CONGRESS CANNOT ALLOW TRUMP TO IGNORE HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO PROTECT ALL OF US: AMERICA NEEDS A PEOPLE-FIRST RELIEF BILL
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 cannot let Trump and his GOP allies weaponize coronavirus aid by punishing states voting Democratic and refusing to fund programs needed by minorities and other vulnerable communities—which violate the federal government’s duty to treat all states and all citizens equally. The next relief package must focus on
- state and local government aid
- keeping people on payrolls
- providing direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief and eviction protections to all, including the most vulnerable
- fully covering all covid-19 care and protecting all frontline workers
- defending elections.
It must also require that scarce resources be transparently distributed solely according to states’ needs and states and individuals be granted right to sue if these requirements not met.
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…
We cannot let Trump and his GOP allies weaponize coronavirus aid by punishing states voting Democratic and refusing to fund programs needed by minorities and other vulnerable communities—which violate the federal government’s duty to treat all states and all citizens equally. The next relief package must focus on
- state and local government aid
- keeping people on payrolls
- providing direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief and eviction protections to all, including the most vulnerable
- fully covering all covid-19 care and protecting all frontline workers
- defending elections.
It must also require that scarce resources be transparently distributed solely according to states’ needs and states and individuals be granted right to sue if these requirements not met.
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: WRITE TO VOTERS FROM YOUR HOME
Organizing for the 2020 Election is going VIRTUAL!
- Indivisible Oregon hosts virtual letter writing events every Saturday and fourth Tuesday. Sign up at https://swingleft.org/group/indivisible-oregon
- Write letters to voters from home, whenever it’s convenient. Register with Vote Forward to get started at votefwd.org
- Host your own virtual letter-writing party! Get started here:http://swingleft.org/p/virtual-letter-writing-party
Stay tuned — more activities to come!
BACKGROUND:
During crises, leaders historically preach national unity—appealing to Americans’ better natures—and Constitution requires federal government to respond impartially.
- Under “Take Care Clause” President’s actions must benefit all
- 5th and 10th Amendments prevent conditioning aid on politics
- 1st Amendment prohibits withholding assistance to punish governors/residents for c political affiliation
Trump and GOP allies, however, continue to ignore constitutional responsibilities, weaponizing COVID-19 crisis to punish “blue states” and further racist agenda
- Confiscating/withholding lifesaving equipment from Dem governors
- Threatening to starve governments that won’t releaseimmigrants to ICE
- Using pandemic to further anti-immigrant agenda
- Urging right-wing protestors to “liberate” their states
- Forcing premature reopening of economy, increasing COVID-caused deaths, especially among minority and lower-incomeworkers
- Insisting on payroll tax cut offering no relief for 30 million newly unemployed but jeopardizing Social Security’s and Medicare’s solvency
- Refusing to expand SNAP benefits despite massive food insecurity
- Refusing to extend unemployment insurance to all laid-off
- Ensuring most PPP aid stacked against neediest, going to red states with low COVID rates and unemployment
- Opposing state/local relief by falsely claiming only “blue states” have budget shortfalls
These abuses of power cannot continue. Congress must rein in Trump and provide aid to neediest states and residents.
