Take Action Now Archive contains previous Action Items posted on the Hanover Democratic Committee website. Take Action Now is a new resource to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our
democracy. Watch for weekly action items in your inbox, on the HDC
webpage and on Facebook. Future TAKE ACTION NOW posts will be updated weekly on Sundays. Scroll down to see all action items. This archive began January 11, 2017.
Take Action Now
Previous Action Items:
8-13-17
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TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Take Action Now
Week 5: Action Now
Week 3: Take Action Now
Week 2: Take Action Now
Take Action Now
Previous Action Items:
Take Action Now
9-3-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
1. Take Action: Call members of Congress and
tell them to #DefendDACA.
Nearly 800,000 Dreamers are under imminent threat of being
deported. As part of his white supremacist agenda, President Trump is planning
to end the Dreamer program. The DREAMER
program is a very popular one. Business leaders across the country and political
leaders across the spectrum have urged Trump not to end the DACA program,
including Paul Ryan.
Contact Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and tell them they must work to defend and
maintain DACA.
For more
details, read: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/03/trump-dreamers-immigration-daca-immigrants-242301
2. Take Action: Help to elect Democrats in November
Sign
up for a shift to canvas or phone bank for the coordinated campaign for
governor (Ralph Northam), lieutenant governor (Justin Fairfax), attorney
general (Mark Herring), and House of Delegates candidates representing Hanover
(Morgan Goodman in the 55th and Cori Johnson in the 97th).
3. Take Action: Save our treasured national
monuments.
Interior Secretary Zinke has recommended that the Trump administration
downsize several national monuments. The Washington
Post has reported that at least three national monuments, including Utah's
Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, and Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou
national monuments will be recommended for cuts.
This is unheard of. No president has ever before shown such
disregard for our public lands and monuments or such willingness to hand them
over to private corporations for drilling, mining, and logging.
Fortunately, only Congress has the legal authority to alter a monument
once it's been designated by a President. Trump needs Congressional approval to
carry out this attack on our lands, and we need to make sure he does not get
it.
Contact Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and tell them to protect our public
lands and monuments.
4. Take
Action: Learn how to speak up and organize members of your community against
hate and white supremacy.
The
Southern Poverty Law Center has released an updated version of their
publication Ten Ways to Fight Hate. The
guide provides a blueprint for speaking up and organizing communities against
hate while avoiding violent confrontations. Read it: https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/08/14/splc-releases-new-edition-ten-ways-fight-hate-guide-after-charlottesville-attack
Unfortunately, the revolting display
of hate, violence, and terrorism we saw in Charlottesville was not an isolated
event. This white supremacist resurgence has been propelled by the campaign and
presidency of Donald Trump. And it's not going away any time soon.
5. Take Action: Urge Congress to
reconvene so they can help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Contact
Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and tell them that Congress needs to reconvene in
emergency session immediately to take action for the victims of Hurricane
Harvey. Many thousands of people now need emergency assistance such as housing
in areas devastated by this hurricane. FEMA has proposed that individual
Americans privately fund Hurricane Harvey relief efforts themselves. This is
unacceptable. Congress must reconvene now to provide all needed relief, to
prepare for future disasters, and to properly address climate change as urgent crisis
that it is.
8-27-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
1. Take Action: Help victims of Hurricane
Harvey
Hurricane
Harvey has dropped an unprecedented amount of rain on Houston and the
surrounding areas. This natural disaster is “beyond anything experienced”
according to the National Weather Service and has been exacerbated by climate
change.
We
must take actions to counter climate change from getting worse and we must
continue to advocate for sufficient funding for services that help predict,
prepare for, and recover from natural disasters such as Harvey. In the
meantime, read this article for ways you can help now: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/08/27/how_to_help_hurricane_harvey_victims.html
2. Take Action: Tell Congressman Wittman to stop
allowing the Trump family to waste the taxpayer’s money on vacations and golf
outings.
The
Secret Service funds for protecting the first family are nearly depleted.
President Trump has taken an unheard of number of vacations and golfing trips
and his children have taken numerous business trips. Trump and his entourage
often stay at costly Trump properties. This is all on the taxpayers’ dime and
there is no end in sight to this extravagant spending. Please contact
Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and let him know that the American taxpayers can
no longer afford the extravagances, vacations, and self-dealing business trip of
this president and his extended family.
3. Take Action: Help to elect Democrats in November
a.
Sign up for a shift to canvas or phone bank for the coordinated campaign for
governor (Ralph Northam), lieutenant governor (Justin Fairfax), attorney
general (Mark Herring), and House of Delegates candidates representing Hanover
(Morgan Goodman in the 55th and Cori Johnson in the 97th).
b. A CRITICAL reporting deadline is coming soon. August 30 marks the end of this reporting period, and the
press and major donors will judge Morgan and Cori’s competitiveness based on
what we report. Please contribute NOW to keep Morgan and Cori competitive.
To donate to Morgan Goodman’s campaign (55th
House of Delegates district):
To
donate to Cori Johnson’s campaign (97th House of Delegates district):
https://www.johnsonfordelegate.com/donate
4. Take Action: Advocate to change
the name of massive resistance-era Confederate-named schools and mascots in
Hanover County.
Hanover residents, please sign and share this petition: https://www.change.org/p/hanover-county-public-schools-support-change-at-lee-davis-high-school-home-of-the-confederates-in-virginia?
For more details, see this public facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/TogetherHanover/posts/1943364832553566
5. Take
Action: Tell Congress to let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices.
Drug companies are gouging people.
When somebody needs medicine to survive, these companies make them to pay the
highest amount possible, forcing some to make impossible choices between the
drugs they need and food or rent. Worse, some people's treatments are taken
away completely, just because they can't afford it.
If Medicare were allowed to bid on
prescription drugs, the collective negotiating power of all Medicare consumers
would force drug corporations to sell medications at a price people can afford.
And even Trump has said "We don’t bid properly, and we’re going to start
bidding," yet no provisions to allow negotiation have been proposed by any
Republican healthcare legislation.
Contact Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and tell them to introduce
or support legislation requiring Medicare to negotiate prices with drug
corporations, just like President Trump says we should.
8-20-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
1. Take Action: Ask Congressman Wittman to support a petition to censure President Trump for his
Charlottesville comments, his support for neo Nazis and white supremacists.
Three House Democrats, Rep. Jerry Nadler
of New York, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey and Rep. Pramila Jayapal
of Washington, are introducing a censure proposal in Congress. Contact Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and ask him to please join a censure movement of President Trump so that he
will understand that he and other Congressmen and women are opposed to equating
peaceful protestors with neo Nazis and white supremacists. Tell Congressman
Wittman to tell President Trump that his refusal to condemn neo Nazis and white
supremacists goes against everything Americans fought for in World War II, and
everything this nation stands for.
For more details, read:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/16/politics/house-democrats-want-to-censure-trump/index.html
2. Take Action: Ask the Hanover Board of Supervisors to show
solidarity with the City of Charlottesville.
In light of the recent
domestic terrorist rally and attacks in Charlottesville, various elected
leaders from across the state of Virginia have declared their support for the
city of Charlottesville and have denounced racism, white supremacy, and
anti-semitism. Contact the members of the Hanover Board of Supervisors and ask
them to do the same: To send a public declaration of support for the city and
people of Charlottesville and to issue a public declaration announcing that
white supremacy in our community is not acceptable.
3. Take Action: Support
the organization Circles Ashland.
Circles Ashland is
“an
innovative, community-based approach to solving poverty. We believe that responsibility
for both poverty and prosperity rests not only in the hands of individuals, but
also with societies, institutions, organizations and communities. Our approach
is a progressive model grounded in research that shows families must have
strong social capital and connections (relationships and resources) with their communities in order
to improve their economic situation and overall quality of life in their
neighborhoods. Circle Leaders, allies, and a diverse array of community members
gather in five collaborating teams to understand, engage with, and sustainably
resolve poverty.”
Plan to attend Circles Ashland event on August
26th from 1 pm to 8 pm at the Center of the Universe Brewery.
“Round up your friends, family,
and neighbors for the inaugural Circle the Wagons BBQ Cook-off and Concert
benefiting Circles Ashland. 6 BBQ vendors, 2 awesome bands, and 1 great cause
are all you need on a summer Saturday. As an added bonus, we are bringin' back
2 beers just for the occasion, Main St. Virginia Ale and Treat Yourself Session
IPA! There will be 50/50 raffles, great silent auction items, and other unique
items to raise money for this great cause. There will also be kids activities
on site.”
https://www.facebook.com/events/137346656829237/?
4. Take Action: Save the bees.
Pollinators
like bees are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of the food you eat. But
widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides is threatening them
nationwide.
Representative Blumenauer (D-Ore.) has introduced the Saving America's
Pollinators Act, which would require the EPA to temporarily suspend the sale of
neonics, prohibit new approvals of this dangerous class of pesticides, and
monitor the health and population status of native bees.
Neonics are used to coat seeds planted on more than 150 million acres in the
United States and directly sprayed onto pretreated plants sold at garden
retailers. Thousands of studies show they're highly toxic to pollinators.
Contact Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and urge
him to support the Saving America's Pollinators Act. Then ask Senators Kaine (202-224-4024
or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) to
introduce a companion bill in the Senate.
5. Take
Action: Get out the vote for our candidates
Canvassing
and phone banking are the fuel that
propels a campaign. Especially after what happened in nearby Charlottesville,
we need as many people as possible to sign up to canvass or phone bank here:
These activities let us know
where our voters are, informs them about the upcoming elections and our
candidates, and lets us know who needs help with an absentee ballot, rides to
the polls, etc. Volunteering is fun, and it's vital to getting our candidates
elected. We have a great coordinated campaign organizer, Ian McNally. And when
you make a call or knock on a door, you are campaigning for our
gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam, Lt. Gubernatorial candidate Justin
Fairfax, our candidate for Attorney General Mark herring, and our House
Candidates, Morgan Goodman and Cori Johnson. Please volunteer today.
8-13-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
1. Take
Action: Stop the spread of white supremacist, neo-confederate, and neo-nazi
movements.
This
past weekend, violent pro-Trump neo-confederates, neo-nazis and white
supremacists rallied in nearby Charlottesville, Virginia. Three people died and
dozens were injured. Similar groups are trying to stage a rally in Richmond on
September 16th. Trump has
refused to condemn his neo-Confederate, neo-nazi, white supremacist supporters
or to distance himself from them.
Congressman
Wittman has been a big Trump supporter since the presidential campaign and has
not contested Trump’s appointment of known white supremacists such as Steve Bannon,
Sebastian Gorka, and Stephan Miller to prominent position in the White House.
Wittman did issue a statement about the rally: (https://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1458), stating that, "I
despise and tenaciously denounce the violence, hate and bigotry that we have
seen in Charlottesville. The rhetoric and actions of racists, white
supremacists, and Nazi-ideologues are not the values of our Commonwealth or our
great nation. I thank and pray for our brave law enforcement officers who put
themselves in harm's way to protect our Commonwealth. My thoughts and prayers
are also with the victims of today's violence and their families. We must stand
united against all hate. As Americans, we shall have no tolerance for this
violence and what it stands for."
Contact
Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595)
and let him know that while you appreciate his recent statement, that his words
devoid of action are not enough. It’s time for him to publicly hold President
Trump accountable for his continued support of these hate and terrorist groups
and to take action against them. Wittman must denounce the support that members
of these groups show him, call for a restoration of funding to federal programs
that work to counter domestic terrorist groups, and call for public
Congressional hearings to investigate them.
2. Take Action: Prevent nuclear war.
This past
week, bypassing advisement from national security advisers, Trump threatened
North Korea with "with fire
and fury like the world has never seen" which prompted North Korea to
claim it was examining plans for attacking waters near Guam. Trump then
said his threats didn’t go far enough. Trump’s threats of war with North Korea
are threats to all of us. We must persuade members of Congress to ease tensions
and speak out publicly for diplomacy.
Contact Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023
or 804-775-2314) and urge them to publicly speak out for diplomacy and not
threats towards North Korea. Ask them to please publish their public remarks
and distribute to constituents as soon as possible.
For more
details, read:
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-north-korea-feud-fire-fury-not-tough-enough-n791561
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/us/politics/trump-north-korea.html
3.
Take Action: Contact Wittman about his continued alliance with the NRA.
For the second time this summer, the NRA has issued a video threatening
citizens and journalists with violence. Contact Congressman Wittman and ask
him, as a member and supporter of the NRA, if he supports (202-225-4261 or
804-730-6595) their encouragement of attacking fellow citizens with violence.
Ask him to publicly denounce the NRA’s incitement of violence and to end his
relationship with the NRA if they refuse to apologize.
For more details:
4. Take
Action: Attend a Pre-Election Meet Up gathering for students and young adults.
The Meet Up
gathering will take place this Thursday,
August 17th from 7 to 9 pm at the home of Jennifer Chambers at 901
S. Center Street in Ashland. Enjoy drinks and desserts, register to vote, find out how we
can help get our candidates elected, and meet our
Democratic candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, District 55, Morgan
Goodman.
5. Take
Action: Get out the vote for our candidates.
Canvassing and phone banking are the
fuel that propels a campaign. Please sign up to canvass or phone bank
here: https://goo.gl/forms/RSTt7sOPaMaPAIW52. These activities let us know where our voters
are, informs them about the upcoming elections and our candidates, and lets us
know who needs help with an absentee ballot, rides to the polls, etc. Volunteering
is fun, and it's vital to getting our candidates elected. We have a great
coordinated campaign organizer, Ian McNally. And when you make a call or knock
on a door, you are campaigning for our gubernatorial candidate Ralph
Northam, Lt. Gubernatorial candidate Justin Fairfax, our candidate for Attorney
General Mark herring, and our House Candidates, Morgan Goodman and Cori
Johnson. Please volunteer today.
8-6-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
1. Take
Action: Get out the vote for our candidates.
Canvassing and phone banking are the fuel that
propels a campaign. Please sign up to canvass or phone bank here: https://goo.gl/forms/RSTt7sOPaMaPAIW52. These activities let us know where our voters
are, informs them about the upcoming elections and our candidates, and lets us
know who needs help with an absentee ballot, rides to the polls, etc. Volunteering
is fun, and it's vital to getting our candidates elected. We have a great
coordinated campaign organizer, Ian McNally. And when you make a call or knock
on a door, you are campaigning for our gubernatorial candidate Ralph
Northam, Lt. Gubernatorial candidate Justin Fairfax, our candidate for Attorney
General Mark herring, and our House Candidates, Morgan Goodman and Cori Johnson.
Please volunteer today.
2. Take
Action: Uphold the Clean Air Act and Regulate Methane Pollution.
Under EPA chief Scott Pruitt, the EPA is failing to uphold
its mission to protect humane and environmental health while Pruitt works to
undermine protections for us and planet Earth.
Until August 9th, the EPA is accepting public
comment on its proposal to delay implementation of parts of an important rule
on protecting public health, and the climate, from methane pollution from oil
and natural gas projects.
Contact the EPA and tell them that any delay or weakening of the methane emission standards for the
oil and natural gas sector is absolutely unacceptable. You can use this form: http://action.greenamerica.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=20998
3. Take
Action: Defend the Dream Act.
DREAMers are young
adults who were brought to America as children and raised in this country, they
know no other home and make important contributions to our country and state.
They should be considered to be Americans. We need to protect their path to
citizenship. Contact Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or
804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and let them
know that you support our country’s DREAMers and that you expect them to
support them and protect their path to citizenship, as well.
Also,
consider hosting a Dreamer Dinner. For details and information, go here: http://act.americasvoice.org/page/s/protect-dreamers-from-deportation
4. Take Action: Unplug Trump TV.
Already the
nation’s largest local-TV chain conglomerate, Sinclair Broadcast Group wants to
expand its reach to reach over 70 percent of U.S. households by merging with
Tribune. In fact, one
of the channels that Sinclair will take over is a local Richmond channel. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) is trying to change the rules to accommodate them.
Most people
trust their local news broadcasters. Unfortunately, Sinclair’s reports, which
they mandate local stations run, are full of right-wing, hateful, racist, Islamophobic,
distorted rhetoric. Sinclair basically serves as a megaphone for the Trump
administration.
Contact the
FCC (Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554 or 1-888-225-5322 or fax 1-866-418-0232) and tell them that the Sinclair
Broadcast Group and Tribune should not be permitted to merge. If they do, their
consolidation would go way beyond the legal limits on media ownership and put far
too much power in the hands of a single company. Sinclair has evaded FCC rules,
received FCC fines for airing propaganda, and drawn wide criticism for airing
politically slanted content on its stations. The FCC should block this merger
and restore policies that encourage a diversity of local media owners and a
wide range of viewpoints.
For more
information, go to https://www.freepress.net/ and watch John Oliver’s
segment on this issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvtNyOzGogc
5.
Take Action: Stop a racist climate change denier from taking over the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Trump has decided to appoint Sam Clovis as its
chief. Clovis is not a scientist and is known for his racist
and anti-science rants.
Contact Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and tell them to oppose Clovis’
confirmation.
For more detaiils, go to
http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/kfile-sam-clovis-blog-posts/index.html
Take Action Now
7-30-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Volunteer to host a phone bank gathering here in Hanover.
It’s time to roll up our sleeves and work to get Ralph Northam, Justin Fairfax,
Mark Herring, Morgan Goodman, and Cori Johnson elected.
We need people to host groups of volunteers to phone
bank for our candidates. Usually, the phone banking sessions take place on
weeknights or weekends.
Email us at info@hvadems.com
if you are interested in hosting.
Action
2. Help prevent a constitutional crisis.
According
to the July 20th Washington Post, Trump is looking to undermine Special
Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation of L’Affaire Russe and is exploring
his right to pardon his cronies and himself.
If he were to do either of these the only thing preventing a
constitutional crisis would be impeachment action by the Republicans in the
House. Resistance groups are already
planning how to respond; congressmen should have a plan too.
Call
Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and insist he take seriously Trump’s
threats to the rule of law issue a preemptive public statement saying that if
Trump issues pardons or undermines the investigation, he would support a motion
to impeach. Such a statement would serve
as a deterrent to Trump.
For
analysis see:
Action
3. Protect voting rights. Trump appointed an “Election Integrity Commission” that he
filled with voter suppression advocates.
This is the commission that requested detailed voter data from every
state. Many states, like Virginia, refused
but the request is already having a negative impact. On July 13, The Denver Post reported
that more than 3000 Colorado voters cancelled their voter registration because
of this request.
Simultaneously,
the blog 2 Hours a Week reports
that the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued letters to 44 states questioning
their compliance with the voter dumping rules of the 1993 National Voting Registration Act
(NVRA). 2 Hours suggests this
signals a two-pronged approach to voter suppression: use the Commission to gut
the NVRA and use the DOJ to facilitate mass purges.
In
reference to HR 2978 - Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2017, (looks like
this is still in committee)
Call
Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023
or 804-775-2314) and say to oppose the voter suppression agenda of the
“Election Integrity Commission” and the Department of Justice. Both efforts are
based on the lie that voter fraud is prevalent and both seek to make it more
difficult for the poor and minorities to vote.
Action
4. Help your college students register
to vote. Before
our college students start packing, help them register and develop a
plan to vote either in person or by absentee ballot. Here are two websites with all the
information you need.
Every
vote counts. Remember that Attorney
General Mark Herring won by fewer than 200 votes statewide in 2013. Hanover’s Democratic candidates for the House
are articulating a positive vision for Virginia’s future in education and the
environment. Let’s help them get the
votes they need!
Action
5. Write a letter to the editor or contact the Virginia Boy Scouts
(Boy Scouts of America, Heart of Virginia Council: 804-355-4306), and ask them
to please write a letter to the editor and issue a news release to the news
media disavowing President Trump's recent remarks at the Boy Scouts Jamboree.
When you call, let them know if
you were a boy scout or are the parent or grandparent of a boy scout. Our concerns
include:
- the politicized rhetoric used by President Trump at the Jamboree.
- the President's cursing
during the speech.
- the President's attacks
on our news media, our legislators, and on his predecessor during his speech.
- The President did not
display good citizenship, was not inspirational, did not set a good example,
and is not the leadership and example expected from Boy Scouts.
- That the Boy Scouts
provided a forum for President Trump to indoctrinate children politically and
build an authoritarian state.
Take Action Now
7-23-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. We can
help our House Candidates! The Virginia Democratic House
Caucus issued a challenge to Delegate Candidates:
The candidate who has
the largest number of individuals donating online from July 24-31 wins a fund-raising email from the caucus.
Hanover is
represented by two candidates. Let’s support both and help them get out
their message about listening to and representing all the hard working people
of Virginia!
Make a large or small ONLINE donation any day from July 24 to July
31 to be counted as a donor.
Action
2. Challenge Fowler’s politics of
fear. In his last newsletter,
Delegate Buddy Fowler alleged that “Illegal aliens are casting election ballots
in Virginia” and linked to disputed statistics in an article by the right-wing
Virginia Voters Alliance and the Public Interest Legal Foundation (PILF) (https://publicinterestlegal.org/files/Alien-Invasion-II-FINAL.pdf). This is fraught with problems.
First,
this article does not discuss “illegal aliens”, as Fowler inexplicably claims,
but tries to make an argument about documented immigrants claiming that 5500
people have been removed from the state’s voter rolls because they were not
citizens. According to a July 8, 2017 roanoke.com editorial, most of these
were likely citizens who checked the wrong box on the voter registration
form.
In
an attempt to replicate PILF’s finding the Capital News Service, a non-partisan
project of the VCU School of Mass Communications, focused on 10 counties,
mostly in Northern Virginia and Richmond. “In those 10 localities, it found 240
non-citizens who were registered, 28 of those who actually voted, casting more
than 100 ballots over a period of multiple elections,” strikingly fewer than
PILF found according to the Roanoke paper.
TAN
believes Virginia should not condone any voter fraud, but to put either of the
conclusions in perspective consider that Virginia has millions of voters, times
usually two or more voting opportunities each year, times the multi-year time
frame in the PILF data and it is clear that the incidence of non-citizen voting
is far, far less than 1%. One “solution”
PILF offers is to have all citizens provide documentary proof of
citizenship. As with so many Republican “solutions”
this would have the chilling effect of voter suppression, suppressing far more
legitimate voters than the small number of problem votes.
Another
problem with the article is tone. The
cover picture is of a space ship and the title, Alien Invasion II with a sign
that reads, “Virginia is for Aliens”.
The visual is reminiscent of 1930’s fear-mongering, anti semitic
propaganda. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch on 7-10-17, the
NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging that Trump’s
voting commission has the intent to discriminate against voters of color. In that suit the Fund describes the “virulently
racist rhetoric” of PILF, because two
individuals tied to PILF are members of Trump’s new commission.
Email
Delegate
Fowler (delbfowler@house.virginia.gov) to say
that the combination of fear mongering against immigrants and false or
misleading data that he used in his newsletter is beneath what Hanover expects
of its delegate.
For
an in-depth look at this breaking national story with local implications see: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/trump-election-commissioner-used-dubious-data-to-allege-an-alien-invasion/
Action
3. Beware of
the undead. The Senate “healthcare” bill
is dead, except when it isn’t. There
likely will be a vote on it in the Senate on Tuesday, except none of the
Republican Senators could say what will be voted on. They may vote on the House bill, a full repeal
with a delayed replacement or the Senate bill with the opportunity for Senators
to make amendments from the floor. This
uncertainty blocks opponents of repealing the ACA, like TAN followers, from
knowing what action to take and that is part of the strategy. Stay alert and make appropriate calls as the
situation changes.
In
the meantime, please call Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or
804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or
804-775-2314) and thank them for fighting for the ACA. Ask them to use every procedural delay to
minimize the chances of the ACA being repealed.
While you are on the phone, make a pitch for single payer insurance.
Action
4. Oppose smog. A bill in the House of Representatives, H.R. 806,
would weaken the clean air act, potentially exposing communities to smog, soot, sulfur dioxide and toxic
lead pollution. It guts the principle in place since 1970 that the EPA provide “an
adequate margin of safety” for vulnerable populations like children, the
elderly and asthmatics.
Call
Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and insist he vote against this bill.
Action
5. Plan for Hanover’s future. Hanover
Access News announced that “Hanover County is currently working on the Five-Year
Update of the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive
Plan is an analysis of past growth and land
development trends and sets forth a statement of goals and objectives with a
20-year horizon for land use, transportation and community facilities. Public
workshops have been scheduled to solicit citizen input;
comments from the meetings will be summarized and forwarded to the Planning
Commission for consideration when formulating recommendations to update the
Comprehensive Plan.”
Plan to attend one of the workshops. For
more information call the Planning Department at 365-6171.
•July 27, 2017 at Elmont Elementary School, 12007 Cedar Lane, Ashland,
VA 23005
•July 31, 2017 at Chickahominy Middle School, 9450 Atlee
Station Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116
•August 9, 2017 at Patrick Henry High School, 12449 West
Patrick Henry Road, Ashland, VA 23005
•August 10, 2017 at Lee-Davis High School, 7052
Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Take Action Now
7-15-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Continue to support our candidates. TAN readers who live in
the 55th House District, which is west of Rt. 301: Plan to attend a Meet
and Greet for candidate Morgan Goodman on Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 pm at the
Center of the Universe Brewery, 11293 Air Park Road, Ashland. Light refreshments will be served. Bring your
friends to meet Morgan, ask questions and share your concerns.
TAN
readers who live in the 97th House District, which is east of Rt. 301: Email Delegate Chris Peace (delcpeace@house.virginia.gov) to express your concern
that he won’t commit to a debate with his opponent, Democrat Cori Johnson. In the last election Peace did not debate
with his independent opponent, despite many invitations to do so. Tell him you expect our elected
representatives to have the courage to go to the local high school and discuss
local issues with their opponent so constituents can evaluate their positions.
Letter to the Editor, anyone?
Action
2. Oppose more dirty energy. The Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 (S.
1460) would expand the use of fossil fuels, streamline the approval of new
pipelines and fracked gas exports and undermine the expansion of renewable
energy. Big oil lobbyists are fighting
for this bill and it may be voted on this week.
Also
on the horizon, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced plans for a new
five-year offshore drilling plan, which has the potential to undermine the
Obama administration plan and open Virginia coastal waters to drilling. There
have been too many human, environmental and economic tragedies from offshore
drilling accidents for us to allow expanded drilling.
Call
Senators
Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or
804-775-2314) and ask them to oppose bill S. 1460 and while you are on the
phone, tell them you oppose drilling for oil off the Virginia coast.
Action
3. Fight Trump Care, again. The Senate just released a revised “healthcare”
bill, but it may be even worse than the last because the Cruz amendment will be
devastating for people with preexisting conditions. Last week TAN introduced a tool that allows people like us
with Democratic senators fighting against the bill to call constituents in
states with Republican senators who are wavering and urge them to contact their
senator. This effort organized by the
Service Employee’s International Union and other progressive groups is still
the most effective use of our time. When you sign up, you can pick a
convenient time to call people in states with on-the-fence senators. We are experienced advocates and
canvassers. We can do this!
Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMiCjyVEprsCak0eifPbNorKx-C86ygqSasdbbLaA4gX874g/viewform
Action
4. Ask your questions of Congressman Wittman.
Because
Wittman endorsed and was Virginia co-chair of the Trump campaign, TAN thinks it
is important for him to know the questions swirling about L’Affaire Russe in
his district this week. Wittman has made
no statements about the situation and his silence is deafening. Here are the questions we are hearing:
A.
Is Wittman ok working for a campaign that invited a foreign
adversary to interfere with a U.S. election? How is he working (other than
voter suppression initiatives) to protect future Virginia elections?
B.
Lying is the hallmark
of this president and the lies have eroded public trust. For months the
president screamed, “Fake news, witch hunt, there is no collusion.” Now there is evidence of collusion and the
president is saying, “Sure we colluded.
What is the big deal?” Is Wittman comfortable with this level of
dishonesty?
C.
Will Wittman use his influence to have presidential aide Jared
Kushner’s security clearance revoked.
Kushner’s failure to disclose his meetings with Russian government
officials, the shifting stories about those meetings and Kushner's efforts to
raise $500 million from Qatar, a hot-button spot in the middle east, to rescue
his flailing real estate business compromise his ability to function as a
senior advisor. The Justice Department
considered National Security Advisor Michael Flynn to be compromised by the Russians for much less
than this.
D.
Will Wittman vote for the bi-partisan bill that passed 98-2 in
the Senate that curbs the president’s authority to lift sanctions on Russia?
E.
Will Wittman investigate why the Department of Justice settled
a 230 million dollar money laundering case in May that involved the Russian
government attorney who met with Trump, Jr,
New York real estate purchases made with laundered money and Russian
sanctions. Ask that Wittman join the
members of the House Judiciary Committee who are demanding answers from
Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
F.
When should loyalty to the country supersede loyalty to the
Republican party?
G.
In written responses to constituents, Congressman Wittman’s
office has repeatedly said that the president deserves a chance to govern. Ask if Trump has had enough chance yet.
Call
or write Congressman
Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595 or email https://wittman.house.gov/contact/) to let him know his
constituents are watching.
Action
5. Fight putting extremists on the
federal bench. The Senate Judiciary
Committee voted to advance two Trump nominees, John Bush to the Sixth Circuit
court of Appeals and Damien Schiff to the Court of Federal Claims. According to the National Women’s Law Center,
both men oppose the constitutional right to abortion, other women’s rights,
LGBTQ rights and civil rights. Bush
argued in favor of the state sanctioned sex-discrimination at VMI and called
Row v. Wade a tragedy. Schiff argued
that Title IX does not apply to high school sports. If these nominees are confirmed, they will be
on the bench long after Trump’s presidency is a footnote in history.
The
Senate could vote to confirm these nominees this week. Please call Senators Kaine (202-224-4024
or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and ask
them to oppose these nominations.
Take Action Now
7-10-2017
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Support our candidates.
Democrats had great candidates in the primary who ran a spirited
campaign. A big thanks to all who were willing to serve. Now it is
time to work hard to support our slate because we all know we need each
candidate to serve as a buffer between Washington and Virginia. Support
our local delegates running in the 55th & 97th Districts. Check out
the candidates’ websites, sign up for updates, volunteer to phone bank or
canvas and/or contribute. November 7th
will be here before you know it!
Governor: Ralph Northam http://ralphnortham.com
Lieutenant Governor: Justin
Fairfax http://www.fairfaxforlg.com
Attorney General: Mark Herring https://herringforag.com
Delegate for the 55th District: Morgan
Goodman https://goodmanfordelegate.com/
Use
social media to benefit our candidates. Like their Facebook
pages and Share or Tweet.
Example
1: The guest speaker from the 7/8 Hanover
Democratic meeting, Ngiste Abede suggested that we flood Ed Gillespie with
tweets asking him about his position on the KKK rally in
Charlottesville. @EdForVirginia or @EdWGillespie.
Example 2: Tweet
or Facebook Buddy fowler and call him out on his ‘Fraudulent’ fraudulent
voter claims.
Action
2. Fight Trumpcare. Red States need our help pressuring their
Representatives. Other people’s
senators won’t listen to us, but they might listen to their constituents.
The Service Employee's International Union (http://www.seiu.org/)
and other progressive groups have set up the ACA Defenders team to help us make
sure those voices are being heard. They’re running virtual phone banks to call
folks in key states and connect to them their senators. You can sign up and
start calling.
Click
on the link below to call Americans in districts represented by
lawmakers who haven't yet committed to voting against a health care bill that
takes away coverage, slashes Medicaid or increases premiums.
Sign
up:
Action
3. Save the Bees. Bees are dying by the million, and a
growing body of scientific evidence points to a dangerous breed of pesticides
called neonics as the main culprit.In response, a wave of local cities and
towns are taking steps to ban bee-killing pesticides--and not a minute too
soon. With Trump in the White House and science-denier Scott Pruitt running the
EPA, the bees aren't getting any help from D.C. That's why we must do
everything in our power to protect the bees locally. Bree LaCasse
launched a petition to the U.S. Conference of Mayors to demonstrate the
widespread support for local action to protect the bees. Click below to sign Bree’s petition urging
mayors and other local officials to take action to protect their communities
from synthetic and bee-killing pesticides.
Note: This action item is from Diane Russell, a
former Maine state representative.
Action
4. Confront budget
cuts. Did you
know that each religious congregation in the U.S. would have to raise an extra
$714,000 annually for a decade in order to make up for cuts in the Trump
administration's 2018 budget to programs that alleviate hunger and
poverty? When Congress returns to
Washington, D.C., next week after their Fourth of July recess, they will be
finalizing their version of the fiscal year 2018 budget. Already, deep cuts to
anti-hunger programs have led budget negotiations. A budget proposal that cuts SNAP
(formerly known as food stamps), Medicaid, and international development
programs will increase hunger and poverty and must be rejected. Note:
This action Item is from Eric Mitchell, Director of Government
Relations, Bread for the World.
Call (800-826-3688) or
click on the following link to send a personal email to your members of
congress. Tell them to reject budget
cuts that will increase hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world.
Action
5. Educate
yourselves on the threats to the Media - Be Aware! Note: This action Item is from
Angelo Carusone @GoAngelo - President of Media
Matters for America.
Donald Trump is ramping
up his attacks on journalists. Last weekend, Trump tweeted a video of
himself punching a man with a CNN logo superimposed on his face, a new level of
incitement that could get somebody in the media killed. But that's not all: In
the last two weeks, he and his administration have repeatedly called six of the
largest U.S. media outlets "fake news"; banned cameras over and over
from the daily press briefing; prohibited journalists from attending a
re-election fundraising where the president threatened to sue CNN; used
disreputable "sting videos" from a known liar to attack CNN from the
White House podium; and tweeted a sexist smear to undermine MSNBC's Mika
Brzezinski. Donald Trump has been
threatening the press since before he took office -- and these attacks
will only get more intense. We can't let him get away with making
journalists the enemy. Not only will someone get hurt, but this is literally
taken from the authoritarian playbook. It'll have dire consequences for us all
if we don't stop it.
Why is Trump turning up the heat now? Because
journalists are the distributors of facts and facts undermine the lies fueling
Trump's policy agenda. So Trump is increasingly turning to a
tried-and-true authoritarian tactic: Whipping his supporters and sycophants
into a frenzy against the truth-tellers so they don't believe the news unless
it comes from a White House-approved source.
Thanks in part to your efforts earlier this year,
some members of the press are openly standing up to Trump's assault on the media,
but it's not enough. The White House Correspondents' Association and the
broader media need to get serious about sticking together and fighting back
when Trump attacks. And people like us need to spread the word about what
he's trying to do, or he'll end up getting away with it. Trump is trying to use that legacy to silence
his opposition. Let's make sure it doesn't work.
Click on the link below and read up on the Trump
attacks on the press for what they really are and share this with your friends
and networks.
Find out how Sinclair Broadcast Group is
poised for a takeover of local News stations to push a extreme rightwing
agenda. Check out this link with a video
segment from John Oliver.
Take Action Now
7-2-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Tell Attorney General Sessions no new
war on drugs. As reported in The
Atlantic on May 12, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is “bringing back the
harshest sentences for low-level drug offenses, rejecting Obama era reforms.” Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates
wrote in a June 26 op/ed in the Washington Post that harsher sentences
do not reduce crime. She admonishes
Sessions to use “facts, not fear” in setting sentencing guidelines. Call the Department of Justice Comment
Line (202-353-1555) and insist that the Attorney General retract his
mandatory minimum sentencing order to federal prosecutors.
Action
2. Focus on women and healthcare. The National Women’s Law Center calls the loss of
Planned Parenthood and Medicaid double trouble for women. Almost 68,000 women work in Medicaid
supported jobs in Virginia and women are more likely to need the services of
Medicaid. Women will struggle to get
affordable preventive medicine and contraceptive care without Planned
Parenthood and Medicaid, particularly in underserved communities.
Visit
Planned
Parenthood’s website to learn more, volunteer or contribute:
Check
out the
National Women’s Law Center site to learn more on how the healthcare bills will
negatively impact women: https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Double-Trouble-Report2017.pdf
Call
Senators
Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or
804-775-2314) to thank them for fighting to protect the ACA, point out the
particular harm the AHCA will do to women and ask them to make a visible effort
to reach across the aisle on healthcare reform, while protecting the healthcare
of Virginias.
Action
3. Call out the National Rifle
Association (NRA). An NRA recruiting video
featuring conservative television host Dana Loesch has gone viral and its
contents are deeply disturbing. She
recites a litany of accusations against the schools, the media, Hollywood
elites and Obama saying, “They use their media to assassinate real news,” and “They use their schools to teach children
that their president is another Hitler”. She closes with the only way to “fight this violence of lies is with the clenched
fist of the truth”. While Loesch denies that the video incites violence against
liberals, it is unquestionably fear-mongering, inflammatory and divisive. The
tone, images and language are aggressive.
Watch
the video
here:
Write
our local
representatives to the House of Delegates, Chris Peace and Buddy Fowler, who
were both endorsed by the NRA and ask that they speak out against this
incendiary rhetoric and the conspiracy
theory-driven apocalyptic narrative that the NRA and the alt-right media
push. Assure them that the Resistance is
committed to and has a history of non-violence.
Action
4. Protect our national parks and monuments, again. Last week TAN focused on proposed extraction
operations that threaten our national parks and monuments. The other risk they face is that the
administration may eliminate or shrink some of the holdings. This is unacceptable. Our treasured parks must be preserved intact.
The Department of the Interior is accepting public comments on this until July
10. Try this easy-to-use tool
from the Center for American Progress to make a public comment to protect the
parks and monuments for future generations: https://www.americanprogressaction.org/monuments-at-risk/
Action
5. Fight hate crimes. According to the
organization SumOfUs, financial institutions are profiting by providing
financial services to groups promoting hate.
MasterCard and Visa process donations to Stormfront, a white supremacist
group and MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express are processing
donations for Richard Spencer’s National Policy Institute, which organized a
mob in Charlottesville that threatened residents with racist slogans and
torches. Although the financial
corporations receive very little money from this, they provide a critical
service to the hate groups who would be unable to raise money online without
the credit card help. These companies
have banned access to their services in the past and they must do so again for
these racist groups. Sign the
SumOf Us petition asking these corporations to stop funding hate at https://actions.sumofus.org/a/stop-financial-corporations-from-funding-violence-and-hate/?akid=31460.62477._MPTK2&rd=1&source=fwd&t=1
Take Action Now
6-25-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Fight the GOP “healthcare” bill. Make no mistake, the AHCA
is a tax relief for the wealthy bill, not a healthcare bill. It cuts $1.2 trillion from healthcare
spending and gives that as tax relief mainly to the wealthy. The images of people with disabilities being
pulled from their chairs by Capitol police while protesting the bill outside
Mitch McConnell’s office on Thursday is a metaphor for the cruelty of this
legislation. The very lives of many
people with disabilities depend on a strong Medicaid program, which the AHCA
would gut. Call Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) to thank them for fighting against
this bill and ask them to use all options, including submitting amendments (see
Action 2), to stall the vote.
Call
the more
moderate GOP senators and try to
persuade them to vote no:
Lisa
Murkowski AK 202-224-6665
Susan
Collins ME 202-224-2523
Shelley
Capito WV 202-224-6472
Rob
Portman OH 202-224-3353
Action
2. Fight some more. One way the AHCA bill can be stalled is if
Democratic senators submit amendments…thousands of amendments, which will take
time to discharge. Write your own
amendment by telling your health care story to be read into the record at https://www.ouramendments.org to help our senators stall this bill.
Action
3. Attend a Trumpcare sit-in. Protests against the AHCA are being organized,
often by Indivisible, all over the country.
Check-out this Google doc to see what is close. The document is updated as events are added.
Action
4. Protect the integrity of our elections. In testimony to the Senate foreign
Relations Committee last week a Department of Homeland Security official
testified that people connected with the Russian government tried to hack
election related equipment in 21 states, apparently breaching several, prior to
the November election. The Intercept reported that Russian intelligence
attacked a voting software supplier and sent phishing emails to about 100 local
election officials just before the election. Bloomberg reported that the
Russians tried to change voter data in Illinois and accessed a campaign finance
database in another state. According to
the Washington Post, last Tuesday former director of Homeland Security Jeh
Johnson, testified before the House Intelligence Committee that the “scale and
scope” of Russian interference was unprecedented. In the meantime Trump
continues to deny any Russian interference.
According to Bloomberg, some states cooperated with federal authorities
in investigating the extent of the cyberattacks more than others.
Write
your
state delegate (Chris Peace if you are in the 97th district, which is east of
Rt. 301 in Hanover or Hyland Fowler if you are in the 55th district west of Rt
301) and ask if they believe that the Russians conducted a cyberattack on state
voting infrastructure and, if so, ask that they make a public statement to that
effect and outline what they are doing to ensure the integrity of the Virginia
election this November. Please stress
that this is a real threat to our election integrity and is more worthy of
their attention than their voter suppression efforts.
Action
5. Protect our national monuments, including the newly beloved Bear Ears. Trump signed an executive
order that threatens 30 national monuments by opening them up to drilling,
mining and fracking, which would endanger neighboring water systems and destroy
viewscapes and ecosystems. Please send a
message to Department of Interior, Secretary Ryan Zinke and ask that he not
carve up our monuments for immediate profit, but that our monuments be
preserved intact for future generations. Remind him of the economic damage that
these extraction operations would do to towns depending on tourist and
recreation dollars. Use the
public comment email link feedback@ios.doi.gov to express your opinion.
Take Action Now
6-18-17
Take
Action Now is
a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action
1. Unite behind our candidates. Democrats had great
candidates in the primary who ran a spirited campaign. A big thanks to all who were willing to
serve. Now it is time to work hard to
support our slate because we all know we need each candidate to serve as a
buffer between Washington and Virginia. Check
out the candidates’ websites, sign up for updates, volunteer and/or contribute.
Action
2. Recommit to nonviolence. In the wake the tragic shootings this week in
Alexandria and mindful the other 153 mass shootings and 7000 gun deaths this year
alone it is a good time to reflect on the Resistance and its commitment to
nonviolence. We need to prepare for the
politicization of the shooting in Alexandria. While we don’t need to defend
ourselves, after all we are the voices for sensible gun checks and for more
extensive mental health care, we need to guard against being silenced by the
criticism. New York Times columnist
Charles Blow wrote, “While rhetoric should never promote violence, it needn’t
be timid.” Also, as we are being attacked it is important to remember the
sentiment in this paraphrase of Martin Luther King’s words in Montgomery: we
are out to defeat injustice and not our neighbors who may be unjust.
In
that spirit, call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and
express sympathy for those injured or traumatized by the violence in Alexandria
and add your support for sensible gun laws and access to mental health
care. Please note that the AHCA would
limit access to mental health care by cutting Medicaid funds and by allowing
states to not include it as an essential benefit.
Action
3. Support public education. PBS is scheduled to air a
three hour documentary called Schools, Inc., which the Network for Public
Education calls “anti-public education propaganda”. This film espouses the Cato Institute
philosophy of eliminating public education and anti discrimination laws. Call PBS (703-739-5000) and ask that
they also air Diane Ravitch’s rebuttal film, Backpack Full of Cash. To read more go to: https://wp.me/p3bR9v-2sM
Action
4. Help save the internet. The nonpartisan
group Free Press is joining with internet retailers Amazon, Etsy &
Kickstarter to push back against FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s efforts to end net
neutrality in a major internet event on July 12. Go to http://act.freepress.net/signup/internet_nn_july_12/?t=5&akid=6489.9887905.ROgEMJ for more information and
to sign up.
Action
5. Talk about Kansas. The Kansas experiment of
cutting taxes to promote economic growth has been a huge failure marked by
years of slow growth and devastating cuts to state services. The Brookings Institute outlines three
lessons from that experiment that congressional Republicans should note before
trying the same experiment on a national level.
As Brookings reports, “First, tax cuts won’t boost growth. Second,
special tax rates for businesses will surely generate tax sheltering and
revenue losses, but will not produce much new business activity. And,
third, most importantly, when Americans see what their tax dollars buy, they
choose higher revenues and more government spending over lower taxes and
draconian program cuts. These lessons matter all the more because the tax
and spending proposals made by President Trump and the House GOP bear important
similarities to Brownback’s policies in Kansas.” Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261
or 804-730-6595) and tell him that massive tax cuts for the wealthy will
harm the economy, not help it. Trickle
down economics has never worked. Tell him and your Republican friends about
Kansas.
For
more background see https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2017/06/13/what-the-kansas-tax-cut-about-face-means/?utm_campaign=Brookings%20Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=53088391
Take Action Now
5-14-17
Action 1. Protect our democratic institutions. The U.S has never had a political campaign accused
of colluding with a hostile foreign government as Trump’s is. Now Trump fired the man in charge of the
investigation, FBI director James Comey.
Trump fired two other law enforcement officials, Preet Bharara, and
Sally Q. Yates, who were leading Trump investigations. Taken together these firings raise the
possibility of obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense, but even if the
acts are deemed legal, they are contrary to the norms of democracy. Disempowering
institutions like the Department of Justice, the FBI and the free press is what
dictators do.
Attorney
General Jeff Sessions is further eroding these institutions. He stated he would
recuse himself from the Russia investigation because of his involvement with
the campaign and his lies to the Senate about his contacts with Russia, but he
was involved with Comey’s firing and possibly will be involved the hiring of
his replacement. It is unacceptable for anyone
involved with the accused campaign to be hiring the investigator.
Call Congressman Rob Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595)
and insist that he stop defending Trump’s undemocratic actions, that he support
the appointment of an independent special prosecutor and that he work to seek
Sessions’ resignation or impeachment.
Action 2. Send a message to the Department of Justice. Attorney General Jeff Sessions lied under oath at his Senate confirmation
hearings about his contacts with the Russians.
Because of that he agreed to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia
investigation, which he has not done because he was involved in the firing of
James Comey, the lead investigator.
Sessions lied to the Senate about Russia and then to the American people
about his recusal. He does not deserve
to be our top law enforcement official and he should resign or be impeached.
Trump used newly
appointed deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, to provide a flimsy excuse
for Comey’s firing. At Trump’s request
Rosenstein wrote a memo saying that Comey deserved to be fired because he was
too mean to Hilary Clinton. Even Trump backed
away from this nonsensical pretense, but now Rosenstein’s reputation is flawed.
It is clear that
Comey was fired because the Trump-Russia investigation was getting too
hot. Now Trump and Sessions will hire
the new FBI director. This new
director’s independence and judgment will be questioned and he/she will be
hampered by the fact that the boss, Jeff Sessions, has not recused himself from
the investigation as promised. The new director will serve under veiled threats
that if the investigation does not please Trump, he/she will be fired.
Call the Department of Justice Hotline (202-353-1555) and leave a message that
Sessions should
resign because of his lies to the Senate and to the American people. It is untenable that he have any role in the
hiring of the new FBI director. Also, Rosenstein lost credibility by allowing himself to
be used by Trump, so he must appoint a special prosecutor.
Write postcards to the Deputy Attorney General, The Honorable Rod Rosenstein,
U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20530-0001 and convey the message that Sessions must resign and Rosenstein must
appoint a special prosecutor.
Action 3. March for an independent investigation on
Russia. This march will press for an
independent prosecutor for the Russia-Trump investigation. It will be Sat, May 20, 12pm-8pm at the White
House. Details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/172687636591057/
Action 4. Discover the power of resistbot. If you text the number
504-09 and type the word “resist” as the message, Resistbot will text you back
and, using the zip code you enter, will walk you through sending fax messages
to your representatives. Test it out and follow the prompts to
send this, or another fax message to Senators Kaine and Warner. “During his Senate confirmation hearing,
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said under oath, ‘I did not have communications
with the Russians.’ This is false and,
because of his involvement with the Comey firing, we know that he has not
recused himself from the Trump-Russia investigation as he promised. Please seek Democratic support in the House
to impeach Sessions under Article II Section 4 of the U.S. constitution for
lying to the Senate and to the American people.”
Action 5. Develop a strategy to stay sane despite Trump.
In the articles below Deepak Chopra and Robin
Chancer, discusses tactics for staying focused, grounded and sane in these
difficult times.
Take Action Now
5-7-17
Action 1. Fight Trumpcare. Ben Wikler, Washington director for MoveOn argues
that what happens immediately to House members who voted for the AHCA will
shape what happens in the Senate. He
suggests a highly visible “political firestorm”, because the Senate Republicans
will be watching. It needs to look like Congressman
Rob Wittman, who voted for Trumpcare, committed “political suicide”. Members of
Hanover Take Action Network held a protest at Congressman Wittman’s
Mechanicsville office just hours after the vote.
Attend
additional protest rallies to hold Congressman Wittman accountable.
One will be held at Wittman's Mechanicsville Office (6501 Mechanicsville
Turnpike) on Saturday, May 13th at 3 pm. Invite any media contacts you have to
attend and post your participation on social media.
Sign
up to be part of a vigil being held during office
hours during the recess at Wittman's Mechanicsville office: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FbvBhzYTS7XEgV-s40tNPR7s0mUbIYa3Q2JaMFatZIM/edit?usp=sharing
Flood Congressman Wittman ‘s
phones (202-225-4261 or
804-730-6595) to tell him you are disappointed he ripped healthcare coverage
from 24 million people.
Write letters to the editor explaining how Wittman’s vote harmed low-income
citizens, the elderly, those with disabilities and those with preexisting
conditions (most Americans have at least one).
Action 2. Protect Virginia’s Coast. President Trump recently signed an executive order reversing an Obama
moratorium on offshore drilling.
Proponents of offshore drilling say it will spur economic development,
while opponents say the environmental risks outweigh the benefits. According to the Washington Post on 5-1-17,
Congressman Rob Wittman co-signed a bill that would require lease sales
off the Virginia coast and suspend environmental reviews until 2022, while
allocating a percent of the revenue from the lease sales to the state. Wittman says that the problems that led to
the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010 could be avoided. Analyses of that catastrophe show that some
of the causes were human error and it is impossible to eradicate that risk.
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) to express your
opposition to this bill. An accident
would be catastrophic for the Virginia environment, for wildlife and for the
Tidewater economy.
Action 3. Address Trump’s disability. In his column on 5-3-17 archconservative
George Will wrote a scathing rebuke of Trump’s inability to think or speak
clearly and cites the dangers of placing America’s vast military power in the
hands of such a mind. “It is up to the
public to quarantine this presidency by insistently communicating to its
elected representatives a steady, rational fear of this man whose combination
of impulsivity and credulity render him unfit to take the nation into military
conflict.”
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and, if nothing else,
read Will’s words.
Write postcards to Congressman Wittman at 6501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite
102, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 to express your concerns about Trump’s bellicose
threats and disregard for diplomacy.
Postcards will be available at the May HDC meeting, the Women’s Coffee
and the Men’s Forum, so come prepared with your messages.
Action 4. Protect Virginia’s mountaintops. According to the Chesapeake
Climate Action Network, Dominion Resources wants to remove the tops of 38 miles
of mountains to build the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline. These ridges would be reduced by 10-60 feet
(the equivalent of a five story building).
Dominion says they will replace the mountaintop, but this will be in
Virginia’s oldest timberland and it is impossible to replace a 100 year-old
tree.
Call Governor McAuliffe
(804-786-2211) and ask him to fight this plan by denying water permits for the
pipeline.
Action 5. TAN feedback report. Last week, TAN asked for feedback on our performance
to date and promised an anonymous report of that feedback. We did not get as many responses as we had
hoped. Can it be that not many read all
the way to Action 5? That is certainly
possible, but the answers we did get were positive. Several said it helps to have issue background and contact information
together at their fingertips. Some
mentioned that having a succinct telephone script is useful. One person liked the mix of local, state and
national actions. Taken together, it
looks like TAN is still meeting its goal of guiding Hanover Democrats toward
strategic acts to protect our democracy and we will persist in our efforts. One good suggestion that emerged is to post
the Action Items to your email and/or social media pages, note when you
completed one and discuss how it went.
That will increase TAN exposure and friends can keep friends motivated. Thanks
to those who responded.
Take Action Now
4-30-17
Action 1. Keep protecting the ACA. Yes, this was item number one last week, but
although the vote this week was cancelled, it may come up again this week and
Congressman Wittman’s office makes a daily tally of the calls they get. As of Friday afternoon, they had no calls
supporting their horrid new bill and many against it. Wittman has not taken a public stand on the
new bill.
Even if you have never
called before, call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261
or 804-730-6595) and tell him not to rip healthcare coverage from 24 million
people. Ask him to repair the
ACA, not replace it. All you have to say
is, “I want Congressman Wittman to vote no on the ACHA” and your vote will be
tallied in the right column. If you have called before, keep calling.
Action 2.
Prod the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Last week, news
sources including Business Week and MSNBC reported that the Senate Intelligence
Committee’s investigation on the Trump-Russia affair is stalled. The Chairman, Richard Burr, was accused of
not signing subpoenas required for upcoming hearings. There has been some movement on looking at
Russia’s interference in the election, but an unwillingness to investigate
collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Tell committee members we expect them
to make progress without partisan obstruction.
Americans need to be able to trust the outcome of this
investigation.
Call and say you are
calling because of the senator’s membership on the Senate Intelligence
Committee:
Richard Burr, Chair 202-224-3154 or 800-685-8916
Mark Warner, Co-chair 202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314
James Risch 202-224-2752
Susan Collins 202-224-2523
Roy Blunt 202-224-5721
James Lankford 202-224-5754
Tom Cotton 202-224-2353
John Cornyn 202-224-2934
Diane Feinstein 202-224-3841
Ron Wyden 202-224-5244
Martin Heinrich 202-224-5521
Angus King 202-224-5344
Joe Manchin 202-224-3954
Kamala Harris 202-224-3553
Action 3. Defend our national monuments. The Antiquities Act protects federal lands
from exploitation. President Trump
ordered the Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, to review the national
monuments for possible drilling, logging or mining.
Call Secretary Zinke
(202-208-3100) and ask him to respect that our national lands are there for the
benefit and enjoyment of all Americans, not simply for the profit and
exploitation of a few.
Action 4. Extend a warm, Hanover welcome. Signs that say, “No matter where you are from,
we are glad you’re our neighbor” in three languages are cropping up all over
Hanover. You can order yours at: https://www.facebook.com/welcomeourneighbors
Action 5. Give TAN feedback. As TAN wraps up its fourth month of publication, it
is a good time to take stock of how we are doing. Please email info@hvadems.com to answer the following questions and give open-ended comments. We will summarize the results next week
without giving any identifying information about the source.
·
How often do you use TAN action items?
·
Are the TAN items helpful in your advocacy decisions?
·
Are you being as active as you thought you might be after the election?
·
Can TAN better meet your needs?
·
Is there a need for TAN going forward?
Take Action Now
4-23-17
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic
Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action 1. Protect the ACA, again. Senator Jenn McClellan,
speaking to the Blue Moon Bash on 4-19-17, urged Hanover Democrats to increase the pressure on Congressman
Wittman to protect our values. The HDC
will continue to fight to protect the right to affordable healthcare
coverage.
News
reports indicate that Congressional Republicans will try again next week to
repeal and replace the ACA so Trump can have a “win” in his first 100
days. Their plan, even worse than the
original Trumpcare, is to allow states to opt out of requiring coverage for the
essential health benefits coverage (such as maternity care, prescription drug
and mental health care coverage). States
could also ask to waive the requirement that people with preexisting conditions
not be charged more for insurance, as long as the state creates a state-run
high risk pool. The high-risk pools that
some states had before the ACA were underfunded and resulted in exorbitant fees
that pushed many off coverage. This plan
would also phase out Medicaid expansion.
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and plead with him
not to abandon those with the greatest need for coverage. Ask him to repair the ACA, not replace
it.
Action 2. Protect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). The Trump
budget proposes slashing the NOAA budget by 17%. These cuts would eliminate funding for
external research, costal management, estuary reserves and “coastal resilience”
projects. Trump campaigned for more
infrastructure spending, but cutting funds for satellites and ships is counter
to that promise. The loss of these
programs would hit Virginia, especially our coastal regions, particularly hard.
In honor of the
Science March and Earth Day, Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and insist he protect the NOAA budget.
Action 3. Support our diverse military. President Trump nominated Tennessee Senator
Mark Green, MD to serve as Secretary of the Army. According to the Huffington Post, Green sponsored
anti-LGBTQ legislation and was recorded last year in a speech to the Tea Party
saying that transgender people have a mental disorder. To have such a leader would be disrespectful
and possibly dangerous to the many LGBTQ people serving in the US Army.
Call Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and
Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and ask them to oppose Mark Green’s
confirmation as Secretary of the Army.
Action 4. Learn about a problem on the rise. The Hanover Court Appointed Special Advocate
Program (CASA) is hosting a Human Trafficking Presentation and Panel on
Tuesday, April 25 from 9-11 am in the Administration Building Board Room at
Hanover Court House. Hanover’s proximity
to I-95 makes the county vulnerable to trafficking activity. For more information and to register see https://www.eventbrite.com/e/human-trafficking-presentation-and-panel-tickets-33057684424
Action 5. Educate your neighbors about OneVirginia2021. Make sure our vote counts and our voice is
heard by working to end gerrymandering.
OneVirginia2021 is asking for volunteers to staff the polls in 2-hour
shifts on primary election day, June 13.
They will provide training and materials. To learn more and sign up go to: https://www.onevirginia2021.org/participate/work-the-polls/
Take Action Now
4-9-2017
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Action 1. Fight corruption. While all eyes are focused on the Trump-Russia affair and now, Syria, many in this administration are violating long-standing ethical standards with their myriad of business connections. In normal times the House Oversight Committee and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations would be investigating.
These articles survey the scope of the problems: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/opinion/sunday/pick-your-favorite-ethics-offender.html?emc=edit_th_20170402&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=58383117&_r=0
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and ask that they advocate for the House and Senate oversight committees to begin investigations on the ethical violations and potential corruption.
Action 2. Hold Trump accountable for the Syrian airstrike. In 2013 100 members of Congress wrote a letter to President Obama saying that it would be unconstitutional for him to order a military strike in response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons without congressional approval. Congressman Wittman signed that letter. Trump just did what they told Obama would be unconstitutional.
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and ask that he speak out about Trump’s unconstitutional act.
Action 3. Advocate for single payer healthcare. The fate of health care coverage is unsettled. The president announced he would just wait for the ACA to implode, but Pence is trying to strike a deal for a plan that would be even worse than the original Trumpcare.
Many on the left, including Bernie Sanders, argue this is the time to advocate for single payer coverage (Medicare for All), while others think energy should be spend improving the ACA and protecting it from Republican sabotage. We need to work toward both. Here is some background on the single payer plan.
Write Letters to the Editor advocating for this. This is good groundwork for our candidates in the 2018 midterm and 2020 elections.
Action 4. Advocate for improvements to the ACA. Healthcare again…who knew, health care is complicated? We need to be informed and vigilant. Here are three articles with cautions about potential Republican sabotage and concrete suggestions for improving the ACA.
Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and Senators Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) to push them to sponsor improvements to the ACA.
Action 5. Enjoy Spring Break. TAN will not publish on 4-15-17. We hope you enjoy a much-deserved break. If something big does happen that week, you have your responsible news sources, the phone numbers of all your local and national representatives in your phone (or in the archives on the HDC web page), tips on writing LTE’s and practice with countless phone scripts. You are nimble, able activists. Persist.
Take Action Now
4-2-2017
Action 1. Demand that the House Intelligence Committee force their chair, Devin Nunes, to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia Affair investigation and that they reschedule the public hearings he cancelled. Nunes’ behavior in defending Trump has damaged the credibility of the House investigation. The senior Democrat, Adam Schiff, requests we call the individual members of the committee.
Call all the members of the committee below and say you are calling in their capacity as a member of the House Intelligence Committee and ask that they pressure Nunes to recuse himself.
House Intelligence Committee Members:
- Devin Nunes, Chair 202-225-2523
- Terri Sewell 202-225-2665
- Eric Crawford 202-225-4076
- Adam Schiff 202-225-4176
- Jackie Speier 202-225-3531
- Eric Swalwell 202-225-5065
- Jim Himes 202-225-5541
- Thomas Rooney 202-225-5792
- Ilena Ros-Lehtinen 202-225-3931
- Mike Quigley 202-225-4061
- Andre Carson 202-225-4011
- Frank Lo Biondo 202-225-6572
- Peter King 202-225-7896
- Elsie Stefanik 202-225-4611
- Michael Turner 202-225-6465
- Brad Wenstrup 202-225-3164
- Trey Gowdy 202-225-6030
- Joaquin Castro 202-225-3236
- Mike Conway 202-225-3065
- Will Hurd 202-225-4511
- Chris Stewart 202-225-9730
- Denny Heck 202-225-9740
Action 2. Protest the EPA’S refusal to ban chlorpyrifos (Lorsban), a pesticide widely used on fruits and vegetables. The Obama administration proposed a ban on Lorsban in 2015 based on studies that show the pesticide posed risks to farmers and children. Children exposed to the chemical prenatally were found to have small, but measurable differences in brain function. EPA director, Scott Pruitt, rejecting his agency’s own science, announced this week that he will overturn the proposed ban.
- Call the EPA (703-308-8068) and protest this decision
Action 3. Ask Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) to co-sponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act. April 24th is the day women catch up with their male counterparts with pay from the previous year. On that date the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill to deter wage discrimination, will be introduced in the House. Everyone gives lip service to equal pay, but Congressman Wittman can do something about it by co-sponsoring this bill.
Action 4. Help expand Medicaid in Virginia. The ACA is the “law of the land” for the foreseeable future. Some hard working, low income Virginians are locked out of the insurance market because Virginia did not expand Medicaid, but Virginia can expand Medicaid with no additional cost to the state because Virginia’s hospitals have agreed to pick up the state’s 10% tab. Before April 5, email your delegate and senator and insist that they vote to support the Governor McAuliffe’s initiative to expand Medicaid.
- Buddy Fowler Delbfowler@house.virginia.gov
- Chris Peace Delcpeace@house.virginia.gov
- Ryan Mc Dougal district4@senate.virginia.gov
- Jennifer McClellan district9@senate.virginia.gov
- Siobhan Dunnavant district12@senate.virginia.gov
Action 5. Get ready to march.
- Join a nationwide Tax March on Saturday, April 15th to demand that the president release his income tax returns. See details at http://act.standupamerica.com/page/content/tax-march-reg-VA?source=SUA_32917&utm_medium=email&utm_source=standup&utm_content=172+-+httpactstandupamericacomTaxMarchVA&utm_campaign=EM_PET_2017.03.29_X_JA_TaxMarch_F1_S3_C1
- The March for Science will be in Washington DC and satellite cities on Earth Day, April 22nd because "it is time for people who support scientific research and evidence based policies to take a public stand and be counted". Details at https://www.marchforscience.com
- The People's Climate Movement March is in Washington on the 100th day of the Trump presidency, April 29th. The goal is to "resist attacks on our people, our communities and our planet." Details at http://peoplesclimate.org
Take Action Now
3-28-17
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover
Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our
democracy.
Action 1. Shut down confirmation hearings until FBI
investigation is complete. Join with Senator Elizabeth Warren and call for a suspension of
all Senate confirmation hearings until the results of the FBI criminal
investigation of the Trump campaign are reported. This includes the
confirmation hearing for Neil Gorsuch, nominee for Supreme Court Justice.
This president has no right to be making lifetime appointments to the Supreme
Court, if he or his team colluded with the Russians to interfere in our
elections.
· Also oppose Gorsuch on his own merits. He supported corporations over
employees including in the Hobby Lobby decision, which allowed employers to
deny health insurance coverage for birth control and he supported decisions
that gut education for children with disabilities, threaten the environment and
endanger safe food and medicine. He defended Bush-era torture policies
when he was at the Justice Department.
· Call Senator Kaine (202-224-4024 or
804-771-2221) and Senator Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and ask them to
oppose Gorsuch’s hearings and his confirmation.
Action 2. Celebrate, but stay watchful. Take time to celebrate our success
in saving the ACA. Congress complained about the avalanche of calls they
received and the Washington Post estimated the calls ran 35-1 against
Trumpcare. Congressional offices definitely tabulated the calls. Good
work; your calls were effective! Thanks!
· Trump
now advocates letting the ACA implode, but it is likely he will take steps to
insure that it does. It is a good time to
write Letters to the Editor
warning of Trump’s deviousness.
Action 3. Protect Virginia’s water. Governor
McAuliffe added amendments to a bill that would place a delay on Dominion Power
closing their heavy metal laden coal ash ponds until it is determined if their
methods provide adequate protections for the surrounding ground water.
The General Assembly will consider these amendments on April 5.
· Email your delegate and senator and ask
that they vote to support the governor’s amendments and protect Virginia’s
water.
o Chris Peace Delcpeace@house.virginia.gov
Action 4. No silent spring. Neonic
pesticides increasingly endanger bees that are required for pollination of
crops. Sign this petition to ask world leaders to ban neonic pesticides
and protect our bees and our environment. https://actions.sumofus.org/a/we-don-t-need-bee-killing-pesticides-to-feed-the-world-1/?akid=28677.62477.sG2Vl7&rd=1&source=fwd&t=2
Action 5. Don’t let Trump age you. Trump’s
communication style, the lies, gaslighting, verbal abuse and manipulation, are
all intended to confuse and demoralize the listener. Chronic stress from this
kind of constant verbal assault fatigues and ages us. In order to persist
for the long term we need to distance ourselves emotionally from his rhetoric
and practice self–care.
Have an Action Item or Event to
share?
Stay Connected:
Take Action Now
3-20-2017
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover
Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our
democracy.
Action 1. Demand the president’s income tax returns. Americans
assume the president is hiding something by refusing to release his tax
returns. Is he hiding debts to and/or business entanglements with
foreign, perhaps hostile, governments? We need to know.
The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation can require the
president to release his returns to them and then they can release their
findings to Congress.
· Call the Joint Committee on Taxation (202-225-3621)
and insist they demand to see the president’s tax returns and release their
findings to Congress.
· Call Congressperson Wittman
(202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595), Senator Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221)
and Senator Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and ask them to insist that
the Joint Committee on Taxation demand to see the tax returns.
Action 2. Protest budget cuts. No one
will benefit more from the 29% cut to the State Department and diplomacy
programs and the 35% cuts to the Treasury Department’s international assistance
programs than Russia and China.
In a meeting on March 13th with members of Hanover Women
Concerned for our Country, Congressman Wittman said he supports “soft power”
and is opposed deep cuts to the State Department. He noted that he
receives a daily tally of calls to his office.
· Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or
804-730-6595) to demand he keep his commitment to fund the State Department and
other foreign aid programs.
Action 3. Fight the wall. Remember that Mexico was going to pay for the wall? That was
an alternative fact.
It will take about $21 billion and there are current budget
requests for $5.6 billion for building the wall and $2.9 billion to jail and
deport immigrants.
· Leave
a message opposing the
building of the wall and aggressive deportation actions on the Department of
Homeland Security comment line (202-282-8495) or fax a message to 202-612-1976.
· Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or
804-730-6595) and ask him to oppose funding the wall and the aggressive
deportation initiatives.
Action 4. It matters who represents the US at the U.N.
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The US State
Department announced that Lisa Correnti, a Center for Family & Human Rights
(C-FAM) officer, is a US delegate. The Southern Poverty Law center
labeled C-FAM a hate group for its opposition to reproductive rights and its
support of laws that restrict the rights of LGBTQ people. The Heritage
Foundation, a leading anti-LGBTQ group that advocates cutting all grant
programs managed by the Office on Violence Against Women, will also be
represented. This is a slap in the face to the 4 million people worldwide
who marched at the Women’s Marches.
· Write a message on the State Department comment
board (https://register.state.gov/contactus/ ) saying that these delegates do not represent
American values and undermine our leadership in the world.
Action 5. Ask Congressman Wittman to live up to his word. Congressman
Wittman says he supports the environment. Yet, he did not
sign the “Republican Climate Resolution”, a statement by 17 Republican House
members in which they acknowledge man made climate change and pledge to support
research and mitigation measures. These congresspersons’ challenge to
decades of conservative conspiracy theories and climate change denial is
huge.
· Call Congressman Wittman (202-225-4261 or
804-730-6595) and ask him to sign this statement.
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
03/12/2017
Action 1. Learn why the Republican plan to replace the ACA is not good.
- According to this Ezra Klein article in Vox the Republican plan cuts taxes on the rich, raises premiums for the elderly and reduces subsidies for the poor. Under the plan up to 15-20 million Americans will lose or not be able to afford coverage and, because of the tax cuts, the deficit is likely to rise. http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/3/6/14838122/republican-health-bill-obamacare-replacement
- For more background see http://www.vox.com/2017/3/6/14829526/american-health-care-act-gop-replacement and http://www.vox.com/2017/3/6/14837610/obamacare-replacement-not-paid-for
- Write letters to the editor explaining why this is not a good plan.
- Call Congressperson Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) to ask that he vote to SAVE the ACA. Tell your personal story about how the ACA has helped you.
Action 2. Partner with faith communities.
- Many churches around the country are planning to provide services and sanctuary for immigrants who otherwise might face deportation and separation from their families. Please speak with your faith community so we can see if there are resources in Hanover for our immigrant population.
- The Legal Aide Justice Center has held 2 legal clinics to help immigrants know their rights and to execute powers of attorney. If your church is interested in sponsoring such a clinic, let TAN know and we will try to facilitate.
Action 3. Save our planet. The environment is under assault from so many directions it is hard to know where to start to protect it. Here are some concrete actions.
- Follow and support the Sierra Club (http://www.sierraclub.org), the Virginia based Southern Environmental Law Center (https://www.southernenvironment.org/our-states/virginia ) and/or The League of Conservation Voters (http://valcv.org)
- Join with the Sierra Club in asking the state to create limits on carbon pollution. Attend the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board meeting on March 16 at 10 am at 201 N 9th St., Richmond. Register at: https://sierra.secure.force.com/events/details?formcampaignid=70131000001E0mWAAS&_ga=1.227097688.417584369.1487350569
- Learn more about going solar. Attend a Greater Richmond Solar Co-op information session: Tuesday, March 28 6:30 p.m. Pamunkey Regional Library, 201 South Railroad Avenue, Ashland sponsored by Falls of the James Chapter of the Sierra Club. http://www.vasun.org/richmond/
Action 4 The planet again, because it is going to take all of us. If you do nothing else this week, call the Environmental Protection Agency (202-564-4700) and say Secretary Scott Pruitt is wrong. Tell them you believe in science and science says climate change is real and man-made. It is unacceptable to have the head of EPA be a climate-change denier.
Action 5. Stand up for Net Neutrality. Ajit Pai, the new Federal Communications chairperson has signaled a desire to end the policy of net neutrality for the Internet. If this sounds familiar it is because in 2015 millions fought for net neutrality and won. Now it is time to fight again because without net neutrality large multinational companies would control the access to and cost of the Internet, likely resulting in increased costs and slower speeds for families and businesses. The Internet needs to be classified as a utility so we can retain important consumer protections.
- Learn why net neutrality is important and share the information with your friends https://www.fcc.gov/general/open-internet
- Sign this petition to support net neutrality https://www.thenation.com/article/net-neutrality-is-in-danger-tell-the-fcc-why-we-need-it/
- Call the Federal Communications Commission (1-888-225-5322, press 4, then 2, then 0) and insist they retain net neutrality.
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
03/05/2017
Action 1. Support responsible journalism. On Feburary 24th the White House excluded reporters
from The New York Times, CNN, Politico, BuzzFeed and the majority of foreign
press reporters from a news briefing. Most of these sites had been
critical of President Trump and doing investigative reporting on the
Trump-Russia affair. Other outlets, incuding NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, the
Washington Times, One America News Network and Breitbart were allowed to
attend. This is an outrageous and unprecedented attempt by the White
House to bully the press, who Trump called the “FAKE News media” and the “enemy
of the people” during his Orlando rally on Feb 18th.
· Contact
the following and insist all responsible media boycott any future briefings, if
even one media outlet is barred.
1. White House Correspondents’
Association (202-266-7453)
3. Bloomberg 212-318-2000
4. CBS News 212-975-2888
6. McClatchy 916-321-1860
7. Reuters 646-233-4870
· According
to MediaMatters Fox News is “unbalanced” and promotes conspiracy theories and
race baiting (e.g., promotion of “birther” conspiracy and climate change
denial) and Politifact rated 60% of the claims by Fox, Fox News and Fox
Business personalities and their guests to be false. Yet, TAN members
frequently find Fox playing to captive audiences in local doctors’ and dental
offices and in gyms.
1. If this offends you, politely speak up
and ask to talk to the person responsible for choosing the channels. If
that is not possible ask the receptionist to take a message requesting that the
TV be switched to another channel. Some have chosen to boycott venues
that won’t turn off Fox.
2. Report back to TAN any local
commercial outlets (fast food venues, etc) that play Fox routinely, so we can
craft a strategy to address those.
· Read
and share this Guide from the Atlantic on recommendations for the media to deal
with the lies of the Trump administration. https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/11/a-reflexive-liar-in-command-guidelines-for-the-media/508832/
Action 2. Persist in demanding an independent investigation
of the Trump-Russia affair. This week we learned that Attorney General Jeff Sessions misled
the Senate Judiciary Committee in his confirmation hearings by denying that he
had contacts with the Russian government and that Trump son-in-law turned
advisor, Jared Kushner, also met with the Russian ambassador just as the Obama
administration was sanctioning the Russian government for meddling in the U.S.
election.
Also, this week Congressperson Rob Wittman voted against a
bill that would require the president to release his taxes. When pressed on the need for an
independent investigation, Wittman staff member, Joe Schumacher, wrote in an
email communication on 3-3-17, “As was discussed at the meeting, Rep. Wittman
would like for the Congressional Oversight Committees, in the House and Senate,
to be given an opportunity and time to fully investigate.” Yet, the House
Oversight Committee website on 3-3-17 does not list this as one of its
investigations and its calendar shows no scheduled hearings.
On March 1, the House Intelligence Committee did release the
parameters for its investigation into Russian interference, but the chair of
that committee, Congressperson Devin Nunes, was a member of the Trump
transition team and recently threatened journalists covering the story. He actions show he cannot be an
impartial investigator.
As former President George Bush said this week the American
people deserve answers.
· Call
Congressperson Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-6595) and explain that you are
disappointed in his vote that keeps Trump’s conflicts of interest hidden and
explain why an independent investigation is essential. Ask his help in getting
Rep. Nunes to recuse himself from the investigation.
· Call
Senators Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) and Kaine (202-224-4024 or 804-771-2221)
to emphasize that the new developments mandate an independent investigation and
ask them to pressure Attorney General Sessions to resign.
Action 3. Train and volunteer
· The
ACLU is starting a grass roots organization, People Power, to resist the Trump
agenda. They are offering Resistance training and volunteer opportunities
on March 11 at 5 pm (go.peoplepower.org).
· The
Sacred Heart Center in Richmond has multiple programs to serve Latino immigrant
community and provides training and volunteer opportunities http://shcrichmond.org/en/volunteer/
· Please share
with those who may need this service: "Legal Aide Justice Center, in
collaboration with Sacred Heart Center, will be holding a Legal Clinic in
Richmond, VA on 3/9 to assist immigrants in giving Power of Attorney. …Power of
Attorneys normally would cost $500-$1000 and we don't want this cost to stop
families from preventing catastrophic consequences in an emergency situation.
It is very important that the Power of Attorney be in place before physical
detention occurs. It is much more difficult to perform the Power of Attorney
once detained. Please share this information with people who may need these
services or anyone who wants to help.”
Where:
Sacred
Hearts Center
1400 Perry
St Richmond, VA 23224
When:
Thursday 3/9
6:30PM
-8:30PM
Action 4. Support voting rights. The
first sign on how the Sessions Justice Department will address voter
suppression laws is not promising. On Feb. 27th the Justice Department abandoned its
long-standing argument that the strict Texas voter-ID law is intentionally
designed to suppress minority votes, although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
5th Circuit has
already ruled this law to be unconstitutional. The court estimated that
more than 600,000 Texans eligible to vote did not have the required ID.
The case will go forward, but without the Justice Department’s support on this
key issue. This signals a shift from the Obama administration, which
doggedly fought these state voter suppression laws. Our supporters kept
some bad bills from passing in the VA General Assembly this year, now let’s get
to work at the national level.
· Call
the Department of Justice comment line (202-353-1555) and demand that the
department protect the Voting Rights Act and fight the voter suppression laws
emanating from the various states.
· While
you are on the line, mention that Attorney General Session’s lying under oath
during his confirmation hearing about his contacts with the Russian government
requires his resignation.
Action 5. Let’s repeat until they get it right. The Hanover Board of Supervisors has backed away from raising new
revenues from any source other than development proffers for roads. This
strategy encourages overbuilding just to keep the roads repaired.
· Call
or email your supervisor (http://www.richmond.va.lwvnet.org/Hanover.html ) and tell them that there are not enough
revenues to sufficiently fund county services. Hanover County has the lowest
property tax rate in the region. It was lowered during the housing boom and
never corrected. Tell them
to raise the property tax rate so that our fire/ems, sheriff's department,
schools, roads, and social services will have enough funding. Tell them you
would support a meal's tax to support these services, as well.
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover
Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our
democracy.
02/26/2017
Action 1. Stand with immigrants and refugees. Homeland
Security Secretary John Kelly announced enforcement guidelines this week that
will greatly increase the number of undocumented immigrants who are subject to
deportation. This will likely split families, increase anxiety and
exacerbate distrust of law enforcement in immigrant communities, cost billions
of dollars, expand the size and intrusiveness of government and deplete the
workforce in some key industries. Also, the Trump administration said it will
announce plans for a new travel ban this week.
· Follow Project 1461’s action items to
support undocumented immigrants (https://www.project1461.org/daily-call-to-action/now-more-than-ever-protect-undocumented-immigrants
· This United We Dream Deportation
Defense Card outlines rights and gives advice on dealing with ICE in 5
languages. Share via email and social media and download the card and the
hotline phone number (1-844-363-1423) to your phone http://unitedwedream.org/thank-deportation-defense-card-handy-phone/
· Support and volunteer with an
organization like the International Rescue Committee, (rescue.org), which helps refugees survive and recover. They have a
Richmond office.
· Call Congressperson Wittman
(804-730-6596 or 202-225-4261) and tell him you oppose the deportation surge
and the travel ban. You don’t want 4 billion in your tax money going into
hiring new ICE agents or 12 billion going to build the Mexican wall.
Action 2. Meet with Senator Kaine’s staff in Ashland. On
Wednesday, March, 1, Senator Kaine’s staff will hold office hours at the
Ashland Branch Library from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You are encouraged you
to make an appointment (tyee_mallory@kaine.senate.gov), but walk-ins are honored
too.
· Thank Senator Kaine for fighting
against the most egregious cabinet nominees
· Ask him to support an independent
investigation with a special prosecutor of the Trump-Russia affair and the
president’s many conflicts of interest.
· Tell him your personal healthcare
stories and ask him to fight to save Obamacare.
Action 3. Tell Congressperson Wittman (804-730-6596 or 202-225-4261) you oppose US
House Bill 610 This education
bill before the House of Representatives would damage public education by
siphoning off money for voucher programs. It would be particularly
harmful to students with disabilities, students living in poverty and English
Language Learners.
Action 4. Support your local library. Republicans
are proposing to de-fund IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services).
Local politicians look at the total population against the number
of library card holders to determine funding. Make sure your card is
current! http://www.pamunkeylibrary.org
Action 5. Demand to see his taxes. The White
House comment line (202-456-1111) is open again. The president says only
the media want to see his tax returns. Call, point out that you are not
with the media and demand that he release his taxes. If he is not hiding
something, there is no reason not to release. Save the number in your
speed dial.
· Call Congressperson Wittman (804-730-6596 or 202-225-4261) and insist that he support efforts
in the House to force the president to release his taxes.
Take Action Now
“Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only
thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover
Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our
democracy. Take heart from Margaret Mead’s belief that a small group of
committed citizens can change the world.
Action 1. Can you hear us now, Buddy?
· During
this session of the General Assembly Buddy Fowler supported gerrymandering,
voter suppression, and keeping women from accessing healthcare. For example, he
voted against redistricting reform three times, despite bi-partisan support in
the House and Senate and extensive citizen input to do this.
· Buddy
& Dale Hargrove Alderman, Buddy’s aide told our members they are only
hearing about these issues from people in Ashland. Call Buddy's office
(698-1055) and send him a postcard (General Assembly Building, P.O. Box 406,
Richmond, VA 23218) signed with
your name and district name, letting him know that you are disappointed in the
positions he took during this session and that people in your district are
involved and watching.
Action 2. Demand a nonpartisan, independent investigation of
the Trump-Russia affair
· Congressman
Rob Wittman is refusing to address the threat to our national security that
Flynn and other White House and Trump campaign officials’ relationship with Russian
officials poses. Call Congressman Rob Wittman's office (804-730-6596 or
202-225-4261) and tell him he must demand a full investigation into the White
House's relationship with Russian officials.
· Call
the Department of Justice comment line (202-353-1555) and insist that Attorney
General Jeff Sessions recue himself from any criminal investigation involving
the Trump-Russia affair.
Action 3. Get to know your Board of Supervisors
· Who
is your supervisor? Find out what district you live in and find your
supervisor: http://www.richmond.va.lwvnet.org/Hanover.html
· For
a first action, call or email your supervisor and let them know that there are
not enough revenues to sufficiently fund county services. Hanover County has
the lowest property tax rate in the region. It was lowered during the housing
boom and never corrected. Contact them and tell them to raise the property tax
rate so that our fire/ems, sheriff's department, schools, roads, and social
services will have enough funding. Tell them you would support a meal's tax to
support these services, as well.
· Here's
a link to a recent letter to the editor about this issue in the Mechanicsville
Local:
· Thank
Senators Kaine and Warner for voting against Scott Pruitt for Secretary of the
EPA.
· Track
bills of concern in Congress, such as the one to eliminate the EPA and the one
to gut the Endangered Species Act at www.govetrack.us.
· Support
community solar development in Virginia (SB 1393). This bill passed the
Virginia Senate and is now before the House. Call Delegates Peace
(804-698-1097) and Fowler (804-698-1055) and encourage their support.
· Congressman Wittman is a co-sponsor of H.R.277 - American Health Care
Reform Act of 2017 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/277/text ) a bill designed to replace the Affordable Care
Act. While we appreciate the congressperson’s willingness to “replace”
rather than simply repeal the ACA, Take
Action Now has serious
concerns about this bill. This plan utilizes Health Savings Plans, tax
deductions, Association plans and a high-risk pool for people with preexisting
conditions. The Health Savings Plan and tax deductions will provide
little or no help for low-income families. The costs of the high-risk
pool may be prohibitive for many. There are no prohibitions against women
being charged more for the same coverage and no requirement for maternity or
contraceptive coverage. The bill severely limits insurance coverage for
abortions.
· Congressman Wittman’s website has a
letter on healthcare that outlines five principles he will follow in crafting
new healthcare policy. Please read what he is thinking and then email
your stories, concerns and ideas to the email address at the bottom of the
letter (ACAIdeas.VA01@mail.house.gov). Follow this
link to the letter (http://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1143)
Week 6: Take Action Now
“Nevertheless she persisted”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticizing Senator
Elizabeth Warren, after she attempted to read a letter from Coretta Scott King
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic
Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy.
Let’s follow Senator Elizabeth Warren’s example and show the Senate Majority
Leader that we, too, will persist in fighting for
justice.
02/12/2017
Action 1.
Redistricting, again. Three good redistricting bills passed the Virginia State Senate
and have gone to the House of Delegates (SJ 290, SJ 231 and SB 846).
· Call Buddy Fowler (804-698-1055) on Monday, Feb 13 and ask for a vote on these three bills in the
full House Privileges and Elections Committee. Encourage him to support them.
· Go to the OneVirginia web page for talking
points (http://onevirginia2021.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Talking-Points-SJ290-–-Vogel-Howell-–-Constitutional-Amendment.pdf )
· Attend
the House Privileges and Elections subcommittee on elections (9th floor
Appropriations room) where these bills will be heard on Tuesday, Feb 14 at 7
am.
Action 2. Oppose
Virginia HB 2000
· Call Senators McDougle (804-698-7504), McClellan
(804-698-7509) and Dunnavant (804-698-7512) on Monday. Insist that they oppose HB 2000, which would
deputize state and local law enforcement to act as federal immigration
officers. This bill passed the House of Delegates and is now before the
Senate. Many law enforcement experts argue that bills like this create
distrust of law enforcement in our immigrant communities, which makes policing
more difficult and the public less safe.
· Attend the Senate Courts of Justice committee
meeting. The Senate Courts of
Justice committee scheduled a hearing on HB 2000 on Monday, Feb. 13 at 8 am in
Senate Room B. Senator McDougle serves on this committee.
· Sign a petition against the bill at:
Action 3. Prepare to run
for office. We need you!
· If
you haven't been involved in community
leadership roles, now is the time to begin getting involved for future
elections. Start with the Emily's list training, and become involved in your
local committee and local civic organizations.
· Emily’s
List is offering training for pro-choice candidates who are considering running
for office. (https://www.emilyslist.org/pages/entry/run-for-office)
· Slate
has a comprehensive list of resources for candidates (http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/01/a_guide_to_resources_for_running_for_office.html )
Action 4. Support a new
progressive group. VA-01Hanover
Women Concerned for our Country has formed with the goal of informing the
public of Congressperson Rob Wittman’s policy endorsements and to publicly hold
him accountable for representing the interests of his constituents.
Eleven members of the
group met with Joe Schumacher, a Wittman staff member at the new Mechanicsville
office on February 7. Members of the group expressed dismay for
Wittman’s continued support for character-challenged Donald Trump and their
concerns about the repeal of the ACA, the immigrant ban, the hostility to
science and the environment, the hostility toward the courts and individuals in
the Justice Department, threats to the free press and the negative impact of
the border wall. They resolved to have continued dialog with Wittman’s
office.
· Like
VA-01 Hanover Women Concerned for their Country ( https://www.facebook.com/VA01HanoverWomen/ https://www.facebook.com/VA01HanoverWomen/) on facebook to follow their posts and future
plans.
Action 5. Take
care of yourself so you can persist. Here are two good articles on surviving the madness.
Week 5: Action Now
“The presidency is supposed to age the president, not
the public.” Jon Stewart
TAKE ACTION NOW is a resource from the Hanover Democratic
Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy. As Jon Stewart suggests, worry and resistance
are stressful, so beginning this week TAN
will include periodic tips on taking care of each other and ourselves.
02/06/2017
Action 1. Welcome Rob Wittman to Mechanicsville. Congressperson Rob Wittman opened a district
office at 6501 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Suite 102, Mechanicsville. The phone is 804-730-9597 and the aide in
charge is Christine Whitehouse. Please
call or stop by to share your concerns.
Action
2. Get politics out of the National
Security Council. In an unprecedented move, Trump appointed Steve Bannon, chief
political strategist, to serve on the principals’ committee of the NSC while
demoting the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security
Advisor. As former executive director of
Breitbart News, Bannon described his media outlet as a platform for the
“alt-right” a group associated with white nationalism and anti Semitism. According to Mother Jones, Bannon’s radio
show promoted “unfounded claims and conspiracy theories” that targeted Muslims.
·
Call Congressperson
Rob Wittman (202-225-4261 or 804-730-9597) and insist that he support a bill
sponsored by Congressperson Stephanie Murphy, (D FL) to prohibit anyone whose
job is primarily political from serving on the NSC.
·
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security (202-224-4745) is
tabulating calls and emails about Bannon’s appointment. Call 202-224-4745 or follow this link https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/contact to tell the
Senators that we don’t need someone who believes conspiracy theories on the
NSC.
Action 3. Help Spread the Word.
·
Forward the
Take Action Now eblast to your
friends who may not receive it and plan to work together on action items.
·
The Hanover Democratic Committee
facebook page is updated frequently with news and action items. If you are on
facebook, “like” it: https://www.facebook.com/HanoverDems/
Then, on right hand side, scroll down and "invite your friends to
“like this page." “Share” items with your friends. Some are reluctant to
be “political” on social media, but Take
Action Now believes that educating friends about
issues is never inappropriate. For some people, facebook posts may be the
only exposure they have to responsible journalism.
Action 4. Defend the Right to Vote. Trump’s claims of voter fraud are baseless and dangerous. They give cover to state legislators, like
our very own Buddy Fowler, who want to suppress voting rights.
·
Read and
share this article
·
Call Buddy Fowler (804-698-1055) to
object to his legislative sponsorship of and support for voter suppression
efforts, such as such as HB 1428 and HB1430. Tell him to stop attacking
our voting rights when there is little to no evidence of voting fraud.
·
Use 5calls, a cool automated dialing tool, to reach representatives on
issues of concern to you. https://5calls.org
Action 5. Take care of
yourself We
love you and realize our action requests can be stress inducing. Do what you can, but still live your life. Below is Parker Palmer’s timely 2-3-17
facebook post about balance.
“"Sometimes," says Mary Oliver, "I grow weary of
the days with all their fits and starts." Apparently, she's been reading
my mind. Recently, it's been all fits and starts for me: the White House starts
something, and I have a fit!
It happened again last night on MSNBC, when a presidential
adviser made up another "alternative fact" to justify the refugee
ban. This time it was about "two Iraqis [who] came...to this country"
as "the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre." http://tinyurl.com/jhyq6uk
Unfortunately, this is one more on a growing list of "facts" that
have "not yet gone through the formality of taking place." There was
no "Bowling Green massacre."
How to hold all this? There is "the fierce urgency of
now" that MLK, Jr., spoke about—the fierce urgency of slapping down lies
and the evil that can flow from them. But there is also the need for
perspective, for taking the long view so we can stay engaged with urgent
matters over the long haul.
Jon Stewart recently said, “The presidency is supposed to age
the president, not the public.” I laughed hard at that one, because I’ve been
wearing myself down for the past few weeks trying to stay ahead of the tsunami
of #$%@& coming from D.C. At 78, I can’t afford to age any faster than I
am!
So this weekend, I'll read and re-read “The Poet Dreams of the
Mountain.” I’ll follow Mary Oliver’s advice to “take slow steps, and think
appropriate thoughts.” If I can embrace the fierce urgency of now that's part
of being a good citizen AND the very long view that comes from immersing myself
in the natural world, I think I’ll do better as a citizen and as a human being.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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an Action Item or Event to share?
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Connected:
Week 4: Take Action Now
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” First Amendment, US Constitution
TAKE ACTION NOW is a new resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy. In an overwhelming week, let’s focus on our most fundamental rights as outlined in the first amendment. If we loose these rights, it will be harder to fight for everything else.
01/29/2017
Action 1. Oppose the ban on immigrants. Call our Senators Mark Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) & Tim Kaine (202- 224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and Congressperson Rob Wittman (804-443-0668 or 202-225-4261) tell them to oppose the unlawful ban on immigrants based on religion and insist they vote against Jeff Sessions, an immigration extremist, for Attorney General. If Trump bans Muslims from 7 countries today, who will he ban tomorrow? This action will have a particularly devastating effect on Virginia. Green card and H1 visa holders from the affected countries are not likely able to travel outside the US.
Call Gov McAuliffe (804-786-2211) and Attorney General Herring (804-786-2071) and ask them to continue the efforts they began today to protect Virginia. Support the ACLU (ACLU.org), which has already filed suit and been granted an injunction on behalf of some of those detained at airports today.
Sign White House petitions below urging repeal of the executive order that bans refugees and cancels visas and green cards:
Action 2. Support Responsible Journalism. The new administration is attacking the free press, bedrock of democracy. Six reporters were charged with a felony “Rioting or inciting a riot” charges for reporting on the violent protests in Washington at the Jan 20th inauguration, verifiable facts like inauguration crowd comparisons have been challenged as falsehoods, journalists and news organizations have been bullied and on Jan 26th in a telephone interview with the New York Times White House strategist, Steve Bannon, called the media the “opposition” saying it should, “Keep its mouth shut”.
Follow news sources that fact-check every word coming from the White House and avoid those that will not call out lies or repeat falsehoods as though they were true. A New York Times headline called out a Trump lie this week and the Washington Post, The Nation, Mother Jones, Pro Publica, Talking Points Memo and The Guardian have been careful fact checkers. The responsible media need your support and your subscriptions to continue their work. Please subscribe and consider giving a subscription to a teacher or a school, if you are able.
Action 3. Refuse to live in “1984”.
- Read/reread George Orwell’s 1984 and/or Phillip Roth’s The Plot Against America, then pass the books on to someone who may not have read them. For a nonfiction perspective try Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt.
- Write letters to the editor calling out White House lies and propaganda (or write about the other critical issues of concern to you). Trump continues to lie about the size of the inauguration crowd and voter fraud, his press secretary supports his lies and Kellyanne Conway calls these “alternative facts”. Write the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond.com, Contact Us, Letters to Editor), The Mechanicsville Local (mkinser@mechanicsvillelocal.com), The Fredericksburg Free Lance Star (pjenkins@freelancestar.com ), The Herald-Progress (hpeditor@lcs.net )
Write the Washington Post (letters@washpost.com ), The New York Times (letters@nytimes.com ), The Wall Street Journal (TAN has a prize for the first opposition letter published in the WSJ) (wsj.ltrs@wsj.com )
Save these links for your future letters. Here are tips for letter to the editor writing (http://www.wikihow.com/Write-Letters-to-the-Editor )
Action 4. Work effectively. There is a lot of energy in the Trump resistance. An anonymous top Senate staffer advises the most effective acts are face-to-face interactions with elected officials followed by phone calls. Petitions and on line emailing are far less effective.
The staffer recommends 6 calls a day, 2 each to (DC and local office) to our two Senators and our Representative. If that seems a lot, know that Republican calls tend to outnumber Democrats 4-1. When you call ask to speak to the staff member in charge of whatever you are calling about, e.g., healthcare. The local offices may not have a designee for all topics, but talking to any staffer is better than leaving a message.
Make your message personal, “I am an educator.., A single mother worried about…, “etc. Pick 1 or 2 topics for each call and make a specific ask. “I want the Senator to vote for…” It doesn’t matter if they get sick of you; it’s their job and our right to make our voices heard.
Action 5. Call our Senators Mark Warner (202-224-2023 or 804-775-2314) & Tim Kaine ((202) 224-4024 or 804-771-2221) and tell them to oppose the remaining Trump cabinet nominees. Our Senators need to know we are backing them in their fight. Make separate calls for each nominee:
- Rep Tom Price's nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services (opposes Medicaid and women’s reproductive rights and has serious ethical issues)
- Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General (he has a long racist history, is weak on voting rights and doesn’t see grabbing women’s genitals as sexual assault, is an immigration extremist)
- Steve Mnuchin for Secretary of the Treasury (foreclosure king)
- Andrew Puzder for Secretary of Labor (under his tenure his company paid millions to settle suits on pay to managers, no friend of minimum wag)
- Scott Pruitt for EPA (climate change skeptic)
Action 6. Celebrate Success! Please thank Senator Jennifer McClellan and the HDC Black Caucus whose leadership helped defeat SB1055, a bill that would have restricted citizens’ first amendment right to assemble. Also celebrate the hundreds and hundreds of Hanoverians who joined the Women’s March in Richmond and DC, who lobbied at the General Assembly and who rallied for health care at the Capitol.
01/22/2017
“Donald Trump is dividing the American people…To divide people based on race, a color, a sexual orientation, it’s just wrong.” Congressperson John Lewis
Action 1. Get to "know" your State senator and track bills they can influence. Hanover is represented in the Virginia State Senate by Ryan McDougle (SD 4), Jennifer McClellan (SD 9), and Siobhan Dunnavant (SD 12).
1. Find out who represents you at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/.
2. Keep up with their activities by checking out their web page and signing up for their newsletterwww.ryanmcdougle.com, http://www.jennifermcclellan.com/ and www.senators4va.com/member/senator-siobhan-dunnavant
3. Find what legislation they are sponsoring in 2017 at Richmond Sunlight (https://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/rtmcdougle/, https://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/jlmcclellan/, and https://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/ssdunnavant/)
4. Put your State Senator’s phone number and email address in your contacts for fast access. For Ryan McDougle (SD 4) go to: http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S69, Jennifer McClellan (SD 9) go to: http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S104, and for Siobhan Dunnavant (SD 12) go to:http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S97
Learn to use the Virginia Legislative Information System (LIS) to track bills or Virginia legislators’ votes. Try the Lobbyist in a Box feature to track up to five bills and learn when action will be taken on them at lis.virginia.gov <http://lis.virginia.gov/>
Use the tools above to track and oppose SB1055 in the Virginia General Assembly. Like current Republican bills in five other states, this bill would criminalize peaceful protesters and constrain First Amendment rights. Call your state senator.
Action 2. Attend Lobby Day at the Virginia General Assembly on Jan 23 and support a number of good causes:
· Lobby for fair redistricting with OneVirginia2021 Details and sign-up at http://onevirginia2021.org/events/onevirginia2021-lobby-day/ or join a group appointment at Delegate Fowler’s office (General Assembly Building, Room 810) at 10:00 am. If you want to car pool for the group appointment, meet at the Martin’s parking lot in Ashland at 8:30 on Monday morning.
· Lobby with the Virginia Conservation Network to advocate for environment-friendly policies at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Registration and details at http://bit.ly/2h6zvY1.
· Join with the Women’s Equality Coalition to lobby for women’s reproductive healthcare and women’s equality See http://www.naralva.org/get-involved/take-action.shtml and click “Sign-up for Women’s Equality Coalition Lobby Day”.
Author Nancy Finch created Lobbying for Dummies as a helpful guide for effective Lobbying!
Author Nancy Finch created Lobbying for Dummies as a helpful guide for effective Lobbying!
Action 3. Phone bank for OneVirginia2021 OneVirginia2021 is looking for volunteers to call constituents in key districts before a critical committee vote on fair redistricting on 1-23-17. Email director@onevirginia2021 to volunteer or get more information.
Action 4. Call Congressperson Wittman (202-225-4261) and insist he to take a stand against the Republicans’ War on Ethics. In their first act of the new Congress, House Republicans tried to hobble the Office of Congressional Ethics, then the Senate rushed to confirm Cabinet nominees before ethics officials could vet their financial documents and Trump refused to follow the counsel of ethics experts and divest of his businesses. The Director of the Office of Government Ethics, Walter Shaub, Jr., spoke out against Trump’s plan and now is being hauled into a House investigation and threatened by White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus. Tell Wittman you support Shaub’s free speech rights.
Action 5. When in doubt, sue. Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union said, "Much of what President Trump is proposing is flat-out illegal" and the ACLU told Trump they will, “See you in court” to defend civil rights. The ACLU is a bi-partisan organization with 200 staff attorneys and a long history of defending rights in the courts. Go to aclu.org to take “The Peoples Oath” to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, to sign up for “breaking news” from the ACLU, to volunteer and/or to join the organization. The breaking news is that the ACLU filed Freedom of Information requests with several federal agencies on Inauguration Day to obtain Trump’s financial documents in order to better track any conflicts of interest.
1/15/2017
“Show up. Dive in. Persevere." Barack Obama Farewell Address
TAKE ACTION NOW is a new resource from the Hanover Democratic Committee to guide citizens toward strategic acts to protect our democracy. With the start of the Virginia General Assembly session, the primary focus this week will be “Protect Virginia.” The action items from last week will be archived on the HDC website.
01/15/2017
Action 1. Get to “know” your Delegate Hanover is represented in the House of Delegates by Buddy Fowler and Chris Peace. Find who represents you at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. Keep up with their activities by checking out their web page and signing up for their newsletter (http://www.buddyfowler.com/ or http://chrispeace.com/ )
Find what legislation they are sponsoring in 2017 at Richmond Sunlight (https://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/hffowler/ orhttps://www.richmondsunlight.com/legislator/ckpeace/)
Put your Delegate’s phone number and email address in your contacts for fast access. For Buddy Fowler go to:http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0259 For Chris Peace, go to: http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0194
Action 2. Insist that Delegate Fowler vote for fair redistricting. Delegate Fowler sits on the House Privileges and Elections – Elections subcommittee. In past years redistricting reform died in that subcommittee. Call, visit and/or email Delegate Fowler to urge him to vote for fair redistricting (General Assembly Building, Room 810, 804-698-1055, DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov ). Read how OneVirginia2021 and Fowler differ at http://www.hvadems.com/hanover-democratic-committee-news/492-del-fowler-you-got-it-all-wrong, then let him know you are concerned and watching.
Action 3. Lobby for fair redistricting with OneVirginia2021 President Obama spoke to the importance of ending gerrymandering in his farewell address. Join OneVirginia’s lobby day at the General Assembly on January 23 to advocate for fair redistricting in Virginia. Details and sign-up at http://onevirginia2021.org/events/onevirginia2021-lobby-day/
If you can’t attend, call using this supportive link: [Click Here to Take Action] <http://email-links.muster.com/wf/click?upn=hPUTHhPoHieWnYnSW8eOT4JIp8r2HHy-2FkKTUjyILbxbxC3lHG7kkx-2FExlVrfTTJVDsNfXrMUn8eTtGbVBX4h8-2F6yH8QKlGFlGleE5Lf7os91u3m7nNUNUqh3hjgcUky2_Kl1O1l-2BE6SV07nYZAUspQJaqJC1R2nCkU3qTc0K5UKEa7-2BTLvTOo8MJjgokeUKDOYmBCdWnrVgENmB002L77up5MefygdOLpjTxArCfIwxgp-2Br8RBSMPJzbYcJmBceiR6MlpjgvTbY3uQyJjmS5geQ4rnZD1pZ9-2BzOyZW8KdVFeFRp4nmbErtmqSsgzI2Ja8jKiXnG1YFEapfJXkPX2hINu8tANI4RcA3Mg5PyrcsSVz5oQCdktIJ-2Bkhw20SV3AppKK1gbyQnTGRhUgIFbUyjQGTt5PGp4gh5Dr1-2BHLkrirhN4FYZo5bQdOhegKqNQgXlGQGAtFhQPlJEOS-2F2cGHxNCqCDC-2FVGKIgFuP0d7Dnz7AeCa3U7c8dg0kJ6GGwI6ESWZkw-2Bj8JjWO8TUu53nEy6NLhG-2BYd9Uc3Q2-2BfRpC9WXnlrG-2BR-2FeiJ1AZOediTGtr>
Action 4. Lobby with the Virginia Conservation Network on Conservation Lobby Day to advocate for environment-friendly policies on Monday Jan 23 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Registration and details at http://bit.ly/2h6zvY1.
Action 5. Call our Congressional representatives to ask what they plan to do about Trump’s decision not to divest of his business interests. Many ethics experts believe that Trump’s decision not to divest of his foreign business holdings may violate the “emoluments clause” of the Constitution. See: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2017/01/11/oge-director-warns-trumps-plan-insufficient/?utm_campaign=Brookings+Brief&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=40521922 andhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/12/7-questionable-claims-donald-trumps-lawyer-made-while-detailing-his-business-plan/?utm_term=.3782da4a50de
Call Senator Kaine (202-224-4024), Senator Warner (202-224-2023), and Congressperson Wittman (202-225-4261) to ask how they will handle this constitutional question and insist that the first step toward resolution is for Trump to release his income tax returns. Because Trump chooses to ignore the advice of ethics experts, he must be more transparent in demonstrating he is in compliance with the law.
Action 5 If you can, call rather than email your representatives. This article explains why it may be more effective to call rather than email your representatives. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/heres-why-you-should-call-not-email-your-.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Week 1: Take Action Now
01/11/2017
Action
1. March on Monument
Solidarity event with the March on D.C., Saturday, January 14 from 1-3 pm
starting at the Lee Monument, Richmond. See details at https://.facebook.com/events/1813664695577966
or email questions to MarchonMonument@gmail.com
Action
2. Rally To Save Our Healthcare with
Governor McAuliffe, Senator Kaine, Congressperson Scott and Congressperson
McEachin on Sunday, Jan 15, 2017 at the Virginia State Capitol Bell Tower
(Intersection of North 9th
Street and Franklin Street). Doors open at 1:30 pm. Get details at http://vademocrats.org/event/rally-save-healthcare-w-kaine-mcauliffe-scott-mceachin/
Action
3. Save Politifact in the Richmond
Times-Dispatch The Richmond Times-Dispatch
announced it will discontinue Politifact at the very time we most need to
verify the statements of our leaders. Write (300 E Franklin St, Richmond,
VA 23219) or email (letters@timesdispatch.com) and say
you want the RT-D to continue Politifact. In this “post truth” age we
need all the fact-check tools available.
Action
4. Insist that Trump’s appointees be vetted by
the Office of Government Ethics before their senate hearings. It
is unprecedented that cabinet nominees have hearings before the ethics review
process is completed. See wall-of-us (http://wall-of-us.org)
for background and action items. The Virginia senators will play an
important role in this. Call Senator Kaine (202-224-4024) and Senator
Warner (202-224-2023) and tell them to demand the hearings be delayed until the
Office of Government Ethics finishes their work. For additional information go
to https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ethics-official-warns-against-confirmations-before-reviews-are-complete/2017/01/07/e85a97ee-d348-11e6-9cb0-54ab630851e8_story.html?utm_term=.3db486f95a98
Action 5. Urge
Congressperson Rob Witman not to vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act
(Obamacare). Call (202-225-4261) or email (wittman.house.gov, click contact)
to tell Wittman not to take away our healthcare. If the Republicans repeal the
ACA, wealthy individuals and businesses get a huge tax cut, but people who
loose their subsidies will spend far more for insurance. After repeal,
the Republicans have no intention of coming back to their base to raise their
taxes to pay for a replacement plan. There will be no “replace”.
Tell Wittman how repeal will personally affect you and those you know.
Tell him no repeal without replacement. Good links for additional
information: http://prospect.org/article/how-democrats-can-defeat-repeal-obamacare
and http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/opinion/the-health-care-plan-trump-voters-really-want.html?_r=1
Have
an action Item to share? Write:
info@hvadems.com
