Action #1 – Thank our legislators for their support of H.R. 1 – “For the People Act”.
Indivisible National calls it: “…a big, bold, progressive vision for the future”
Rep. Zoe Lofgren said it “ends the dominance of big money in our politics. It ensures public officials work in the public interest.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell calls it a “power grab“.
So you know it’s good!
Minimal script for our reps: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Rep. [___] for cosponsoring H.R.- 1 -“For the People Act”. Please vote down amendmentsthat would water down the bill, and reject any Republican “Motion to Recommit.“
(Rep-check here. Thank Brownley and Carbajal!)Call your BFF’s in red states and get them to call too!
Minimal script for red-state representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to vote “YES” for H.R.- 1 -“For the People Act”. 82% of Americans and 84% of independent voters support campaign finance reform. I want Rep. to [___] take a stand for ethics and voting rights, fair redistricting and the prevention of voter suppression.
Minimal script for all senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to introduce or cosponsor a matching bill to H.R.- 1 -“For the People Act”. 82% of Americans and 84% of independent voters support campaign finance reform. I expect Sen. [___] to take a stand for ethics and voting rights, fair redistricting and the prevention of voter suppression.
Background and extras
This is a huge bill and our Rep. Julia Brownley had a hand in it: “H.R. 1, the first bill introduced by the Democratic caucus, will improve federal ethics laws to fight special interests, fix our broken campaign finance system to get big money out of politics, and make other improvements to strengthen our democracy….(it) includes legislation I co-authored to require all states to end partisan gerrymandering by adopting a citizen redistricting commission similar to what we have in California. This critical component will help make politicians more accountable to the voters.”
All this and more! More background specifics here. The League of Women Voters has put together some great resources to use as well.
- Condensed talking points here
- Sample posts to tweet out here
- Graphics to use here
- Letter to the Editor template here.
Action #2 – Restore the original Voting Rights Act. “YES” on H.R. 4 – “The Voting Rights Advancement Act”.
In 1965, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965, a landmark piece of legislation designed to remove racist barriers against African Americans exercising their 15th Amendment right to vote. In 2013, the Supreme Court, with Shelby County v. Holder, took it all back. Now, due to rampant voter suppression, actual ELECTION fraud requiring a redo in North Carolina and a Supreme Court drifting rightwards, it’s time for HR 4, a law that protects voting rights for all.
Minimal script for our representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want to thank Rep. [___] for cosponsoring H.R.4 -“Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019”. (Rep-check: here. Thank Brownley, ask Carbajal to get signed up!)
Minimal script for senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to introduce or cosponsor a matching bill to H.R.4 -“Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019”.
Background
The Voting Rights Act, paid for literally in blood by voting-rights marchers, was wildly successful. The US Dept. of Justice set “federal pre-clearance” requirements in place to prevent racist polling place shenanigans in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia along with selected counties in California (Kings, Merced and Yuba counties), Florida, New York, North Carolina, and South Dakota.
Under the VRA, the percentage of of the adult black population on the voter rolls in the South had already surpassed that in the rest of the country and also added more than 900 black elected officials by 1980. Voting rights initiatives also helped the elderly, disabled, minority groups and younger voters.
The Brennan Center for Justice has put together a number of great resources for what happened after the Shelby County v. Holder decision.
- New Voting Restrictions in America here
- Voting rights rollbacks for Texas and North Carolina here,
- Increased voter purges here,
- A truly disturbing State of Voting report for 2018 here.
- A post 2018 update here.
Contacts for both actions
Rep. Julia Brownley: email, (CA-26): DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
or Rep. Salud Carbajal: email. (CA-24): DC (202) 225-3601, SB (805) 730-1710 SLO (805) 546-8348
Senator Feinstein: email, DC (202) 224-3841, LA (310) 914-7300, SF (415) 393-0707, SD (619) 231-9712, Fresno (559) 485-7430
and Senator Harris: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (213) 894-5000, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 355-9041, SD (619) 239-3884
Who is my representative/senator?: hq-salsa.wiredforchange.com
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 