Wednesday 1/30
Brr! It's cold outside! If you were planning on heading to the Capitol today, please check in first. It appears there are many cancellations.
Asylum Seekers Forced to Wait in Mexico
(From Rogan’s list) Since January 26, asylum-seekers who came to the San Ysidro port of entry have been sent back to Tijuana with a notice to appear in court in San Diego on their court dates. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will transport them to immigration court, but due to the backlog in U.S. immigration courts of more than 800,000 cases, asylum-seekers currently have to wait months or even years to see a judge. The Department of Homeland Security said the “expedited” cases of the asylum-seekers affected by the new policy should have to wait no more than a year. This is NOT a bi-national agreement with Mexico.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/dhs-plans-begin-turning-asylum-seekers-back-mexico-await-court-n962401
We must call our members of Congress and tell them not to bargain with the safety of asylum-seekers and immigrants and make sure Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen knows what we think: 202-282-8495.
Why won’t Kirstjen Nielsen testify before Congress?
According to Congressman Bennie Thompson, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has refused to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee about border security. Why could that be? https://www.newsweek.com/outrageous-committee-chairman-claims-kirstjen-nielsen-refused-testify-about-1310921
More Republican Legislators Behaving Badly
Before a congressional committee can begin its work, it needs a quorum-ready roster of members. Whether it is a stalling tactic, a power grab, or obstruction, the House Republicans have yet to name members to the following crucial committees: A) Ethics, B) House Administration, and C) Intelligence. Let’s ask Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy what the hold up is. There is a lot of work to do. Contact: https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/contact/offices
Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act
A number of bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that would maintain funding for federal workers in the event of another government shutdown. Considering that the most recent shutdown cost about $11 billion, this seems like a sensible idea. (Also, we need to elect leaders in Congress that would not let a shutdown happen in the first place!) This article gives a nice review of the bills that are on the table. Give your members of Congress a call and tell them to support bills that keep federal workers paid. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/29/18202287/ending-government-shutdowns-bills
Back Pay for Federal Workers
Our own Senator Tina Smith has introduced legislation that would require federal agencies to work directly with companies that contract to them to provide back pay for employees affected by the shutdown. Since contractors are paid directly by the companies, they cannot bill the government for services when there is a shutdown. The bill seems like a great idea, but unfortunately no Republican senators have signed on so far. Let’s call our Senators and give them our support for this idea.
There is also a companion bill in the House. Call your Congressperson as well! https://pressley.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-ayanna-pressley-house-colleagues-introduce-bicameral-fair
Stu Lourey wins Minnesota Senate District 11 DFL primary
Stu Lourey won the DFL primary and is now headed to the special election against GOP Jason Rarick on February 5th. The election is necessary to replace MN Senate Senator Tony Lourey (Stu’s dad), who was chosen by Governor Walz as Human Services commissioner. Stu Lourey has worked as an aide to Sens. Al Franken and Tina Smith and he comes from a family of public servants. His grandmother was former Senator Beck Lourey.
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/4560761-stu-lourey-wins-minnesota-senate-district-11-dfl-primary?fbclid=IwAR2QtTmumFmsmVE_7tg5SIZj_93kh1onDF-NYe_LYmwX6aX_EzydPdb6shQ
Here are the results of the primary: https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateSenate/118?districtid=499&fbclid=IwAR3ZtUSLPudeQjodvqbLeBNZ-lkDtKzRSpiItbs9_nHpqMsLM5puA8t8v40
Republicans have a two-seat edge in the Senate pending the election. Check out Stu Lourey’s campaign page. https://www.stulourey.com/
Use those skills you honed this past summer/fall and help Stu get elected. The DFL has organized phone and text banking if you would like to help out. https://www.facebook.com/events/790402844670094/
You could also join the SD-11 squad here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275269826488015/
Check out Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s schedule for the House of Representatives https://www.majorityleader.gov/floor-resources/the-weekly-leader?fbclid=IwAR2ftQh8tf7K-V8qMTVQDWXmpo1llD2kSuog_g1i9owIk9Awfjtnk5b2-7M
Klobuchar-202-224-3244
Smith (202) 224-5641
House of Representative switchboard: (202) 224-3121
MN Legislators: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legislators
Resistbot: https://resistbot.io/
Governor Walz https://mn.gov/governor/
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