Mon. 11/30: Tell the Senate to pass the HEROES ACT now!

Update 12/16/2020: The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced they will use the power of a voting bloc to force these necessary benefits — extended UI benefits and $1200 cash assistance — to be included in the relief bill. They’re wielding their progressive power and we’ve got to have their backs. Make calls now to your representative and demand that the relief bill include direct cash assistance.

Right now the GOP is trying to flip the script, saying that House Democrats are responsible for the hold up of stimulus funding.. But the same Senate that gave $1.7 trillion in tax breaks to our richest, proposes crumbs for us, and MORE COVID liability protection for their corporate funders. (See: “Tyson Managers Suspended After Allegedly Betting If Workers Would Contract COVID” and this article from the ACLU. Time to start “skinnying” things up for the 1%!

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to immediately pass the HEROES Act, along with improvements shown to be necessary as this national emergency deepens. While the Senate has been malingering in their duty to “promote the general Welfare,” 20% of Americans now face food insecurity, a level equivalent to the Great Depression and 40 million people are in danger of being evicted into the twin dangers of the pandemic and winter. At the same time, states are having to cut back on essential services, which will harm the most vulnerable, including children. Here are basic minimums the Senate should secure to put us on the track to recovery. First, DIRECT CASH RELIEF including $1200 cash assistance for adults and $500 for dependents, like under the CARES ACT. THEN:

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Monday 9/21: Thwart the monsters amongst us – 5 actions to take today!

Action #1 – When did pushing through judges become more important than helping hungry constituents? Pass COVID relief NOW!

Trump is a big fan of bribery, so understandably, he wants a “chicken” of some sort in every American’s “pot” before the election – “I support actually larger (relief) numbers than the Democrats.” So why isn’t McConnell, his lickspittle-in-chief, sitting down with Pelosi to hammer out details to serve the urgent needs of their constituents? What could possibly be more important?

(9/17/2020) “The Senate has confirmed six of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees in the past 30 hours,” tweeted Vanita Gupta, of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “These are lifetime appointments that McConnell’s pushing through instead of the HEROES Act & other crucial legislation.” Anisha Singh, of Planned Parenthood, called on the Senate to halt upcoming votes, noting that two of the latest pushed through for Illinois are threats to people’s health, rights and bodily autonomy. Her full statement is here.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Sen. [___] to remind [her/his] fellow legislators to get their priorities straight and pass H.R. 6800 – HEROES Act already! Americans are suffering. Americans are going hungry. Americans are becoming homeless. WHAT IS GOING ON?!? (or use black2thefuture’s terrific script here. Or do both!)

Contact your senator: https://whoismyrepresentative.com (put in your zip code)

Not sure about what the Heroes Act is? Here’s a nice explainer here. (The House passed their version on May 15th and the same GOP who slipped a $135 BILLION dollar giveaway to the wealthy into the CARES Act, are embracing austerity (Hey, remember that “skinny” bill?) for the rest of us.

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Tues 5/26: You really want to honor ALL the “warriors,” Mr. Trump? 2 actions.

To the 100,000 victims of the pandemic – Our president gives you “thoughts and prayers.” We demand more.

The “White House Proclamation on Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2020,” states “As we pay tribute to the lives and legacies of these patriots on Memorial Day, we also remember that they sacrificed to create a better, more peaceful future for our Nation and the world. We recommit to realizing that vision, honoring the service of so many who have placed love of country above all else.”

We’re confident Trump has never read this, as he spent last weekend driving his golf cart over the “better, more peaceful future” with racist and misogynistic tweets and refused to mention, much less “honor the service” of our nation’s latest sacrifices – the front line “warriors” drafted into an army of necessity and economic convenience. He only lowered the flag for them after being publicly shamed. On Sunday, a White House spokesman stated: “President Trump’s prayers for comfort and strength are with all of those grieving the loss of a loved one or friend as a result of this unprecedented plague, and his message to this great nation remains one of resilience, hope and optimism.”

He didn’t read that either, but the NY Times gave our pandemic “warriors’ their proper due. “More Americans have died of the coronavirus in the last 12 weeks than died in the Vietnam and Korean Wars combined and nearly twice as many as died of battle wounds during World War I. The death toll has nearly matched the number of people killed by the initial blasts of the world’s first atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In terms of American deaths, it is the equivalent of 22 Iraq wars, 33 Sept. 11 attacks, 41 Afghanistan wars, 42 Pearl Harbors or 25,000 Benghazis.” Continue reading “Tues 5/26: You really want to honor ALL the “warriors,” Mr. Trump? 2 actions.” →