11/13-11/17/17—Weekly Indivisible Actions:
National Actions
#TrumpTaxScam
Call your Democratic MoC (look up) and tell them to do everything they can to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. NO to the Trump Tax Scam. Also, THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BILL WOULD REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT’S INDIVIDUAL MANDATE!!! We fought hard to stop Obamacare repeal before, and it’s time to rise up again!
Defend DACA -We Demand a Clean DREAM Act NOW!
On Sept. 5, Trump announced that he was terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Obama-era program provides relief from deportation for an estimated 800,000 young immigrants.
Ask for Democrats: Take the “DREAMer Pledge.” What is the DREAMer Pledge? It’s simple. If Congress hasn’t passed the DREAM Act by Dec. 8—when funding for the government expires—then they will insist on it being a part of the December spending bill. The pledge is that they will commit to voting against the Dec. “continuing resolution” unless it contains a clean DREAM Act.
Use this Resource to Make the Call about DACA and Report Back and Help Indivisible HQ gauge how the Resistance is doing (http://act.indivisibleguide.com/call/washington-tell-your-moc-defend-daca/?)
Advocate for CHIP
Call: Your 2 senators (look up).
Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and am calling about funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program. It appears that the Senate is dragging its feet and putting the health of 9 million kids at risk. Can you tell me what Sen. [name] is doing to reauthorize CHIP funding before Thanksgiving?
—(from Jen Hofmann’s Americans of Conscience Action Checklist)
Alabama Special Election:
Donate to Doug Jones (https://dougjonesforsenate.com/) and help Take Back Congress!
Advocate for a bipartisan bill proposing paper ballots.
Script: Dear Sen. [name], I support the bipartisan SAVE Act introduced by Martin Heinrich and Susan Collins. With 21 state elections databases targeted last year, I trust the R&A committee will address the safety of our national voting systems by considering safer, hack-resistant paper ballots. Please do all you can to help S. 2035 proceed. Thank you.
Write: The two chairs of the Senate Rules and Administration committee.
Chair: Sen. Richard Shelby, 304 Russell SOB, Washington, DC 20510
Ranking member: Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 302 Hart SOB, Washington, DC 20510
—(from Jen Hofmann’s Americans of Conscience Action Checklist)
11/4-11/11/17—Weekly Indivisible Actions:
National Actions
#TrumpTaxScam
LOUDLY resisting the Trump/GOP trickle-down tax scam has to be one of our major priorities at the moment. Republicans are desperate to ram terrible policies through quickly to finally get a “win”–and we can’t let them do it!
Besides contacting our members of Congress and expressing support for the stands they’ve already taken against this tax scam, we can also write to the editors of EVERY local and state publication that’ll publish them, to make it obvious that Oregonians are in no mood to fall for another one of Trump’s con-man games!
Here are some potential talking points for letters, followed by resources for contacting and submitting the letters to various papers. I’m getting mine in soon; thanks in advance to everyone else who takes the time to write one! Let’s be as VOCAL as possible about this, and fight as fiercely as we did with ACA repeal!
Letter-writing points, with sources for some (please use your own words of course!):
NOTE: I’m sure there are other valid points too, and this will be updated as changes are made to the legislation. Don’t worry about trying to include everything here; I’m just trying to be thorough and offer lots of options!
-Everyone would like to pay less in taxes, but–besides the fact that we need them to maintain civilization–the current Republican tax-cut bill gives the rich further, unnecessary handouts at the expense of the poor.
-The bill changes the 10% bracket for the poorest Americans to 12%–so it RAISES TAXES ON THE POOR!
https://www.dailykos.com/…/-Republicans-worry-their-tax-giv…
-The bill disproportionately benefits the wealthy by repealing the estate tax on the richest 10% (as though they need more money).
-The bill disproportionately benefits corporations, lowering the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%–even though the Treasury Dept. has calculated that (due to loopholes and tax breaks) the EFFECTIVE corporate tax rate is ALREADY about 22%. https://www.politico.com/…/35-percent-corporate-tax-rate-1…/
-Corporations will still get to deduct their state and local income taxes, but individuals and families won’t (so ordinary people will get taxed twice under this plan!).
-The bill eliminates the interest deduction on student loans, negatively impacting the 1/3 of Americans with student loan debt.
http://thehill.com/…/358542-winners-and-losers-in-the-gop-t…
-The bill eliminates medical expense deductions, making it even more difficult for Americans to afford health care! http://thehill.com/…/358437-gop-tax-bill-would-eliminate-me…
-The bill adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, potentially requiring cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other services.
http://thehill.com/…/358508-dems-call-gop-tax-bill-a-disgra…
-The bill assumes overly optimistic levels of economic growth to make up revenue lost by the tax cuts. Right-wingers claimed the same thing when Kansas passed tax cuts in 2012, and it didn’t work–leading to budgetary shortfalls.
http://thehill.com/…/358508-dems-call-gop-tax-bill-a-disgra…
-The bill allows tax-exempt religious organizations to engage in political activity and endorse candidates, furthering the right-wing aim of religious interference with public policy.
http://thehill.com/…/358542-winners-and-losers-in-the-gop-t…
-After two failed attempts at repealing the popular Affordable Care Act, Trump and Republicans are now trying to use this tax bill to do away with key ACA provisions like the individual mandate. LET’S NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH FURTHER DISMANTLING THE ACA UNDER COVER OF THIS TAX BILL!!!
http://thehill.com/…/358638-key-republican-says-obamacare-m…
-Less than 1/3 of the public supports the GOP tax plan:
https://www.dailykos.com/…/-Republicans-worry-their-tax-giv…
-In fact, more Americans want HIGHER taxes on corporations.
http://www.pewresearch.org/…/more-americans-favor-raising-…/
-Comprehensive tax reform last occurred 30 years ago, and then only with 2 years’ worth of debate. Republicans, desperate for a “win” to recover from their and Trump’s political ineptitude, have failed to learn from their attempt at ACA repeal, and now they’re AGAIN trying to ram through an unpopular piece of legislation quickly, without close or thorough examination of who really wins or loses. LET’S NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!
-And of course, we can’t know how this bill affects Trump’s taxes, since he’s taken the corrupt and secretive route of not releasing his returns! What business do the Republicans have meddling with our tax rates when they support a president who won’t even disclose his tax returns? HOW ABOUT SOME INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY???
RESOURCES FOR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
(Excerpted from Union of Concerned Scientists’ guide to writing letters):
“Keep your letter short, focused, and interesting. In general, letters should be under 200 words, 150 or less is best; stay focused on one (or, at the most, two) main point(s); and get to the main point in the first two sentences. If possible include interesting facts, relevant personal experience, and any local connections to the issue. If you letter is longer than 200 words, it will likely be edited or not printed. Editors want letters in their papers to be original and from a reader. Be sure that you take the time to write the letter in your own words.”
NOTE: Again, please don’t feel like you need to send your letter to all these publications; just pick out a few nearest you, or with a statewide audience!
Newspaper Contact info/Guidelines:
Corvallis Gazette-Times
https://www.gazettetimes.com/forms/online_services/letter/
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words.
Include a street address and daytime telephone number for verification.
Only the author’s name and city are published.
Writers are limited to one published letter a month when letter volume is high.
Email to: [email protected].
1835 NW Circle Blvd
PO Box 368
Corvallis, OR 97330
Albany Democrat-Herald
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words.
Include a street address and daytime telephone number for verification.
Only the author’s name and city are published.
Writers are limited to one published letter a month when letter volume is high.
Please send us an e-mail at [email protected].
600 Lyon St SW
PO Box 130
Albany, OR 97321
Oregonian
250 word limit. Email to [email protected]. Or mail to this address:
Letters to the editor, The Oregonian 1500 S.W. First Ave., Suite 400, Portland, Or., 97201.
Please include your full address and daytime phone number, for verification.
Eugene Weekly
200 word limit. Email to [email protected] along with your full name, address and phone number.
We prefer letters written in the body of the email, not attachments, that have not also been submitted
elsewhere. Local letter writers are given priority and we limit letter writers to one print letter a month. For those who prefer not to use email,
fax to 484-4044
or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
Eugene Register-Guard
250 word limit; Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month.
Full name, address and daytime phone number for verification;
this information will not be published or released.
Mail letters to:
Mailbag
3500 Chad Drive
Eugene, OR 97408
Fax: 541-338-2828
E-mail: [email protected]
Salem Statesman-Journal:
200 word limit; We cannot accept WordPerfect or PDF letters.
[email protected].
http://community.statesmanjournal.com/…/letters_to_the_edit…
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/…/submitting-your-…/8900457/
Write to Letters to the Editor, Statesman Journal, P.O. Box 13009, Salem, OR, 97309-3009;
faxed to (503) 399-6706;
e-mail to [email protected].
Willamette Week
Letters to the editor must include the author’s street address and phone number for verification.
Letters must be 250 or fewer words. Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210.
Email: [email protected].
Polk County Itemizer-Observer (Dallas/Monmouth)
http://www.polkio.com/submit/letter-to-the-editor/
ADDRESS:
Editor, Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, OR 97338.
