Week 73 Actions

[Actions for Americans]

Hi all!

There are less than 200 days left until the 2018 midterm elections. In these last 200 days, let's double down our commitment to communicate with our MoCs and give them a chance to do the right thing for their constituents. And if they don't...we will vote them out!

Useful resource for finding your elected officials (save the numbers in your phone!!): myreps.datamade.us

Tips on effective communication with elected officials, see Chapter 4 Advocacy Tactics: Indivisible Guide: Local Advocacy Tactics that Work

1. Keep calling your Senators to stop Pompeo from becoming our next Secretary of State

Given the Republican majority in the Senate, it's pretty impressive that Mike Pompeo hasn't already been confirmed as Secretary of State. Keep your Senators' phone lines ringing, so your Senator can vote against Pompeo's confirmation hearing with confidence.

For more: Wall Street Journal: Senate Panel Poised to Vote Against Pompeo Nomination

Say: Indivisible: Reject Mike Pompeo Scripts

2. Keep calling your Senators to pass S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence & Integrity Act 

On Thursday this week, the Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the bill to protect the Mueller investigation. If this bill comes out of committee, it will send a strong message to Trump that he's not above the law.

For more: USA Today: Senate Panel to Vote on Bill to Protect Mueller Despite McConnell's Opposition

Say: Indivisible Script

3. Make sure your voter registration is current and ask a friend if theirs is

Several state primaries are coming up in the next two months. In many states, voter registration must take place weeks in advance of an election, so now's the time to make sure your registration and address are current! While you're at it, ask your friends if their registration is current, especially if they've moved in the last few years.

Find your voter registration status: headcount.org: Verify Voter Registration or USA.gov: Check or Update your Registration Information

Mark your calendar for your primary: 2018 State Primary & Runoff Dates

4. Put up a yard sign for your favorite candidate

Election outcomes can make a big difference to a community, and some elections are won only by a handful of votes. When every vote matters, the presence of candidate yard signs can actually impact the result of elections. Find a candidate who you support, check their website or local election office, and pick up a yard sign. 

For more: Politico: Lawn Signs can Swing an Election

5. Call your state's Attorney General and ask them to stand with other AGs fighting the unconstitutional citizenship question on the 2020 census

The census was designed to count the number of people living in the US, regardless of immigration status or citizenship. The data are used to inform decisions from government spending to allocation of House seats and electoral votes. If immigrants, undocumented or not, are less likely to respond to the census, they and their communities will be disenfranchised. Several states and cities have filed a lawsuit to challenge the citizenship question as unconstitutional. Call your state's Attorney General to put a stop to using the census to take political power and resources away from immigrants.

Watch: Washington Post: How a New Census Question could shift Political Power in America

Read: NPR: 17 States and 7 Cities Sue to Remove 2020 Census Citizenship Question

Say: Indivisible Script

For our Texans:

1. Attend HISD's board meeting Tuesday 4/24 at 6 pm where they will vote on converting 10 public schools into charter schools

Because the Texas Legislature has slashed public education funding and passed some awful legislation that takes local control out of the hands of school boards, 10 of Houston's neighborhood schools are expected to be taken over by private charter programs. 

Location: Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18th Street Houston, TX 77092 

Agenda: Houston ISD Special Board Meeting Agenda

Read: Houston Chronicle: Opinion - Rethink how Voters Elect the HISD Board (and any local board in Texas)

2. Find out who's on your runoff ballot 

In Texas, a candidate needs to win more than 50% of the vote in order to win, so quite a few primary races end up going to a run off. The primary runoff is on May 22, with early voting starting May 14. That gives you just under a month to decide who will earn your vote.

How Texas Primaries work: CommunityImpact.com

Who's on my ballot?: Texas Tribune: 2018 Primary Runoff Candidates

That's it for this week. Happy Earth Day!

Much love,

Marieke

@actionsUSA