Weekly Indivisible Action Email (2/27)

Posted on February 27, 2017 by jpol

Last week was seriously spectacular. This was the first congressional recess of the year, and in town hall meetings across the country, you not only made a stand, you made a difference. In Florida, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz agreed with a constituent that Donald Trump should release his tax returns. In Alabama, Republican Rep. Mo Brooks acknowledged that the pressure Members of Congress (MoCs) received at town halls could stop them from repealing Obamacare. And we like to think that constituent pressure had a little something to do with Rep. Darrell Issa’s call for an investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia. All over the country, your work is changing the national conversation.

Just because recess is over doesn’t mean that we’re quieting down

With Congress back in session this week, it’s time to get back to basics: phone calls and office visits. Let your MoC know that even when you’re not face-to-face with them (or their cardboard cut-out version), you’ve still got a lot to say. Here’s what you can talk to your MoC’s office about this week:

A vote on Trump’s corruption. On Tuesday morning, the House Judiciary Committee will vote on a resolution requiring Attorney General Jeff Sessions to release documents related to corruption by Trump or his cronies, including ties to foreign governments. This is not a partisan issue; it’s about the integrity of the Oval Office and of our democracy. Yet, only 67 MoCs have co-sponsored. Call your MoC and ask them to co-sponsor H.Res. 111—see this script.
Responding to Trump’s Address to Congress. On Tuesday night, Donald Trump will give his first major address to Congress, and some MoCs are making it clear that he doesn’t represent Americans by inviting refugees, Dreamers, and others harmed by this administration’s policies as their guests at the address. Ask your MoC to join this effort, or thank them if they’re already participating, with this script.
Opposing Trump’s cabinet nominations. Trump’s still is trying to nominate members of his Cabinet (and you helped slow down that process!). This week, check out our scripts for these two nominees—they’re as disastrous as ever:
- Oppose Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy. Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is unfit to head the Department of Energy—not only due to his opposition to the Department’s very existence, but also because of his lack of knowledge of its work and responsibilities.
- Oppose Seema Verma for Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) Administrator. This is the kind of appointment that doesn’t make news, but has a huge potential impact on Americans’ lives. Verma is not only unfit for the job, but her extreme positions would result in higher insurance costs for women and an erosion of Medicaid benefits.
Keep up the pressure on the ACA, Trump’s taxes, and Russia—the big stuff. You’ve been telling your MoC this all along, but make sure they know you’re not about to let it go:
- Defend healthcare. House Republicans are beginning work on their replacement plan—and it’s a mess. Tell your MoC to oppose ACA repeal.
- Demand Trump’s tax returns. Donald Trump still refuses to release his tax returns, even as suspicions mount about possible conflicts of interest and ties to Russia. Demand that your MoC sign on to Rep. Bill Pascrell’s letter that would instruct Congress to exercise its legal authority to obtain Trump’s returns.
- Investigate Michael Flynn’s communications with Russia. Michael Flynn’s resignation as National Security Advisor doesn’t make this any less essential. Ask your MoCs to fully investigate how deep the Russian influence on Trump administration officials goes.

Stand indivisible with immigrants

Here at the Indivisible Guide team, we mostly focus on how you can influence your MoCs’ decision-making, and we believe deeply in the power of that strategy for fighting back against every piece of the Trump agenda. But in light of the horrifying wave of attacks from this administration on immigrant families and communities, we feel that it’s important to ask for an additional commitment: please consider how to take action at the local level to fight back against raids, detention, and deportation. We’ve put together a short guide on steps you can take to stand indivisible with immigrants in your community. We hope you’ll bring the incredible inventiveness and dedication you’ve demonstrated this past week to this urgent challenge.

Thank you, but remember to pace yourself

Last week was amazing on many fronts. We hit over 10,000 contributions from you and our fellow Indivisible friends. This support is what’s allowing us to help you build this beautiful movement.

But we’ve said it before and after this massive week of incredible action, we’ll say it again: this is a marathon, not a sprint. Your energy will be needed in the months ahead, so make sure that you’re taking time to reflect and recharge so that you can be in this for the long haul. Change doesn’t always happen quickly, but with all of us standing indivisible together, it will happen, and we will win.

In solidarity,

The Indivisible Guide team

P.S. As always, we want to spread the word about what you’re up to locally! Keep sharing stories, pictures, and videos with us at stories@indivisibleguide.com and using #indivisible and tagging @IndivisibleTeam on Twitter, and posting to Facebook.com/IndivisibleGuide.

Central Texans scheduling town halls without RSVPs from congressmen

Posted on February 19, 2017February 20, 2017 by jpol

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — Central Texans who live in multiple Congressional districts say their requests for town halls with their congressmen are falling on deaf ears.

“Our intention is not to be intimidating, it’s not to be heated,” said Erin Zwiener, who lives in Driftwood. “It’s to ask our very legitimate concerns.”

At recent town halls in other parts of the country Q&As have turned into confrontations with Congressmen, specifically republicans.

Zwiener is with Indivisible TX-25, a group opposed to President Trump’s agenda. They have been asking U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, to hold a town hall in Hays County. “We’ve reached out through his official meeting requests, through his scheduler, through phone calls, through Facebook and we just haven’t had any luck,” said Zwiener.

Despite zero response, the group went ahead and put a town hall on the calendar for this Sunday in Dripping Springs knowing Rep. Williams will be in town.

He is scheduled to speak at a private event Sunday night a mile and a half away, hosted by the North Hays Republican Group. “I hope he decides to come into town a little bit earlier and come spend some time with his constituents,” said Zwiener.

Want to call your lawmaker? You might have trouble
If he doesn’t show up, the group will go ahead and hold a mock town hall and record their comments and concerns.

“We’re going to state our concerns, we’re going to record them, we’re going to send them to him,” said Zwiener. “We’re going to write our concerns down on postcards and then we’re going to go stand outside the other event peacefully, calmly.”

KXAN reached out to Rep. Williams’ office Friday, and his communications director, Vince Zito responded with this statement:

“Congressman Williams believes in listening to his district and in doing so spends as much time as possible meeting with constituents and groups throughout his district. Congressman Williams will always humbly listen to the thoughts and concerns of all of his constituents – he always has and always will. And although he appreciates the invitation, he declines to attend the club meeting of the Dripping Springs Democratic Action and its associated groups. I think if you closely examine the statements and missions of these groups, it’s clear that civil, substantive discourse on issues is not their true agenda. Congressman Williams looks forward to continuing to fight for the issues that his constituents sent him to Washington to fight for, including: real tax reform, strengthening our military and rolling back the job killing Obama trademarks such as Obamacare and Dodd-Frank legislation.”

A similar situation is playing out in Cedar Park and Round Rock. A group went ahead and put a town hall on the calendar for Feb. 22, and asked U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, to be there. He turned down the invitation.

His spokeswoman, Corry Schiermeyer, told KXAN, “Constituent services is a top priority of the Congressman. The Congressman appreciates the invitation, but he is unable to attend.”

The event will go on without him. Some constituents tell KXAN Rep. Carter’s staff told them he does not hold live town hall meetings for safety reasons, and prefers to hold tele-town halls because more people can attend. However, there is little advance notice, and those are scheduled on the day of.

Link to original post and video

Roger Williams: Breitbart Columnist

Posted on February 9, 2017February 9, 2017 by Fire John Cornyn

Roger likes to carry things to the extreme. While other Republicans call for “repeal and replace” of the ACA, Roger wants to “repeal but NOT replace“! It’s a form of one-upmanship to see who can stir up their base the most.

But this one may backfire. While other politicians follow Steve Bannon’s white-nationalist-loving Breitbart on Twitter, or even grant Breitbart exclusive interviews, Roger takes it a step further:

HE WRITES FOR THEM

This man represents over 700,000 Texans. We’re guessing the overwhelming majority of those are not white nationalists.

Your action:

Call Roger Williams and ask him if he agrees with the white-nationalist opinions espoused in Breitbart. And if not, why is he talking to them, let alone writing for them?