Wednesday 1/10 Call to Action
We called (well, I hadn't even gotten a chance to call), and Fusion GPS Transcripts got released yesterday! https://www.npr.org/2018/01/10/576899194/how-the-fusion-gps-founders-testimony-fits-in-the-russia-saga
Also, DACA is blocked. http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/09/politics/california-judge-daca-applications/index.html
1.
Today's call to action is new. Michelle Fischbach became Minnesota's
Lieutenant Governor after Governor Dayton appointed Tina Smith as our US
Senator. We should call our state representatives, Mark Dayton, and we
can also call Michelle Fishbach directly (after all, she works for all
of us now). We need to demand that the Governor take legal action to
challenge the dual roles of the replacement Lieutenant Governor and
enforce the Minnesota constitution.
Call: 1 state senator, 1 state rep, Gov. Dayton, and Lieutenant Gov. Fishbach.
(651) 296-2084
sen.michelle.fischbach@s`enate.mn
2. Gerrymandering in North Carolina was ruled unconstitutional.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/us/north-carolina-gerrymander.html
3. Get Out The Vote
Consider
volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way
to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Tuesday 1/9 Call to Action
Tuesday
1. Release the Transcripts
Fusion GPS, the group that commissioned the Steele Dossier, (https://www.vox.com/…/5/16845704/steele-dossier-russia-trump) spent 21 hours last year testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. There has been growing public interest about what was discussed during these hearings, but so far the Republican-controlled committees have been tight lipped. Last week, the founders of Fusion GPS wrote an op-ed in the New York Times claiming Republicans are selectively releasing bits and pieces of the testimony to distract from Trump’s involvement with Russia. (Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/…/republicans-investigation-fusion-…)
1. Release the Transcripts
Fusion GPS, the group that commissioned the Steele Dossier, (https://www.vox.com/…/5/16845704/steele-dossier-russia-trump) spent 21 hours last year testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. There has been growing public interest about what was discussed during these hearings, but so far the Republican-controlled committees have been tight lipped. Last week, the founders of Fusion GPS wrote an op-ed in the New York Times claiming Republicans are selectively releasing bits and pieces of the testimony to distract from Trump’s involvement with Russia. (Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/…/republicans-investigation-fusion-…)
Now, Senators Chuck Grassley and Lindsey Graham are asking for a criminal investigation of Christopher Steele, the British author of the dossier.https://www.thedailybeast.com/grassley-graham-refer-dossier… This seems like a desperate attempt to distract Americans from that fact that they don’t want to release the transcripts of Fusion GPS’s testimony.
Yesterday, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Sheldon Whitehouse, two top Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee called for the release of the Fusion GPS transcripts. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/senate-democrat…/…/2645276
Minnesota’s own, Senator Amy Klobuchar is also on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Let’s call her today and tell her we support releasing the GPS transcripts in their entirety.
2. Copper-Nickel Mining
Last year, the Obama administration made a last-minute move to block a Chilean-owned mining company from leasing land near the edge of Minnesota's pristine Boundary Waters for copper and nickel extraction; a type of mining that can pollute water for years to come.
Last year, the Obama administration made a last-minute move to block a Chilean-owned mining company from leasing land near the edge of Minnesota's pristine Boundary Waters for copper and nickel extraction; a type of mining that can pollute water for years to come.
Last month, Department of the Interior’s Ryan Zinke, rejected the Obama administration’s move allowing federal officials to grant leases sought by a Chilean group. (http://www.startribune.com/feds-ok-mining-on-edge-of-bwca/…/)
Last year, The Miner Act, a bill cosponsored by Reps. Tom Emmer and Jason Lewis passed the House. (https://www.minnpost.com/…/miner-problem-emmer-mining-bill-…)
While there are still many steps that need to be taken before any mining would occur, now is the time to make your voices heard.
There will be public meetings about the NorthMet Draft permit to mine in February: http://polymet.mn.gov/public-meetings.html
Now is the time to leave your comment: http://polymet.mn.gov/
There will be public meetings about the NorthMet Draft permit to mine in February: http://polymet.mn.gov/public-meetings.html
Now is the time to leave your comment: http://polymet.mn.gov/
3 Gerrymandered Cases to Watch in 2018
For your information: https://www.axios.com/the-racially-charged-gerrymandering-c…
For your information: https://www.axios.com/the-racially-charged-gerrymandering-c…
4. Get Out The Vote
Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Monday 1/8 Call to Action
1. From Rogan's list (I'd just add, forcing Republicans to be on the wrong side of a vote on a popular issue makes for nice campaign ads.)
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) is introducing a Congressional Review Act resolution that would restore the Open Internet Order and reverse the FCC’s historic mistake of repealing Net Neutrality. He needs 30 co-signers to force a vote and only needs one more. https://www.recode.net/2018/1/4/16846978/net-neutrality-internet-donald-trump-ajit-pai-fcc-democrats-advocates-election Let's check if our senators have supported this defense of our Internet freedoms: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-leads-resolution-to-restore-fccs-net-neutrality-rules If they have, we can thank them and ask them to press their colleagues to do the same. If not, we can help them understand how important this is to us.
2. I think I'm going to call about DACA again. You can play it by ear, depending on whether you have a Democratic or Republican Congressperson, but ideally, we'd get a DACA fix and no wall.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stancollender/2018/01/07/a-january-government-shutdown-will-be-all-about-trumps-wall-and-could-last-weeks/
3. Get Out The Vote
This weekend would be a good time to help win some elections. Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) is introducing a Congressional Review Act resolution that would restore the Open Internet Order and reverse the FCC’s historic mistake of repealing Net Neutrality. He needs 30 co-signers to force a vote and only needs one more. https://www.recode.net/2018/1/4/16846978/net-neutrality-internet-donald-trump-ajit-pai-fcc-democrats-advocates-election Let's check if our senators have supported this defense of our Internet freedoms: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-leads-resolution-to-restore-fccs-net-neutrality-rules If they have, we can thank them and ask them to press their colleagues to do the same. If not, we can help them understand how important this is to us.
2. I think I'm going to call about DACA again. You can play it by ear, depending on whether you have a Democratic or Republican Congressperson, but ideally, we'd get a DACA fix and no wall.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stancollender/2018/01/07/a-january-government-shutdown-will-be-all-about-trumps-wall-and-could-last-weeks/
3. Get Out The Vote
This weekend would be a good time to help win some elections. Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Friday, January 5, 2018
Friday 1/5 Call to Action
Friday
1. Off-Shore Drilling in U. S. Waters
https://www.nytimes.com/…/cli…/trump-offshore-drilling.html…
1. Off-Shore Drilling in U. S. Waters
https://www.nytimes.com/…/cli…/trump-offshore-drilling.html…
Yesterday, Trump announced that he would allow drilling for oil and gas in nearly all U. S. coastal waters, essentially undoing drilling bans created during the Obama administration. While this move may be popular with fossil fuel industries, it is not making governors of coastal states very happy. Only seven years ago, the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig created an environmental and economic disaster for areas around the Gulf of Mexico. Trump’s announcement sends a message to big business that America’s public lands and waters are for sale. The good news is that it may take years for oil production to start. What can we do? Call your members of Congress and tell them that offshore drilling is a bad idea. Encourage them to support green, renewable energy technology. Most importantly, VOTE! The best way to stop the Trump administration is to change our leaders.
With so much happening every day, it is easy to forget all the changes since Trump took office. Alt National Park Service has compiled a list of the actions the Trump administration took against the environment in 2017. Check it out below, get angry, and get voting.
https://www.facebook.com/AltUSNationalParkService/posts/1944372229224173
https://www.facebook.com/AltUSNationalParkService/posts/1944372229224173
2. Obstruction of Justice
Reports from The New York Times yesterday support the idea that Trump attempted to obstruct the investigation into his ties with Russia. Last March, Trump tried to get his lawyer, Don McGahn to stop Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing himself from the Justice Department’s Russia investigation, saying that he needed his attorney general to protect him.
Reports from The New York Times yesterday support the idea that Trump attempted to obstruct the investigation into his ties with Russia. Last March, Trump tried to get his lawyer, Don McGahn to stop Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing himself from the Justice Department’s Russia investigation, saying that he needed his attorney general to protect him.
The Times’ piece also states that handwritten notes from Trump’s former chief of staff, Reince Priebus corroborate testimony from former FBI director, James Comey. Remember, Comey testified that Trump had asked him to publicly announce that he was not under investigation.
This is a very interesting article! Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/…/trump-sessions-russia-mcgahn.html…
Now more than ever, our members of Congress must protect Robert Mueller’s investigation. Call your senators today and tell them to support the following bills.
S 1741 Special Counsel Integrity Act (https://www.congress.gov/…/115th-cong…/senate-bill/1741/text)
This bill would mandate that only a Senate-confirmed attorney general can remove a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department.
This bill would mandate that only a Senate-confirmed attorney general can remove a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department.
S 1735 The Special Counsel Independence Protection Act. (https://www.congress.gov/bi…/115th-congress/senate-bill/1735)
This bill would ensure that special counsels can only be removed by Senate-confirmed attorney generals. It would also mandate that a special counsel can only be removed if a panel of three judges on a federal circuit determines that the counsel finds “misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause, including violation of policies of the Department of Justice.”
