****Actions 1/15/2020****
FEDERAL:
Support Congress’ Reclamation of War Powers:
After the House passed a war powers resolution last week, the Senate must now decide how to proceed. While there may be some disagreement when it comes to strategy (see “Details” below), we can still send a firm message that the White House must seek Congressional approval before the use of military action.
Details:
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/477763-democrats-conflicted-over-how-to-limit-trumps-war-powers
Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling to urge Sen. ____________ to support Congress’ efforts to reclaim its authority when it comes to the authorization of military force. Donald Trump has offered no evidence that Iran represented an imminent threat, and Congress needs to be granted the authority to block wars that will threaten the lives of those at home and abroad. Thank you for your time.
Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
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Restore SNAP Benefits:
[Updated] The Trump administration recently formalized work requirements for recipients of food stamps, a move that will cause hundreds of thousands of people to lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Changes to the rule will take effect April 1. The USDA rule change affects people between the ages of 18 and 49 who are childless and not disabled. Under current rules, this group is required to work at least 20 hours a week for more than three months over a 36-month period to qualify for food stamps, but states have been able to create waivers for areas that face high unemployment.
The new rule would limit states from waiving those standards, instead restricting their use to those areas that have a 6 percent unemployment rate or higher. The national unemployment rate in October was 3.6 percent. Approximately 700,000 people would lose their SNAP benefits because of this new rule. This rule, of course, would do nothing to get people back to work. Instead, it would strip away an important benefit that people desperately need while seeking work. Both the Senate and the House have rejected work requirements in the past, usually in massive bipartisan fashion. Trump is trying to engage in a workaround here by changing the rule within the USDA, but that doesn't mean Congress can't push back against it. Meanwhile, the House (including a large number of Democrats) overwhelmingly passed a $780 billion defense authorization that includes money for Trump’s Space Force, a giveaway to government contractors.
Details:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nearly-700-000-will-lose-food-stamps-usda-work-requirement-n1095726
Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from ____________ to urge Rep./Sen. ___________ to repeal a new USDA rule that would essentially require people to work in order to get SNAP benefits. This rule would take SNAP benefits from nearly 700,000 people, and it will do nothing to reduce unemployment. It’s absurd that you are willing to spend billions for a completely worthless Space Force program, but we don’t have enough money to provide food for people who need it. Thank you.
Federal Contact Numbers:
Thom Tillis: DC: (202) 224-6342
Richard Burr DC: (202) 224-3154
Tim Scott (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-6121
Lindsey Graham (SC): Washington, DC: 202-224-5972
House: https://www.house.gov/representatives/
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EVENT/VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:
Get Out the Vote:
With the election fast approaching--and with the NCGA on a break until April--I’m going to be trying to compile volunteer opportunities here to get involved in campaigns. I try as much as possible to stay out of primaries here, BUT there are plenty of ways to encourage people to get out to vote, to work for voting rights, to canvas, phone bank, text bank, and more. When more people vote, we win. I’ll try to monitor comments, so if you have any volunteer opportunities, please post them in the comments.
Empty Chair Town Hall for Senator Thom Tillis:
Indivisible Triangle Daily Call to Action is sponsoring another empty chair town hall for Thom Tillis. When he was campaigning, Senator Tillis promised that he would hold town halls to meet with his voters and hear our concerns. He hasn’t done that. We’ve repeatedly invited him to our town halls. We’ve emailed, called, and hand-delivered invitations. And yet, he never shows up. But ALL the other major candidates HAVE confirmed. Democrats Erica Smith and Cal Cunningham have stated they plan to be in attendance, along with Libertarian Shannon Bray.
While all questions are certainly welcome, the primary theme of this town hall will be healthcare. We’d like you to (1) sign up to attend and (2) come prepared with your questions about Tillis’s views on healthcare.
Event details: Empty Chair Town Hall, Thursday, February 20, 6 PM, Youngsville Community Center, 115 E Main St., Youngsville, NC.
Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/565550154026996/permalink/565550164026995
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Healthcare Advocacy Organizing Meeting:
[From Stacie Borrello, Piedmont Rising] We are bringing people together who want to advocate for healthcare, hold our reps accountable, and boost voter engagement in 2020. Are your or someone you know struggling under the burden of unaffordable healthcare or medications - and would you like to help open minds and change hearts by sharing your personal experience? Are you fed up with Big Pharma price hikes, which put needed medications out of the reach of the people who need them? Do you want to take action together with others to hold our representatives accountable for their votes to repeal healthcare protections and demand better representation in Washington?
Join an organizing meeting led by a Piedmont Rising healthcare fellow at the Cary Regional Library's Conference Room on Saturday, Jan 25 at 9:30 am.
You'll find out what the organization is working on in the local area to elevate healthcare as a critical issue that impacts voters - and how you can get involved, such as by sharing personal struggles with the healthcare system, becoming an advocacy leader in your circles, and participating in group actions that raise community awareness and get the attention of our legislative leaders.
The library is located at 315 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27511.
Please contact the event host (Stacie Borrello) with any questions.
About Piedmont Rising:
Piedmont Rising is a North Carolina non-profit dedicated to the values that North Carolinians care about, including the fight for more affordable, accessible health care. For too many North Carolinians, rising premiums, steep out-of-pocket costs, and increased prescription drug prices are making health care expensive and difficult to reach. Getting the care you need shouldn’t come at the expense of paying bills, building savings, or putting food on the table. And since our leaders aren’t fighting for us, we’re fighting back.
Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2650124248406656/
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Postcards for Wisconsin:
Indivisible Chicago Alliance and the same team that organized 200,000 handwritten postcards to voters in IL-6 in 2018 have partnered up to organize this project.
Help us send 500,000 handwritten postcards to voters ahead of the April 7th Wisconsin primary. Voters will be more likely to vote in the primary AND the general election in November.
Link:
https://www.postcards2wi.com/
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Raleigh Women’s March:
The fourth Raleigh Women’s March is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, from 12:30-3 at Halifax Mall. Once again, Indivisible Triangle Daily Call to Action will be sponsoring and will have a table at the event. If you’re interested in helping us staff our table, please let me know. If you’ve commented or used our scripts but we haven’t met in person, I’d also enjoy meeting you, so please stop by. No matter what, the women’s Marches have been galvanizing events where you can hear outstanding speakers and network with other progressives in our community.
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/426392828266564/
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