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    Carla Rogers

    Resolution opposing attacks on our health benefits by the 34th District Democratic Organization of the State of Washington

     800 800 34th Democrats

    Resolution Opposing Attacks on our Health Benefits

    Passed: March 2017

    WHEREAS, comprehensive health benefits are essential to ensuring working families and retirees can get the health care they need, when they need it;

    WHEREAS, health insurance should be affordable for all Americans;

    WHEREAS, Medicare is a promise to the American people that must be kept for current and future generations, including the 55 million seniors and people with disabilities enrolled today and the many millions more counting on it for their retirement;

    WHEREAS, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was an important step toward providing comprehensive, affordable health care for all;

    WHEREAS, repealing the ACA without a replacement will put 30 million people at risk of losing their health benefits entirely and strip away vital protections and benefits from the many millions more with Medicare, Medicaid, and workplace coverage;

    WHEREAS, more than 74 million people get health benefits through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP);

    WHEREAS, repealing the Affordable Care Act in its entirety will take health benefits away from the approximately 11 million people who gained coverage through that law’s Medicaid expansion.

    WHEREAS, cutting federal funding to Washington for Medicaid through block grants or per capita caps will shift health care costs onto our state, force impossible choices between cutting health benefits or even eliminating eligibility for them, take funding away from other essential services, and require state taxpayers to pay more;

    WHEREAS, cutting federal funding to Washington for Medicaid will threaten the health care, nursing home care and the long-term supports and the services that allow seniors and people of all ages with disabilities to live independently in their own homes and communities;

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

    The 34th District Democrats oppose any and all attacks on our health benefits;

    AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

    We call upon all members of Congress representing the people of Washington to oppose any and all attacks on our health benefits, including legislation that:

    • Turns Medicare into a voucher system, increases the Medicare eligibility age beyond 65, or in any other way cuts seniors’ Medicare benefits or shifts additional costs onto them;
    • Imposes new taxes on or otherwise threatens the health benefits working people earn on the job;
    • Repeals the Affordable Care Act without a replacement plan that ensures that anyone with coverage today is able to afford it and keep it and that maintains key protections for all working families and seniors;
    • Repeals the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid benefits to millions of people; or
    • Block grants or imposes a per capita cap on federal funding for Medicaid;

    AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT:

    The 34th LD Democrats call upon all members of Congress representing the people of Washington to support real reforms that bring us closer to the goal of providing comprehensive, affordable health coverage for all by strengthening and expanding health benefits and controlling and lowering health care costs, so that everyone in America can get the care they need, when they need it.  This should include consideration of a public option and single payer system.

    Resolution supporting the expansion of Social Security and eliminating the cap on earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax by the 34th District Democratic Organization of the State of Washington

     800 800 34th Democrats

    Resolution supporting the expansion of Social Security and eliminating the cap on earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax by the 34th District Democratic Organization of the State of Washington

    Passed: March 2017

    WHEREAS, the gap between the pensions and retirement savings American households actually have and what they need in order to maintain their standard of living was $7.7 trillion as of 2013, and

    WHEREAS, forty-seven percent of working-age families had nothing saved in retirement accounts, and the median working-age family had only $5,000 saved, as of 2013; and

    WHEREAS, one in three American families had no savings at all, and 56.3 percent of Americans had less than $1,000 in their checking and savings accounts, as of 2015; and

    WHEREAS, as of 2011, only about half of United States workers participated in a workplace retirement plan, and only ten percent of all private sector establishments provided defined benefit plans, covering just eighteen percent of private industry employees; and

    WHEREAS, as of June 2015, Social Security retiree benefits averaged only about $1,300 per month, and among elderly Social Security beneficiaries, fifty-three percent of married couples and seventy-four percent of unmarried persons received most of their income from Social Security; and

    WHEREAS, as of July 1, 2015, 12.4 percent of the King County population was sixty-five years old and older, and 26.3 percent was between forty-five and sixty-four years old; and

    WHEREAS, people of color made up 32.3 percent of King County’s population in 2014, and among seniors sixty-five years old and older in 2012 Social Security was the sole source of income for forty-three percent of Hispanics, thirty-seven percent of African Americans and thirty-two percent of Asian and Pacific Islanders, compared to twenty-two percent of whites; and

    WHEREAS, as of April 1, 2015, women constituted 55.7 percent of King County’s population over sixty-five years old, and in 2013 the average annual Social Security income received by women sixty-five years old and older was $12,857, compared with $16,590 for men; and

    WHEREAS, all wage earners who earn above the cap of $127,200 pay no payroll tax on all of their earnings above the cap, thereby paying an effective tax rate lower than that of wage earners who earn less than the cap; and

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

    The 34th District Democrats that:

    1. Social Security benefits should be expanded to address the growing crisis of financial insecurity among present and future Social Security recipients.
    2. The cap on earnings that are subject to the Social Security payroll tax should be eliminated to pay for the expansion of Social Security benefits.
    3. The Executive Board of the 34th District Democrats is directed to send a copy of this motion to the King County Democratic Central Committee, the Washington State Democratic Central Committee and each member of Washington’s congressional delegation.

    Resolution supporting House Bill 1646 by 34th District Democratic Organization State of Washington

     800 800 34th Democrats

    Resolution supporting House Bill 1646 By 34th District Democratic Organization State of Washington

    Passed: March 2017

    WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels creates air pollution that causes impaired lung function, shortness of breath, wheezing, asthma attacks and premature death;

    WHEREAS, the burning of fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases that cause climate change which according to the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group is a major public health risk;

    WHEREAS, unless action is undertaken without further delay to return the atmospheric concentration of CO2 to no more than 350 ppm by 2100, Earth’s climate system will be pressed toward irreversible, ever-worsening, climate-related impacts;

    WHEREAS, transitioning off of fossil fuels towards a 100% renewable energy economy is in the best interests of the residents and citizens of Washington;

    WHEREAS, nationally, renewable energy businesses are creating jobs 12 times faster than the rest of the economy

    WHEREAS, a carbon tax is recommended by many economists as a way to promote the just transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy; and thereby, improve our health and create jobs for our communities in the renewable energy economy;

    WHEREAS, HB would use the proceeds of a carbon tax fund to invest in clean energy, clean air, healthy forests, and Washington’s disproportionately impacted communities;

    WHEREAS, HB 1646 would strengthen greenhouse emissions limits for the State of Washington;

    WHEREAS, HB 1646 is sponsored by representatives Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon, and endorsed by Front and Centered, Got Green and the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy;

    NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLEVD THAT:

    The 34th District Democratic Organization urges our caucus in Olympia to give their very highest level of support to House Bill 1646 (Senate Bill 5509). We believe this bill will benefit our communities by improving our health, bringing new jobs and protecting young people’s rights to a healthy climate system.

    Resolution regarding Renewable Energy System Tax Incentives and Recycling (HB 1048) by the 34th District Democrats

     800 800 34th Democrats

    Resolution regarding Renewable Energy System Tax Incentives and Recycling (HB 1048) by the 34th District Democrats

    Passed: February 2017

    WHEREAS, in 2006 the State of Washington created the Renewable Energy Cost Recovery Incentive Program; and

    WHEREAS, these goals have been codified to the Revised Code of Washington at Title 70, Section 235; and

    WHEREAS, the best available climate science requires reducing global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide to below 350 parts per million no later than the end of this century in order to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts; and

    WHEREAS, solar is a clean and renewable source of carbon-free energy; and

    WHEREAS, solar has already created thousands of jobs in Washington, and could expand greatly; and

    WHEREAS, distributed solar makes Washington State more energy independent and resilient; and

    WHEREAS, the Western Washington University’s Center for Economic & Business Research finds that for every $1 spent on solar through the Cost Recovery Program has spurred $16-$20 in economic activity; and

    WHEREAS, solar power keeps our energy dollars in Washington State; and

    WHEREAS, the proposed legislation is much more cost-effective than the current policy for Washington to get as much solar power as possible, giving Washington 5x more solar power per dollar; and

    WHEREAS, solar power lessens the costs of adapting to climate disruption; and

    WHEREAS, the proposed legislation would create a clear and stable solar program for Washington.