FAX: 503-623-2395.
OFFICE: 147 S.E. Court St., Dallas
E-MAIL: [email protected]
–More resources and talking points here:
http://act.indivisibleguide.com/lte/trump-tax-scam/
10/23-10/27/17—Weekly Indivisible Actions:
National Actions
Your weekly Indivisible to-dos (from Indivisible HQ):
- The top priority this week is opposing the #TrumpTaxScam. Last week, Republicans in the Senate passed their budget resolution paving the way for tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. But we can stop them. Visit www.trumptaxscam.org to find call scripts and contact information for your Members of Congress.
- Help Get Out the Vote in Virginia, from the comfort of your own couch! Virginians go to the polls on November 7 in the first statewide election since November 2016. They’ve built a tool for Indivisibles ANYWHERE in the US to phone-bank or text-bank Virginians to remind them to vote. Want to help? Sign up for a volunteer shift now!
- Tune into our Facebook Live TONIGHT, October 23 at 8:30pm ET/5:30pm PT and #stopthesabotage. We’ll discuss Trump’s latest attempts to sabotage and undermine the Affordable Care Act and how you can fight back. Like us on Facebook now and you’ll get a notification when we go live!
- The House and Senate are back in session. Here are some other issues we need to sound the alarm on: The Alexander-Murray (A-M) bipartisan healthcare compromise (read our A-M explainer here). CHIP still hasn’t been reauthorized (use our resource to tell your MoC to do their job). Lastly, use our resource to put pressure on both Democrats and Republicans to take the DREAMer pledge.Bonus: Help us stop Trump’s sabotage of the Affordable Care Act. Executive orders. Inaction. Misinformation campaigns. The GOP is using every non-legislative trick they can think of to deter people from enrolling in healthcare. We have a plan to get enrollment resources in tens of thousands of people’s hands, but we need your help. Can you contribute $45 to help us get our resources in 100 people’s hands?
Previous Actions:
Defend DACA
- Nationally: Tell your representatives in Congress to stand up to Trump’s hateful decision and secure the futures of DACA recipients with a legislative fix: Support The DREAM Act (S.1615 / H.R.3440).
Trump’s Tax Scam
- Get educated on Trump’s Tax Scam here
- Call your MOCs (Members of Congress) and Voice your disapproval!
- Find your Representatives Contact Information here.
- Sample Script (from here): Hello! My name is [___] and I’m calling from [Zipcode]. I’m calling to let [Congressman / Senator __] know that I do not support any Budget Resolution that will pave the way for massive tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations, like the one the House passed on October 5.
- Bonus Action: Write a Letter to the Editor, find all the resources needed here.
Clean Extension of CHIP
- Call your MOCs (Members of Congress) and tell them you want them to pass a clean extension of CHIP funding, immediately.
- Find your Representatives Contact Information here.
9/25-9/29/17—Weekly Indivisible Actions:
Defend DACA
- Nationally: Tell your representatives in Congress to stand up to Trump’s hateful decision and secure the futures of DACA recipients with a legislative fix: Support The DREAM Act (S.1615 / H.R.3440).
- State of Oregon:
- Support Oregon CAUSA‘s efforts to pay for DREAMers renewal fees by the October 5th, 2017 deadline.
Act Local:
- Stand up for Climate Justice & Sustainability in Corvallis
- Background (as provided by Froggi VanRiper, a local activist affiliated with YouCAN Corvallis, an Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club, at our last meeting):
- Corvallis adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP), which lays out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, and carbon reduction strategies. The City council and staff now need a specific process for reaching GHG reduction targets.
- When [a Climate Advisory Board was] recommended as a way to implement our CAP, city staff provided “options” for how a Climate Advisory Board might be structured. None of these options were based on precedents for best practices.
- The major shortcoming of the aforementioned Advisory Board model is using “initiatives” (community volunteer projects) to meet CAP goals. Meeting these goals requires strategic processes, not piecemeal initiatives.
- Take Action
- Attend the next City Council of Corvallis meeting: Monday, 2nd October, 2017 at 6PM at Downtown Fire Station, 400 NW Harrison
- Contact the City Council of Corvallis with the following: I request an empowered and effective Climate Action advisory Board, based on the model submitted by the Sierra Club in partnership with Our Children’s Trust. Thank you.
- City of Corvallis Contact Information:
- Have your say through the online comment form
- Facebook: City of Corvallis
- Twitter: @CityofCorvallis
- Email Mayor and City Council
- Mail in written comments to: City Hall, 501 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis, Oregon, 97339
Big thank you to every single person who defended the ACA/healthcare. Celebrate this victory and take heart, the power is with the People!
