98 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION
TRUMP’S GOP SENATE MUST STOP THEIR CYNICAL GAMES AND HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT, EVICTIONS
ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for all you do. As you continue work to remove federal agents brutally suppressing Black Live Matter protest in Portland, I ask you to:
- Insist the Senate pass the Heroes Act, without amendments, immediately.
- Refuse to negotiate a Senate-initiated alternative that allows Trump’s GOP to make changes after reconciliation with the House
- Call out Trump/McConnell’s GOP for delaying and then manipulating passage of a COVID-19 package until the last possible moment as the cynical, political stunt it is and demand they govern on behalf of their constituents.
- Insist the Senate also pass the Justice in Policing Act and the Voting Rights Expansion Act before adjourning for August “recess.”
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].
For Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, and Schrader:
Thank you for all you do. As you continue work to remove federal agents brutally suppressing Black Live Matter protest in Portland, I ask you to:
- Insist the Senate pass the Heroes Act, without amendments, immediately.
- Refuse to negotiate a Senate-initiated alternative that allows Trump’s GOP to make changes after reconciliation in conference committee with the House
- Denounce Trump/McConnell’s GOP for delaying and then manipulating passage of a COVID-19 package until the last possible moment as the cynical, political stunt it is and demand they govern on behalf of their constituents
- Insist the Senate also pass the Justice in Policing Act and the Voting Rights Expansion Act before adjourning for August “recess.”
For Walden:
It is time for you to denounce:
- Federal agents occupying Portland to suppress peaceful Black Lives Matter protests and further Trump’s racist agenda.
- the Senate’s delay in addressing the Heroes Act and last-minute political stunt to undermine your constituents’ needs.
- the Senate’s refusal to pass the Justice in Policing Act and the Voting Rights Expansion Act.
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:
Oregonians are joining with activists across the country to power a landslide Democratic victory in November 2020, from the state house to the Senate to the White House. Here’s how you can get involved
- Call Arizona voters on Thursdays – training at 5pm, calling begins at 5:30 https://swingleft.org/group/indivisible-oregon
- Write letters to voters with Swing Left and Vote Forward. Saturdays 12-2pm https://swingleft.org/group/indivisible-oregon
- Write postcards to Voters of Color with Reclaim Our Vote. Sundays 3-5pm https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArdOyprTspE9PjIVWfpLsGbIL5lZpzOwYK
BACKGROUND:
Trump announced additional paramilitary to suppress Black Lives Matter protests and occupy Portland while nationwide evictions, foreclosures, and worsening food insecurity loom. The pandemic continues to escalate, and essential medical supplies remain scarce. In May, the Democratic House passed the HEROES Act to extend unemployment benefits and the eviction moratorium, increase pandemic medical supplies, help state and local governments, and fund USPS and vote-by-mail.
Trump/McConnell’s GOP wants to discard the HEROES Act days before benefits end. They want a Senate “economic stimulus” substitute that allows McConnell to make changes after reconciliation with the House — as happened with the CARES Act. They want to slash unemployment benefits preventing evictions and funding for everything else that doesn’t benefit them, fast-track cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and lower taxes on the wealthy — all disproportionately harming BIPOC communities. They hope to coerce the House into passing their bill before current benefits expire and evictions begin. They want to label opposition as “Democrat” obstruction. Trump’s GOP plays political games with our lives.
Democrats must insist the Senate pass the HEROES Act without amendments and reject any COVID-19 rescue bill that originates in the Senate. Democrats must denounce GOP cynicism, greed, and racism.
SOURCES:
HEROES Act, Unemployment Benefits, & Eviction/Foreclosure Crisis:
Voting:
Occupation of Portland: