9-13-2021 Newsletter

 

We bore witness to extraordinary courage, heroism, and selflessness from first responders and others from all walks of life.  We grieve, reflect, and remember so we will create a better future.

WATCH & TESTIFY AT REDISTRICTING HEARINGS THIS WEEK  RED, BLUE, OR ??? Redistricting will determine who will be included in Oregon's new 6th seat in the US House of Representatives. It could also change our state house and senate legislative districts. Consider these intriguing points in this article in Oregon Capital Insider. All the redistricting public hearings, shown below, of the House and Senate Redistricting Committees will be virtual.  VIRTUAL HEARINGS SCHEDULE TODAY, Monday, September 13:   1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (statewide: open to residents of any district) TODAY, Monday, September 13:   5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (statewide: open to residents of any district) For more information about redistricting or how to participate, read this article in the Astorian, or visit www.oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting.

TOWN HALL TUESDAY

I always appreciate hearing from the people I’m honored to represent. Please join me for my next telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday, September 14 at 6 p.m. This week I am focused on helping to craft the Build Back Better Act, which will invest in families, secure good-paying jobs for American workers, and set a strong foundation for America’s children. I will be speaking about this and more during my meeting on Tuesday, and there will be time for questions. SIGN UP FOR A CALL  You can also find updates about my work around NW Oregon and in Washington, D.C. on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Sincerely,

A SAD LOSS We mourn the death of INCO activist Debby Livingston, who died in a car accident on Friday. She has been with us since our inception and was a  passionate defender of democracy. You might have seen her at INCO events or greeting people at Town Halls. She wrote hundreds and hundreds of postcards and letters to voters and was preparing to tackle gerrymandering. We will miss her.

VOICE YOUR VALUES  "More than 50 percent of Congress members report that form emails into their offices have some or a lot of influence over their position on an issue. But 92 percent report that individualized email letters have some or a lot of influence!" -- Union of Concerned Scientists Take a moment to tell your Members of Congress what you value and what you want them to do. How will they know what you want if you don't tell them? Senator Ron Wyden Email:  https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/ Phone: (202) 224-5244 Senator Jeff Merkley Email: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact Phone: (202) 224-3753 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici  https://bonamici.house.gov/contact-me Phone: (202) 225-0855

GO BIG ON CLIMATE On Earth Day, President Biden announced a big goal: cut America’s carbon pollution 50% by 2030. INCO's climate activists urge you to ask the President and Senators Wyden and Merkley to include a price on carbon in the budget reconciliation. Use this easy way to contact them and find out more about carbon pricing and climate change at Citizens' Climate Lobby.

THANK OUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS INCO and other Oregon Indivisible groups are supporting our healthcare workers by buying and distributing care packages of snacks, flowers, art, and other gifts to our #HealthCareHeroes and encouraging groups all over the country to do the same. Visit coinoregon.org/wecare to find out more. You can contribute here.  Another way to support healthcare workers and the health of yourself and others is to be vaxxed, masked, and physically distanced. We can do this!

WHAT'S AT STAKE: OUR RIGHTS TO VOTE AND PROTEST  Please contact Senators Merkley and Wyden, even if you've called before. Thank them for their support of S.1, the For the People Act, and urge them to continue to push for its passage. They need to know what their constituents, including you, want. We need the Senate pass this robust voting rights legislation to protect our rights, regardless of which state we live in.

HAPPENINGS  EVERY FRIDAY - INCO Write to Voters Virtual Group, 3 - 4 pm. Via Zoom. If you are new to this group, contact incoregon@gmail.com to get the Zoom link. More details about writing to voters are below. Tuesday, September 14 - INCO South County Community Group Zoom meeting, 6:30 pm - 8 pm. Please RSVP to Kathleenannmacdonald@yahoo.com thru Monday, June 7 for your Zoom link. Write To Voters - Special elections and issue campaigns need you year-round. INCO encourages you to sign up to write to voters at www.postcardstovoters.org or for general Get Out the Vote campaigns, sign up at Vote Forward. For supplies or information, contact incoregon@gmail.com.

INSIGHTS "It is not futile to do what we do. We wake up with energy and we do something. And we make, of course, failures and we make mistakes, but we sometimes get glimpses of what we might do next." — John Cage, American composer, music theorist, artist, and philosopher

Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com.  Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. INCO Weekly Newsletter September 13, 2021