SAY “NO” TO BULLYING. THE SENATE MUST PROTECT OUR RIGHTS
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS AND TELL THEM TO SAY “NO” TO BULLYING
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
The Senate has refused to take up any of the legislation passed by the House, including bills passed with bi-partisan support. Even though you are in the minority, please do everything you can to persuade your Senate colleagues to stop the bullying and to “do their job” and pass legislation that benefits the American people. It takes 51 senators who put country over party. Thank you.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TELL THEM TO PUSH FOR THE SENATE TO PASS THE HOUSE BILLS
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR ALL REPRESENTATIVES EXCEPT BLUMENAUER: “My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to thank you for the votes you have taken to pass historic legislation in the House and to ask that you push your colleagues in the Senate to bring these bills to a vote. Also I ask you to join Representative Blumenauer and a growing number of your House colleagues and call for an impeachment inquiry into Trump’s crimes and misconduct. Thank you.”
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR REPRESENTATIVE BLUMENAUER: “My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling to thank you for the votes you have taken to pass historic legislation in the House and to ask that you push your colleagues in the Senate to bring these bills to a vote. I also thank you for being one of the first members of Congress to call for an impeachment inquiry into Trump’s crimes and misconduct. Please work as hard as you can to persuade your colleagues to join you! Thank you.”
CALL SUZANNE BONAMICI (OR-01)
CALL GREG WALDEN (OR-02)
CALL BLUMENAUER (OR-03)
CALL PETER DEFAZIO (OR-04)
CALL KURT SCHRADER (OR-05)
ACTION THREE: CALL YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND TELL THEM TO SAY “NO” TO BULLYING
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR ALL STATE REPRESENTATIVES: My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I’m calling you because I was dismayed by the “deal” the Democratic leadership made to stop the short-lived Republican Senate boycott that threatened to hijack the school revenue bill. The way this deal was reached rewarded bullying and undermined voters’ faith in their elected officials. Say “no” to bullying, a cancer on our democracy.
(Find your state representatives here: https://bit.ly/1zqJ5pm Leave a message if you can’t get through.)
ACTION FOUR: FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS
Pass along this action alert, especially to friends in Red states. Tell them to KEEP CALLING!
BACKGROUND:
The House, under Democratic control, has passed many bills that safeguard and expand the rights of all Americans, including those who have long been marginalized. We cheered as the House passed laws to defend our elections, guarantee LGBTQ people equal rights, bolster coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, protect us from domestic violence, and require responsible gun safety measures.
But in the Senate, despite overwhelming evidence that Russia attacked the 2016 elections and plans to do so again, McConnell has blocked all bills protecting our election system. He has vowed to be “The Grim Reaper,” refusing to let any House bills be voted on. Most of the votes allowed are for confirmations of ill-qualified, extreme judicial nominees and executive appointments.
The Senate must stop capitulating to GOP bullying and instead, stand up for the American people. Any senator can introduce a bill; 51 senators can require it to come to a vote.
And while you’re calling your senators, also call your state legislators to object to the “deal” that ended the short-lived Republican “boycott” designed to deny a quorum and derail the school revenue bill. Although bullying may be an effective short-term tactic, it is a cancer on our democracy.
SOURCES:
https://www.wgbh.org/news/commentary/2019/05/13/senator-zilch-why-mitch-mcconnell-does-so-little
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/21/18629428/election-security-mitch-mcconnell-donald-trump-russia
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/5/17/18627771/equality-act-house-congress-lgbtq-rights-discrimination
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/house-vote-obamacare-preexisting-conditions-act/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/04/politics/house-passes-violence-against-women-act-reauthorization/index.html
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/27/698512397/house-passes-most-significant-gun-bill-in-2-decades
https://www.wweek.com/news/state/2019/05/13/senate-republicans-headed-back-to-work-sources-say-democrats-traded-away-vaccines-and-gun-safety-bill/