Upcoming Events:
- 10/4: Indivisible Facilitated Meeting
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
- 10/18: Indivisible Facilitated Meeting
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
- Materials and Resources will be provided for taking actions at this meeting.
- Have an idea or cause you want the group support? Come on down (or reach out) and let’s make it happen!
9/18-9/22/17—Weekly Indivisible Actions:
-
How you can stop TrumpCare from a blue state.
Constituent power killed TrumpCare in July. And now, millions of people are depending on you to do it again. But if you live in a state with two Democratic Senators who oppose the ACA, you may be asking yourself: what more can I do? How can I influence persuadable Republicans in red states who may be on the fence?
Here’s how it works:
- Click here to sign up to make phone calls from our peer-to-peer dialing tool. You’ll get an email confirmation with a login, password, and URL to sign into our system. Once signed in, you can start making calls immediately — and we’ll give you a script to make it as easy as possible!
- Next, you’ll call a voter in a key state with a swing Republican Senator. These folks are your friends—they attended the Women’s March, they’re standing up to #DefendDACA, and/or fight for progressive causes.
- You explain how they have power now. You’ll remind them why the continued fight against TrumpCare is so important—and why they have particular power in this moment.
- You ask them to use their power. You’ll ask them to call their senator in opposition to the bill, and to share their own reasons for opposing it.
- The tool connects them to their Senator’s office. The call tool will allow you to automatically patch them through to the Senators’ district offices. (from Indivisible HQ
- Defend DACA recipients–help cover the cost of the October 5th renewal fee of a DREAMer
Upcoming Events:
- 9/20: Indivisible Facilitated Meeting
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
- Materials and Resources will be provided for taking actions at this meeting.
- Have an idea or cause you want the group support? Come on down (or reach out) and let’s make it happen!
- 10/4: Indivisible Facilitated Meeting
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
- 10/18: Welcome Wednesday Social/Potluck
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
9/11-9/15/17—Your weekly Indivisible to-dos (from Indivisible HQ):
- Defend DACA recipients. Tell your members of Congress (MoCs) that you want the Dream Act attached to every must-pass bill in Congress using our new script and state-specific explainer. You can also check out our comprehensive resource on how to stand up for Dreamers and all immigrants– in partnership with United We Dream and the National Immigration Law Center– at standup.indivisibleguide.com. Help us spread the word.
- Oppose H.R. 3697. The House is expected to vote this Tuesday on a bill that criminalizes immigrants, including those fleeing gang violence, and allows more of them to be detained and deported. It also affects vulnerable populations such as asylum seekers, TPS holders, and unaccompanied children. Tell your MoCs to vote no on H.R. 3697, the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act.
- Oppose the Budget Resolution. Your House member should oppose the budget resolution expected on the House floor in two weeks, and your Senator should oppose any resolution that makes cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or SNAP, and doesn’t offset tax cuts with new revenue or closing loopholes. Hold them accountable using our new explainer and script.
- TrumpCare could be back this week… keep it dead. Keep an eye out for the return of TrumpCare by another name: “Graham-Cassidy.” Under Senate rules, Republicans have until September 30 to make TrumpCare happen. Let’s make sure it doesn’t make a comeback — check out our new explainer.
- Prevent war with North Korea. Urge your MoC to speak out against Trump’s warmongering with our explainer.
- Join #NoMuslimBanEver. We’re proud partners of the #NoMuslimBanEver campaign. Head over to their new website at www.nomuslimbanever.com and join the campaign!
- Help us make Indivisible Regional Institutes a reality. We want to hold gatherings of Indivisibles throughout the country, to give core organizing trainings, improve connections and collaboration among groups, and deepen our sense of shared purpose as part of this movement. Help us fund this initiative — and help us unlock double the funds from a grant that will match your donation — so we can bring more people to more Institutes.
- Join Indivisible Policy Director Angel Padilla on Facebook Live at 8:30PM ET Monday. We know you have questions about Schumer and Pelosi’s deal this week, what’s next for the Dream Act, and other things happening on Capitol Hill. Come ready to ask them on Monday right on our Facebook page.
Upcoming Events:
- 9/13: Welcome Wednesday Social/Potluck
- from 7-9PM at 101 NW 23rd St (at Monroe) in Corvallis.
- Plates, napkins, utensils will be provided.
- Bring a dish to share, if you like.
- Meet your neighbors and let’s build our community.
- 9/20: Indivisible Facilitated Meeting
- Materials and Resources will be provided for taking actions at this meeting.
- Have an idea or cause you want the group support? Come on down (or reach out) and let’s make it happen!