This bill would ensure that special counsels can only be removed by Senate-confirmed attorney generals. It would also mandate that a special counsel can only be removed if a panel of three judges on a federal circuit determines that the counsel finds “misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause, including violation of policies of the Department of Justice.”
3. Get Out The Vote
This weekend would be a good time to help win some elections. Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
This weekend would be a good time to help win some elections. Consider volunteering for Melissa Wagner or Karla Bigham. Remember, the best way to end this madness is to change our leadership.
Melissa Wagner running for State Representative in District 23B
https://www.melissawagner.org/
Karla Bigham is running for State Senate in District 54
http://www.karlabigham.com/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Thursday 1/4 Call to Action
Thursday, January 4th
1. CHIP
With all that the GOP-led Congress did to healthcare in 2017, 2018 could be a make or break year for them. “How Republicans decide to handle the Children's Health Insurance Program as part of the 2018 budget process this month will set a clear tone for the year. Not renewing this program serving 9 million children was one of their biggest blunders of 2017. Now they have a chance to pass a long-term renewal without any of last year's poison pills in the form of House proposals to cut Medicare and ACA coverage.” Call your MoC and tell them CHIP funding needs to be renewed.
This is a great article written by Andy Slavitt on what Congress should be doing about healthcare in 2018.
2. Census
Something to stick a pin in. The census is a vital in part in protecting the functioning of American democracy, and we’ve seen it being attacked under this administration and the GOP-led Congress. The 2020 census is right around the corner and the Justice Department is proposing citizenship questions that are purely politically motivated to suppress minority participation. “Asking about citizenship status would deter undocumented people — or even legal immigrants who fear how far the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreigners will extend — from returning census forms. Many states — particularly blue states — could end up shortchanged.” If Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross does not refuse the addition of citizenship status questions to the census then Congress should reject it.
3. U. S. Attorneys and the Special Counsel
Pending Senate confirmation, Geoffrey Berman has been named to be Interim U. S. Attorney of the southern district of New York, previously the position that Preet Bharara held. Berman was one of the attorneys that Trump had personally interviewed, and Berman is law partners with good old Rudy Giuliani. Trump is strategically placing attorneys in power where his businesses and residencies are. U. S. Attorneys should be independent from the White House, and their loyalty should not be to the president, but to the competence and commitment to justice. This nomination could interfere with Mueller’s investigation. And because this warrants repeating, continue to contact your Members of Congress about HR 3654 and S 1735. These bills would prevent Trump from firing Mueller without a panel of three judges agreeing to it first. Now more than ever we need to protect this investigation. Let your MoC know that firing of the special counsel and impeding this investigation is a red line that Trump cannot cross and that we the people will not stand for it.
4. Voter Fraud Commission
It’s nice to start 2018 with a win! This sham voting commission was disbanded because of the resistance. We have our very own Secretary of State, Steve Simon to thank for saying no to handing over voters’ personal information to the voter fraud commission.
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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Wednesday 1/3 Call to Action
Wednesday
1. Terrible Tweets
Usually, Trump’s twitter habits are not something I would include in a call to action. I think yesterday’s rotten egg from our POTUS warrants a pause.
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
1. Terrible Tweets
Usually, Trump’s twitter habits are not something I would include in a call to action. I think yesterday’s rotten egg from our POTUS warrants a pause.
“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”
Today would be a very good day to call your members of Congress and ask them what they will do about Trump’s dangerously flippant behavior. Encourage them to condemn this tweet and to support S.200/HR.669 - Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017. This bill prohibits the President from using a first-use nuclear strike (launching a nuclear bomb on a country that hasn’t launched one first) unless there is a congressional declaration of war authorizing such a strike.
S. 200 https://www.congress.gov/…/115th-c…/senate-bill/200/all-info
H.R. 669 https://www.congress.gov/…/115th-co…/house-bill/669/all-info
H.R. 669 https://www.congress.gov/…/115th-co…/house-bill/669/all-info
Reps. Ellison, Nolan, and McCollum are co-sponsors. With enough motivation, Congress should be able to get this bill passed quickly. Let’s strive to give them a push.
2. Judicial Vacancies
Thanks to a Republican-led Senate stonewalling Obama’s judicial nominees, Trump has 120 judicial vacancies to fill. So far, most of Trump’s nominees have been young, white men. Many have been obscenely unqualified and/or biased. The judges appointed by Trump now will have an effect on America for decades to come. The Senate Judiciary Committee, let by Senator Grassley has been bulldozing through hearings at an unprecedented pace.
