WSDCC Meeting Notes

General Information

• Write – encourage your Washington State elected officials to make voter registration automatic:
  • Script:  Please create legislation for automatic voter registration in Washington State like our neighbors in Oregon and California.
  • Senator Sharon Nelson, 316 Legislative Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0434
  • Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, JLOB 305, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA, 98504-0600
  • Rep Eileen Cody, JLOB 303, PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA, 98504-0600
  • Petition:  https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11095
• Write – to tell your Member of Congress why the social safety net, which Trump’s budget will decimate, is so important to you:
  • The fur is just starting to fly on the proposed budget, which appears to be the starting point for the great negotiator to get what he wants.  Remember Pramila’s words:  We need to stand together, fight for the entire social safety net and not allow the administration to divide and conquer us by fighting each other over individual social service programs.
  • We know our Members of Congress will fight this budget proposal.  Can you tell your story about the harm that will be caused, so they get as much ammunition as possible?  Start here, with Maria Cantwells “top ten worst items in the Trump budget”, then get out the pens and post cards.
  • Cuts Medicaid funding an additional $610 billion on top of the $800 billion+ in cuts in the American Health Care Act potentially leaving 1.7 million Washingtonians who get their health insurance through Medicaid without coverage.
  • Breaks the President’s promise not to cut Social Security by including $72 billion in cuts to Social Security Disability Insurance.
  • Completely eliminates the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which funds local projects like Meals on Wheels and economic development in rural areas.
  • Worsens Washington’s homeless crisis by drastically cutting funding for homeless assistance programs and rental assistance, causing up to more than 6,100 Washington families to lose access to housing.
  • Proposes a staggering 70% cut to renewable and energy efficiency initiatives, devastating Washington’s clean energy economy and killing thousands of clean energy jobs all over the country.
  • Puts our nation’s health at risk by cutting nearly 20 percent of the funding for the National Institutes of Health – thwarting advancements in biomedical research, life-saving technology and economic activity in Washington state at universities and research organizations.
  • Proposes to cut off ALL federal funding to Planned Parenthood, including Title X funding, which helps ensure access to family planning and preventative health services.
  • Calls for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling and selling off half of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
  • Undermines commitments to Indian Country by cutting funding for programs including social services, healthcare, education, climate and natural resources.

• Prefer to speak through petitions?:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/stand-against-trumps-budge
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop_trump_budget
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/887/917/075/
  • https://www.ofa.us/speak-out-against-this-budget/
  • https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app30102b

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• No actions this week

• None this week

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• Petition – Protect Bristol bay Alaska from mining operations:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/protect-bristol-bay-from-offshore-drilling

Climate Change

• Petition – calling on auto makers to stop pushing back on fuel efficiency standards:
  • https://secure.ucsusa.org/onlineactions/58JWzljGf0yS1GQcyKsCxg2

Anti-Hate Actions

• No actions this week

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• Petition – Tell the Federal Election Commission to investigate private prison company GEO Group for illegal campaign contributions:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/no-pay-for-play/

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – Request your elected officials not serve on Trump’s Voter Suppression Committee:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Voter_Suppression_Commission

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

• Write – share your story about why Health Care is important to you:
  • Our Senators are going to push back against the American Health Care Act, especially now that the Congressional Budget Office has scored the House legislation, and confirmed that 23 Million people will lose health care coverage under this plan.  But, they can fight back more effectively if they hear your story about the critical role of health care coverage in your life.
  • Write: Patty Murray, 154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
  • Write:  Maria Cantwell, 511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
• Petitions:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/pledge-to-fight-for-affordable-health-care
  • https://act.sumofus.org/go/353360
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/264/610/757/
  • https://action.aarp.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app260b
  • https://www.pattymurray.com/act/say-no-to-trumpcare-may

Economy/Income Inequality

• No actions this week

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• Petition – MSNBC, Keep Lawrence O’Donnell on the air:
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-to-msnbc-keep-lawrence-odonnell-on-the-air

General Information

• Russia:
  • In February, Trump apparently asked FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating Flynn
    • Comey has notes of the conversation – a common practice for the FBI Director
    • Comey has been invited to testify by multiple ongoing investigations
  • Trump recently fired FBI Director James Comey – to keep him from disclosing his Russia ties?
    • Statements from Trump and the White House are conflicting
    • Trump indicated he had the Russia investigation “on his mind” when he fired Comey
  • The next day, Trump met with Russians in the Oval Office…
    • …and inappropriately revealed classified information
    • Evidence is thin, but this could be a violation of the Espionage Act
  • Representatives Jayapal and Raskin have introduced the Trump Transparency Package
    • Multiple bills designed to eliminate White House conflicts of interest
    • Details:  https://jayapal.house.gov/media/press-releases/jayapal-raskin-introduce-trump-transparency-package
• Ready to write some letters?
  • Representative Adam Kinzinger, a republican who wants an independent Russia investigation:
    • Script:  Thank you for supporting an independent Trump Russia investigation
    • Rep Adam Kinzinger, 2245 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515
  • Representatives Eric Swalwell and Elijah Cummings, who co-authored the bill calling for an independent commission to study Trump Russia:
    • Script:  Thank you for introducing legislation calling for an independent commission to study Trump Russia
    • Rep Eric Swalwell, 129 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
    • Rep Elijah Cummings, 2163 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Representative Walter Jones – who voted with Democrats to allow a vote for an independent commission to study Trump Russia:
    • Script:  Thank you for voting to allow an Independent Trump Russia Commission
    • Rep Walter Jones, 2333 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Representative Justin Amash, who co-sponsored the independent commission to study Trump Russia, then voted against allowing a vote on the bill he co-sponsored:
    • Script:  Shameful – to co-sponsor legislation for an independent commission to study Trump Russia, then voting to block a vote on the legislation you co-sponsored.
    • Rep Justin Amash, 114 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Representative Jason Chaffetz, who now appears to be fully supporting the Trump Russia investigation:
    • Script:  Thank you for your dedication to aiding the Trump Russia inquiry
    • Rep Jason Chaffetz, 2236 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Representative Pramila Jayapal and Jamie Raskin, for the Trump Transparency Package
    • Script:  Thank you for your leadership introducing the Trump Transparency legislation
    • Rep Pramila Jayapal, 319 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
    • Rep Jamie Raskin, 431 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
  • Your Members of Congress, to prosecute Trump for Espionage Act violations:
    • Script:  I expect you to demand Trump be investigated for violation of the Espionage Act by releasing highly classified information to Russians in the Oval Office.
    • Senator Patty Murray, 154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
    • Senator Maria Cantwell, 511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
    • Rep Pramila Jayapal, 319 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
• Petitions?  Oh yeah!
  • http://www.pattymurray.com/act/special-prosecutor
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/independentprosecutor/
  • http://action.electbobferguson.com/page/m/2dbc07be/2a759f3a/4ebf752e/64d7255b/3727759099/VEsE/

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Carbon Free PSE Vashon, formerly Coal Free PSE, is ramping up our campaign.
  • Want to pay for carbon based electricity for the next 40+ years?  I didn’t think so!  Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move PSE directly to renewable energy as they shut down their four coal fired power plants.
  • Interested?  Email Kevin Jones at kevinjonvash@gmail.com

• Write – Assistant Attorney General Rob Rosenstein, for appointing a Special Council on Trump / Russia:
  • Script:  Thank you for taking a stand to protect our Democracy through your appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
  • Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, U.S. DOJ, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530-0001

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• No actions this week

Climate Change

• Pledge – to oppose coal exports from the Pacific Northwest:
  • https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National
• Petition – Banks stop pipeline funding:
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/DefundPipelines/

Anti-Hate Actions

• No actions this week

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• Petition – Stop ICE raids on schools, churches….:
  • https://www.signherenow.org/petition/protect-sensitive-locations/daily-kos/

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Write – for more honesty in government:
  • Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) claimed that Trump was being paid by Putin.  Now that is “just a joke”.
  • Source:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mccarthy-trump-putin-pays_us_591cc97ce4b03b485cae64c2
  • Script:  Representative McCarthy.  It is shameful you now use the “just a joke” excuse to pardon your “swear to God” assertion that Putin pays Trump.  You are aligning with Trump’s “just banter” excuse about pressuring Comey to drop the Flynn investigation.   Quit lying.
  • Write to:  Rep Kevin McCarthy, 2421 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
• Petition – oppose the “voter fraud” commission:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/oppose-presidential-commission-election-integrity/
  • Add a comment to the petition:
  • Voter fraud is a political cover up for voter suppression.  Voter fraud is not a significant problem in our US electoral system.  Voter suppression is real and damaging to our democracy.  Suppress voter suppression!
• Write – The Federal Communications Commission to promote healthy and diverse US media:
  • Background:  Sinclair Broadcast Group recently agreed to purchase Tribune Media, a merger that would put Sinclair in front of more than 70 percent of households at a time when most Americans still get their news from local stations.  All media consolidation is dangerous, but this deal should be opposed because Sinclair has a long record of biased, conservative editorial decisions.  Seattle’s KOMO TV and Radio is already owned by Sinclair.  The article below outlines the biased journalism that Sinclair ownership brings.
  • Source:  https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/05/12/business/media/sinclair-broadcast-komo-conservative-media.html
  • Script:  Do not approve Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of Tribune Media
  • Write to:  FCC, 445 12th St SW, Washington, DC 20554
  • Petition:  https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop_sinclair_tribune

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• These three issues, the first two being current initiatives from US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, conspire to disenfranchise people of color by incarceration, leading to economic injustice, and loss of voting rights:
  • Resurgence of mandatory minimum sentencing (Jeff Sessions initiative)
  • Law enforcement emphasis on drug crimes (vice violent crimes, etc)
  • Removal of voting privilege from felons
  • Sound bad?  Want to bring attention to this issue?  
• Write your Members of Congress to:
  • Oppose mandatory minimum sentencing,
  • Demand law enforcement focus on violent and major crimes as opposed to victimless drug crimes and
  • Restore voting privilege to felons after their sentences have been served.
  • Senator Patty Murray, 154 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
  • Senator Maria Cantwell, 511 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
  • Rep Pramila Jayapal, 319 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
  • Write local law enforcement to:
  • Script:  Despite directives from US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, I strongly request you focus on violent and major crimes as opposed to victimless drug crimes.
  • Sheriff John Urquhart, 516 Third Avenue, Room W-150, Seattle, WA 98104
  • Kathleen O’Toole, PO Box 34986, Seattle, WA 98124-4986
• Of course, there are also petitions:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/no_sessions_war_on_drugs/
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-if-you-agree-no-one-should-ever-lose-the-right-to-vote

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

• Write – share your healthcare story with Indivisible Kirkland Kenmore to create a Virtual Rally to Save Healthcare – due May 27:
  • This is an online space where people from all of Washington can submit their healthcare stories and comments.  We will then compile a substantial collection and hand-deliver it to our elected officials, starting with Senators Murray and Cantwell.  We want this collection to be overwhelming, but also personal.  Our goal is to combine the power of a huge group of people turning out to support a cause, with the emotion of a personal and heartfelt story.
    With Trumpcare having made it out of the House, we need to move quickly and deliver our stories to our Senators within the next couple of weeks.  We would love for your group to be part of this event – we’ll want to have a number of people present, as well as foster some media attention in advance.  We will draft a cover letter to go with the stories and would appreciate your input on that, as well as your willingness to sign it.  And, of course, the most important way to be involved is to help us get as many people as possible to contribute – and as soon as possible.  The stories themselves have power, but we are also hoping that the sense of community across the state will be unifying and persuasive. 
  • A full explanation, as well as the form for submitting stories can be found at our website:  http://www.indivisiblekirklandkenmore.com/virtual-rally-to-save-healthcare/.
• Petition – to Congress:  support Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs Act to lower prescription medication costs:
  • https://www.signherenow.org/petition/rx-drugs/o/pfaw/

Economy/Income Inequality

• No actions this week

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• Petition – Oppose legislation that bans gun-free school zones:
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/sign-the-petition-we-need-gun-free-school-zones

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

General Information

• Petitions – Another push for Trump’s Tax Returns, again…and again…. And again…  until it’s done!
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/RyanReleaseTrumpTaxes/
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/RyanReleaseTrumpTaxes/
  • http://go.traindemocrats.org/page/s/trump-taxes
• Petition – and his impeachment:
  • https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/maxine-waters-impeach-trump
• Petition – Preserve Net Neutrality:
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/ProtectNetNeutrality/
  • Add a comment to the petition:
    • The internet should allow equal access to all – not just the wealthy or privileged.  I insist you protect net neutrality.
• Submit a Net Neutrality comment to the FCC.  Follow steps below:
  • Copy this text into a word or text document, modify as you like:
  • Comment on Proceeding 17-108:
    • The internet should allow equal access to all – not just the wealthy or privileged.  
  • Equal access promotes educational and economic justice and unbiased access to information that is not influenced by the financial capacity of the information provider.
  • Net Neutrality rules should stay under Title II, not revert to the laxer standards of Title I.  
  • I insist you protect net neutrality.

1. Follow this link:  http://gofccyourself.com
2. Click on the “New Filing” linked text
3. Fill in the fields – I had to enter data more than once before the field actually recorded my entered data – keep entering data until it sticks
4. I left several fields blank (like “attorney”), or entered “N/A”
5. At the “Upload Documents” field, click inside the dashed box, which will open a search window to your computer files.  Select the file you created in step 1 above.
6. Click Continue to Review Screen
7. Click Submit

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Carbon Free PSE Vashon, formerly Coal Free PSE, is ramping up our campaign.
  • Want to pay for carbon based electricity for the next 40+ years?  I didn’t think so!  Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move PSE directly to renewable energy as they shut down their four coal fired power plants.
  • Interested?  Email Kevin Jones at kevinjonvash@gmail.com

• Write – thank Rep Jayapal for continuing to call for Trump’s tax returns and ties to Russia:
  • Script:
    • Thank you for signing the discharge petition on H.R.305, demanding a floor vote to get Trump’s tax returns. I also support a nonpartisan, independent investigation on Trump, Russia, and Trump’s conflicts of interest.
  • Write:  319 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
• Petition – Thank Sally Yates for speaking up about Trump Russia entanglements:
  • http://www.pattymurray.com/act/thank-you-sally-yates
• Petition – Thank Wa State legislators for passing gun safety legislation:
  • https://engage.wagunresponsibility.org/co/thank-you-for-passing-law-enforcement-and-victim-safety
• Thank You!
  • From the League of Conservation Voters:  We just delivered a massive blow to Donald Trump! Thanks to your calls and emails, the Senate just voted, 51-49, to stand up to the oil and gas industry and say hell no — you can’t have a free pass to pollute our air and spew dangerous methane pollution into our atmosphere!
    
    Methane pollution is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Keeping President Obama’s methane rule in place will prevent a huge amount of toxic methane from getting into our air and further damaging our climate. It is proof that we can defeat Trump and his anti-environment, pro-polluter agenda! The resistance is working!

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• Sunday, May 21, Swing Left phone calls for Montana US House of Representatives Democratic candidate Rob Quist, 8624 SW Soper Rd, Vashon, WA, 5 – 8PM:
  • RSVP:
    • https://actionnetwork.org/events/resist-with-quist-phone-bank-house-party-11

The Environment

• Make a statement to the EPA, to preserve environmental protections, by May 15, 2017:
  • The EPA is soliciting public comment on repealing EPA regulations. Visit: Regulations.gov. Click “Evaluation of Existing Regulations” in the What’s Trending list, then the dark blue “Comment Now!” button, upper right.
    Share why you support protections for clean air, soil, and water.  Possible script:
    • We are talking about environmental protections here.  Mercury levels in the air.  Lead in the water.  Toxic chemicals in commercial products.  These protections have been put in place to protect us, your citizens, constituents and voters.  Reject calls for “remove two protections for every new protection created”.  This is irresponsible.  Please continue to protect our health and longevity by protecting our environment.
• Petition – no resource extraction at Bears Ears National Monument:
  • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
• Submit comments to protect National Monuments (Thanks MH!):
  • Background:  Trump has directed the Department of Interior to review certain National Monuments against specific criteria.   These National Monuments are located in 10 western states (only one, Hanford Reach, in Wa State).
  • How do I learn which National Monuments are under review, using which criteria?
    • Go Here:  https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOI-2017-0002-0001
  • How to I submit comments?
    • Go Here:  https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=DOI-2017-0002-0001

Climate Change

• Petition – Trump:  Support the Paris Agreement climate change policies:
  • https://www.jayinslee.com/action/climate-letter
• Petition – Oppose removal of protections that limit gas leaks during oil and gas extraction:
  • https://secure3.convio.net/lcv/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app315b

Anti-Hate Actions

• Petition – tell Eventbrite to stop hosting hate groups:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/eventbrite-stop-sponsoring-hate-groups/
  • Add comments to the petition:
    • Please act responsibly and vet the groups that you allow to use your website.  Establish some guidelines and enforce them.  Let’s not enable hate groups to spread their hatred.

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• No actions this week

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – suppress voter suppression – sign this anti-voter-fraud-investigation petition:
  • https://secure.pfaw.org/site/SPageNavigator/action.html;jsessionid=00000000.app312b
  • Add a comment to the petition:
    • Voter fraud is a political cover up for voter suppression.  Voter fraud is not a significant problem in our US electoral system.  Voter suppression is real and damaging to our democracy.  Suppress voter suppression!

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• Petition – Oppose LGBTQ “conversion therapy” practice:
  • http://www.letsendconversiontherapy.com/

• More Petitions – Tell the Senate to ditch Trumpcare:
  • http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/shame-republicans-must
  • Add to the comments section:
    • American’s deserve affordable health care.  Pre-existing condition “high risk” pools segregate us.  We want unity.  Trumpcare – vote no!
  • https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/aca_repeal_survivors/
    • Add to the comments section:
    • American’s deserve affordable health care.  Pre-existing condition “high risk” pools segregate us.  We want unity.  Trumpcare – vote no!
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/senate_stop_trumpcare
  • https://www.standtallforamerica.com/petition/reject-trumpcare/
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/senate_stop_trumpcare
• …and save Social Security:
  • http://go.traindemocrats.org/page/s/save-social-security

Economy/Income Inequality

• No actions this week

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

General Information

• Help elect a democrat in Montana!  Sign up to make calls…
  • https://www2.democracyforamerica.com/events/dfadialer/quist
• Tell CNN and corporate media:  War is not entertainment, let’s not glorify warfare:
  • http://action.winwithoutwar.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
• Petition – Tell Congress:  No Border Wall Funding:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tell-congress-no-border-wall-money/?t=3&akid=7345.2994831.FGOV9G
  • Add words to the petition comment section:
  • This border wall is a fool’s errand.  It will divert needed funds from programs that really help US citizens and will not significantly improve US immigration policy.  No US funds for Trump’s wall!
• Just to stay riled up about this, from the Washington Post:
  • Mark Krikorian, the longtime executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advocates reduced immigration, said that he has never considered a border wall a top priority.
  • But now that the wall has taken on a life of its own, Krikorian said that Trump and Republicans have to make some sort of progress in securing a chunk of the border with a wall or heavy-duty fence — or else blow the opportunity to show Americans the party is ready to take action to crack down on illegal immigration.
  • “Following through on wall construction is one of the ways that the political class can win back trust on this topic,” Krikorian said. “It’s a tangible thing. You can take pictures of it and imagine it in your head.”
  • He added: “Even if the border wall did no good at all to control immigration, it would be important to build . . . Even if it did nothing, even if it was completely ineffective, it’s important politically.”
  • So, let’s hear it for a $20 Billion political white elephant!  Yeah – that’s how I want my tax dollars spent!
  • Feeling outraged?  Write or call Mark Krikorian at:
    • Mark Krikorian – Executive Director
    • Center for Immigration Studies
    • 1629 K Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006
    • Phone: (202) 466-8185
      • Mr Krikorian,
        Your quote in the Post, saying it is important to build the wall “even if it was completely ineffective”, is an affront to the American taxpayer!  You should be ashamed.
        Extremely Sincerely,
        Your name
  • Source:  http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/from-%E2%80%98build-that-wall%E2%80%99-to-kick-the-can-trump%E2%80%99s-border-promise-might-be-hard-to-break/ar-BBApKLr
• The Impeach Trump team would like your help (but, be careful what you ask for…):
  • If Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal introduces a resolution calling for an impeachment investigation of President Trump, the momentum to oust him from the presidency will leap forward.
  • Let’s get the congressional ball rolling to impeach Trump.
  • Call her in Washington D.C. between 6:30am – 2:30pm PST at (202) 225-3106.
  • Dial her district office between 9am – 5pm PST at (206) 674-0040.
• Petition – Kushner likely violated the same disclosure law Flynn did, when filling out his security form.  This petition requests his security clearance be pulled:
  • https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/suspend-jared-kushners-1
  • Add to the petition comments section:
    • Omissions on security clearance paperwork are security violations.  Regardless of the applicant’s father-in-law, these violations need to be prosecuted.

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Participate in Vashon Activism – Now More Than Ever! – join your group / discover your group / get active!
  • Thursday, May 4, Vashon Activism – Now More Than Ever!  Open Space for Arts & Community, 18870 SW 103rd Ave, Vashon, 5 – 7PM
    If you have not yet found your favorite action oriented group, and feel it’s time to raise your voice, then join us for Vashon Activism – Now More Than Ever!
    Over fifteen Vashon groups have been invited to this Find Your Lane style event.  From Legislative Action to Building a Progressive Majority to Showing Up for Racial Justice to Climate Change, hear their 90 second statements of what these groups are doing to create positive change.  Then, for the next hour, circulate in the Open Space Community Hall to meet and mingle with these group leaders, get to know what they are accomplishing and how you can participate.
    Hosted by Indivisible Backbone and open to the entire Vashon-Maury Island community.  Doors open at 5PM to socialize and enjoy light snacks.  Invited group leaders will take the stage at 5:30. Meet and mingle from 6 to 7. Lend your ideas, creativity and support.  Let’s activate Vashon and resist the current administration!  Sign up here:  http://www.backbonecampaign.org/ibb_meet_5_4_2017.

• Thank You!  Two bills that have appeared in the For Your Consideration… news will be signed into law in Washington State!  
  • House Bill 1153 strengthens penalties against elder abuse and financial exploitation.
  • House Bill 1501 requires law enforcement and prosecutors to be notified when someone prohibited from purchasing a firearm attempts to do so.
  • Sign this thank-you letter to the Wa State members of congress who supported the bill:
    • http://action.wagunresponsibility.org/page/s/thank-washington-legislators
• Congratulate San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera and United States District Court judge William H. Orrick for halting Trump’s sanctuary cities executive order:
  • Write:  San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, City Hall, Room 234, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl., San Francisco, CA 94102
  • Write:  Judge William H. Orrick, San Francisco Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
• Thank Reps Jason Chaffetz and Elijah Cummings for exposing General Mike Flynn’s unlawful actions:
• House Oversight Chairman Rep Jason Chaffetz R-Utah, told reporters that Flynn “had a duty and obligation to seek and obtain permission to receive money from foreign governments prior to any engagement with them.”
  • House Oversight Committed ranking member Rep Elijah Cummings D-Maryland, released two letters including one sent directly to Gen. Flynn on October 8th, 2014 from the Office of General Counsel at the DIA.
  • “This letter explicitly warned General Flynn as he entered retirement that the Constitution prohibited him from accepting any foreign government payments without advanced permission,” Cummings said, adding, “The Pentagon’s warning to Gen. Flynn was bold, italicized and could not have been clearer.”
  • Also: “DIA did not locate any records referring or relating to Lt. Gen. Flynn’s receipt of money from a foreign source,” and that the agency could “not locate any records of Lt. Gen. Flynn seeking permission or approval for the receipt of money from a foreign source.”
  • The “evidence is powerful in showing Gen. Flynn broke significant criminal laws,” and that they all testify to a “flagrant violation of federal criminal statute that must be investigated and prosecuted.”
  • Full article:  
    • http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oversight-committee-flynn-investigation-to-be-launched-by-dod-inspector-general/
  • Write:  Representative Jason Chaffetz, 2236 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Call:  202-225-7751
  • Write:   Representative Elijah Cummings, 2163 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515
  • Call:  202-225-4741
• Thanks to PH, for sharing David Brook’s uplifting editorial on Trump incompetence – definitely worth a read!  Just a sample:
  • The Coming Incompetence Crisis
  • I just read that the Trump administration has filled only 22 of the 553 key positions that require Senate confirmation. This makes me worry that the administration will not have enough manpower to produce the same volume and standard of incompetence that we’ve come to expect so far.
  • Granted, in its first few months the administration has produced an impressive amount of ineptitude with very few people.
  • But still, I worry that at the current pace the Trump administration is going to run out of failure.
  • ……
  • Now I’m not underestimating the president’s own capacity for carrying on in an incompetent manner almost indefinitely. I don’t think we’ve reached peak Trump.
  • Enjoy the entire editorial:  
    • https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/opinion/the-coming-incompetence-crisis.html

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• Trump signed an executive order to “review” all National Monuments.  Fight back:
  • Call 1-202-601-3839 and tell Secretary Zinke that any attempts to revoke or shrink our national monuments is an assault on our historical, cultural, and natural heritage.
  • And the requisite petition:
    • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=21666
• Help stop the funding of Tar Sands pipeline projects (Thanks Sue!):
  • 350 Seattle is mobilizing its Pledge of Resistance for a coordinated mass action on May 8th to stop the funding of Tar Sands pipeline projects. The focus will be Chase Bank. This will be the Northwest’s largest action targeting a bank because of its fossil fuel funding.
  • If you’re interested in participating on May 8, please attend one of 350 Seattle’s mass action meetings and learn about the different ways you can take part in this coordinated and nonviolent direct action:
    1. Wednesday April 26th, 6:30-8:30PM. RSVP and invite others via Facebook or
    2. Sunday, April 30th, 6:00-8:00pm. RSVP and  invite others via Facebook
  • Both meetings will be at the 350 Seattle Office, 1919 E Prospect St, Seattle, 98112. S

• Help resist the TransMountain Pipeline Expansion:
  • I wanted to reach to you all about potentially hosting a Pull Together event on Vashon Island. For those who aren’t familiar, Pull Together is a cross-border campaign raising money for the legal fees of three First Nations who are suing the Canadian government over the TransMountain Expansion’s infringement of their treaty rights and threat to their water, land and way of life.
    
    350 Seattle + Sierra Club have been working on this campaign and would love to connect with climate groups on Vashon who would be interested in hosting Pull Together fundraisers or education events around the TMX and its impact on our region.
    
    If you know any other groups or folks on Vashon I should be reaching out to about this work, please let me know.
  • Thank you again,
  • Morgan Michel
  • mm876@cornell.edu
    607-280-4308
• Petition – Tell the Coast Guard to prevent another disastrous Arctic oil spill:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/251/170/143/
  • Add words to the comment section:
    • This fragile environment should not be subject to more oil tanker incidents like the Exxon Valdez.  Please implement measures to eliminate this possibility.
  • One more:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/891/791/272/
  • Add words to the comment section:
    • Our environment should not be subject to more oil spill incidents like the BP Deepwater Horizon incident.  No offshore oil drilling!

Climate Change

• Petition – No Fossil Fuels – keep it in the ground campaign:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/merkley_fossil_fuels
• These companies have no public climate change or energy conservation targets.  Write them to say “We urgently request you develop and publicly declare climate change and energy conservation goals for your business”:
  • Berkshire Hathaway, 3555 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE 68131
  • Costco, 999 Lake Dr Ste 200, Issaquah, WA 98027
  • Comcast, 1701 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19103
  • Tyson Foods, P.O. Box 2020, CP631, Springdale, AR 72765-2020
  • Source:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/25/climate/with-government-in-retreat-companies-step-up-on-emissions.html
• Petition – Tell Congress: Commit America to 100% renewable energy by 2050:
  • http://www.jeffmerkley.com/petition/100×50/e/
• Petition – Tell CNN: Do Not Enable the Voice of Climate Deniers:
  • https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/no_more_deniers_on_cnn/?t=3&akid=6881.322736.s5SCmx
  • Add to the comments section:
  • As a news organization, it should not be hard for you to understand the science of climate change dominates the opinion of climate deniers.  Choose balanced journalism by not associating science based climate change speakers with opinion based climate deniers.

Anti-Hate Actions

• Petition – tell Amazon to drop all Breitbart advertising:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Amazon_Breitbart

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• No actions this week

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Get that Senate Russia investigation team up and running!
• Write or call Senators Burr and Warner, tell them to assign full time staffers to the investigation:
  • Senator Richard Burr: 217 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 202-224-3154
  • Senator Mark Warner: 703 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, 1-877-676-2759
• Call Deputy AG Rosenstein at U.S. Department of Justice (202-353-1555) and ask him to appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s involvement with the election and with Trump.
• Petition:
  • http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/24/1655745/-Senate-Intelligence-Committee-investigation-into-Russia-has-no-staff-no-witnesses-no-progress
• Petition – Tell the GOP to Stop Gerrymandering:
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/endgerrymandering/

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

• With the Republicans rolling out ACA Repeal & Replace round 2, gear up for another fight:
  • Call or write your Members of Congress: “Vote NO!”
  • Petition:
    • https://action.aarp.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app261b

Economy/Income Inequality

• Petition – Tell Patty Murray you support her new $15/hour minimum wage legislation:
  • http://www.pattymurray.com/act/its-time-to-raise-the-minimum-wage
• Petition – reject the Working Families Flexibility Act (HB 1180), which allows companies to offer flex time instead of paid overtime for overtime work:
  • https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-your-representative-today-dont-steal-overtime-pay-from-working-people
• Petition – Tell Congress:  Reject Trump’s EPA gutting tax plan:
  • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=21668
• Why?  It also hurts working families.  From the NY Times:
  President Trump’s own Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, stated this tax reform fairness test a few months ago:“Any reductions we have in upper-income taxes will be offset by less deductions, so that there will be no absolute tax cut for the upper class. There will be a big tax cut for the middle class, but any tax cuts we have for the upper class will be offset by less deductions that pay for it.” Yet on Wednesday Trump, with Mnuchin as the pitch man, violated Mnuchin’s own standard.The Trump plan will overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy, cutting the top income-tax rate, cutting taxes on stock holdings, cutting corporate taxes and eliminating the estate tax. And when a reporter asked Mnuchin yesterday about all the benefits that would flow to the affluent, he ducked the question and offered a vague talking point. The straightforward Mnuchin of a few months ago was nowhere to be seen.It would be entirely possible to put together a conservative tax plan that simplified the code without exacerbating inequality. But the Trump plan is nowhere near that plan.

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• Petition – tell Wa State members of congress to fully fund the state education system:
  • http://www.jayinslee.com/action/education-funding

• No actions this week

• NY Times Op-Ed Columnist David Leonhardt (exerpts):
  • Here’s my reading of Trump’s start: It’s the least successful first 100 days since the concept existed.
    • Trump has made no significant progress on any major legislation.
    • Trump is far behind staffing his administration.
    • The Trump administration is more nagged by scandal than any previous administration.
    • Trump has no clear foreign policy.
    • Trump is by far the least popular new president in the modern polling era.
• Petition – respect state’s rights to regulate marijuana:
  • https://www.signherenow.org/petition/let-states-regulate-marijuana/ferguson/e/

General Information

• Petition – urge the King County Council to pass legislation for police oversight:
  • https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/wa/issues/alert/

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Thursday, May 4, Vashon Activism – Now More Than Ever!  Open Space for Arts & Community, 18870 SW 103rd Ave, Vashon, 6 – 9PM
  • If you have not yet found your favorite action oriented group, and feel it’s time to raise your voice, then join us for Vashon Activism – Now More Than Ever!
  • Over fifteen Vashon groups have been invited to this Find Your Lane style event.  From Legislative Action to Building a Progressive Majority to Showing Up for Racial Justice to Climate Change, hear their 90 second statements of what these groups are doing to create positive change.  Then, for the next hour, circulate in the Open Space Community Hall to meet and mingle with these group leaders, get to know what they are accomplishing and how you can participate.
  • Hosted by Indivisible Backbone and open to the entire Vashon-Maury Island community.  Doors open at 6PM to socialize and enjoy light snacks.  Invited group leaders will take the stage at 6:30. Meet and mingle from 7 to 8.  Like what you see?  Stay another hour as group leaders gather their teams and plan their next actions.  
  • Lend your ideas, creativity and support.  Let’s activate Vashon and resist the current administration!  Sign up here:  http://www.backbonecampaign.org/ibb_meet_5_4_2017.

• None this week

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• Petition – EPA, don’t remove pollution controls:
  • https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app312b

Climate Change

• Walk for the Salish Sea – Oppose Kinder-Morgan and more oil tankers in the Salish Sea! – Victoria to Burnaby, BC – Sounds inspiring! – May 25 – 28.
  • It’s Time to Walk the Talk on Climate Change, Indigenous Sovereignty, and Local Democracy. Join us May 25-28th to march against fossil fuel development and tanker traffic on unceded Indigenous lands and waters.
  • Vashon will participate.  Want to connect with the leader?  Send a request to me at kevinjonvash@gmail.com .
  • Details:  http://walk4salishsea.ca/
• Petition – tell the EPA and Trump:  US needs to stay in the Paris Climate Change Agreement:
  • https://secure3.convio.net/lcv/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app313b
  • Add these words to the letter if you like:
    • Climate change poses a fundamental threat to our health, our fiscal prosperity and our species.  Departure from this global agreement, and subsequent disregard of the other 195 nations who signed the Agreement, could pose the risk of global financial sanctions on our economy to force compliance.  Let’s not choose a path that alienates us from the rest of the world.  Instead, let U.S. renewable power technology contribute to our improved global economic prosperity, and domestic job growth, by investing in climate change solutions.
• One more:  http://action.citizen.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
• Petition – Don’t let Trump’s budget delete funding for science:
  • https://www.change.org/p/cutting-scientific-research-funding-puts-america-last-don-t-support-it

Anti-Hate Actions

• Petition – calling for a Presidential Anti-Hate Task Force (long overdue):
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/demand-an-anti-hate-task-force

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• The hunger strike by the detainees at the NW Detention Center is having a positive impact, but they could use your continued influence to make their voices heard.  Three specific actions:
  • Nightly rallies through Sunday, 4/23 – 6PM:
  • If you can get out for one of them, today, tomorrow or over the weekend — our louder voices will be heard by the inmates within the confines of the prison.  Backbone has some visuals that folks can take along to make an even stronger statement.  Let Bill Moyer know if you are going (bill@backbonecampaign.org) and he can make suggestions.
  • Want to attend the rallies?  Contact Mike Magrath:  mmagrath@gmail.com
• Call the City of Tacoma Finance Department and urge them to revoke GEO’s Business License. 
  • In a March 2017 letter to GEO, Mayor Strickland noted that the City of Tacoma can revoke GEO’s business license if it is a “danger to the public health, safety and welfare of the individuals [detained] as well as the community as a whole.”  Tell them you are concerned about family separations, one dollar a day wages for detainees while commissary prices doubled and unsanitary conditions.
• Call:  Finance Department, Andrew Cherullo, Finance Director, 253-591-5800
• Call ICE and demand that:
  1. They meet the Hunger Strikers Demands and 
  2. GEO not retaliate against hunger strikers. We have reports that strikers have been threatened with transfer to facilities away from their loved ones as punishment for engaging in protest.
     • Call:  Assistant Field Director (Detention): William Penaloza: (253) 779.6000, dial extension 1, wait for message, then dial extension 4
• Call:  Dept of Homeland Security Public Relations Officer:  206-835-0094
• Stay informed: https://www.facebook.com/pg/NWDCResistance/events/
• Petition – despite statements to the contrary, the Trump administration has deported a person granted legal residency through the DACA program.  Tell Secretary Kelly to reverse this action:
  • https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-secretary-kelly

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – stop the US Homeland Security Department from implementing a rule to disclose social media passwords as a condition to enter the country:
  • Imagine visiting a country – to see family or take a vacation or do business – and being forced to hand over your Facebook username and password. That country’s agents would be able to read your private messages, see everything you’ve posted or shared for the benefit of your friends, what you like, what you’ve searched. What conclusions could they draw? Would they be accurate?
  • https://action.aclu.org/secure/FlyDontSpy

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

• Petition – Congress:  Fund the ACA healthcare subsidy recipients, don’t defund the ACA:
  • https://secure.pfaw.org/site/SPageNavigator/action.html;jsessionid=00000000.app337b  
• And this one:  https://petitions.peoplesaction.org/sign/TrumpSabotage

Economy/Income Inequality

• Editorial, plus action steps, Tax Reform and Trump’s Tax Returns:
  It looks like Trump’s “no tax return disclosure” policy may indeed be important to others besides the media, and may play a crippling role in his tax system overhaul campaign promise.
  Even if the failure of the ACA Repeal and Replace initiative had not happened, and Trump was able to strip health care from millions, thus developing a budget saving that he could apply to reduced taxes, his lack of transparency over his tax returns is still a significant issue.
  Stalling the current administration is important.  Supporters who expected to “become very, very rich” and “would get tired of winning again” will only experience increased buyer’s remorse when promises are not kept (or result in significant take-aways, like the ACA Repeal and Replace plan).
• What can we do?   A couple of things:
  1. Keep signing petitions and writing letters demanding Trump release his tax returns, and
  2. Thank those Republican Members of Congress who are now asking him to do just that.
     1. Better yet:  If you have friends in these states, ask them to do likewise
     2. Note:  Indivisible does say don’t waste your time reaching out to Members of Congress outside your state or district, but this issue has so much potential to hobble the Trump agenda & raise buyer’s remorse that I plan to write some letters.

• Here is the list, according to this article:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/17/us/politics/tax-code-overhaul-trump.html?emc=edit_nn_20170418&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=78184317&te=1&_r=0
  • Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA):  111 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, Phone: (202) 224-3254
  • Representative Mark Sanford (R-SC):  2211 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515-4001, Phone:  202-225-3176
  • Representatives David Young (R-IA):  240 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20515, Phone: (202) 225-5476
  • Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL):  507 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, Phone: 202-225-4136
  • Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC):  2333 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515, Phone: 202-225-3415
  • Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL):  511 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, Phone: 202-225-5744
  • Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ):  2306 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515-3011, (202) 225-5034
  • Representative Justin Amash (R-MI):   114 Cannon HOB, Washington, DC 20515, Phone: (202) 225-3831
• Here are some talking points for your calls and letters, from the same article:
  • Polls show that a majority of Americans, including most Republicans, would like Mr. Trump to release his tax returns. The president has significant conflicts of interest on issues such as taxation of the real estate industry and elimination of the estate tax. Without Mr. Trump divesting his business interests, he has a significant opportunity to enrich himself and his children through tax reform. This violation of the fairness doctrine is not acceptable, and you are right to oppose moving forward on tax reform with these uncertainties unresolved. Now join over a million people who have signed the We The People petition, on the White House website, to demand Trump release his tax returns:
    • https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediately-release-donald-trumps-full-tax-returns-all-information-needed-verify-emoluments-clause-compliance
• And this one:  https://www.signherenow.org/petition/wyden-tax-letter/e/
• One more:  http://www.cantwell.com/action/demand-tax-transparency
• And this related petition, signed by over 349,000, to divest his companies, on the same website:
  • https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/divest-or-put-blind-trust-all-presidents-business-and-financial-assets

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

General Information

• Call Congress this Friday – ask they demand Trump’s tax returns.
  • Easy calling tool at this website:
    • https://www.change.org/p/we-want-to-see-trump-s-tax-returns/u/19993451
  • Petition:
    • http://secure.thehousemajoritypac.com/page/signup/add-your-name-demand-trump-release-taxes
• Petition – Spicer, You’re Fired!
  • http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/spicer-must-go
• Petition – O’Reilly, You’re Fired!
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/fox_oreilly/
• Petition – Support the NO TRUMP Act:
  • No taxpayer dollars for hotels or restaurants owned by the president or his family.
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/no_trump_act
• Petition – Protect the fiduciary rule, require investment advisors to act in their client’s interest:
  • http://www.epi.org/action/fiduciary-dk/

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Vashon Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ):
  • https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=vashon%20surj%20-%20showing%20up%20for%20racial%20justice

• Write or call Pramila Jayapal’s office and thank her for the Vashon Town Hall!
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uR7ipzCdQ4
    1904 3rd Ave., Suite 510, Seattle, Wa  98101
    (202) 225-3106

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• No actions this week

Climate Change

• Petition – Tell Fox, CBS, ABC and NBC to increase their coverage of climate change and environmental issues.
  • By talking more about email servers and Queen Elizabeth’s birthday than climate change, news outlets are helping minimize the very real threats we face.  
  • Sign:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/711/877/715/
  • Write:
    • Fox News:  1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036
    • CBS News:  524 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019
    • ABC News:  47 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023
    • NBC News:  30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10112
    • CNN:  Turner Broadcasting, One CNN Center, 13 North, Atlanta, GA, 30303
• Petition – Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke – let’s not go back to coal:
  • https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National

Anti-Hate Actions

• No actions this week

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• NW Detention Center – support the hunger strikers!
  • Make a difference.  We need people and resources to help them stay in place & offer moral support for those doing the hard work inside!
  • Join the posse – Contact:  Mike Magrath, (206)276-6038, mmagrath@gmail.com
• Petition – Protect Immigrant workers:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/859/792/497/

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – maintain federal oversight of local police office procedures and over-reach:
  • https://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• Petition – Save the Vital Programs of the Violence Against Women Act
  • Demand President Trump and Congress continue to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act and end these attacks on women.
  • https://www.change.org/p/donald-trump-save-the-vital-programs-of-the-violence-against-women-act

LGBTQ Rights

• Petition – Tell NCAA President Mark Emmert no NCAA championships in North Carolina.
  • https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-action/issues/alert/
  • Or write:  Mark Emmert c/o NCAA, 700 W. Washington Street P.O. Box 6222 Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6222

• Petition – Medicare for all:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/sanders_medicare
• Petition – Do not threaten Affordable Care Act insurers with payment withholding – it only hurts the insured:
  • https://www.ofa.us/worse-than-before/
• Petition – Tell Congress to investigate collusion between the EPA and Monsanto:
  • New documents unsealed by a federal judge suggest that Monsanto worked directly with federal regulators to hide the health risks of and manipulate the science behind its best-selling herbicide, Roundup.
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/monsanto_epa

Economy/Income Inequality

• Petition – Don’t allow big banks to act recklessly and stick taxpayers with the bill:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/support-the-21st-century-glass-steagall-act

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• Petition – Oppose the “Safe Students Act”, which allows more guns in schools:
  • The National Rifle Association (NRA) has offered up their solution to gun violence: repeal the Gun Free Zone Act with the “Safe Students Act”. But there’s nothing safe about this legislation. In order to keep students safer, the NRA wants to increase the number of guns on school grounds.
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/464/649/034/
  • Words you can cut and paste into the survey “personal comments” section:
  • This proposed legislation is misguided and dangerous!  Law enforcement officers undergo hours of training to determine when to use lethal force.  Suggesting that a posse of “good guys with guns” can determine who the “bad guys with guns” are is irresponsible.  More guns = more bullets = more death.  Let’s act to keep guns away from those who are not sufficiently mature or responsible, not allow gun proliferation that results in these individuals being shot and killed.

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

General Information

• Survey – Tell Maria Cantwell what you think:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/2017-priorities-poll
• Petition – Tell congress to ban the poisonous pesticide that EPA Chief Scott Pruitt just approved:
  • https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app350b

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Vashon Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ):
  • https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=vashon%20surj%20-%20showing%20up%20for%20racial%20justice

• Call or Write Gov’s Jay Inslee, Kate Brown and Jerry Brown for their joint statement on the Clean Power Plan:
  • Last week, governors along the West Coast issued a joint statement supporting the Clean Power Plan – a policy put in place by President Obama to initiate a national transition away from coal powered-electricity – in anticipation of action by President Trump that would either withdraw or rewrite the plan.
  • The statement takes a stand against the president possibly weakening standards that protect air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
  • “Any attacks on the Clean Power Plan would move our nation in the wrong direction and put American prosperity at risk. Climate change is one of our greatest threats, from more wildfires threatening our homes and communities to ocean acidification rocking our shellfish industry to drought hurting our farmers,” part of the statement reads. “Too much is at stake – from our health and safety to our jobs and livelihoods – for us to move backwards.”
    • Jay Inslee: Office of the Governor, PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002 / Phone: 360-902-4111
    • Kate Brown: Governor Kate Brown, State Capitol Building, 900 Court Street NE, 160, Salem, OR 97301 / Phone: (503) 378-4582
    • Jerry Brown:  Governor Jerry Brown, c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814 / Phone: (916) 445-2841
• Mayor Ed Murray, and others, for suing the Trump administration to preserve Sanctuary City rights:
  • “Seattle will argue that an executive order by President Donald Trump violates the Constitution by trying to make local governments enforce federal immigration law.”
    • Source:  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-sues-trump-administration-over-sanctuary-cities/
  • Praise:
    • Write or call Mayor Ed Murray:  PO Box 94749, Seattle, Wa  98124-4749, Phone: 206-684-4000
    • Write or call Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes:  701 5^th Ave, Suite 2050, Seattle, Wa  98104-7097 / Phone: 206-684-8200
    • Encourage King County to join the lawsuit:  Write or call King Co Executive Dow Constantine:
    • King Co Chinook Bldg, 401 5th Ave, #800, Seattle, Wa  98104 / Phone:  206-263-9600
• Pat yourself on the back – Steve Bannon removed from Principles Committee of the National Security Council!
  • More to be done to oppose him, but the trend is looking good!
• Thank your Senators for stepping up for a wild Arctic Refuge!
  • http://act.alaskawild.org/sign/Senate_refuge2017bill/

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Return US House and Senate to Democratic Control

• No actions this week

The Environment

• Petition – no Canadian oil pipeline approvals – oil companies say “we can’t clean up the spills”:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/664/430/945/
• Petition – don’t allow Congress to sacrifice our public lands to Big Oil:
  • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
• Petition – No offshore oil drilling:
  • https://www.addup.org/campaigns/no-new-offshore-oil/petition/no-new-oil-leases-in-the-pacific-atlantic-or-arctic-ocean

Climate Change

• No actions this week

Anti-Hate Actions

• No actions this week

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• Petition – Stop Trump’s attack on Immigrants and Refugees:
  • https://www.signherenow.org/petition/stand-up-for-immigrants-refugees/ferguson/e/

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – stop the crackdown on peaceful protests:
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/stop-the-crackdown-on-peaceful-protests

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• No actions this week

Women’s Rights

• Petitions – Defund Bill O’Reilly:
  • https://actions.sumofus.org/a/tell-advertisers-to-ditch-fox-news-and-bill-o-reilly/
  • https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/fox-sexual-harassment/

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

• Petition – Medicare for all (from Bernie Sanders):
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/sanders_medicare

Economy/Income Inequality

• No actions this week

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• Petition – support free or affordable college education for all Americans:
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/petitions/sign-the-petition-support-college-for-all-by-taxing-wall-street

• Petition – Secretary of Defense James Mattis publicly explain Donald Trump’s war plans in the Middle East to the American public: (Hmmm – looks like the Win Without War team has good anticipation – this petition came out a few days before the Syria cruise missile strike)
  • The expected response “we don’t communicate our intentions to the enemy” is not an acceptable!
  • http://action.winwithoutwar.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
• Petition – Remove Nunes from the House Intelligence Committee / Appoint a special prosecutor (this is now a national defense issue – this step has also occurred!  Congratulations!):
  • http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/remove-nunes

• No actions this week

General Information

• Petition – tell the USGA and the LPGA to move the Women’s Open from Trump’s golf course:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/LPGA_Trump
• Petition – from the “let’s not forget to put pressure on the sponsors” department, Tell KitchenAid to refuse to sponsor future USGA and LPGA tournaments until they move the 2017 Women’s Open from Donald Trump’s golf course:
  • https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/kitchenaid_usga/
• Petition – don’t cut Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/585/365/510/

Vashon-Activism (get local – join a team)

• Vashon Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ):
  • https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=vashon%20surj%20-%20showing%20up%20for%20racial%20justice

• Call or Write Gov’s Jay Inslee, Kate Brown and Jerry Brown for their joint statement on the Clean Power Plan:
  • Last week, governors along the West Coast issued a joint statement supporting the Clean Power Plan – a policy put in place by President Obama to initiate a national transition away from coal powered-electricity – in anticipation of action by President Trump that would either withdraw or rewrite the plan.
  • The statement takes a stand against the president possibly weakening standards that protect air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
  • “Any attacks on the Clean Power Plan would move our nation in the wrong direction and put American prosperity at risk. Climate change is one of our greatest threats, from more wildfires threatening our homes and communities to ocean acidification rocking our shellfish industry to drought hurting our farmers,” part of the statement reads. “Too much is at stake – from our health and safety to our jobs and livelihoods – for us to move backwards.”
    • Jay Inslee: Office of the Governor, PO Box 40002, Olympia, WA 98504-0002 / Phone: 360-902-4111
    • Kate Brown: Governor Kate Brown, State Capitol Building, 900 Court Street NE, 160, Salem, OR 97301 / Phone: (503) 378-4582
    • Jerry Brown:  Governor Jerry Brown, c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814 / Phone: (916) 445-2841
• Mayor Ed Murray, and others, for suing the Trump administration to preserve Sanctuary City rights:
  • “Seattle will argue that an executive order by President Donald Trump violates the Constitution by trying to make local governments enforce federal immigration law.”
  • Source:  http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-sues-trump-administration-over-sanctuary-cities/?utm_source=The+Seattle+Times&utm_campaign=c846202ede-Morning_Brief_03_30_2017&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5beb38b61e-c846202ede-122610697
  • Praise:
    • Write or call Mayor Ed Murray:  PO Box 94749, Seattle, Wa  98124-4749, Phone: 206-684-4000
    • Write or call Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes:  701 5^th Ave, Suite 2050, Seattle, Wa  98104-7097 / Phone: 206-684-8200
    • Encourage King County to join the lawsuit:  Write or call King Co Executive Dow Constantine:
      • King Co Chinook Bldg, 401 5th Ave, #800, Seattle, Wa  98104 / Phone:  206-263-9600

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

Preserving Democracy & Justice

• Petition – Demand a special prosecutor to investigate Jeff Sessions perjury and Russia:
  • https://action.aclu.org/secure/special-prosecutor
• Petition – ensure an independent investigation of Trump’s alleged ties to the Russian government:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Remove_Nunes
• Petition – Postpone Neil Gorsuch hearings until a complete independent investigation of the Trump campaign Russia collusion is concluded:
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/letters/tell-your-senators-postpone-neil-gorsuchs-confirmation
• Petition – Demand Trump back up his voter fraud claims (or stop lying about them):
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/stop-trump-voting-lies/
• Petition –  make Election Day a national holiday to increase voter participation:
  • http://go.fightforreform.org/page/s/Election-Day-Petition

The Environment

• Petition – Keep the Arctic off limits to Oil Drilling:
  • http://act.alaskawild.org/sign/noexxon2017/

Climate Change

• Call, using this website, to oppose Trump’s climate change protection rollback:
  • https://secure2.edf.org/site/SPageServer;jsessionid=00000000.app312b
• Petitions – Reject Trump’s budget / protect the climate instead:
  • https://act.climatetruth.org/sign/Trump-climate-chaos-budget/
  • https://support.nature.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app246a
  • https://www.ofa.us/fight-for-our-climate-progress/
  • https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National
• Petitions – Support the Nebraska Public Service Commission to deny the Keystone XL Pipeline in Nebraska:
  • http://action.foe.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/
  • https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/823/975/075/

Anti-Hate Actions

• No actions this week

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• Petition – No Border Wall:
  • https://secure3.convio.net/lcv/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app313b
• Petition – Allocate no funds for Trump’s anti-immigration budget:
  • https://action.aclu.org/secure/DefundImmigrationEOs

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• Call your local school district, regardless of whether you have children in school, to ask that they:
  1. Include “Know Your Rights” information (in both English and Spanish) on their school website;
  2. develop and approve a policy, similar to the Los Angeles Unified School District policy, that protects families and provides clarity to school-site staff;
  3. include information regarding safety on school property on the district’s website.
• Petition – Save Demitrius, jailed without charges and dying from sickle beta thalassemia without treatment:
  • https://campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/savedemitrius

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

Aging / Medicare / Social Security /Health Care

• Petition – tell Washington State elected officials to retain family planning funding in the state budget:
  • https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy

Economy/Income Inequality

• Petition – tell Washington State Members of Congress to stop debtor’s prisons:
  • https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/wa/issues/alert/
• Petition – Don’t cut funding for Meals on Wheels:
  • http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/250/630/204/

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• I won’t normally use this forum to distribute bad news, but if you have any doubt about the disturbing influence on our national politics represented by the views of Steve Bannon, please read this:
  • http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/2/23/1637009/-Bannon-Reveals-His-Intention-To-Deconstruct-The-Administrative-State-i-e-Destroy-The-Country

General Information

• Call to support an independent Russia influence investigation:
  • Script: Hi. I’m a constituent from _ZIP_ calling because I am angry about the appearance of corruption of the president and his team. The House investigation isn’t enough. Will _NAME_ co-sign Sen Cardin’s bill 27 for an independent commission to investigate Russia’s takeover of our elections? (If no or waffle-y:) This is not a partisan issue. Our democracy depends on truth and transparency. As a voter, this is a top issue for me.
  • Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441
  • Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621
• Related (but not an independent investigation): Comey confirms F.B.I. investigation into Russian election interference (NY Times, 3/20)
  • The F.B.I. is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible links between the Trump campaign and the Russian government — and whether there was any coordination, Mr. Comey said.
• Sign this petition to keep the ball rolling – Congress must pause all Trump-related legislation and appointments—starting with a halt to Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation process—until the American people learn the full truth about Trump and Russia.
  • http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/shut-down-and-investigate

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:
    • Juniper Rogneby at juniperkb@gmail.com
    • Merrilee Runyan at merrileerunyan@gmail.com
    • Jennifer Zeisig at catrix2007@aol.com
• 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:
    • Susie Murphy at susiemurph@gmail.com
• 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
  • Marie Browne organizes this group
  • Drop in – contribute stamps – enjoy the discussion
  • Please join the Facebook page and RSVP to the group
  • https://www.facebook.com/events/1417973131588388/

• Thank Utilities & Transportation Commission Chairman David Danner for reaffirming Wa State Climate Change Goals:
  • Write:  David Danner c/o WUTC, PO Box 47250, Olympia, Wa  98504-7250
  • Call:   360-664-1160
• Thank Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley for holding the deputy attorney general’s confirmation vote as collateral until the FBI director briefs his panel about investigations into alleged ties between the Trump administration and Russian officials.
  • Senator Chuck Grassley:  202-224-3744 (WDC), 515-288-1145 (Des Moines, IA)
  • Source:  http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-judiciary-chairman-no-deputy-ag-vote-until-we-get-an-fbi-briefing-on-russia/ar-AAomsJ2?li=AA5a8k&ocid=spartanntp
• Thanking Washington AG Bob Ferguson for the lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s proposal to abandon clean automobile emission standards:
  • Write:  1125 Washington St SE, PO Box 40100, Olympia, Wa  98504-0100
  • Call:  360-753-6200
• Write to thank the judge who blocked the second Muslim travel ban:
  • Write:  Hon. Derrick Watson, United States District Court, District of Hawaii, 300 Ala Moana Blvd C-338, Honolulu, HI 96850
• Thank the 17 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives who introduced a resolution that acknowledges the negative impacts of climate change “that are expected to worsen in every region of the United States” and calls upon the House to work on solutions for mitigation and adaptation efforts.  Call or write:
  • Elise Stefanik (NY-21): 318 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-4611 (WDC), 315-782-3150 (Watertown)
  • Ryan Costello (PA-06): 326 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-4315 (WDC), 610-696-2982 (West Chester)
  • Carlos Curbelo (FL-26): 1404 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-2778 (WDC), 305-222-0160 (Miami)
  • Mark Amodei (NV-02): 332 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-6155 (WDC), 775-686-5760 (Reno)
  • Don Bacon (NE-02): 1516 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-4155 (WDC), 402-938-0300 (Omaha)
  • Barbara Comstock (VA-10): 229 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-5136 (WDC), 703-404-6903 (Sterling)
  • John Faso (NY-19): 1616 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-5614 (WDC), 845-514-2322 (Kingston)
  • Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08): 514 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-4276 (WDC), 215-579-8102 (Langhorne)
  • John Katko (NY-24): 1620 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3701 (WDC), 315-423-5657 (Syracuse)
  • Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02): 2427 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-6572 (WDC), 800-471-4450 (Mays Landing)
  • Mia Love (UT-04): 217 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3011 (WDC), 801-996-8729 (West Jordan)
  • Brian Mast (FL-18): 2182 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3026 (WDC), 772-403-0900 (Stuart)
  • Pat Meehan (PA-07): 2305 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-2011 (WDC), 610-690-7323 (Springfield)
  • Tom Reed (NY-23): 2437 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3161 (WDC), 607-222-2027 (Ithaca)
  • David Reichert (WA-08): 1127 Longworth House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-7761 (WDC), 425-677-7414 (Issaquah)
  • Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27): 2206 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3931 (WDC), 305-668-2285 (Miami)
  • Mark Sanford (SC-01-): 2211 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC 20515, 202-225-3176 (WDC), 843-521-2530 (Beaufort)

View this weeks events!

Electoral College Repeal

• No actions this week

Instant Runoff  Voting

• No actions this week

The Environment

• Petition – Don’t let Trump gut the Superfund program:
  • http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/dont-let-trumps-budget
• Petitions – Don’t let Republicans destroy the EPA:
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/dont_destroy_epa
  • https://sierra.secure.force.com/actions/National

Climate Change

• Petition – Oppose rollbacks on US Climate Action:
  • https://support.nature.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app243a
• Sign the pledge to support clean air / clean climate vehicle emission standards:
  • https://www.climaterealityproject.org/cleanercars
• Call these Republican senators, encourage them to opposition legislation that would roll back methane leak protection:
  • Cory Gardner: 202-224-5941 (WDC), 303-391-5777 (Denver)
  • Susan Collins: 202-224-2523 (WDC), 207-622-8414 (Augusta)
  • Lindsey Graham: 202-224-5972 (WDC), 864-250-1417 (Greenville)
• Sign this petition to keep methane leak regulations in place:
  • https://secure2.edf.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=00000000.app330b
• Call Scott Pruitt’s EPA office – tell them you oppose Mr Pruitt’s statement to oil and gas companies to not bother complying with the EPA directive to compile and report methane emission data:
  • Scott Pruitt:  202-564-4700

Anti-Hate Actions

• Petition – tell credit card companies to no longer provide credit services to hate groups:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/stop-corporate-funders-hate-groups/
• Petition – Maria Cantwell petition to stand against hate crimes:
  • http://www.cantwell.com/action/stand-against-hate

Criminal Justice Reform

• No actions this week

Immigrations/Citizenship

• Petition – Reject Trump’s anti-immigration executive order:
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/immigrationexecutiveorder

Racial Justice & Black Lives Matter

• Petition – Tell Paul Ryan to reject Representative King’s racism:
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/tell-paul-ryan-reject-rep-steve-kings-racism-or-own-it/
• Petition – Tell Florida Gov Rick Scott to stop blocking State’s Attorney General Aramis Ayala:
  • Aramis Ayala, the first Black woman state attorney in Florida history, just made a heroic move by refusing to seek the death penalty. Florida Governor Rick Scott removed her from a key case and instead choose a white prosecutor to replace her. Even the victim’s family is in support of Ayala’s decision to not pursue the death penalty.
  • https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/gov-rick-scott-aramis-ayala/

Women’s Rights

• No actions this week

LGBTQ Rights

• No actions this week

Medicare/Social Security/Healthcare

• Petitions – Don’t repeal the ACA:
  • https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-action/issues/alert/
  • https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/forms/add-your-name-tell-the-gop-hands-off-of-obamacare
  • http://www.jayinslee.com/action/no-trumpcare
• Call to protest the ACA repeal plan.
  • The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office determined that this plan would leave up to 24 million MORE Americans uninsured within a decade and would cost older lower income insured people MORE than what they are paying now. Oh, and it includes $592 billion in tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
  • Call your representatives:
  • Senator Maria Cantwell: 202-224-3441
  • Senator Patty Murray: 202-224-2621
  • Representative Pramila Jayapal: 202-225-3106
  • If you don’t live in Washington State go to 5calls.org to get phone numbers.
• Petitions – Reject the American Health Care Act:
  • https://petitions.signforgood.com/noAHCA
  • https://act.credoaction.com/sign/save_safety_net
• Protect vulnerable people in Washington State:  Call 1-(800)-562-6000. They’ll ask for your address and forward a message from you to your legislators.  The message is: “Please support HB 1153 and SB 5099. Move them out of Committee and onto a floor vote!”  These two bills:
  • Creates the crimes of theft from a vulnerable adult in the first and second degree.
  • Increases penalties, reduces barriers to prosecution, and expands the scope of protection for vulnerable persons.

Economy/Income Inequality

• No actions this week

Get Big Money Out of Politics

• Call to support the No TRUMP Act:
  • Script: Hi. I’m a constituent from _ZIP_ calling to express my support for HR 1452, the No TRUMP Act. Donald Trump should have divested of his businesses before entering office. Earl Blumenauer’s bill stops my tax dollar from lining the president’s pockets.
  • Representative Pramila Jayapal: 202-225-3106

• Thank S. Dakota governor Dennis Daugaard for vetoing gun legislation that would reduce gun safety:
  • Gov Daugaard’s office:  605-773-3212
• Petition – for enhanced background check for assault weapons in Washington:
  • http://sign.actiontaker.org/page/s/alliance-ferguson-ja

• No actions this week

• No actions this week

• No actions this week