     

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

    The 34th District Democratic Organization requests all members of the 34th District legislative join Representative Joe Fitzgibbon in supporting HB 1048 and to ask for hearings on the legislation in each house; and

    The Executive Board is directed to send a copy of the proposed legislation along with this resolution to each member of the 34th District legislative delegation; and

    The Executive Board is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the King County Democratic Central Committee Legislative Action Committee.

    Weekly Actions: Week 7

     150 150 34th Democrats

    Urgent

    Urgent Actions

    • Make sure to send some “You’re Fired” postcards to the White House and Trump Tower this Wednesday!

    General

    General Actions

    General Information
    • Find your issue – make some calls – 5 Calls is your private multi-issue activism network.  Try it today:
    • Anti-regulation bills to enter the Senate, where they can be blocked by filibuster – call your Senators to oppose:
      • Regulatory Accountability Act:  The proponents of the bill insist that it will improve federal regulation, but the real purpose and effect of the bill is to stall the overall process — making it harder for federal agencies to adopt rules that prevent companies from harming their workers, their customers and their neighbors.  (Source:  https://news.utexas.edu/2017/02/03/regulatory-accountability-act-threatens-health-and-safety )
      • REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act):  Under the REINS Act, no major regulation could take effect unless it is approved by both houses of Congress in a small window of time. This would make it impossible to protect the public by shutting down the entire regulatory system including attacks on the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and many other consumer protection measures.  (Source:  http://lwv.org/content/league-opposes-hr-26-reins-act-2017 )
      • Midnight Rules Relief Act:  H.R. 5982 would amend the Congressional Review Act to enable Congress to bundle numerous rules finalized during the final year of a president’s term into a single vote on a joint resolution of disapproval.  Alarmingly, once these rules have been invalidated through this process, the agency may not adopt a subsequent similar rule absent express authorization by Congress. (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-hank-johnson/the-so-called-midnight-ru_b_13074236.html )
    • Sign this petition:
    • Petition – let’s keep up the pressure for Trump to release his tax returns:
    • Anyone want to join the Impeach Trump now team?:
    • Petition – Limit the amount of our tax money spent on the Trump family’s vacations and business trips:
    • In case anyone is getting too sidetracked by the Russian spy drama, the following bills have been introduced:
      1. HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
      2. HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
      3. HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
      4. HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
      5. HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
      6. HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
      7. HR 785 National Right to Work (this one ends unions)
      8. HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
      9. HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)
      10. HR 808 Sanctions against Iran
    • Concerned?  Call your Members of Congress!
    Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)
    • Indivisible Chapter of the Backbone Campaign:
    • Legislative Action Team of the Indivisible Chapter:
      • This group visits our elected Members of Congress at their offices and at town hall meetings.  Join this group for periodic meetings to exchange the latest political information, discuss opportunities for engagement with Members of Congress and their staffers and arrange meetings between Members of Congress and Vashon / Maury Island citizens.
      • Contacts:
    • Immigrant / Refugee team of the Indivisible Chapter:
      • Join the Immigration/Refugee Group meeting to begin planning strategy and additional actions both on and off island to protect our immigrant population.
      • Contact:  Susie Murphy at susiemurf@gmail.com
    • Fossil Fuel Free Puget Sound Energy
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team to develop alternatives to a Puget Sound Energy natural gas power plant
        • And prepare material to inform the community
    • Join the community outreach team to spread the word about this “once in a lifetime opportunity” to replace PSE coal plants with renewable energy and conservation
    • Earth Day Vashon (well, the day AFTER the official earth day)
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team who is imagining, defining and recruiting talent for this Vashon High School event
      • Join the team here:
        • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ2ePsvox6WKpNxMOe8gShzfGPSMrQemS-hlQQcApBXOGkbA/viewform?c=0&w=1
    • Become a Vashon School District Green Team supporter!
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group (I sense a trend here…)
      • Provide support for Green Team events and activities
      • Encourage Green Team advisors for all school grade levels
      • Are you a VSD student or parent that seeks a meaningful, vibrant and growing Green Team? Join us!
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • Write to Resist – Every Thursday, 3 – 5PM, Snapdragon

    Praise

    Praise

    Election Actions

    Election Actions

    Electoral College Repeal
    • No actions this week
    Preserving Democracy & Justice
    Return US House and Senate to Democratic control
    • NEW!  Building a Progressive Majority:
      • This new team met on Sunday, March 5, to discuss an approach to this critically important topic.   Working at the State and National level, this team is developing action steps to evaluate which key races are close and deserve our attention.  Want to join?
      • Contacts:

    Climate Actions

    Climate & Environment Actions

    The Environment
    Climate Change
    • Petition – Protect the climate – Preserve the Bureau of Land Management’s Natural Gas flaring and venting rule:
      • When Fossil fuel companies drill on our public lands, they often burn away — or flare — natural gas. This sends climate-busting CO2 straight into the atmosphere. And it pollutes the air in local communities.
      • They used to be able to do this for free. But President Obama changed that. His Administration made a rule that makes the fossil fuel industry pay taxpayers and tribes for the wasted natural gas. This made Big Oil think twice about destroying our wild places.
      • Now, Congress is trying to undo the Obama administration’s action.  Thanks to a 2015 investigation, companies like ExxonMobil, which is now running the State Department through former CEO Rex Tillerson and Devon Energy, which was so close to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt that back in Oklahoma they actually drafted letters for him to copy and paste onto his letterhead when he was state Attorney General, are beneficiaries.
      • Reversing the rule would be a huge win for companies like these — and a huge loss for taxpayers and the climate!
      • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/
    • Petition – Keep the World’s Largest Methanol Refinery from being built in Washington State:

    Civil Rights Actions

    Civil Rights Actions

    Anti-Hate Actions
    • No actions this week
    Criminal Justice Reform
    • No actions this week
    Immigrations/Citizenship
    • No actions this week
    Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter
    Women’s Rights
    • No actions this week
    LGBTQ Rights

    Healthcare Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    Aging / Medicare / Social Security /Health Care

    Financial Actions

    Financial Actions

    Economy/Income Inequality
    • Petition – Tell congressional and state lawmakers that “right to work” is bad for states and the country: “Right to Work” laws are actually anti-union laws, which give more power to corporations and less power to workers.
    • Submit a public comment, deadline March 17:  Retain Obama administration requirement that financial advisors must comply with fiduciary requirements – meaning investment recommendations they make are in the best interest of the client, not an investment that makes money for the seller.
    Get Big Money Out of Politics
    • No actions this week

    Gun Actions

    Gun Safety Actions

    Education Actions

    Education Actions

    • No actions this week

    Foreign Policy Actions

    Foreign Policy/Defense Actions

    • No actions this week

    Miscellaneous

    Miscellaneous Actions

    • No actions this week

    Photo of the Week

    Photo of the Week

    Contact Elected Officials

    Find your elected officials here!

    Regarding petitions:  To amplify your voice on any petition, contact by phone or email the person the petition is intended for.  Phone calls have more impact than emails.