Thanks to a Republican-led Senate stonewalling Obama’s judicial nominees, Trump has 120 judicial vacancies to fill. So far, most of Trump’s nominees have been young, white men. Many have been obscenely unqualified and/or biased. The judges appointed by Trump now will have an effect on America for decades to come. The Senate Judiciary Committee, let by Senator Grassley has been bulldozing through hearings at an unprecedented pace.
Read more here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-has-put-a-record-number…
Recently, increased negative press about judicial nominees has caused Sen. Grassley to withdraw nominations or for the nominees to step aside. What we need to do is shine a light on each and every person being considered. We lost a great advocate on the Judiciary Committee when former Senator Franken resigned. Fortunately, we still have Senator Klobuchar in the ring fighting for us. Let’s give her a call and encourage her to keep the public informed about what’s happening with the Judiciary Committee.
Keep track of judicial nominations here: http://judicialnominations.org/
3. The Republican’s Fake Investigations
This piece in the New York times from Glenn R. Simpson and Peter Fritsch, the founders of the research firm Fusion GPS is a must read. It confirms our fears that congressional Republicans are purposefully avoiding any real investigation of Trump’s ties to Russia. The piece also states that the Steele dossier was NOT the trigger for the F.B.I.’s investigation into Russian meddling. The claims in the dossier backed up reports of meddling that happened as early as May 2016.
This piece in the New York times from Glenn R. Simpson and Peter Fritsch, the founders of the research firm Fusion GPS is a must read. It confirms our fears that congressional Republicans are purposefully avoiding any real investigation of Trump’s ties to Russia. The piece also states that the Steele dossier was NOT the trigger for the F.B.I.’s investigation into Russian meddling. The claims in the dossier backed up reports of meddling that happened as early as May 2016.
Read this too: https://www.nytimes.com/…/how-fbi-russia-investigation-bega…
Klobuchar-202-224-3244
House of Representative switchboard: (202) 224-3121
MN Legislators: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legislators
Resistbot: https://resistbot.io/
Governor Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
House of Representative switchboard: (202) 224-3121
MN Legislators: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legislators
Resistbot: https://resistbot.io/
Governor Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Tuesday 1/2 Call to Action
Tuesday
Happy New Year! I am hopeful for positive changes in 2018. It will take a Herculean effort, but I know we are up for the challenge.
Happy New Year! I am hopeful for positive changes in 2018. It will take a Herculean effort, but I know we are up for the challenge.
1. As Congress returns from recess, they will find they have a lot on their plate. In their rush to get out the door last session, Congress passed a four week stopgap funding measure (also known as a continuing resolution) that only lasts until January 19th. Let’s review what’s at stake.
a. Funding the government from January 20th through the rest of fiscal year 2018. (https://www.forbes.com/…/2018-tax-and-spending-debate-wil…/…)
b. The Senate will need to consider a bill that would provide $81 billion in disaster relief. This bill, HR 4667, already passed the House. Minnesota Reps. Lewis and Emmer voted against it. You should call and ask them why! (https://www.countable.us/…/hr4667-115-making-further-supple…)
c. Reauthorizing/reforming Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to continue past January 19th.
d. Funding CHIP long term. A CHIP bill has already passed the House but it was a “dirty” bill that carried with it cuts to the ACA’s public health fund, and shortened the grace period for ACA premium payments. Call your members of Congress and tell them we want a CHIP bill ASAP. (http://thehill.com/…/358622-house-passes-bill-to-fund-child…)
e. Pass a bill like DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) for Dreamers before March. Democratic legislators must insist on a bill that does not carry with it funding for a border wall or other changes to immigration laws. (https://finance.yahoo.com/…/trump-insists-border-wall-fundi…)
f. Consider and pass a bill (Like the Alexander-Murray bill) that will offset the cost of insurance premiums and stabilized the health insurance market. (http://www.tennessean.com/…/alexander-murray-hea…/970413001/)
Read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/…/7cb5da3a-ecdd-11e7-b698-91…
2. Today is Senator Franken’s last day. If you are so inclined, give him a call and thank him for his service. Lieutenant Governor, Tina Smith will be our new junior senator starting tomorrow.
3. Local campaigns are swinging into gear. Have you volunteered to help yet? Remember, if you are lucky enough to be represented by great people, you are welcome to give your time to other districts.
That seems like enough for today. Let’s ease into this marathon of a year.
That seems like enough for today. Let’s ease into this marathon of a year.
Klobuchar-202-224-3244
Franken (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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Franken (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 Dayton- https://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)