Wednesday Actions: Medicaid Expansion, Protect COVID-19 Funding for States, and More

*****Actions 4/29/2020****

FEDERAL:

Don’t Let McConnell Force States To Go Bankrupt:
[Adapted from Faisal Khan] Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Voldemort) said: “I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated...I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route….My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.” McConnell’s rejection of providing further federal funding to states and cities facing massive revenue shortfalls as a direct result of the coronavirus-induced economic shutdown drew bipartisan scorn, including from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R), and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R), among others. Even President Trump has expressed support for providing this funding.

Yet not a single Republican senator has spoken out against McConnell’s comments. We are calling on these senators to speak out against McConnell and ensure states and cities receive the funding they need in Phase 4 legislation.

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from zip code ____________ to urge Senator ________  to reject Mitch McConnell’s scheme to force our state and cities to go bankrupt in the middle of this coronavirus crisis and ensure the federal government sends critical funding to keep health care workers, police officers and firefighters on the job so they can keep North Carolinans healthy and safe.

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

-------------


STATE:

Tell Moore and Berger: Put NC Voters' Safety Before Politics:
[From Democracy NC] Recent primary elections held in other states amid the COVID-19 crisis have made it clear: this year's General Election will be different. Recommendations to continue physical distancing this fall, the prospect of a poll worker shortage, and strained local resources all have implications for the ways in which we can take part and be counted.

Given these realities, it's time for NC General Assembly's leaders to join those of other states — and put politics aside by protecting North Carolina voters and our access to the ballot. Lawmakers return to Raleigh on April 28.

ACT NOW: Contact NC House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Phil Berger (we've made it easy) and tell them you want them to advance policies this spring that would:

Provide matching funds to access federal election dollars,
Make it easier to register to vote and securely request and cast votes by mail,
Protect in-person voting by addressing the threat of poll staff shortages, and
Make sure these and other vital voter protections are in place for the General Election.
By taking action today, you'll make sure Moore and Berger understand how important it is to North Carolina's voters to be able to safely cast a ballot this fall.

Action Link:
https://secure.everyaction.com/j8xEBLWX8EGx2QjfPu04kg2


---------

Email Berger and Moore to Expand Medicaid:
The power to expand Medicaid in our state lies almost solely in the hands of Berger and Moore. If they ever agreed to support Medicaid expnasion, it would almost certainly pass and would bring affordable healthcare to thousands of North Carolinians. Here’s an email you can send them with their email addresses below:

Script for email to Berger and Moore:
Dear Senate President Berger and House Speaker Moore, 

Now is the time to unite during this crisis and work together for the health and well-being of all North Carolinians. More than ever, this virus has shown us that we are dependent on one another and we need each other to survive this crisis and beyond. When people in the coverage gap can’t access the care they need, this makes all of us vulnerable to infection, complications, and even death. 

Our own health depends on the health of the person next to us, and the person next to them. Protecting the most vulnerable in our society—the uninsured, the overworked, people who earn low incomes while doing the “essential” work so that we can all survive—is fundamental to ensuring that we are all well and healthy. All of us need access to healthcare to have the support we need to be healthy and free from the burden of medical bankruptcy. 

When we invest in our healthcare system, we invest in us. Rural healthcare is especially dire in North Carolina. Since 2013, we’ve seen seven rural hospitals close in our state. There have been nine maternity wards that have shuttered their doors and 15 rural hospitals that are vulnerable to closure. 

More than ever, North Carolina needs to expand Medicaid as both an economic boost and a public health intervention to provide North Carolinians with the coverage they need to protect their health and financial well-being. 

This moment calls on our leadership to come together and unite. Please expand Medicaid. 

Email addresses:
Phil Berger: Phil.Berger@ncleg.net
Tim Moore: Tim.Moore@ncleg.net

----------------

ELECTIONS:

Swing Left (Virtual) Letter-Writing Party:
The innovative folks at Swing Left are coming up with new ways to stay involved while we are staying at home. We'll be hand-writing letters to potential North Carolina voters asking them to vote in critical elections to help us transform our government and ensure fair maps for everyone in North Carolina. This proven tactic (3-4x more effective than postcards) will help turn out the vote for Democrats in our 12 Super States!

RSVP here, and we’ll let you know how to join this party online. Invite your friends, too, and let them know that Swing Left is hosting a big, innovative program that can effectively turn out Super State voters from home, using a great letter writing tool from Vote Forward. Volunteers have already written almost 2 million letters! You can download twenty letters using their easy-to-use system.

RSVP Here:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/264556/

-------------

Virtual Phone Bank:
Are you bored and tired of being locked in your house? Are you looking to make in impact in getting out the vote for November 2020. Well look no further!  The Democratic Party is looking for people to phone bank. Right now, the focus is on talking to undecided voters to learn more about where they stand and to ensure that they know that we have an important election coming up.

https://www.mobilize.us/ncdp/event/267549/

Extra Action: Medicaid Expansion

Here's a Medicaid Expansion Toolkit from Moms Rising. Tons of actions you can do to help make Medicaid expansion a reality in our state:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15YvyojUeJgj8riKf-cj1UL3Fcm0_EPzRP1nuJBFJdaw/edit?fbclid=IwAR0dWILhsc4ZkS5Htffh9Pw93NjCFvWlZYgdEWIm8NgfILiz4gSc-LOpuPc

Tuesday Actions: Voting Rights, Workers' Right, and More

****Actions 4/28/2020****

ELECTIONS:

Swing Left (Virtual) Letter-Writing Party:
The innovative folks at Swing Left are coming up with new ways to stay involved while we are staying at home. We'll be hand-writing letters to potential North Carolina voters asking them to vote in critical elections to help us transform our government and ensure fair maps for everyone in North Carolina. This proven tactic (3-4x more effective than postcards) will help turn out the vote for Democrats in our 12 Super States!

RSVP here, and we’ll let you know how to join this party online. Invite your friends, too, and let them know that Swing Left is hosting a big, innovative program that can effectively turn out Super State voters from home, using a great letter writing tool from Vote Forward. Volunteers have already written almost 2 million letters! You can download twenty letters using their easy-to-use system.

RSVP Here:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/264556/

-------------

Virtual Phone Bank:
Are you bored and tired of being locked in your house? Are you looking to make in impact in getting out the vote for November 2020. Well look no further!  The Democratic Party is looking for people to phone bank. Right now, the focus is on talking to undecided voters to learn more about where they stand and to ensure that they know that we have an important election coming up.

https://www.mobilize.us/ncdp/event/267549/


--------------

FEDERAL:

Workers’ Bill of Rights:
[From Elizabeth Warren] Essential workers are on the frontlines of this pandemic, and many are working in high-risk conditions without appropriate equipment, safety standards, or job protections. These workers put their lives on the line every day, and we must do all we can to protect their health and financial security.

Call your Representative now and demand that the House pass protections for essential workers. The script below can be condensed a little, if you like, but this is more or less directly from the Warren campaign.

Details:
https://act.newmode.net/action/warren-democrats/call-demand-essential-workers-bor?source=soc-EVENT-ew-tw-Call

Script:
My name is _________ calling from zip code ______________. I’m calling today to ask Rep./Sen. ___________  to support Senator Warren and Representative Khanna’s Essential Workers Bill of Rights and provide real protections for essential workers. Frontline workers — our postal workers, nurses, EMTs and health care workers, delivery drivers, restaurant employees, grocery, transit and domestic workers and others — are the backbone of our nation’s response to this crisis. We need an Essential Workers Bill of Rights — and any coronavirus relief package must put workers front and center.

I am calling on you to support protections for essential workers, including (x) universal paid sick leave and family and medical leave. (x) Health and safety protections, including personal protective equipment (PPE) provided by employers at no cost to workers. (x) Protections for collective bargaining agreements & whistleblowers with safety concerns. (x) Health care security to ensure all essential workers get the care they need, regardless of their immigration status. (x) Robust funding to help struggling child care providers during this pandemic and reliable, safe, healthy, and high-quality child care for essential workers.

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/

-----------

Support Voting Rights:
[From Common Cause] No one should have to choose between their health and their vote. We must demand that Congress allocate $4 billion in funding for states, and mandate the implementation of reforms nationwide like early voting, postage paid vote-by-mail, and online and same day voter registration. Letters To Editors (or LTEs) can be a powerful tool in educating your community and demonstrating strong support for funding and reforms like early voting and vote by mail. In addition to am LTE, I’d encourage you to call your lawmakers and tell them to support these policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made our work for voting reforms all the more urgent. In the next few months, we must make sure that every voter has safe options to vote by mail, early and on election day. Congress passed $400 million in funding for states for elections - but experts estimate it will cost at least $4 billion.

Details:
https://declarationforamericandemocracy.org/LTE

Script:
Hello, I am calling from zip code _____________ to urge Rep./Sen. __________ to demand that Congress allocate $4 billion in funding for states, and mandate the implementation of reforms nationwide like early voting, postage paid vote-by-mail, and online and same day voter registration.  In the next few months, we must make sure that every voter has safe options to vote by mail, early and on election day. Congress passed $400 million in funding for states for elections - but experts estimate it will cost at least $4 billion.

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/

--------------

STATE:

Tell Moore and Berger: Put NC Voters' Safety Before Politics:
[From Democracy NC] Recent primary elections held in other states amid the COVID-19 crisis have made it clear: this year's General Election will be different. Recommendations to continue physical distancing this fall, the prospect of a poll worker shortage, and strained local resources all have implications for the ways in which we can take part and be counted.

Given these realities, it's time for NC General Assembly's leaders to join those of other states — and put politics aside by protecting North Carolina voters and our access to the ballot. Lawmakers return to Raleigh on April 28.

ACT NOW: Contact NC House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Phil Berger (we've made it easy) and tell them you want them to advance policies this spring that would:

Provide matching funds to access federal election dollars,
Make it easier to register to vote and securely request and cast votes by mail,
Protect in-person voting by addressing the threat of poll staff shortages, and
Make sure these and other vital voter protections are in place for the General Election.
By taking action today, you'll make sure Moore and Berger understand how important it is to North Carolina's voters to be able to safely cast a ballot this fall.

Action Link:
https://secure.everyaction.com/j8xEBLWX8EGx2QjfPu04kg2

Virtual Town Halls, Phone Banks, and More

****Actions 4/23/2020****


ELECTIONS:

Town Hall with Call Cunningham:
Swing Left is sponsoring a Zoom Town Hall with U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham Staurday, April 25, at 2:30. It’s a great opportunity to have Cal answer your questions in a relatively small setting.

RSVP here:
https://www.mobilize.us/cunninghamforsenate/event/267159

----------

Virtual Phone Bank:
Are you bored and tired of being locked in your house? Are you looking to make in impact in getting out the vote for November 2020. Well look no further!  The Democratic Party is looking for people to phone bank. Right now, the focus is on talking to undecided voters to learn more about where they stand and to ensure that they know that we have an important election coming up.

https://www.mobilize.us/ncdp/event/267549/

-----------

Support Voting Rights in the Age of Coronavirus:
We’ve all seen the Wisconsin primary clusterf^%& happening this week. SCOTUS ruled somehow that in-person voting should be allowed to continue and that vote-by-mail deadlines should not be extended. The case was literally RNC vs. DNC, so the court’s ruling is unapologetically partisan and unambiguously an attack on voting rights. This is a warning for what could happen in November. So naturally, Elizabeth Warren has come out with a plan to protect voting rights in the age of a pandemic, and it’s really good. The basic provisions include the following:

Nationwide vote by mail
30 days early voting
No voter roll purges
End voter ID requirements
$4b aid to states
Hazard pay for poll workers
More funding for USPS

To ensure that our elections can be held safely and fairly, we need all of these provisions in place. It is especially important to protect poll workers, many of whom are elderly and appear to be more vulnerable to the virus. Warren’s plan is building on the work of others, most notably Amy Klobuchar, but these ideas are good, and it’s worth pushing for them, especially in the Senate, where we need to hold One Term Tillis and Big Bucks Burr accountable.

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ____________ to pass legislation that would protect voting rights, especially if we are still dealing with the coronavirus. It is absolutely essential that we have the option nationwide to vote by mail, that we have at least 30 days of early voting, and hazard pay for poll workers. We should also end voter ID requirements at a national level and prevent states from engaging in voter roll purges. This is a pivotal election, and we shouldn’t have to choose between voting and our health (or the health of people around us). 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/

Details:
https://medium.com/@SenWarren/protecting-our-elections-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-efd3da6dbcaf


-----------

STATE:

Call Your Repsabout the Coronavirus:
Lawmakers are getting slammed with calls to re-open the economy from the Reopen NC nitwits. We need to be heard. Call your reps. Call your senators (if you don't get an answer, email). Call or email the governor, too. Make clear that we only want to make decisions about reopening our state based on sound medical advice from medical professionals, not quacks like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil.

Sample Script:
Hello, I am calling to urge Rep./Sen./Gov. _______________ to maintain the current stay-at-home order. Reopening the economy at this point would put people at greater risk. It would also be counterproductive. People are still unlikely to go out in large numbers, so the economy will not significantly benefit, and reopening too quickly will only prolong the quarantine, which would further hurt these businesses. Thank you.

As always, if you have a personal story, if you are an essential employee, a healthcare worker, or have any other expertise, rely on that to make your story more compelling.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn
Governor: Phone: (919) 814-2000
Email: https://governor.nc.gov/contact/contact-governor-cooper


--------------

Sign the People’s Platform:
The People’s platform is a petition that has been endorsed by hundreds of local grassroots platforms and calls for the state to expand Medicaid, help students, protect prisoners, and to ensure that the health and safety of all North Carolinians is protected.

Here is a link to the petition:
https://survivalandbeyond.info/platform/

Urgent COVID19 Actions

****Actions 4/21/2020****


Urgent COVID-19 State Actions:
Today will be the second week of Reopen NC rallies. This small band of nitwits is dramatically shaping the narrative around statewide stay-at-home orders. Already, we’re seeing red-state governors reopen businesses with potentially disastrous consequences. We need to let our Democratic lawmakers, especially Governor Cooper, know that we’ll have their backs if they support continuing the quarantine until medical scientists state that it is safe to return to normal. We have a whole slate of actions you can do. These actions can make a HUGE difference in helping to counter the narrative that people want to return to work, even if the risks are still there. The media is seizing on the Reopen narrative, and we need to do everything we can to counter that.

Key principles to remember:
Focus on what we want, not what we are against
When possible, link to your values and your experience
Be specific!

Polling shows that most North Carolinians trust the experts and want North Carolina to stay home until it is safe to reopen. Governor Cooper has said that in order to reopen safely, we need adequate testing, tracking and treatment to fight Covid-19. As hard as social isolation is, losing more of our people and overwhelming our health care system would be harder. Groups like ReOpenNC are funded by far-right Republican donors and gun-rights extremists. In order to beat them, we have to offer a different narrative: that in North Carolina, we keep each other safe by taking care of our communities, listening to the experts, and demanding the testing, tracking and treatment necessary to fight Covid-19. Instead of arguing with protesters on social media, we are asking folks to take one or more of the following actions to keep the focus on who we are protecting by staying home until it is safe to reopen.

Post a photo of yourself wearing your mask and holding a sign that says:
I’m staying home to protect _______.
#WeKeepEachOtherSafe

[*You can name a specific person you are staying home to protect, or name a group of people who are vulnerable, ex: I’m staying home to protect my dad, I’m staying home to protect frontline workers]

Post a photo/video thanking an essential worker for keeping us safe by doing their jobs.

Update your status, post to instagram or send a tweet. Here are some sample posts - feel free to make them your own or copy directly, and don’t forget to use the hashtag!

Staying home is hard, but it’s what we have to do to protect our healthcare workers, essential workers and vulnerable communities. #WeKeepEachOtherSafe #TrustTheExperts

North Carolina should open our economy when we have the tests, tracking and treatment needed to do so safely. #WeKeepEachOtherSafe #WhereAreTheTests

In North Carolina, we believe in taking care of each other. Right now that means staying home and staying apart to #StopTheSpread. #DoYourPart #WeKeepEachOtherSafe

.@NC_Governor we support you, supporting the science. #StayHomeSaveLives #COVID19 #StayAtHomeNC

Staying home now means the quarantine ends sooner! If you ignore the #StayAtHomeOrder it endangers everyone including healthcare workers who have to care for #COVID19 patients.  So please, for everyone's sake #StayAtHome

.@NC_Governor we support your #stayhomeNC order

Share this post from StongerNC: https://www.facebook.com/strongernc/videos/827443187747459/

Make sure to use the hashtag #WeKeepEachOtherSafe, and share and retweet other people’s posts!

--------------

Call Your Reps:
Lawmakers are getting slammed with calls to re-open the economy from the Reopen NC nitwits. We need to be heard. Call your reps. Call your senators (if you don't get an answer, email). Call or email the governor, too. Make clear that we only want to make decisions about reopening our state based on sound medical advice from medical professionals, not quacks like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil.

Sample Script:
Hello, I am calling to urge Rep./Sen./Gov. _______________ to maintain the current stay-at-home order. Reopening the economy at this point would put people at greater risk. It would also be counterproductive. People are still unlikely to go out in large numbers, so the economy will not significantly benefit, and reopening too quickly will only prolong the quarantine, which would further hurt these businesses. Thank you.

As always, if you have a personal story, if you are an essential employee, a healthcare worker, or have any other expertise, rely on that to make your story more compelling.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn
Governor: Phone: (919) 814-2000
Email: https://governor.nc.gov/contact/contact-governor-cooper


--------------

Sign the People’s Platform:
The People’s platform is a petition that has been endorsed by hundreds of local grassroots platforms and calls for the state to expand Medicaid, help students, protect prisoners, and to ensure that the health and safety of all North Carolinians is protected.

Here is a link to the petition:
https://survivalandbeyond.info/platform/

Wednesday's Actions: Letter Writing with Swing Left, Virtual Town Halls and More

****Actions 4/15/2020****

ELECTION:

Swing Left's National Virtual Letter Writing Party:
Now’s the time to work on the 2020 elections! Even though lots of us are isolated right now to protect our communities, we can still get together virtually to make an impact. Join Swing Left staff and volunteers from around the country for a virtual letter writing party, where we'll be hand-writing letters to potential voters asking them to vote in critical elections. This proven tactic (3-4x more effective than postcards) will help turn out the vote for Democrats in our 12 Super States!

Swing Left's How We Win Podcast hosts, Steve Pierson and Mariah Craven, will be helping host this letter writing party so there will definitely be great conversation while we write letters!

Details:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/264489/


---------

Virtual Town Halls with Cal Cunningham:
US Senate candidate Cal Cunningham is holding a series of virtual town halls with Indivisible groups over the next few weeks. These town halls will allow you to connect with Cal and to learn how you can get involved in his campaign. Taking back that Senate seat from Thom Tillis is absolutely pivotal if we want to unseat Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader. Cal is a great candidate who supports progressive policies, so this is a real opportunity to learn how you can make a difference.

April 18th, 11 AM-12 PM
https://www.mobilize.us/cunninghamforsenate/event/267166/

April 25th, 2:30-3:30 PM
https://www.mobilize.us/cunninghamforsenate/event/267159/

----------

FEDERAL:

Protect the Post Office:
The Post Office is the:
*only federal agency mentioned in the constitution
*key to small businesses & rural communities
*largest employers of veterans (120K) apart from DOD
*basis of vote-by-mail
*only provider that will get your letter to AK for 55 cents
We need to do everything we can to protect it. Call your reps and tell them to support the post office not just with a temporary bailout but a path toward more permanent support. The Post Office, despite being the only federal agency mentioned in the Constitution, receives no federal funding.

Details:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/11/post-office-bailout-trump/

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to support legislation that would help to sustain the Post Office. The Post Office provides vital services, especially to rural communities. It employs thousands of veterans. And if the pandemic continues, it will play a crucial role in delivering ballots to voters. 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/


Resistbot Option:
Text 50409 with "USPS".  This will sign you up to send a letter to Support the United States Postal Service. It is a lifeline for all Americans, regardless of age, gender, race, disability, or socioeconomic status. We need 100,000 signatures, so let’s keep pushing.


----------

Support Voting Rights in the Age of Coronavirus:
We’ve all seen the Wisconsin primary clusterf^%& happening this week. SCOTUS ruled somehow that in-person voting should be allowed to continue and that vote-by-mail deadlines should not be extended. The case was literally RNC vs. DNC, so the court’s ruling is unapologetically partisan and unambiguously an attack on voting rights. This is a warning for what could happen in November. So naturally, Elizabeth Warren has come out with a plan to protect voting rights in the age of a pandemic, and it’s really good. The basic provisions include the following:

Nationwide vote by mail
30 days early voting
No voter roll purges
End voter ID requirements
$4b aid to states
Hazard pay for poll workers
More funding for USPS

To ensure that our elections can be held safely and fairly, we need all of these provisions in place. It is especially important to protect poll workers, many of whom are elderly and appear to be more vulnerable to the virus. Warren’s plan is building on the work of others, most notably Amy Klobuchar, but these ideas are good, and it’s worth pushing for them, especially in the Senate, where we need to hold One Term Tillis and Big Bucks Burr accountable.

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ____________ to pass legislation that would protect voting rights, especially if we are still dealing with the coronavirus. It is absolutely essential that we have the option nationwide to vote by mail, that we have at least 30 days of early voting, and hazard pay for poll workers. We should also end voter ID requirements at a national level and prevent states from engaging in voter roll purges. This is a pivotal election, and we shouldn’t have to choose between voting and our health (or the health of people around us). 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/

Details:
https://medium.com/@SenWarren/protecting-our-elections-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-efd3da6dbcaf

Thursday's Actions: Voting Rights, Migrant Rights, and Medicaid Expansion

****Actions 4/6/2020****

ELECTION:

Virtual Town Halls with Cal Cunningham:
US Senate candidate Cal Cunningham is holding a series of virtual town halls with Indivisible groups over the next few weeks. These town halls will allow you to connect with Cal and to learn how you can get involved in his campaign. Taking back that Senate seat from Thom Tillis is absolutely pivotal if we want to unseat Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader. Cal is a great candidate who supports progressive policies, so this is a real opportunity to learn how you can make a difference.

April 18th, 11 AM-12 PM
https://www.mobilize.us/cunninghamforsenate/event/267166/

April 25th, 2:30-3:30 PM
https://www.mobilize.us/cunninghamforsenate/event/267159/

-----------

FEDERAL:

Support Voting Rights in the Age of Coronavirus:
We’ve all seen the Wisconsin primary clusterf^%& happening this week. SCOTUS ruled somehow that in-person voting should be allowed to continue and that vote-by-mail deadlines should not be extended. The case was literally RNC vs. DNC, so the court’s ruling is unapologetically partisan and unambiguously an attack on voting rights. This is a warning for what could happen in November. So naturally, Elizabeth Warren has come out with a plan to protect voting rights in the age of a pandemic, and it’s really good. The basic provisions include the following:

Nationwide vote by mail
30 days early voting
No voter roll purges
End voter ID requirements
$4b aid to states
Hazard pay for poll workers
More funding for USPS

To ensure that our elections can be held safely and fairly, we need all of these provisions in place. It is especially important to protect poll workers, many of whom are elderly and appear to be more vulnerable to the virus. Warren’s plan is building on the work of others, most notably Amy Klobuchar, but these ideas are good, and it’s worth pushing for them, especially in the Senate, where we need to hold One Term Tillis and Big Bucks Burr accountable.

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ____________ to pass legislation that would protect voting rights, especially if we are still dealing with the coronavirus. It is absolutely essential that we have the option nationwide to vote by mail, that we have at least 30 days of early voting, and hazard pay for poll workers. We should also end voter ID requirements at a national level and prevent states from engaging in voter roll purges. This is a pivotal election, and we shouldn’t have to choose between voting and our health (or the health of people around us). 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/

Details:
https://medium.com/@SenWarren/protecting-our-elections-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-efd3da6dbcaf

------------

End Family Separation:
[Adapted from Daily Kos] Despite the ‘official’ end to family separation, migrant children are still being ripped from their families. As of December 2019, at least 1,100 children have been taken and forced into dangerous and inadequate facilitates where they are subjected to sleep on mats on cold floors, care for younger children, and suffered well-documented cases of sexual abuse.

Many families were fleeing legitimate threats of violence to themselves and their children in their home countries, and hoped for safety upon reaching the United States. Instead, children were torn from their parents’ arms, in most cases with no explanation at all. Families were lied to and told their children were going to receive medical care. When parents understandably expressed distress, many were ridiculed by detention center staff and border patrol. Let's demand that Congress end the torture of migrant families now. Reunite families immediately and end family separation for good! You can sign the petition below, or to be more effective, use the script to call your reps.

Link:
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/demand-congress-end-torture-of-migrant-families-and-children

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from __________ to urge Rep./Sen. _____________ to act on behalf of migrants being detained at our border. Reunite families immediately and end family separation for good! The psychological effects of family separation include trouble eating, sleeping, anxiety, and nightmares –– just to name a few. All of these symptoms are consistent with post-traumatic stress related to torture. 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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STATE:

Fight for an Emergency NCGA Session to Address COVID-19:
While I’m kind of glad they’re mostly staying out of the way and letting Governor Cooper handle our COVID-19 response, we DO need the NCGA to come back into session and pass some legislation that would provide millions of North Carolina citizens with much-needed financial relief and reassurance that they will have access to insurance that will cover their medical bills. The wording of the tweet below was borrowed from Wiley Nickel. I can’t find the original tweet, but if you post it, I’m sure the desired message will resonate. You can also use the text of this tweet to email your reps (who may not be taking phone calls).

Sample Tweet:
.@NCHouseSpeaker NCGA needs to return to pass new legislation. 4/28 is too late. Pass Medicaid Expansion! Pass a Budget giving educators raises!  8.5% across-the-board. Make long overdue changes to our WORST in the nation Unemployment Insurance Program #ncga #ncpol

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn

Wednesday's Actions: Voting Rights in the Age of COVID-19 and More

****Actions 4/5/2020****

FEDERAL:

Support Voting Rights in the Age of Coronavirus:
We’ve all seen the Wisconsin primary clusterf^%& happening this week. SCOTUS ruled somehow that in-person voting should be allowed to continue and that vote-by-mail deadlines should not be extended. The case was literally RNC vs. DNC, so the court’s ruling is unapologetically partisan and unambiguously an attack on voting rights. This is a warning for what could happen in November. So naturally, Elizabeth Warren has come out with a plan to protect voting rights in the age of a pandemic, and it’s really good. The basic provisions include the following:

Nationwide vote by mail
30 days early voting
No voter roll purges
End voter ID requirements
$4b aid to states
Hazard pay for poll workers
More funding for USPS

To ensure that our elections can be held safely and fairly, we need all of these provisions in place. It is especially important to protect poll workers, many of whom are elderly and appear to be more vulnerable to the virus. Warren’s plan is building on the work of others, most notably Amy Klobuchar, but these ideas are good, and it’s worth pushing for them, especially in the Senate, where we need to hold One Term Tillis and Big Bucks Burr accountable.

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ____________ to pass legislation that would protect voting rights, especially if we are still dealing with the coronavirus. It is absolutely essential that we have the option nationwide to vote by mail, that we have at least 30 days of early voting, and hazard pay for poll workers. We should also end voter ID requirements at a national level and prevent states from engaging in voter roll purges. This is a pivotal election, and we shouldn’t have to choose between voting and our health (or the health of people around us). 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/

Details:
https://medium.com/@SenWarren/protecting-our-elections-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-efd3da6dbcaf


STATE:

Fight for an Emergency NCGA Session to Address COVID-19:
While I’m kind of glad they’re mostly staying out of the way and letting Governor Cooper handle our COVID-19 response, we DO need the NCGA to come back into session and pass some legislation that would provide millions of North Carolina citizens with much-needed financial relief and reassurance that they will have access to insurance that will cover their medical bills. The wording of the tweet below was borrowed from Wiley Nickel. I can’t find the original tweet, but if you post it, I’m sure the desired message will resonate. You can also use the text of this tweet to email your reps (who may not be taking phone calls).

Sample Tweet:
.@NCHouseSpeaker NCGA needs to return to pass new legislation. 4/28 is too late. Pass Medicaid Expansion! Pass a Budget giving educators raises!  8.5% across-the-board. Make long overdue changes to our WORST in the nation Unemployment Insurance Program #ncga #ncpol

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn

Tuesday Actions: Migrants and COVID-19 + the SAVE Act

****Actions 4/4/2020****

FEDERAL:

Save Migrant Children From COVID-19:
[From the Action Network] Today, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) - a group within the Department of Health & Human Services - holds some 3,600 unaccompanied children in largely for-profit shelters. They sleep, eat, school, and move together through the facilities, escorted everywhere by company workers. They have to ask permission to do anything. They are virtual prisoners.

Just like in prisons, the COVID-19 pandemic poses an immediate and life-threatening danger to all of these children who live in congregant care and who are unable to social distance or wash their hands frequently. Once the disease hits a shelter, it will spread rapidly, overwhelming already scant medical capacity. Many children have died in government custody. More stand to perish from COVID-19. There is no plan to protect them. Children must be reunited with their families immediately. Innocent children are being incarcerated in conditions that put their lives at risk. You can use the link below to email or my script to call your reps.

Link:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/save-migrant-children-from-covid-19?delivery_id=43549077

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from ____________ to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to call for migrant detainees to be released from border camps to avoid creating a massive health crisis. The CDC has warned that people who live, work, eat, study, and recreate within congregant environments are at a heightened risk of contracting COVID-19. And we have seen this clearly with mass infections and multiple deaths in nursing homes and on ships. Once the virus hits a closed environment, it spreads like wildfire. There is no cure for this deadly disease. The threat to immigrant children confined in shelters is dire. Please step up and demand that the migrant detainees be released.

