THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA: INCOME, HEALTH CARE, & VOTING FOR US ALL

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…
We appreciate Democratic efforts to pass legislation that helps We the People. Yet McConnell’s Senate-initiated bills have been give-aways to big donors and corporations, and the little reserved for the rest of us has been directed back to them because the bills have lacked oversight. Today I ask you to take The People’s Pledge to vote NO on any legislation that doesn’t:
  • Keep people on payrolls, increase funding for our most vulnerable populations, and protect public health with universal access to affordable care and sufficient protection for first-line workers
  • Keep struggling states solvent
  • Protect our elections by fully funding vote-by-mail, election security, and USPS
  • Provide robust legislative oversight
  • Ensure everyone is protected, irrespective of race, employment, immigration status, health, who they love, and how they identify

Without these, it’s simply our tax dollars going where they are not needed at the expense of your constituents not being healthy or safe.

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 Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader:
We appreciate Democratic efforts to pass legislation that helps We the People. Yet McConnell’s Senate-initiated bills have been give-aways to big donors and corporations, and the little reserved for the rest of us has been directed back to them because the bills have lacked legislative oversight. Today I ask you to take The People’s Pledge to vote NO on any legislation that doesn’t:
  • Keep people on payrolls, increase funding for our most vulnerable populations, and protect public health with universal access to affordable care and sufficient protection for first-line workers
  • Keep struggling states solvent
  • Protect our elections by fully funding vote-by-mail, election security, and USPS
  • Provide robust legislative oversight
  • Ensure everyone is protected, irrespective of race, employment, immigration status, health, who they love, and how they identify
Without these, it’s simply our tax dollars going where they are not needed at the expense of your constituents not being healthy or safe.
For Walden:
McConnell’s Senate-initiated bills have been give-aways to big donors and corporations, and the little reserved for the rest of us has been directed back to them because the bills have lacked legislative oversight. Today I demand you take The People’s Pledge to vote NO on any legislation that doesn’t:
  • Keep people on payrolls, increase funding for our most vulnerable populations, and protect public health with universal access to affordable care and sufficient protection for first-line workers
  • Keep struggling states solvent
  • Protect our elections by fully funding vote-by-mail, election security, and USPS
  • Provide robust legislative oversight
  • Ensure everyone is protected, irrespective of race, employment, immigration status, health, who they love, and how they identify
Without these, it’s simply our tax dollars going where they are not needed at the expense of your constituents not being healthy or safe.

ACTION THREE: JOIN A LETTER-WRITING PARTY

On the fourth Tuesday of every month, Indivisible Oregon joins with Swing Left and Vote Forward to write letters to voters. Join us today 11-1 for a virtual (Zoom) letter-writing party to help get voters across the country registered and then voting. If you can’t make it today, Swing Left hosts several parties every week.

BACKGROUND:

It’s time to give money to the people and to states charged with protecting and caring for us. It’s time to stop accepting pittances, excluding the most vulnerable, and giving billions to the wealthiest among us. McConnell’s Senate passed give-aways to big donors and corporations. Hoping that We the People would get something, well-intentioned Democrats voted for those bills. Yet without legislative oversight, direct payments to people are spotty and funds to keep workers on small business payrolls went to well-connected corporations.
House Democrats have proposed legislation to provide monthly income support and access to affordable health care for everyone. Alternatively, Trump/McConnell want to block use of food support for grocery deliveries, remove protections for LGBTQ, and destroy vote-by-mail. They want to bankrupt USPS and state governments (both long-time GOP goals).
Future COVID-19 bills must originate in the House. Congress must pledge to vote NO unless legislation includes everyone, irrespective of race, employment, immigration status, health, or whether they are LGBTQ and:
  • Guarantees income
  • Protects public health
  • Keeps states solvent
  • Fully funds VBM and USPS
  • Specifies robust legislative oversight
Our health and safety depend on everyone being healthy and safe.

SOURCES: