIDEN CHALLENGE
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) seems on the verge of announcing a primary challenge to President Biden. While Phillips has suggested the country “wants a competition,” it is unclear what this Problem Solvers Caucus member’s platform is: in the last Congress, he voted with Biden 100% of the time, and his primary concern seems to be Biden’s age and polling numbers. His campaign threatens to offer little tangible difference to the Biden Administration, along with an airing of attacks against the President that would only reinforce similar messages from the Republicans. Let’s contact Rep. Phillips at his congressional (202-225-2871; 952-656-5176) and campaign (952-426-1766, orhello@phillipsforcongress.org) and tell him no one wants competition for competition’s sake and push him to drop this bid and endorse President Biden for reelection.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
MI - GUARDIANSHIP FLAWS ADDRESSED
We all know there are widespread nefarious guardianship practices going on all over the country. On Wednesday, the Michigan House approved several bills, with bipartisan support, to address these issues in the state. House bills 4909-4912 institute long-awaited reforms to Michigan’s guardianship statutes, as well as HB 5047 which would create the Office of State Guardian. The bill, HB 4909, HB 4910, HB 4911, HB 4912, and HB 5047 now move on to the Senate. Let’s reach out to our senators and ask them to vote for these bills to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens.
When the Democratic Caucus is campaigning for the 2024 election, broadcasting a biography detailing Mike Johnson's history as a radical religious bigot should be uppermost in their efforts to regain control of the House.