TO BOOST HIS CHANCES FOR REELECTION, TRUMP PRESSURES STATES TO REOPEN
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…
Trump is pressuring state governors to relax social distancing measures to revive the economy. But health experts warn that opening prematurely, without testing and tracing, will result in new spikes in cases and deaths. And it will prolong the outbreak. He’s enlisted the Attorney General as well as heavily armed thugs to intimidate governors. Please fight for our health by calling out these actions as serving only Trump’s political ambitions for November and work for testing and tracing on a national level. Our economy will recover when we are healthy.
CALL SENATOR MERKLEY
CALL SENATOR WYDEN
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…
Trump is pressuring state governors to relax social distancing measures to revive the economy. But health experts warn that opening prematurely, without testing and tracing, will result in new spikes in cases and deaths. And it will prolong the outbreak. He’s enlisted the Attorney General as well as heavily armed thugs to intimidate governors. Please fight for our health by calling out these actions as serving only Trump’s political ambitions for November and work for testing and tracing on a national level. Our economy will recover when we are healthy.
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: HELP REGISTER VOTERS FROM YOUR HOME
Host a virtual letter-writing party! Get started here: http://swingleft.org/p/virtual-letter-writing-party
BACKGROUND:
America has always faced challenges as the UNITED States – the nation’s strengths and resources assembled and directed toward national emergencies.
But when confronted with Covid-19, Donald Trump punted to the states.
Governors made the hard decision to close schools/workplaces. People aren’t able to work and the economy has faltered. Trump selfishly worries this spell trouble for his reelection, rather than worrying about our health.
So, Trump wants businesses to open. Health officials warn that opening too soon, without testing and tracing, will result in spikes in cases and deaths, prolonging the outbreak.
Trump’s fixer, Attorney General Barr, is enlisting the Justice Department to help Trump, threatening to challenge states’ orders.
Trump encourages well-armed Tea Party terrorists to threaten governors.
He will also sign an executive order to force meat plants to remain open claiming they are “critical infrastructure.”
States are on their own to do testing, protect front-line workers, scramble for medical supplies and pay for everything. They are working in regional pacts, replicating the role the federal government abandoned. It’s working to protect our lives but the cost to businesses and employees is monumental.
States should not be forced to fight the pandemic and the federal government too.
SOURCES:
Washington Post, April 28, 2019: “The Daily 202: Barr memo threatening lawsuits against coronavirus restrictions is a warning shot” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/04/28/daily-202-barr-memo-threatening-lawsuits-against-coronavirus-restrictions-is-a-warning-shot/5ea7a78e88e0fa3dea9c4414/?itid=hp_hp-top-table-high_daily-202-1055am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans
New York Times, April 17, 2020: “Coronavirus Testing Needs to Triple Before the U.S. Can Reopen, Experts Say” https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/17/us/coronavirus-testing-states.html
UPI, April 28, 2020: “Barr tells prosecutors to watch for unlawful coronavirus policies” https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/04/28/Barr-tells-prosecutors-to-watch-for-unlawful-coronavirus-policies/9011588063489/
Bloomberg, April 21, 2020: “Barr Threatens Legal Action Against Governors Over Lockdowns” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/barr-says-doj-may-act-against-governors-with-strict-virus-limits
Washington Post, April 28, 2019: “Text of Barr’s memo” https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/attorney-general-william-p-barr-s-memo-balancing-public-safety-with-the-preservation-of-civil-rights/749fc86a-f81c-4baf-b002-b68deb3f1ade/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2
Washington Post, April 28, 2020: “Trump to order meat plants to stay open in pandemic, person familiar with action says — Facilities will be declared ‘critical infrastructure’ for their role in the nation’s food supply even as many become virus hot spots” https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/28/trump-meat-plants-dpa/
CNN, April 27, 2019: “Attorney General William Barr tells prosecutors to be on watch for ‘overbearing’ coronavirus measures” https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/politics/barr-prosecutors-coronavirus-civil-liberties/index.html
New York Times, April 24, 2020: “Vanquish the Virus? Australia and New Zealand Aim to Show the Way” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/australia/new-zealand-coronavirus.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab