Tell Democratic legilators to stay in session for the rest of the year so we can minimize the harm Republicans are planning to do with their regained power in the House. The GOP won’t just waste two years banging away at Hunter Biden – they have far more malicious and damaging plans, including chopping up social safety net programs. The first thing Democrats must do before they lose their House majority is raise the debt ceiling.
(Vox) “Addressing the debt ceiling, which essentially involves increasing the amount that the United States is able to borrow, is a routine congressional duty. Failing to do so would cause the US to default on its debt, triggering a global financial crisis. Recently, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) suggested he’d be willing to risk such a crisis as speaker of the House, if doing so won the GOP serious spending cuts to climate and social programs.”
Make sure those who depend on these programs know the GOP’s intent and get them to start calling as well, no matter what their political affiliation.
Action #1: Call/email your senators.
Minimal script to your senators: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to stay in DC and spend every minute of available time pushing through important bills and minimize the harm the GOP intends to do. First, I demand that Senator [_____] work to RAISE or ELIMINATE THE DEBT CEILING NOW through budget reconciliation. (He/She/They) should not assume that the GOP will take the blame for the slicing and dicing of popular programs and economic chaos when Democrats HAVE A CHANCE TO FIX THIS NOW! Then I want [him/her/them] to concentrate on passing the following bills:
Respect for Marriage Act (S.4556). (This bill, introduced by Sen.. Feinstein, passed the HOUSE and will repeal the old Defense of Marriage Act against same-sex marriage. It is possible that 10 Republicans will support this bill to get it past filibuster rules.)Passed the Senate!- Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act Act (S.4573)
- PRO Act (S.420) – Protecting the Right to Organize Act ((H.R. 842) passed in the HOUSE in 2021)
- Preventing a Patronage System (PPSA) Act of 2022 (S.4702) (This bill prevents another would-be dictator from firing civil servantswho stand in the way of corruption. It passed in the HOUSE. (H.R.302))
- Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (S.346) (This bill prevents millions from losing their health care coverage when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends)
- American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6) (This bill provides a path for DACA recipients to receive permanent resident status – many of whom work in essential jobs. It already passed the HOUSE!)
- Assault Weapons Ban (S.736) (This bill already passed the HOUSE!)
- EQUALITY ACT (S.393) – (This bill already passed in the HOUSE (H.R. 5). Prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.)
(Add in all the other issues that are important to you and your family. Affordable Insulin (S.3700), Capping Drug costs for Seniors (S.4011), Capping Prescription Costs (S.3339), Right to Contraception Act (S.4557), Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act (S.2618), Earned Income and Child Tax Credits (And more! Go to congress.gov and type in a key word to find the bills important to you and your family!])
Action #2: Call/email your representatives.
Minimal script to your representatives: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Rep. [___] to stay in DC and spend every minute of available time pushing through important bills and minimize the harm the GOP intends to do. First, I demand that Congressmember [_____] work to RAISE or ELIMINATE THE DEBT CEILING NOW through budget reconciliation. (He/She/They) should not assume that the GOP will take the blame for the slicing and dicing of popular programs and economic chaos when Democrats HAVE A CHANCE TO FIX THIS NOW! Then I want [him/her/them] to concentrate on passing the following bills:
- Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act Act (H.R.8846)
- Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.959)
- National Gun Violence Research Act (H.R.1576)
(Add in all the other issues that are important to you and your family, such as Affordable Insulin (S.3700), Capping Drug costs for Seniors (S.4011), Capping Prescription Costs (H.R.6228), Elijah E. Cumming Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R.3), Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act (H.R.4311), Earned Income and Child Tax Credits (H.R.574) (And more! Go to congress.gov and type in a key word to find the bills important to you and your family!] )
Contact:
- Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26): email, DC (202) 225-5811, Oxnard (805) 379-1779, T.O. (805) 379-1779
- or Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24): email. 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 Padilla: email, DC (202) 224-3553, LA (310) 231-4494, SAC (916) 448-2787, Fresno (559) 497-5109, SF (415) 981-9369, SD (619) 239-3884
- Who is my representative/senator?: https://whoismyrepresentative.com
Action #3: Tell Biden that we do not consent to be pawns in a game of “Debt Ceiling Chicken.”
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/)
Dear Joe,
There was an alarming article in the Washington Post that you and your advisors aren’t actively encouraging Democrats in the House to raise or eliminate the debt ceiling before they lose power. One of your advisors told Politico last week “Although there is grave risk to the economy, the gun is in Republicans’ hands. And there is little question as to who will get blamed for this.”
Assuming that you can transform destruction of our credit rating, or worse, savage and irreparable cuts to Social Security and Medicare into an albatross around the GOP’s neck come 2024 is a dangerous game. It’s just as likely that people will blame the Democrats for irresponsibly allowing the GOP the opportunity to cause this damage, like knowingly handing car keys to a 10-year-old. People who end up hurt by what the GOP does may not forgive you, nor have the bandwidth left to worry about voting in 2024.
The GOP has communication professionals working 24/7 to be sure you are blamed for everything. They have been very effective, and even if their lies don’t completely work for this, voters will still find out that you and the Democrats stood by passively, instead of doing everything in your power to protect us.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 