Thursday, October 31, 2019

ACTION: TRUJPS CRUEL TRICK - COSTING KIDS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE

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TRUMPS CRUEL TRICK – COSTING KIDS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE  

ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I am devastated to hear that so many children lost their health insurance with Trump in office and I’m worried that more sacrifices will be made in this year’s budget.  As you ready the Senate for an impeachment trial please make sure the next budget protects our safety net and has no increase in funds for ICE/CBP.  

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
FOR ALL BUT WALDEN: I am devastated to hear that so many children lost their health insurance with Trump in office and I’m worried that more sacrifices will be made in this year’s budget.  As you vote yes to formalize the impeachment inquiry please make sure the next budget protects our safety net and has no increase in funds for ICE/CBP.  
FOR WALDEN: I am devastated to hear that so many children lost their health insurance with Trump in office and I’m worried that more sacrifices will be made in this year’s budget.  As you look to your legacy please support the impeachment process and make sure the next budget protects our safety net and has no increase in funds for ICE/CBP.  

ACTION THREE: HELP REGISTER VOTERS

Indivisible Oregon is organizing letter-writing parties using Swing Left tools to contact voters whose voter registration data may need updating. Find a letter writing party near you or organize one yourself: https://swingleft.org/events

BACKGROUND:

Despite having a strong economy and low unemployment, as our children head out for fun this Halloween, 400,000 will be children who lost their health insurance between 2016 to 2018.  
Trump and his GOP’s healthcare specific actions have led to this devastating trend: 
  • trying to repeal the ACA and cut Medicaid  
  • delaying the funding of CHIP 
  • eliminating the individual mandate  
  • slashing outreach and navigators for ACA enrollment 
  • encouraging states to enact work requirements
And as harmful as these healthcare actions have been, Trump and his administration’s cruel immigration policy has specifically led to a rise in uninsured Latinx children.  
As the November 21st deadline for the budget approaches there will be a strong push to make compromises to keep the government funding and get out for the holiday, especially with the threat of Trump shutting down the government to avoid impeachment.  
Our MoCs must continue to push for impeachment hearings that impeach and remove Trump and Pence, while they work for a budget that protects our safety net and our children.  

SOURCES: 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

ACTION: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TRUMP’S ATTORNEY, NOT OURS

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THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TRUMP’S ATTORNEY, NOT OURS 

ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I agree with Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee that Barr must recuse himself from the Ukraine investigations, and investigations into the origin of the Russia investigation. He misled the public about the Mueller report and he tried to bury the Ukraine whistleblower’s complaint. The Attorney General should be working for all the American people, not just Trump. 

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
FOR ALL REPRESENTATIVES BUT WALDEN:
I agree with Speaker Pelosi that the Attorney General has gone rogue. We need an investigation about William Barr weaponizing the Department of Justice to protect Trump. He misled the public about the Mueller report and he tried to bury the Ukraine whistleblower’s complaint. Barr should be working all the American people, not just Trump. 
 FOR WALDEN 
Congratulations on your retirement plans. I hope now you’ll support the impeachment inquiry. Moreover, William Barr should be investigated for turning the DOJ into a Trump protection agency. Anyone who enables a criminal, cruel and traitorous president will not be treated kindly by history. 

ACTION THREE: HELP REGISTER VOTERS 

Indivisible Oregon is organizing letter-writing parties using Swing Left tools to contact voters whose voter registration data may need updating.  Find a letter writing party near you or organize one yourself: https://swingleft.org/events. 

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Justice’s mission is to “ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. But Attorney General William Barr is being criticized for “weaponizing” the DOJ to serve Trump.  
 Barr mislead the public on the Mueller report. Other examples of Barr using the DOJ to defend Trump include: 
  • Attempting to keep the whistleblower’s complaint from Congress. 
  • Being drawn in to Trump’s Ukraine play. 
  • Using his Justice Department to protect Trump from being forced to reveal his tax returns. 
  • Confirming Trump’s claim of Obama’s administration “spying” on Trump’s campaign. 
 Barr is motivated by two obsessions: To fight “secularists” who have launched an “unremitting assault on religion…” And he has argued for decades that the President has nearly unchecked powers. 
 Last week, Barr escalated the Russian interference inquiry by converting it into a criminal investigation. Observers say this is a warning to the intelligence community that crossing Trump could be dangerous. 
 Senate Democrats have called for Barr to recuse himself from the Ukraine investigation. We agree. But he should also be investigated for abuse of power 

SOURCES: 

NBC News, Oct. 25, 2019: “Watchdogs inside government blast DOJ for not referring Ukraine whistleblower to Congress“    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/watchdogs-inside-government-blast-doj-not-referring-ukraine-whistleblower-congress-n1071996      
 Los Angeles Times, Oct. 10, 2019: “At Justice Department, multiple investigations focus on Trump’s pet peeves.”  https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-10/multiple-justice-dept-investigations-trump-pet-peeves    
 The Atlantic, Jun 30, 2019: “Why Bill Barr Is So Dangerous – He is using the office he holds to advance his extraordinary lifetime project of assigning unchecked power to the president.”   https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/bill-barrs-
 Wall Street Journal, Oct. 6, 2019: “Barr’s Requests for Foreign Help Prompt Backlash in Australia, Italy, U.K. —Opposition lawmakers, intelligence officials question why the attorney general is working outside usual channels in review of Russia-probe origins”   https://www.wsj.com/articles/barrs-requests-for-foreign-help-prompt-backlash-in-australia-italy-u-k-11570369938    
 The New Yorker, Oct. 17, 2019: “William Barr’s Wild Misreading of the First Amendment”    https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/william-barrs-wild-misreading-of-the-first-amendment    
 Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2019: “Democrats’ worst fears about William Barr are proving correct” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/01/worst-fears-about-william-barr-are-proving-correct/   
 The New Yorker, Sept. 29, 2019: “The Dangerous Position of William Barr”  https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-dangerous-position-of-william-barr