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/

---------------

STATE:

Allow Nurse Practitioners to Practice without a Collaborating MD:
I’m going to tweak our action on the SAVE Act just a little. Instead of a general call, let’s focus our attention on the chairs of two NC House committees, the House Standing Health Committee and the House Select Committee on COVID-19. Because these committees are chaired entirely by Republicans, it’s important to promote the SAVE Act as an inexpensive measure that will save lives in the near term. There might also be some value in pointing to long-term cost savings, as well. There is bipartisan support for the bill (the conservative John Locke Foundation supports it), so we could make a genuine difference here.

Nurse practitioners are not allowed to maintain their own practice in North Carolina without registering with a collaborating physician. This places severe limits on NPs who are board certified. In most states, this rule has been eliminated. And during a time in which we are facing a medical emergency, we need more qualified medical providers to be able to practice without archaic limitations. This is actually a nonpartisan issue. The link below is from a conservative think tank, but it shows clearly that we need to update our laws regarding NPs. The bill is called the SAVE Act, and it is a simple, potentially bipartisan fix, that could improve our response to COVID-19.

Details:
https://www.johnlocke.org/update/save-act-increasing-freedom-for-n-c-nurses/


Script:
Hello, I am writing to urge Rep.  ___________ to support the SAVE Act. This bill would remove the requirement that nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives have a collaborative practice agreement to treat patients. North Carolina is one of 12 states that restrict the practice authority of nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives unless they obtain a collaborative practice agreement with a supervising physician. And in a time when we face an approaching medical crisis, we need all of the qualified medical providers to be able to work independently without any archaic restrictions. NPs could easily volunteer in remote locations or other areas where supervising physicians would be unavailable. Thank you.

Email contacts:
House Standing Health Committee Chairs:
Josh Dobson: Josh.Dobson@ncleg.net
Donny Lambeth: Donny.Lambeth@ncleg.net
Larry Potts: Larry.Potts@ncleg.net
Donna White: Donna.White@ncleg.net

House Select Committee on COVID-19:
Tim Moore: Tim.Moore@ncleg.net

----------

REGISTER TO VOTE:

Register to Vote Online:
The State Board of Elections has opened up online voter registration. You can follow the link below to their website where you can register to vote or change your registration if you have moved.  You can also follow the tweet below to thank the SBOE and maybe gently nudge them to allow statewide vote-by-mail for the 2020 election.

Details:
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/offices-services/online/Pages/voter-registration-application.aspx

Friday Actions: Coronavirus Relief Package 2.0; Medicaid Expansion; and More

****Actions 4/3/2020****

FEDERAL:

Demand That Your Lawmaker Prioritize a Coronavirus People's Bailout:
[From Indivisible National] Congress has now passed three coronavirus-related response bills. While these bills have temporarily filled in important gaps in our paid sick leave, unemployment insurance, and health care systems, they are grossly insufficient given the magnitude of the current crisis. What’s worse, in return for helping people who are desperately in need of support, Trump and his Republican allies demanded hundreds of billions of dollars in unaccountable corporate bailouts.

This crisis isn’t over and soon Congress will likely have to pass at least one additional response package. We need to continue demanding that any coronavirus response legislation puts people’s needs ahead of corporate profits — in other words, we need a People’s Bailout. Congress must fix the gaps in the previous bills, and make sure that the response to both the outbreak and the likely recession that will accompany it make both less likely to happen in the future. Specifically, we’re asking that Congress:

Protect our democratic processes while protecting each other.

Make health the top priority, for all people, with no exceptions.

Provide economic relief directly to the people.

Rescue workers and communities, not corporate executives.

Make a down payment on a regenerative economy, while preventing future crises.

If you go to the action link below, there is an entire toolkit you can use to contact your reps, post videos to social media, or even write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. I’m hearing from so many people who are either dealing with the coronavirus or dealing with the economic impact of it. This is a true crisis, and we need to make our voices heard to ensure that real people get the economic relief they need.

Details:
https://peopleoverprofits.indivisible.org/

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code  ___________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ___________ to support a true coronavirus relief package. We need to make sure that any new legislation provides economic relief directly to the people, not to corporations. We also need the government to protect our elections and make sure that no matter what happens with the coronavirus that all voters are able to cast their ballots in November. Thank you.

-----------


STATE:

Allow Nurse Practitioners to Practice without a Collaborating MD:
Nurse practitioners are not allowed to maintain their own practice in North Carolina without registering with a collaborating physician. This places severe limits on NPs who are board certified. In most states, this rule has been eliminated. And during a time in which we are facing a medical emergency, we need more qualified medical providers to be able to practice without archaic limitations. This is actually a nonpartisan issue. The link below is from a conservative think tank, but it shows clearly that we need to update our laws regarding NPs. The bill is called the SAVE Act, and it is a simple, potentially bipartisan fix, that could improve our response to COVID-19.