    Weekly Actions: Week 6

     150 150 34th Democrats

    Urgent

    Urgent Actions

    Nothing particularly urgent this week.

    General

    General Actions

    General Information
    • Call Senator Maria Cantwell at (202) 224-3441 and urge her to co-sponsor Elizabeth Warren’s bill to end Trump’s conflicts of interest:
      • Note:  Patty Murray has already signed on as a co-sponsor.  Here’s a sample script:
      • “I am a constituent from zip code 98070 in Vashon, Wa. I’m calling to urge my senator to co-sponsor Senator Warren’s bill (S.65) requiring Donald Trump to divest and end his financial conflicts of interest.”
    • From our friends at the White House:  We want to know what issues you want President Trump to focus on and your ideas for the future of our country.  I think you should share your thoughts…
      • https://www.whitehouse.gov/joint-address-issues-survey
      • You can edit my response to question 3 “What are your ideas to make America great again” (remember, be kind):
      • Protect our climate by focusing on a global market in renewable energy systems, Put coal miners to work installing and maintaining renewable energy systems (and keep them from contracting black lung), Don’t build a southern border wall – spend the money on road, rail and smart electricity grids that will make our industries more competitive to improve our economy, honor your promise to save Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and reflect that promise in your budget submission, Divest in all your business holdings – the blind trust plan you proposed is not adequate – divestiture will allow the American people to trust that you are really working in our best interest and not your personal wealth, Release your tax returns to also allow us to trust you are working for us without conflicts of interest, Publicly state that Putin is a dangerous dictator who kills his political and media opponents and is no friend of the United States, Publicly pledge your continued support to the most effective multi-national peace keeping alliance in history – NATO – and thank them for flying their AWACS aircraft to protect our nation following 9/11 when our AWACS aircraft were all busy overseas.
    • Petition – Tell Chuck Schumer that Virginia Senator Joe Manchin should not be on the Democratic leadership team (but, you should also know Joe Manchin is from a state that Trump won handily in 2016, so he risks being replaced by a Republican if he leans too far left.  You be the judge.):
    • Petition – tell our Members of Congress to host Town Hall meetings with their constituents!
    • Petition – Oppose Steve Bannon on the Principles Committee of the National Security Council:
    • Petition – tell senators to protect the federal consumer protection agency:
    • Enjoy Michael Moore’s latest advice for dealing with the current administration:
    Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)
    • NEW!  Indivisible Chapter of the Backbone Campaign:
      • The Indivisible Chapter is building our foundation while creating action teams.  Help us develop our social media / website / Facebook presence, meet to discuss strategy and initiate team actions to Resist Trump!  To join the Chapter, contact Kevin Jones at kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • NEW!  Legislative Action Team of the Indivisible Chapter:
      • This group visits our elected Members of Congress at their offices and at town hall meetings.  Join this group for periodic meetings to exchange the latest political information, discuss opportunities for engagement with Members of Congress and their staffers and arrange meetings between Members of Congress and Vashon / Maury Island citizens.
      • Contacts:
    • NEW!  Immigrant / Refugee team of the Indivisible Chapter:
      • Join the Immigration/Refugee Group meeting to begin planning strategy and additional actions both on and off island to protect our immigrant population.
      • Contact:
    • Fossil Fuel Free Puget Sound Energy
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team to develop alternatives to build a natural gas power plant
        • And prepare material to inform the community
      • Join the community outreach team to spread the word about this “once in a lifetime opportunity” to replace PSE coal plants with renewable energy and conservation
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • Earth Day Vashon (well, the day AFTER the official earth day)
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team who is imagining, defining and recruiting talent for this Vashon High School event
      • Join the team here:
      • https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ2ePsvox6WKpNxMOe8gShzfGPSMrQemS-hlQQcApBXOGkbA/viewform?c=0&w=1
    • Become a Vashon School District Green Team supporter!
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group (I sense a trend here…)
      • Provide support for Green Team events and activities
      • Encourage Green Team advisors for all school grade levels
      • Are you a VSD student or parent that seeks a meaningful, vibrant and growing Green Team? Join us!
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • Write to Resist – Every Thursday, 3 – 5PM, Snapdragon

    Praise

    Praise

    Election Actions

    Election Actions

    Electoral College Repeal
    • No actions this week
    Instant Runoff  Voting

    Climate Actions

    Climate & Environment Actions

    The Environment
    Climate Change

    Civil Rights Actions

    Civil Rights Actions

    Anti-Hate Actions
    • No actions this week
    Criminal Justice Reform
    • Demand an end to private, for-profit prisons:
      • Private, for profit prisons will need a never-ending supply of “customers” to be profitable. That’s how business works. If Trump thinks that for-profit incarceration is a good business model, then there’s no hope for America’s most vulnerable people.
      • Call the US Department of Justice at 202-353-1555.
      • Recommended script:
        Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
        I’m calling to demand an end to private, for-profit prisons. Last year, the Department of Justice issued a report that shows that they are significantly more dangerous than government-run prisons. In endorsing private prisons, the Trump Administration is blatantly ignoring the data.
    Immigrations/Citizenship
    • No actions this week
    Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter
    • ACLU call to host an ACLU sponsored Resistance Training event on March 11 – you provide a space, screen, speakers and wifi and they do the rest.  Interested?
    Women’s Rights
    LGBTQ Rights
    • No actions this week

    Healthcare Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    • For those concerned about the “health” of the ACA this will be an important action.
      • Democratically elected U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has turned off all of his public telephones and fax machines due to overwhelming protests in favor of Obamacare, Planned Parenthood, and Medicare. He is also turning away voters delivering signed petitions.
        So here is the new tactic:
      • Mail postcards to his HOME address:
        • PAUL RYAN, 7-00 St Lawrence Ave, Janesville, Wi  53545
          700 ST. LAWRENCE AVE.
          JANESVILLE, WI 53545
      • Please paste and copy this info into your status. Let’s see what 67 million cards in the driveway looks like.
    • New Information:  Senators Murry and Cantwell vote AGAINST lower cost drug imports – whAAAT??
      • Two weeks ago we reported that our Washington senators Cantwell and Murray voted AGAINST the Sanders amendment to allow lower cost imported medications, citing a “lack of consumer protection” in the legislation.  We also mentioned Patty Murray’s Facebook post that says (paraphrasing) “we’re committed to making this happen and we are working with Senator Sanders on a bill that will include important consumer protections”.
      • Here is the new info:
        • Today (2/28/2017), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and 28 other members of Congress in introducing legislation in the House and Senate to lower the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs by allowing Americans to import safe, low-cost medicine from Canada.
      • Thanks for your calls on this subject!  Let’s help our Members of Congress stay strong.  Meanwhile….
      • Email from Senator Murray on this topic – not good enough – call her office and ask when she will support the new legislation (see below)
    • Petition – support Senator Sanders legislation to import safe and affordable prescription drugs:
    Response from Senator Murray:

    Dear Mr. Jones:

    Thank you for contacting me regarding the importation of prescription drugs. I appreciate hearing from you about this critical issue.

    I’ve heard from patients and families in Washington state and across the country who are finding it increasingly difficult to pay the soaring prices of their prescription drugs, and that absolutely needs to change. That’s why I strongly support allowing patients to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada with the right safeguards to protect patients from unsafe or ineffective drugs, as well as other efforts to bring relief to the many families struggling to make ends meet. And I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress—on both sides of the aisle—to get this done and make sure prescription medication and lifesaving treatments are not just available, but accessible and affordable.

    I am also fighting back on President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ reckless push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which could reverse our efforts to close the Medicare “donut hole” that has reduced the amount that seniors have to pay out-of-pocket for the prescriptions they need.

    Again, thank you for contacting me about this deeply important issue.  If you would like to know more about my work in the U.S. Senate, please sign up for my updates at http://murray.senate.gov/updates.  Please keep in touch.

    Sincerely,

    Patty Murray
    United States Senator

    Financial Actions

    Financial Actions

    Economy/Income Inequality
    • No actions this week
    Get Big Money Out of Politics

    Gun Actions

    Gun Safety Actions

    Education Actions

    Education Actions

    Foreign Policy Actions

    Foreign Policy/Defense Actions

    Miscellaneous

    Miscellaneous Actions

    Photo of the Week

    Photo of the Week

    Pond image
    Contact Elected Officials

    Find your elected officials here!

    Regarding petitions:  To amplify your voice on any petition, contact by phone or email the person the petition is intended for.  Phone calls have more impact than emails.

    Weekly Actions: Week 5

     150 150 34th Democrats

    Urgent

    Urgent Actions

    Letter regarding US Navy Growler:

    Post in comment field on this website:  http://www.whidbeyeis.com/Comment.aspx

    I am concerned about multiple deficiencies in the USN Growler Electronic Warfare Proposal Environmental Impact Statement.

    • Wildlife impacts – noise. Inadequate noise profiles of the USN Growler and insufficient or erroneous assessments of wildlife impacts due to noise (feeding / mating interruptions, damage to hearing much more sensitive to humans) must be properly evaluated.
    • Wildlife impacts – collision. The low altitude flight profiles of the USN Growler significantly increases aircraft / bird collision.  Endangered species, like the Marbled Murrelet, frequently transit the proposed Electronic Warfare practice area.  Lack of altitude separation will create more bird deaths.   This specific species is in decline more than 4% per year.  The full impact of deaths due to airborne collision must be taken into consideration.
    • Economic harm to rural western Washington communities. Our rural western Washington communities are already under severe economic stress.  Past timber over-harvest has reduced the resource extraction based economy.  Tourism and recreation represent opportunities for economic viability.  This is not possible when noise from USN Growler overflights is present.  Hiking, car camping, hunting, fishing, lodging and climbing are all negatively affected.  These communities need economic support, not further economic distress.

    A comprehensive, accurate and balanced Environmental Impact assessment of this project must be done.  This has not been accomplished to date.

    Thank you,

    Kevin Jones

    Address

    Phone number

    Email address

    General

    General Actions

    Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)
    • Fossil Fuel Free Puget Sound Energy
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team to develop alternatives to build a natural gas power plant
        • And prepare material to inform the community
      • Join the community outreach team to spread the word about this “once in a lifetime opportunity” to replace PSE coal plants with renewable energy and conservation
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • Earth Day Vashon (well, the day AFTER the official earth day)
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team who is imagining, defining and recruiting talent for this Vashon High School event:
      • Sign up here
    • Become a Vashon School District Green Team supporter!
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group (I sense a trend here…)
      • Provide support for Green Team events and activities
      • Encourage Green Team advisors for all school grade levels
      • Are you a VSD student or parent that seeks a meaningful, vibrant and growing Green Team? Join us!
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    Letter to REI

    Subject:  US Bank Contract renewal – bad policy

    I understand you want to hear from REI members who support the Standing Rock Sioux and stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    I am opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has not completed Environmental Impact Statement assessment, have not addressed the risk of pipeline breakage and have not considered the climate change damage that will result if the fossil fuel the pipeline carries is brought to market.

    As an environmentally friendly company, who sponsors our ability to appreciate our natural world, it is inconsistent that you would do business with financial institutions who invest in projects that are likely to harm the environment.

    Please review your policies and divest from financial institutions that support the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    http://www.naturalnews.com/055870_Sunoco_pipeline_leak_environmental_damage.html

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/us/california-oil-spill/index.html

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pipeline-santa-barbara-coast-20150519-story.html

    http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/21/oil-pipeline-burst.html

    Thanks,

    Your Name

    REI #  xxxxxx

    Praise

    Praise

    • Jimmy Carter – for opposing Citizen’s United (big $ in politics) – Petition:
    • Thank Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): 202-224-4543
      • Script: Thank you for introducing your Presidential Conflicts of Interest bill in the Senate. I’m grateful for your efforts. This president must do what’s best for the country, not what’s best for his businesses around the world.
    • Thank Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA):  202-225-2836
      • Script: Thank you for introducing your Presidential Conflicts of Interest bill in the House. I’m grateful for your efforts. This president must do what’s best for the country, not what’s best for his businesses around the world.
    • Thank Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA):  202-224-2023 & Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL4):  202-225-4035
      • Script: Thank you for co-sponsoring bills to protect the National Security Council from political interference. Extreme partisans like Steve Bannon have no place on the NSC, so I’m grateful that you’ve taken a stand
    • Thank CNN host Don Lemon: for calling out commentator Paris Dennard for making fake news and telling lies.
      • Send a note: Don Lemon, ℅CNN, 10 Columbus Circle, NY, NY 10019
      • Call: 212-275-8030

    Election Actions

    Election Actions

    Return US House and Senate to Democratic control
    • No actions this week

    Climate Actions

    Climate & Environment Actions

    Environment Issures
    • Petitions – make this tombstone go away and tell your Senators to not let Trump dismantle the EPA!
    • Support a very special bumblebee.  Write: Office of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240
      • Script: Use a postcard. Draw a bumblebee and add the caption: “Bees are not optional. List the rusty-patched bumblebee as endangered.”
    • Protect the planet at the state level.
      • Call: Your governor’s office.
      • Script: Hi! I’m a constituent calling from _ZIP_. I’m concerned about Scott Pruitt’s appointment to the Environmental Protection Administration. Since he will not pursue the planet’s interests, I’m asking _governor name_ to make a public statement about our climate crisis and support efforts in Oregon to reverse the trend
    • Write a personal comment letter in support of the Conservative Alternative to protect the Marbled Murrelet and about timber cutting levels in the Long-Term Conservation Strategy – both are due by March 9, 5PM.
      • Comments should be submitted to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Center:
      • sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov or
      • SEPA Center, PO Box 47015, Olympia, WA 98504-7015.
      • Subject line for Marbled Murrelet comments should include “SEPA File No. 12-042001”
      • See letter at bottom
      • Subject line for Long-Term Conservation Strategy timber-cutting level comments should include “SEPA File No. 15-012901”
      • See letter at bottom
    • Submit, electronically, your concerns about US Navy Growler Electronic Warfare practice on the Olympic Peninsula at this website:
    • Petition – stop Enbridge from increasing the capacity of its Alberta Clipper pipeline:
    • Petition congress to save the Endangered Species Act:
    Climate Change Issues

     

    • Letter addressing Marbled Murrelet protection:

    To: sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

    Subject:  Comments regarding SEPA File No. 12-042001

    I am concerned about the Marbled Murrelet as an indicator species on western Washington forest / species health.  Their 4% population decline per year indicates we have not done enough to protect this animal.  The alternatives proposed, all of them, forecast species extermination in the next few decades.  Only the most favorable alternatives and the most favorable assumptions predict species survival.  These alternatives are not acceptable.

    I strongly recommend a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be submitted and evaluated.  This supplemental EIS should include Alternative F plus additional measures to protect or enhance the old growth habitat essential for species survival and increasing the volume of habitat protected.  It appears that only through these measures can we prevent species extinction.

    In addition, the following factors must be considered:

    Climate change:  The partial inclusion of climate change effects, attributed to modeling difficulties, is not acceptable.  In fact, conservative impacts of likely climate change factors should be used.  Climate change science forecasts severe species stress and significant species extinction.  These factors cannot be under-represented.

    Environmental disturbances:  From enlarging timber harvest buffers around habitat and nesting areas, restricting road building and blasting activities to eliminating proposed USN Growler electronic warfare overflights, all these factors must be diligently considered in the EIS.  In particular, USN proposed Growler electronic warfare training is particularly egregious due to extremely loud noise profiles and low flight altitudes.  The noise profiles disturb nesting, feeding and mating activities of the Marbled Murrelet.  Low altitude flight profiles increase airborne collisions as the Marbled Murrelet moves between nesting and feeding grounds.

    In summary, I strongly request a supplemental EIS, considering the current Alternate F (the conservation alternative) plus additional habitat expansion protection measures and the climate change and environmental disturbances factors.

    Thank you,

    Kevin Jones

    Address

    Phone number

    Email address

     

    • Letter addressing Long-Term Conservation Strategy timber-cutting level:

    To:  sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov

    Subject:  Comments regarding SEPA File No. 15-012901

    I am concerned about timber harvest levels proposed for western Washington.  One of the critical concerns is species extinction, specifically the Marbled Murrelet, whose population decline of over 4% per year does not allow species survival.

    Analysis of the Marbled Murrelet protection alternatives indicates more old growth and undisturbed forest is needed.  Timber cutting proposals that ignore this issue, which has not yet been adequately addressed, are not founded in the best available science.  This is not acceptable.

    Another critical problem is the additional forest and species stress likely to occur through climate change.  Climate science forecasts significant species stress and likely species extinction.  Forest removal is a further threat to these species.  This factor has not been adequately addressed.

    Finally, I strongly recommend a joint task force to evaluate simultaneous revenue generation and habitat restoration.  Governor Jay Inslee and Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz should be encouraged to initiate this task force.  The task force should focus on strategies that will identify revenue generation alternatives to timber resource extraction and fully credit the value of a healthy forest environment to tourism associated with economically viable rural communities.

    Thank you,

    Kevin Jones

    Address

    Phone number

    Email address

    • Email from REI, in response to my request they not renew their US Bank contract, a DAPL funder:

    From: Memberships Generic E-mail box
    Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 3:20 PM
    Subject: Your Inquiry to REI

    Hello,

    Thank you for your email regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    We appreciate hearing from our members on the issues that matter.  In this instance, we have elevated these concerns clearly and on several occasions to senior executives at US Bank.

    US Bank assures us that they do not directly provide project financing for the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    There is some discussion publicly, however, that the bank has, with a group of banks, contributed to a line of credit that energy companies involved have access to.  That is as much as we know.

    Concerning our relationship with US Bank, REI is in the middle of a multi-year contract covering the REI MasterCard.  Please know that feedback, including yours, will be considered when the contract comes up for renewal.

    These issues are complex and so we weigh decisions carefully with the long-term interests of the co-op and the outdoors, front of mind.  As part of that process, we appreciate that we will have customers and members who do not agree with every outcome, but we value hearing from you on important topics like these.  It helps us to form a full picture as we work to provide the highest quality service.

    Please also know that REI has a longstanding and broad commitment to stewarding the outdoors and to running our business as sustainably as possible.  As you are likely aware, we invest millions of dollars annually in more than 300 non-profit organizations who help to protect, nurture and create access for recreation in the outdoors.

    Thank you again for your email and for your engagement with REI.  Your choice to shop with REI directly funds our efforts to support those non-profits.

    Regards,

    REI Membership Services

    Civil Rights Actions

    Civil Rights Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    • Petitions – Support Social Security and Medicare:
    • UPDATE: Senators Murry and Cantwell vote AGAINST lower cost drug imports – whAAAT??
      Two weeks ago we reported that our Washington senators Cantwell and Murray voted AGAINST the Sanders amendment to allow lower cost imported medications, citing a “lack of consumer protection” in the legislation.  We also mentioned Patty Murray’s Facebook post that says (paraphrasing) “we’re committed to making this happen and we are working with Senator Sanders on a bill that will include important consumer protections”.
      At this time, there is evidence that Sen Wyden (D-Or) has developed an amendment (SA 175) which calls for “Changes in laws … shall bring down the price of drugs as promised by the President-Elect”, which Senator Murray apparently supports (but is not a co-sponsor).  However, this amendment has not yet been proposed (this is still the situation as of 11PM, 2/9/17), meaning it is not yet being considered by the Senate (https://www.congress.gov/amendment/115th-congress/senate-amendment/175 ).

      • Action:  Who would like to visit the Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell Seattle offices to talk with them about this promised legislation?  Let me know by return email and I will work with you to find a day / time to accommodate.

    Gun Actions

    Gun Safety Actions

    • No actions this week

    Education Actions

    Education Actions

    • No actions this week

    Foreign Policy Actions

    Foreign Policy/Defense Actions

    • Action: Support investigation of Russian interference in US elections.
      • On January 6, an official report of the CIA, FBI, and NSA assessed with high confidence that Vladimir Putin ordered a 2016 campaign to undermine public faith in the US democratic process. Thankfully, three Senate and House bipartisan committees are now examining Russia’s actions.
      • Call: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
        • Chair, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 202-224-3154 (press 2)
        • Ranking Mmbr, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) 202-224-2023 (press 1)
      • Call: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
        • Chair, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) 202-225-2523
        • Ranking Member, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) 202-225-4176
      • Call: Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
        • Chair, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972 (press 1)
        • Ranking Member, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 202-224-2921
      • Script: Hi! I’m calling in regard to _name’s_ role on the _committee name_. I strongly support his work on resisting attempts to “move on” from Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. I am looking forward to learning the outcome of the committee’s findings.
      • Also call your senators:  Ask them to fully support investigations into the Trump White House and Trump Campaign involvement with Russia, to disclose the results of the investigation and to hold individuals to account to the fullest extent provided by law.
    • Petitions – tell the GOP to demand an independent investigation into Trump and his connections to Russia:
    • Petition – Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Markey-Lieu bill, which would prohibit the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war from Congress:  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  Note the “first strike” emphasis.  Retaliation?  Still a no holds barred situation…

    Miscellaneous

    Miscellaneous Actions

    Photo of the Week

    Photo of the Week

    Mountain Side Picture
    Contact Elected Officials

    Find your elected officials here!

    Regarding petitions:  To amplify your voice on any petition, contact by phone or email the person the petition is intended for.  Phone calls have more impact than emails.

    chairs message logo

    Chair’s Message: February

     1024 328 34th Democrats

    First I’d like to thank all who attended our February program on resisting the Trump Agenda, whether in-person or by watching our livestream. As I said that night, you give me hope, and the sheer number of people who showed up in person and watched online up was inspiring. We hope to see you all again in March, when the topic will be protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from the Republican juggernaut.

    It’s President’s Day and I’m taking this day to reflect on the presidents who’ve made America’s journey a journey of progress. From George Washington’s revolutionary role to James Madison’s central role in writing the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, to Abraham Lincoln’s freeing of the slaves, to Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation, to William Howard Taft’s trust-busting and establishment of the Department of Labor, to FDR’s New Deal, to Dwight Eisenhower’s sending federal troops to support desegregation, to JFK’s call to put a man on the moon, to Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society, to Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

    And then there’s Donald Trump, a threat to everything these great presidents and many others have achieved.

    The Dodgy Republican President

    We’re one month into the Republican Presidency. And by February 9th – the last date for which information is available on www.whitehouse.gov, the former reality TV host had issued 23 Executive Orders, which if he continues at that rate works out to a rate of 399 per year, the highest of any president in history, and more than 10 times the rate of Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans who were so outraged at the 129 Executive Orders signed by President Obama during his second term remain notably silent as the Republican President issues Executive Orders at more than 3X that rate. So where is the Republican outrage at “presidential overreach” now? Like most Republican outrage, it was nothing but false outrage manufactured for consumption by our facile and ratings obsessed television news organizations.

    Meanwhile, as the Washington Post reports, the Trump family’s lavish lifestyle continues to cost taxpayers more than $1,000,000 per day, with much of that money being funneled into Trump businesses in New York and Florida. This is an unprecedented conflict of interest from a man who has refused to release his taxes, put his assets into a blind trust, or otherwise be honest with the American people.

    As the Republican President continues to enrich himself at taxpayer’s expense, his ties to Russia continue to raise questions. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign after admitting he’d discussed reversing sanctions imposed by the Obama Administration in violation of the Logan Act. Questions abound about what the president knew and when he knew it. Americans have a right to know if there is a Russian mole in our White House, and even Fox News has joined the calls for a full investigation.

    The Center of the Resistance

    Seattle and Washington State continue to establish themselves as the center of the resistance to the Republican President’s extremist agenda. Attorney General Bob Ferguson successfully blocked the Republican President’s travel ban, Governor Inslee has made standing up against Trump a hallmark of his Governorship, and both Seattle and Burien have passed legislation making them sanctuary cities in defiance of Republican anti-immigrant polices. Mayor Murray has been increasingly vocal in his critiques of the new regime in Washington D.C. as well.

    Here in the 34th we’re building a resistance movement to be reckoned with. Our February program was attended by more than 700 concerned citizens while a similar number watched our first livestream on Facebook Live. We gained 111 new members, more than $4,000 in contributions, 15 new PCOs and 2 new Executive Board members. THIS is what the beginning of a successful resistance looks like, and here in the 34th we’re just getting started!

    The Indivisible movement continues to grow, and there are now Indivisible groups in West Seattle, Burien and Vashon.  The West Seattle group has organized a weekly meeting with the staff of Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell at the Federal Building downtown, which Indivisible groups from around the 7th and 9th Congressional Districts are now joining.

    Get Involved!

    I hear this question frequently from people who’ve never been involved in politics in any way before but feel compelled to do something now. If you’re wondering what you can do to help empower this local resistance, here are some of my top suggestions:

    1. Become a Precinct Committee Officer

    The biggest impact you can have on changing outcomes is to become a PCO and help us reach out to your neighbors, get them registered to vote, help them stay informed and engaged, and hear their concerns. Our new Data and Technology Chair Kyle Prete has just built a wonderful map-based PCO Lookup Tool for our website to help you:

    • Find out if there’s already a PCO for your precinct
    • If there isn’t you can contact our PCO Chair Brooks Salazar to get appointed
    • If there is a PCO you can look for a nearby precinct where you can become an Acting PCO

    Also, this feature will be coming soon:

    • Ability to contact your PCO so you can offer to join their Precinct Committee and help in them contact voters in your neighborhood

    2. Become a Member of the 34th District Democrats

    The 34th District Democrats are one of the most powerful and well organized Democratic organizations in the State of Washington, but we’re only as strong as our members and PCOs. What does the 34th do?

    • We partner with other community organizations and support our community
    • We recruit candidates for open positions and help them get their campaigns off the ground
    • We hold programs on topics of interest to the community
    • We host candidate forums to help the community get to know candidates
    • We endorse candidates and support them with our money and our ability to directly contact voters to get them elected
    • We get out and talk to voters from Alki to Talequah to help keep them informed, engaged and help make sure their voices are heard
    • We mobilize like nobody’ business to GOTV for Democrats at election time
    • And much, much more

    Many of these efforts cost money, and our Treasurer Gina Topp tells us that the current cost per member of running this organization is just under $10/month, so the best way to become a member is to sign up by selecting the $10 monthly contribution option here. Monthly contributions help us budget and plan, so please consider contributing in this way. I recently switched to monthly contributions myself, and I encourage everyone who’s able to do so as well.

    3. Join one of our Executive Committees

    The Executive Committees are the workhorses of the organization. Most of the committees meet monthly, and all of our committees welcome and encourage new members. You can learn more about each of our standing committees, including how to contact each Committee Chair, on our website here.

    4. Sign up to Volunteer

    We participate in community events, march in parades, host candidate forums and community-focused programs throughout the year, and we need your help! You can sign up to volunteer on our website here.

    Other ways to help

    As many of you know, we have several special elections coming up this year which will determine control of the Washington State Senate. Our neighbors to the South in the 31st District could use some help. Their new Chair Brian Gunn has made a plea to help raise the funds they need to take Pam Roach’s seat this fall. Please join me in contributing $25 or more to the 31st Legislative District Democrats to help out in this effort. You can do that here.

    Also Dow Constantine’s campaign kick-off is coming up this Thursday. Dow’s leadership at the County has never been more important than it is today in the face of this national nightmare. I’m a co-host of this event, which will be held at the home of Maryanne Tagney and David Jones (a.k.a. the Coleman Mansion) in Fauntleroy this Thursday, February 23rd. Please join me there!

    Thursday, February 23rd at 5:30PM

    at the home of Maryanne Tagney and David Jones

    9343 Fauntleroy Way SW

    Seattle, WA 98136

    Guest $100 | Friend $250 | Sponsor $500 | Co-host $1000

    RSVP here or dowconstantine.com/february23

    Questions: events@dowconstantine.com or (206) 328-2969

    Who are the 34th District Democrats?

    We are the Democratic Party of the 34th Legislative District. We work to elect Democrats, uphold Democratic values, and support Democrats in Seattle, White Center, Burien, Vashon/Maury Island and beyond.

    We are our elected officials. We are our candidates. We are the activists who knock on doors in neighborhoods from Alki to Tahlequah and the voters who make their voices heard each election. We are all volunteers.

    We are your neighbors. We are your co-workers. We are your friends. We stand up for the marginalized and the voiceless among us. We join arms with allies to fight against injustice and fight for equity. We are engaged in our communities and we are committed to a brighter future for all of us.

    We believe in inclusion, that unity is better than division, that we are stronger and better when everyone has an equal shot at living up to their potential. We believe diversity is a source of strength and that inequality is a threat to democracy itself.

    We believe it’s important to stand up to tyrants and bullies. We believe in the power of individuals working together to make great progress against incredible odds. We believe in you.

    Join us in the fight of our lives. It might not be easy, but it will be rewarding.

    And we will win.

    In solidarity,
    David Ginsberg
    Chair, 34th District Democrats

    34 DEMS

    Weekly Actions: Week 4

     150 150 34th Democrats

    Urgent

    Urgent Actions

    • Deadline Friday, 2/17/2017 – Get big $ out of politics – read the legislation summary, then call WA State members of congress listed at the end of the legislation.
    • Saturday, 2/18/2017:  Backbone Indivisible Chapter meeting, Open Space, 1PM.  Sign up here.
    • Call our Member of Congress and ask them to schedule a Town Hall meeting during the Congressional Recess this next week.

    General

    General Actions

    Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)
    • Fossil Fuel Free Puget Sound Energy
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team to develop alternatives to build a natural gas power plant
        • And prepare material to inform the community
      • Join the community outreach team to spread the word about this “once in a lifetime opportunity” to replace PSE coal plants with renewable energy and conservation
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    • Earth Day Vashon (well, the day AFTER the official earth day)
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group
      • Join the team who is imagining, defining and recruiting talent for this Vashon High School event:
      • Sign up here
    • Become a Vashon School District Green Team supporter!
      • Brought to you by the Vashon Climate Action Group (I sense a trend here…)
      • Provide support for Green Team events and activities
      • Encourage Green Team advisors for all school grade levels
      • Are you a VSD student or parent that seeks a meaningful, vibrant and growing Green Team? Join us!
      • Contact Kevin Jones: kevinjonvash@gmail.com
    Letter to REI

    Subject:  US Bank Contract renewal – bad policy

    I understand you want to hear from REI members who support the Standing Rock Sioux and stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    I am opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has not completed Environmental Impact Statement assessment, have not addressed the risk of pipeline breakage and have not considered the climate change damage that will result if the fossil fuel the pipeline carries is brought to market.

    As an environmentally friendly company, who sponsors our ability to appreciate our natural world, it is inconsistent that you would do business with financial institutions who invest in projects that are likely to harm the environment.

    Please review your policies and divest from financial institutions that support the Dakota Access Pipeline.

    http://www.naturalnews.com/055870_Sunoco_pipeline_leak_environmental_damage.html

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/us/california-oil-spill/index.html

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pipeline-santa-barbara-coast-20150519-story.html

    http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/21/oil-pipeline-burst.html

    Thanks,

    Your Name

    REI #  xxxxxx

    Praise

    Praise

    • Supporting presidential tax transparency
      • Write: Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) (221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
        Washington, D.C., 20510), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) (136 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510), and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) (241 Cannon Building, Washington, D.C. 20515).
      • Script: Thank you for introducing your Presidential Tax Transparency bill in the _Senate or House_. I’m grateful for your efforts to obtain President Trump’s tax returns and those of future presidents and nominees. Name, State
    • Advocating for ethics and integrity
      • Write: Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), 367 Valley Brook Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071.
      • Script: Thank you for recommending a way forward to releasing Trump’s tax returns. Transparency is important!  Name, State
    • More kudos to Wa State AG Bob Ferguson (360-753-6200): 
      • On Feb 16, by a unanimous vote of 9-0, the Wa State Supreme Court Justices held that it is illegal in Washington for a business to offer services to opposite-sex couples and yet refuse those services to same-sex partners.

    Election Actions

    Election Actions

    Return US House and Senate to Democratic control
    • No actions this week

    Climate Actions

    Climate & Environment Actions

    The Environment
    • Support the water protectors at Standing Rock
      • Trump recently said that he’s gotten “no calls” complaining about the Dakota Access Pipeline (source).
      • Use your voice: Use the White House contact page, Twitter, or Facebook to tell Trump you do have a complaint about DAPL.
      • Script: By failing to do an environmental study on the impact of the DAPL pipeline under Lake Oahe, we are violating a sacred agreement and legal treaty rights. I oppose this action and am asking for the environmental study to proceed.My letter to the White House is here.
    • Another Defund DAPL opportunity:
      • Are you a member of REI who supports Standing Rock?
      • REI member services is taking feedback on their contract renewal with US Bank in light of US bank’s decision to invest in the Dakota Access Pipeline. They are “taking feedback seriously” as a cooperative and “socially responsible” company.
      • Email them at Member@REI.com
    • Oppose legislation that makes corruption easier.
      • Companies that extract oil and other resources abroad should not be allowed to bribe those countries’ officials and cover it up (source).
      • Call: Both your senators .
      • Script: Hi! I’m a constituent from ZIP. Do you know how _senator_ plans to vote on overturning the Cardin-Lugar anti-corruption rule? I’m concerned because overturning it would make corruption easier for oil companies and increase poverty in other countries. I am asking my senator to defend Section 1504 and stand up against corruption and poverty.
    • Petition – Defend Alaska’s wildlife from Congressional Attack:
    • Petition – Don’t let oil companies destroy the Arctic:
    Climate Change
    Letter to the White House regarding DAPL Pipeline:

    To the current administration,

    Despite statements in opposition to my strongly held belief, I and many others do indeed have concerns about the executive order that authorizes resumption of work on the Dakota Access Pipeline.  It is critical that the Environmental Impact Statement be fully reviewed and the pipeline not allowed to proceed if the environmental impacts are not justified.

    I personally believe they are not justified.  For example, multiple recent news reports show that pipelines break, leak and cause severe drinking water and environmental damage.  Here are just a few recent articles:

    http://www.naturalnews.com/055870_Sunoco_pipeline_leak_environmental_damage.html

    http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/22/us/california-oil-spill/index.html

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pipeline-santa-barbara-coast-20150519-story.html

    http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/21/oil-pipeline-burst.html

    In addition to this risk to our drinking water there is the risk to our climate due to the combustion of the fossil fuels transported by this proposed pipeline.    As you have heard from senior GOP statesmen like former Secretary of State Jim Baker and former Secretary of State George Shultz, Climate Change is real, is caused by human combustion of fossil fuels and threatens to damage waterfront communities, species extinction, ocean acidification and agriculture.

    http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-senior-statesmen-making-push-for-a-carbon-tax/ar-AAmIpLz?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartanntp

    Your discussions with former Vice President Al Gore would have addressed this same risk.

    So yes, I am very concerned about the Dakota Access Pipeline, the potential damage to drinking water and the damage to the climate caused by combustion of the fossil fuels the pipeline transports to market.

    In conclusion, by failing to do an environmental study on the impact of the DAPL pipeline under Lake Oahe, we are violating a sacred agreement and legal treaty rights. I oppose this action.

    Please use the power of your office to direct the environmental study to proceed.

    Civil Rights Actions

    Civil Rights Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    Healthcare Actions

    • No Actions this week
    • UPDATE: Senators Murry and Cantwell vote AGAINST lower cost drug imports – whAAAT??
      Two weeks ago we reported that our Washington senators Cantwell and Murray voted AGAINST the Sanders amendment to allow lower cost imported medications, citing a “lack of consumer protection” in the legislation.  We also mentioned Patty Murray’s Facebook post that says (paraphrasing) “we’re committed to making this happen and we are working with Senator Sanders on a bill that will include important consumer protections”.
      At this time, there is evidence that Sen Wyden (D-Or) has developed an amendment (SA 175) which calls for “Changes in laws … shall bring down the price of drugs as promised by the President-Elect”, which Senator Murray apparently supports (but is not a co-sponsor).  However, this amendment has not yet been proposed (this is still the situation as of 11PM, 2/9/17), meaning it is not yet being considered by the Senate (https://www.congress.gov/amendment/115th-congress/senate-amendment/175 ).

      • Action:  Who would like to visit the Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell Seattle offices to talk with them about this promised legislation?  Let me know by return email and I will work with you to find a day / time to accommodate.

    Financial Actions

    Financial Actions

    Get Big $ Out of Politics
    • SB 5108 is exactly the type of “get money out of politics” legislation that we need…and our State Government Committee in Olympia is planning to ignore it! Read this common-sense legislation and then contact the members of the State Government Committee and ask that they vote to move this bill from committee to the Senate Floor for a vote. Take the time, make the call, write the email…
      • DEADLINE IS TOMORROW, FEBRUARY 17TH.
      • CONTACT THESE INDIVIDUALS:
        • Mark Miloscia (R), Chair – Mark.Miloscia@leg.wa.gov
          Phone: 206-212-6153 (Federal Way), 360-786-7658 (Olympia)
        • Hans Zeiger (R) – Hans.zeiger@leg.wa.gov
          Phone: 360-786-7648 (Olympia)
        • Sam Hunt (D) – Sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov
          Phone: 360-786-7642 (Olympia)
        • Patty Kuderer (D) – Patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov
          Phone: 360-786-7694 (Olympia)
        • Kirk Pearson (R) – Kirk.Pearson@leg.wa.gov
          Phone: 360-786-7676 (Olympia)

    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.

