FROM INDIVISIBLE NATIONAL
Now for the bad news–
it’s all to do with Trump and his crooked administration.
I’m really angry about it
This past week, we’ve seen more and more depraved, irresponsible, and corrupt actions from Donald Trump. Every day Trump’s total disregard for oversight measures that could curb his corruption is made more clear. For example, one of the coronavirus recovery packages passed by Congress required an existing inspector general to be selected by a council of other inspectors general to provide oversight for the $2 trillion relief package. In accordance with that law, a council of inspectors general selected Glenn Fine, the acting inspector general at the Department of Defense who has worked under both Democratic and Republican administrations, to lead the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
But earlier this week, Trump abruptly fired him. Recently, Trump also fired several other inspectors general who served as checks against corruption, fraud, abuse, and waste of federal funds. These firings are an appalling erosion of the checks and balances in our government (especially since Trump has made a hobby of ignoring Congressional oversight) and should serve as a serious warning of the dangers of the Trump administration. It’s no exaggeration to say that our republic is in grave danger if Trump is re-elected.
In addition to this string of firing and punishing whistleblowers, the federal government is also continuing to fail in its response to the coronavirus pandemic and has been woefully ineffective in getting people assistance they so crucially need. Small business loans promised in relief legislation are difficult to apply for, and those who do apply are experiencing delays and uncertainty. Stimulus checks may take months to get to Americans who desperately need immediate relief, and some impacted folks aren’t eligible for them. And, right as the pandemic is starting to reach peak infection and death rates in the U.S., underscoring the importance of increasing testing availability, the federal government has announced it will be ending funding for coronavirus testing, forcing some testing sites to close
It’s clear that the Trump administration has criminally mishandled the response to the pandemic, resulting in untold preventable suffering and death. We can’t let anyone in our lives forget this as we approach November’s election.
Now, here is what you can do about all that:
Your weekly to-dos
- Call your Senators Kristin Sinema and Martha McSally on Friday, April 17 to ensure safe, secure elections for all. The Declaration for American Democracy coalition is coming together for a national call-in week, directing folks around the country to flood the phone lines in Congress. We need everyone on board to get this done. We must ensure that Congress allocates at least $4 billion dollars to implement the reforms needed to ensure Americans can safely, securely, and efficiently exercise their right to vote while still protecting our public health.
- Call your Senators Kristin Sinema and Martha McSally and tell them to prioritize a coronavirus People’s Bailout. We need a package that prioritizes protecting our democratic systems, providing accessible health care for all, and direct economic support to everyone. Call your senators now to demand they support the People’s Bailout.
- Call your representative, Paul Gosar, and tell him the same. Millions of people could be left behind while corporations rake in trillions of tax-payer dollars. The House needs to make this right. Call your representatives now and demand that they support the above provisions be included in the next coronavirus package.
- Record a video demanding your members of Congress prioritize a People’s Bailout and tell us how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted your life. We’ll uplift you and show reporters and members of Congress that even though we’re not rallying in the streets, Indivisibles are still working hard to hold their members of Congress accountable and build a sense of shared community. Use this opportunity to use your voice to control the narrative.
Arizona Ready Virtual Statewide Launch & Open House
Wednesday, April 15th from 7-8 pm
https://www.mobilize.us/arizonaready/event/264348/
Featuring State Superintendent Kathy Hoffman, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and Executive Director of the Arizona Education Association Luis Heredia
Learn more about our organizing strategy leading up to the election and share your ideas and feedback about what those plans should look like. We know that folks in our communities know what’s at stake and how we can come together to beat Trump, and we want to hear from you to help shape our program. Provide your input and hear a great group of speakers about how we can build power together right here at home.
Tricia Sauer, Indivisible Team, Senior Statewide Organizer, Arizona
STATE ACTIONS
BLAST Karen Fann with calls and emails
Voter Rights at Risk!
kfann@azleg.gov 602-926-5874
Concern that the Az Legislature is out of session all through the Covid-19 spiral was voiced at the Virtual County Chairs meeting last night. Now they have delayed from April 13th to the 30th. They should be urged to convene by virtual platform and be part of the solution by representing our needs in this emergency. Their inaction and silence is deafening. Both houses are letting Ducey just run the show. I know many progressives are concerned that if they re-convened they might pass some voter suppression bills, however the House has passed a Vote by Mail bill that if the Senate does not address by April 15th will die.
Senator Karen Fann is the only person in the state that has the power to virtually re-convene the Senate and should be urged to do so and to pass and support Vote by Mail.
BLAST Karen Fann with calls and emails.
Thanks. John Lutes. Yavapai County Democratic Chair
EARTH WEEK EVENTS
NAZCCA 2020 Prescott Earth Week Digital Events
April 11th – 24th
Please be sure and visit nazcca.org for detailed information on all the digital events that Northern Arizona Climate Change is sponsoring/co-sponsoring during our first ever REGIONAL “VIRTUAL” EARTH WEEK 2020.