Details:
https://www.johnlocke.org/update/save-act-increasing-freedom-for-n-c-nurses/

Tweet:
.@NC_Governor drop the outdated Nurse Practice Act rule that forces NPs in NC to have collaborating MD in order to practice. We are board certified providers that could volunteer in this crisis in our full capacity if you do this now #NursePractitioner #COVID19

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from ____________ calling to urge Rep./Sen./Gov. ___________ to support the SAVE Act. This bill would remove the requirement that nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives have a collaborative practice agreement to treat patients. North Carolina is one of 12 states that restrict the practice authority of nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives unless they obtain a collaborative practice agreement with a supervising physician. And in a time when we face an approaching medical crisis, we need all of the qualified medical providers to be able to work independently without any archaic restrictions. NPs could easily volunteer in remote locations or other areas where supervising physicians would be unavailable. Thank you.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn

-------------------

Medicaid Expansion:
Keep working on this one. We are now seeing the destructive impact of the NC GOP’s refusal to expand Medicaid. Because the NC GOP stubbornly refuses to allow the Affordable Care Act to work like it should, thousands of North Carolina residents have been unable to get health coverage. This will potentially have a huge impact when it comes to providing treatment for people with the Coronavirus. But it also impacts us in other ways. Vidant Health, in Greenville, was forced to lay off nearly 200 employees because of budget shortfalls due to people receiving treatment but being unable to pay their bills.

As G.K. Butterfield explains it, “Rural hospitals operate on razor thin margins and often do not have the capacity to absorb these costs. Studies have found that when states expand Medicaid uninsured rates for low-income adults decline drastically, which reduces uncompensated care and gives lifelines to rural hospitals. The General Assembly’s decision not to expand Medicaid has not only harmed patient access to care and the overall health care system of eastern North Carolina, but the economy as well.” With so many people facing financial difficulties, now is the time to remind our lawmakers that expanding Medicaid would not only save lives but also would protect jobs in rural communities. This call is most urgent if you have a GOP rep, as most Democrats already support it.


Details:
https://www.wakeweekly.com/stories/butterfield-blames-lawmakers-for-vidant-health-layoffs-sw,203418

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent calling from ____________ to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to support Medicaid expansion. We are facing a massive, costly public health crisis, and we need to provide people with the health coverage they need for this kind of emergency. In fact, 400,000 people would be able to get health insurance. The layoffs by Vidant Health also show that rural communities continue to suffer because of the refusal to expand Medicaid.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn

Thursday Actions: Obamacare, Voting Rights, and More

****Actions 4/2/2020****

FEDERAL:

Reopen Obamacare Enrollments:
The Trump administration has decided against reopening Obamacare enrollment to uninsured Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, defying calls from health insurers and Democrats to create a special sign-up window amid the health crisis. When asked about this, Mike Pence falsely claimed that people could just enroll in Medicaid, but as we know in North Carolina, that’s not always the case. Preventing people from enrolling in health insurance is cruel. It could prevent people from seeing a doctor if they have symptoms of the coronavirus. This is especially dangerous when millions of Americans are newly unemployed and possibly cut off from their health benefits at work.

Details:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/31/trump-obamacare-coronavirus-157788

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from zip code  _____________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. ______________ to call for Trump to re-open the Obamacare enrollment window to uninsured Americans during the coronavirus pandemic. Pence claimed falsely that people without insurance could simply enroll in Medicaid, but as we know in North Carolina, that simply is not true. People need options to get health insurance, and opening up enrollment into Obamacare could go a long way toward resolving that. 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/

Tweet:
.@SenatorBurr and @SenThomTillis, despite what Pence said, North Carolina does not have Medicaid expansion. We should expand Medicaid or at a minimum reopen enrollment in Obamacare to help deal with the coronavirus.
------------

STATE:

Voting Rights:
The North Carolina State Board of Elections is working on policies that would make it easier to vote in November in the event of an emergency, including continued challenges caused by the coronavirus. Not surprisingly, the NC GOP opposes many of these changes. Among the changes advocated by the SBOE: (1) making it easier to vote by mail, (2) making Election Day a state holiday, and (3) sending out mail-in ballots to all registered voters, and (4) putting pre-paid postage on return envelopes for ballots. All of these steps would help to ensure that everyone in NC has the ability to cast a ballot in November. Tell your state lawmakers to endorse these ideas.

Details:
https://www.wunc.org/post/top-nc-republican-dismisses-ideas-make-mail-voting-easier

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent from ____________ calling to urge Rep./Sen. _____________ to support recommendations made by the North Carolina Board of Elections to make it easier to vote by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, we should ease restrictions on voting by mail, put pre-paid postage on return envelopes for ballots, and make election day a state holiday. Making Election Day a state holiday is crucial because it would encourage more people to volunteer at polling places and would protect elderly volunteers who are more vulnerable to coronavirus. Thank you.

State Contact Numbers:
NC House: http://bit.ly/2CVneDK
NC Senate: http://bit.ly/2DamgAn
Governor: Phone: (919) 814-2000

Tweet:
The #NCGA needs to make it easier to vote by mail in November because of the coronavirus. We should ease restrictions on voting by mail, put pre-paid postage on return envelopes for ballots, and make election day a state holiday. #NCPOL

--------

REGISTER TO VOTE:

Register to Vote Online:
The State Board of Elections has opened up online voter registration. You can follow the link below to their website where you can register to vote or change your registration if you have moved.  You can also follow the tweet below to thank the SBOE and maybe gently nudge them to allow statewide vote-by-mail for the 2020 election.

Details:
https://twitter.com/NCSBE/status/1244707072312250368