    The legislature finds that the public has the right to know who is contributing to election campaigns in Washington state and that campaign finance disclosure deters corruption, increases public confidence in Washington state elections, raises the level of debate, and strengthens our representative democracy.

    The legislature finds that campaign finance disclosure is overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of Washington state as evidenced by the two initiatives that largely established Washington’s current system. Both passed with more than seventy-two percent of the popular vote, as well as winning margins in every
    county in the state.

    One of the cornerstones of Washington state’s campaign finance disclosure laws is the requirement that political advertisements disclose the sponsor and the sponsor’s top five donors. Many political action committees have avoided this important transparency requirement by funneling money from political action committee to political action committee so the top five donors listed are deceptive political action committee names rather than the real donors. The legislature finds that this practice, sometimes called “gray money” or “donor washing,” undermines the intent of Washington state’s campaign finance laws and impairs the transparency required for fair elections and a healthy democracy.

    Therefore, the legislature intends to close this disclosure loophole, increase transparency and accountability, raise the level of discourse, deter corruption, and strengthen confidence in the election process by prohibiting political committees from receiving an overwhelming majority of its funds from one or a combination of political committees.

    Gun Actions

    Gun Safety Actions

    • No actions this week

    Education Actions

    Education Actions

    • No actions this week

    Foreign Policy Actions

    Foreign Policy/Defense Actions

    • Action: Support investigation of Russian interference in US elections.
      • On January 6, an official report of the CIA, FBI, and NSA assessed with high confidence that Vladimir Putin ordered a 2016 campaign to undermine public faith in the US democratic process. Thankfully, three Senate and House bipartisan committees are now examining Russia’s actions.
      • Call: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
        • Chair, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 202-224-3154 (press 2)
        • Ranking Mmbr, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) 202-224-2023 (press 1)
      • Call: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
        • Chair, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) 202-225-2523
        • Ranking Member, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) 202-225-4176
      • Call: Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism
        • Chair, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972 (press 1)
        • Ranking Member, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) 202-224-2921
      • Script: Hi! I’m calling in regard to _name’s_ role on the _committee name_. I strongly support his work on resisting attempts to “move on” from Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. I am looking forward to learning the outcome of the committee’s findings.
      • Also call your senators:  Ask them to fully support investigations into the Trump White House and Trump Campaign involvement with Russia, to disclose the results of the investigation and to hold individuals to account to the fullest extent provided by law.
    • Petitions – tell the GOP to demand an independent investigation into Trump and his connections to Russia:
    • Petition – Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Markey-Lieu bill, which would prohibit the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a declaration of war from Congress:  Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.  Note the “first strike” emphasis.  Retaliation?  Still a no holds barred situation…

    Miscellaneous

    Miscellaneous Actions

    • No opportunities for action this week

    Photo of the Week

    Photo of the Week

    Mountain Side Picture
    Contact Elected Officials

    Find your elected officials here!

    Regarding petitions:  To amplify your voice on any petition, contact by phone or email the person the petition is intended for.  Phone calls have more impact than emails.

    Meeting Minutes Feb 8, 2017

     150 150 34th Democrats

    34th District Democrats

    Meeting Minutes

    February 8, 2017

     

    Meeting Called To Order at 7:00pm

    Chair David Ginsberg thanked everyone for coming, and made a short address as to the purpose of evening’s panel. Spoke to the importance of the PCO. Talked about the upcoming Lobby Day, and asked for donations to help cover the expenses for the students that were attending. Announced that a Fundraiser for County Executive Dow Constantine would be holding a campaign fundraiser on February 23rd at the Hall at Fauntleroy. Advised that the Annual Party Crab Feed had been moved and would be taking place on March 5th.

    Flag Salute

    Report from the Treasurer – As of the beginning of the evening, $10,039.03 on hand.

    Approval of Agenda voted on and passed by the Membership.

    Panel Discussion – “How To Resist Trump And Protect What We Hold Dear”

    Panelists:

    Binah Palmer from the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington

    Judy Lightfoot from Indivisible Seattle

    Monisha Harrell from Equal Rights Washington

    Amirah Mirziteh from the Greater Seattle Neighborhood Action Coalition

    Aneelah Afzali from the Muslim Association of Puget Sound/American Muslim Empowerment Network

    Moderator: Michael Taylor Judd

    The Panel Discussion was followed by questions from the audience.

    After the end of the Q&A, there was a short recess.

    Meeting was called back to order at 8:30.

    Kyle Prete and Brooks Salazar were presented as candidates for Data and Technology Chair and PCO Chair respectively, and were voted on and unanimously approved by the membership.

    Chair appointed Bill Jarcho PCO of Quartermaster Precinct of Vashon Island. Bill had to leave early to catch his ferry.

    Stu Yarfitz presented a resolution on HB 1372 “Goals for Greenhouse Gases Emission Reductions”.

    Stu’s resolution would further limit emissions than the current bill does. Anne Phillips asked if it was the same bill that Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon had presented that had already been passed out of committee, Stu demurred, but admitted that his resolution would probably not pass out of committee and might be moot in light of Rep. Fitzgibbon’s bill. Grace Stiller spoke for it, Lisa Plymate spoke against it and suggested that it might be reworded. Chair moved to table the resolution so that Stu could reword it.

    Kathy Marshal presented 16 candidates for PCO, 9 Appointed and 7 Acting. They were unanimously approved.

    Stu Yarfitz presented a second resolution supporting HB 1048 “Renewable Energy Tax Incentives and Recycling”. Chris Porter asked if it conflicted with any items in the Governor’s Budget, Stu said that he did not think so. Peggy Tlapak spoke for it and it was Moved, Seconded and Approved by the membership.

    Old Business was tabled for the next meeting in the interests of time.

    New Business – Carrie Alexander presented the new logos and branding for the 34th LD. They were Moved, Seconded and Approved by the membership.

    Good of the Order – Chris Porter urged the membership to support Planned Parenthoods effort to husband Birth Control methods against any shortages or reductions caused by the new administration.

    Treasurer Gina Topp reported that 85 new members had signed up that night and that about $3,000 had been raised.

    Annie Phillips informed the membership of the inaugural meeting of Indivisble Burien that would be occurring the next night.

    Steve Butts spoke about the need for Volunteers at Lobby Day.

    Jacqui Morris informed the membership about Uber President Travis Kalanick’s pledge of 3 Million dollars to help Uber drivers affected by the administrations Muslim Ban, along with the establishment of a 24/7 legal advice service.

    Marcee Stone-Vekich congratulated the membership on a great meeting, and wondered why there were no union members on the panel. She urged that the membership support them in their efforts against a proposed State Bill that would further extend “Right to Work” rules that are being advanced by Kevin Baumgardner from the 6th District in Spokane.

    Carrie Alexander informed the membership about Our Revolution King County.

    Chair David Ginsberg informed the membership about Indivisible West Seattle’s meetings with the Murray and Cantwell staffs at their offices at the Federal Building every Tuesday at 1:00.

    Heather Engel informed the membership that an Indivisble White Center chapter was in the process of forming.

    Les Treall extended on a panel members remarked and said that “Life Begins At The End Of Your Comfort Zone.

    Meeting adjourned to Whiskey West.