Tuesday, April 14, 3 pm- Prescott City Council Earth Day Proclamation.
Click link to watch live feed: https://www.prescottmediacenter.org/
Saturday, April 18, 9-11am – “Passion for the Planet” 2nd Annual Earth Week Youth Summit
Click link to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xjHJoHfQSNiDNbj2jCg5vA
Tuesday, April 21, 11am – “Spotlight on Climate” Radio Sunnyside on Flagstaff radio station KSZN 101.5 FM
https://www.nazcca.org/cottonwood-region-events/2020/3/17/spotlight-on-climate-1015fm-radio-sunnyside
Tuesday, April 21, 6:30-830pm – “Climate Change Solutions: Political or Personal?” presented by Dr. Gary Beverly.
Click link to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v4kL9SEJTj69sPkjO5SX1A
Wednesday, April 22, 1:30pm-3:30pm – “2020 Fifty Years of Earth Day Celebration – Webinar Panel”
Please register as soon as possible to secure your spot! Click link to register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uGte191eRAiEG74Bxz8esA
Wednesday, April 22, 4-6 pm – Sustainability: Think Globally, Act Locally.
Registration is required to attend this webinar and space is limited. Click link to register for the zoom webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d575-yz1Th6Q_5rQRcWa2g
Thursday, April 23, 1-3 pm – “What’s Next, Prescott?” with Kari Hull, NAZCCA community organizer and Patrick Grady, YCCC Chair.
Click link below to join zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/550533414
Password: NAZCCA (required)
Thursday, April 23, 630pm – “Thank You Earth Drum Circle” Watch for this event to be on Facebook Live! https://www.facebook.com/NorthernAZClimateChange/
Friday, April 24, 6-8pm – Art Mojo! Create for the love of the earth! Click link to register for the zoom webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hPNUVxI9RdukgAcAu08yIg
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SOS Education Webinars
This year, the Legislature stepped up attacks on public education, despite overwhelming citizen support for public school funding. The primary sin of the Legislature is its long record of starving the public education system financially, in two ways: 1) by repeatedly, drastically, cutting tax revenues in a state with chronically underfunded public services; and 2) by siphoning off more and more tax funds to pay tuition at private charter and religious schools through tuition vouchers. The Legislature also loves to constrain academic freedom and dictate the content of education in Arizona. Some of these bills may fail. Too many will pass.
Why does this matter? Arizona ranks near or at the bottom in the U.S. for teacher pay (49th), per-student investment (46th), teacher retention (50th), and classroom overcrowding (49th). 95% of Arizona students use public school. It is the bedrock of our society and economy.
See “The Arizona Classroom Crisis” video (under 3 minutes) HERE.
See the “Quick Guide to AZ Education Funding” HERE.
MORE EVENTS:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SaveOurSchoolsArizona/events/
LET’S MOBILIZE YAVAPAI COUNTY
Join us for virtual phone banking
Every Tuesday evening at 5:30 via Zoom!
A coalitional effort across organizations and activists are putting democracy into action and conducting phone banks to do targeted outreach to Latinx and Native voters in northern Arizona. The phone banks occur every Tuesday from 5:30pm -7pm. They begin with orientation and training, so if you never have phone banked before this a great place to start. We know that building power and voice to win access to healthcare, good jobs, and quality education happens one person at a time. We are calling our neighbors to see how they are doing under this pandemic and having a conversation about how we can hold elected leaders accountable for the decisions that affect our community.
ZACHERY MUELLER, zachary.a.mueller@gmail.com
- Joining the meeting: join via computer athttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/889481443?pwd=djNuVnh5c2hoUDBOQkZ4SFppVkt4Zz09
- Join via phone at +16699006833
CALENDARS
Prescott Indivisible Calendar Link
CONTACTS
Contact Your Members of Congress
KYRSTEN SINEMA
825 B&C Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
contact@sinema.senate.gov
MARTHA MCSALLY
B40D Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
202-224-2235
contact@mcsally.senate.gov
PAUL GOSAR
2057 Rayburn HOB, Washington, DC 20515 202-225-2315
6499 S. Kings Ranch Rd. #4, Gold Canyon, AZ 85118 480-882-2697
220 N. 4th St., Kingman, AZ (by appt. only)
122 N. Cortez St., Suite 104, Prescott, AZ 86301 928-445-1683
http://paulgosar.house.gov/contact/
Arizona
Governor, Doug Ducey
State Capitol, 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 602.542.4331
http://azgovernor.gov/governor/form/contact-governor-ducey
Legislature http://www.azleg.gov/
Senator Karen Fann kfann@azleg.gov 602-926-5874
Rep. Noel Campbell ncampbell@azleg.gov 602-926-3124
Rep. Steve Pierce spierce@azleg.gov 602-926-5584
Prescott
Mayor Greg Mengarelli
201 S. Cortez St. Prescott 928.777.1248
