NO ON GORSUCH!
WHY: 1) This SCOTUS seat was stolen by congressional republicans. Republicans can’t destroy the “institution of the Senate”, and expect to attain a lifetime appointee that is one of the most conservative justices of our lifetime (to the right of Scalia!). 2) Gorsuch is not on the side of The People, given his history on women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights, corporate influence, keeping power in check, death with dignity, hostility toward the left, and working families. Source. 3) Gorsuch is a constitutional originalist: interpreting it “through the lens and context of when it was written in 1789…an inherently prejudicial interpretation from a white man who has never had to fight for his civil rights, and will never suffer the repercussions of his own rulings.” Source. Today (Monday) is the first day of committee questioning, and Gorsuch is not expected to answer questions in a transparent manner. Source.
HOW: Urge Senator Bennet to stand strong against the Gorsuch appointment! Call Senator Gardner’s office urging him to vote no, and what the historical consequences of the republicans stealing this seat means to ALL of us.
CONTACTS: Senator Cory Gardner (R): 202-224-5941 (DC) / 303-391-5777(Denver). Senator Michael Bennet (D): 202-224-5852 (DC) / 303-455-7600 (Denver).
DEFEAT TRUMP(doesn’t)CARE. ALL HANDS ON DECK! Trump(doesn’t)Care is NOT a healthcare plan, it’s tax breaks for the wealthy by way of deep cuts to critical healthcare services —
OBJECTIVE: We need THREE Republican Senators and 23 Republican Congresspersons to vote against repeal of the ACA.
WHY?: 1) 24 million people will lose their healthcare, killing an estimated 43,000 people annually. Source. 2) It attacks Medicaid & defunds Planned Parenthood. 3) Doesn’t take into account people’s income when figuring rates. 4) The poor, disabled, elderly and rural populations will take the biggest hit. 5) The state waiver is in jeopardy, which would allow states to use their own system (single-payer, etc.) instead of the federal system.
HOW: STAKE OUT Republican Senators’ offices in states that went for Clinton — that’s COLORADO — on March 16 & 17, Thursday and Friday of THIS WEEK. CALL Republican Senators’ Congresspersons’ offices in Colorado, and urge them to vote AGAINST REPEAL of the ACA.
CONTACTS: Senator Cory Gardner (R): 202-224-5941 (DC) / 303-391-5777(Denver). Gardner office locations here. Representative Ken Buck (R–CD4): 202-225-4676 (DC) / 970-702-2136 (Greeley). Buck office locations here.
ALSO TODAY: 1st day of House Intelligence Committee hearing on Russian interference. 5 things to watch.
TOWN HALL, Monday, March 20, 6–8pm, Trail Ridge Middle School Cafeteria, 1000 Button Rock Dr., Longmont. With State Senator Matt Jones (SD17), State Representatives Jonathan Singer (HD11) and Mike Foote (HD12).
2 Opportunities for COMMUNITY INPUT on Longmont’s Human Services: Tuesday, March 21, 4:30–6:30pm, Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave OR Wednesday, March 22, 5:30-7:30pm, Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd. Your opportunity to listen to human services needs and trends data (such as homelessness), and contribute your suggestions, in preparation for the Longmont Health & Human Services Advisory Board making its recommendations to Longmont’s City Council regarding service priorities and funding approaches.
Register here for March 21.
Register here for March 22.
Show your SUPPORT by attending or testifying: Thursday, March 23, 1:30pm, Rm 271, State Capitol, Denver. DID YOU KNOW that oil and gas drills can be as close as 100 feet away from school playground equipment and athletic facilities? State Representative Mike Foote’s HB17-1256 will move fracking farther away (1000ft), but oil and gas industry trade groups and lobbyists are already pressuring our Colorado legislators to “kill the bill”.KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE from Fracking and support this bill! You can also call or email members of the House Health, Insurance, and Environment Committee to voice your support.
WE NEED MORE PROGRESSIVE VOICES showing up at Coffee with Council. Next one is THIS Saturday, March 25th, 9–10am, Longmont Senior Center, 910 Longs Peak Ave. More info here.
TOWN HALL, Monday, March 27, 6–7:30pm, Lafayette Public Library, 775 Baseline Rd, Lafayette. With State Senator Matt Jones (SD17) and State Representative Mike Foote (HD12).
HELP LONGMONT RESIDENTS complete their Naturalization application in preparation to obtain U.S. CITIZENSHIP, Saturday, April 8. Training is Wednesday, April 5. Call El Comité at 303/651-6125 for details.
PLEASE DO THIS: Email President Kevin Grantham (SD2-R) of our Republican controlled State Senate (by one vote) and URGE him to give HB17-1156 a full and fair vote on the Senate Floor. Co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Fenberg (SD18-D), HB17-1156 “prohibits licensed medical physicians from subjecting children and young adults to the harmful practice of ‘gay conversion’ therapy.” HB17-1156 has passed through the House (thank you Democratic Majority!) BUT, the Senate President (Grantham) determines what committee bills go to, which determines the bill’s fate. URGE Grantham to NOT send HB17-1156 to a “kill committee” and instead, send it to a fair committee hearing, thus allowing a full and fair final vote.
DO THIS, QUICK & EASY: THIS IS BIG. Contact the esteemed NY Attorney General, Eric Schniederman’s office, who is EAGERLY tallying up public support to investigate Trump’s violations of the emoluments clause (they don’t care whether it comes from New Yorkers). Staffers are very nice. Call 212-416-6218 and state your support. ALSO EMAIL (important) at nyag.consumerbureau@ag.ny.gov,
and simply say: “Please investigate President Trump’s possible violations of the Emoluments Clause.”
TO PARTICIPATE in a first time ever LGBTQ Latinx focus group for the City of Longmont, please contact Mardi Moore at mmoore@outboulder.org or RSVP on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/838704026267385/
TRACK THESE BILLS (See UPDATED links here…then contact your Federal Rep’s! — see numbers below.):
1. HR 861 Terminate the Environmental Protection Agency
2. HR 610 Vouchers for Public Education
3. HR 899 Terminate the Department of Education
4. HJR 69 Repeal Rule Protecting Wildlife
5. HR 370 Repeal Affordable Care Act
6. HR 354 Defund Planned Parenthood
7. HR 785 National Right to Work (this one ends unions)
8. HR 83 Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Bill
9. HR 147 Criminalizing Abortion (“Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act”)
10. HR 808 Sanctions against Iran
PUT THESE NUMBERS IN YOUR PHONE —
Senator Cory Gardner (R): 202-224-5941 (DC) / 303-391-5777(Denver). Senator Michael Bennet(D): 202-224-5852 (DC) / 303-455-7600 (Denver). Representative Ken Buck (R–CD4): 202-225-4676 (DC) / 970-702-2136 (Greeley).
EVERY SATURDAY: Longmont Leads with Love Weekly (not silent) Vigil, 1–2pm, 6th and Main. Stand up for kindness toward all people and the planet, rally for policies you care about, send a progressive message to our city and our nation, building Longmont’s progressive community, stand in solidarity with friends, old and new. Bring signs, banners, flags, songs, art, etc. expressing your vision of a better city, a better America, a better world for all! Child friendly. Park at the public lot on east side of Coffman between 6th and 5th. Everyone is welcome!
SILVER LINING: Special Elections Why should you know about Democrat Jon Ossoff? When Tom Price was appointed by trump as Secretary of Health & Human Services, that left a vacancy in Price’s congressional district seat, Georgia’s 6th. Endorsed by US Rep. John Lewis, Ossoff not only stands poised to win the special election on April 18 (the runoff is June 20), Dailykos has already raised $1 million for his campaign, and Ossoff’s victory will be seen as a referendum on trump. Consider donating to Ossoff’s campaign here. Other races to watch.
CHECK OUT our Resources and CLEAN widgets at longmontdems.org — if you’ve missed meetings, our presentation materials have been posted!
ONE STEP PAST YOUR COMFORT ZONE: Not on facebook? Maybe now’s the time to learn, if only for political action and alerts. You’ll need to sign up for a facebook account to access very good and informative facebook pages, like Pantsuit Nation, Longmont Area Democrats or CLEAN. Even if you are a “refusnik” like many of us were at first, Facebook is an easy and friendly way to stay politically active. (and you don’t have to post to personal friends, in fact, you don’t have to post at all)
TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT Longmont Area Democrats! We are your one-stop for getting involved locally and nationally. We can point you to the best and most effective ways to be engaged. Check out our website at longmontdems.org, like us on facebook, follow us on twitter and if you know someone who’d like to sign up for this email blast, have them email us at longmontareadems@gmail.com with “sign me up” in the subject line.
THANKS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
