First, The Bad News…
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their latest report. It is grim reading.
“U.N. Secretary General António Guterres called the findings “a code red for humanity” and said societies must find ways to embrace the transformational changes necessary to limit warming as much as possible. “We owe this to the entire human family,” he said in a statement. “There is no time for delay and no room for excuses.” “
The mirror can be painful to look into, but we must. Every day, until we change this.
Read the article here
(From the Washington Post, may be firewalled)
Then, The Better News.
- The Senate passed the first $1 trillion dollar bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, 69-30. The House will take it up after the August recess.
- The second Infrastructure Bill, totaling $3.5 trillion dollars, is next up in the Senate. It focuses more on human infrastructure, and will move forward under budget reconciliation rules, which means it can’t be filibustered in the Senate, but can be passed with a simple majority.
Both these bills include funding to address climate change (the second bill more explicitly). New clean energy programs / tax incentives / grants, new polluters fees, coastal resiliency programs, funds to combat drought and wildfire, and incentives for weatherization and green electrification, green and sustainable housing, and a Civilian Conservation Corps.
The second bill also includes so much more, for families / education, for health care, and would give a pathway to legal status for undocumented individuals.
This is why our votes matter.
Speaking Of Votes…
Here are two activities you can participate in.
If you live and vote in Michigan, we need you to tell our legislators and leaders to vote NO on these bills. Find your State Senator here.
Ask your U.S. House Representative to prioritize the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Find your U.S. House Representative here.
Thank our U.S Senators for supporting the For the People Act, S1, which recently passed the House. Sen. Gary Peters: (202) 224-6221 Sen. Debbie Stabenow: (202) 224-4822
Walking for Whitmer
August 14th and 15th
Across the state, volunteers are organizing and hitting the streets to talk to Democratic voters about how the Democratic Party fights for a better Michigan and a better America. We will talk about the successes of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, Attorney General Dana Nessel, and Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson as well as President Biden and VP Harris’ leadership to repair much of the damage of the Trump Presidency.
The first neighborhood canvassing walks are in Ann Arbor. Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday afternoon shifts. Sign up with Mobilize at the link below.
Walking for Whitmer – Ann Arbor
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Every penny we raised at the Garden Party will be spent to keep us on the path to victory in 2022 and beyond!
** WORTH REPEATING **
January 6th Select Committee Starts
On Wednesday, the House Select Committee starts their inquiry into the events on and preceding the insurrection at the Capitol, January 6th. Just to catch you up on the details:
- After the House voted to create a Bipartisan Commission, Senate Republicans filibustered, preventing the Senate from signing off on the House bill.
- The House voted on June 30th to set up their own Select Committee. Nancy Pelosi appointed seven Democrats and one Republican (Rep. Liz Cheney) to the Committee.
- Under the rules, Republicans could appoint five other members to the Committee. The Republican House leadership under Kevin McCarthy did so, two of which (Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Jim Banks) could potentially be called to testify in front of the Committee about their own acts around January 6th.
- Nancy Pelosi refused to seat the two. The Republicans pulled all their appointments.
- Nancy appointed one more Republican, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, to serve on the Committee.
There is work to be done, but we will have real questions and answers, not a circus of cross-examination by intentionally disruptive Committee members.
As Rep. Adam Kinzinger said “…self-governance is at stake.”
They can’t stop this storm.
APPLY NOW: DNC CAMPAIGN READINESS PROJECT
Winning Democratic seats at every level is crucial in 2021 and 2022. The DNC Campaign Readiness Project is recruiting, training and hiring. Now.
Apply for the Distributed Organizer& Distributed Leadership Bootcamps.
These are paid training opportunities which provide a path to possible employment through the 2022 election.
To begin with, states included are Virginia, New Jersey, Arizona, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, N Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania (you need to be connected with the state in some way – see the apps for details).
Learn more & apply
https://democrats.org/campaign-readiness-project/
SUMMER EVENTS
Ypsilanti Frog Island Jazz – Fridays, July 2nd through Sept 3rd, 7-9pm
We have a Washtenaw Dems table there – stop by for swag and conversation!
Precinct Delegate Gathering – Sunday Aug 15th, 3-5pm
Chelsea’s Pierce Park Pavilion
THE FINAL WORD
STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR MICHIGAN REPS
Find your county commissioner here.
Senator Jeff Irwin has a regular Virtual Coffee Hour — To receive the Zoom access code and the next date, please fill out this form:
Rep. Yousef Rabhi, 53rd House district: yousefrabhi@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-2577. https://housedems.com/yousef-rabhi/.
Typically discussions are 10 am on the 4th Saturday of the month and 6 pm on the 2nd Monday of the month. Click to register:
Rep. Ronnie Peterson, 54th House district: ronniepeterson@house.mi.gov Phone: (517) 373-1771 | Toll-Free: (855) 347-8054, https://housedems.com/ronnie-peterson/
Rep. Donna Lasinski, 52nd House district: donnalasinski@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-0828 | Toll-Free: (855) 627-5052, https://housedems.com/donna-lasinski/ (sign up for emails here).
Rep. Felicia Brabec, 55th House district: FeliciaBrabec@house.mi.gov, Phone: (517) 373-1792, https://housedems.com/felicia-brabec/.
