Feinstein: Step up or step down
Protect our Democracy
This should be one of the busiest possible times in the Senate- the Build Back Better Act was passed in the House and is just waiting for Senators to take action. The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act sit, stalled by the filibuster, while Republicans pass voter suppression laws one after the other and gerrymander themselves into power for decades. The Senate is scheduled to go on recess in just a few days, which means we’re in real danger of Congress abandoning their urgent work on Build Back Better and voting rights protections while the Senate takes a holiday.
And despite all our calls to action, Sen. Feinstein has been conspicuously absent from the fight so far. We’d ask her to finish the work before taking a break- but it’s hard to see that she’s started the work at all. It’s time for her to step up or step down. We need her to call for an end to the filibuster and not go on recess until Build Back Better and voting rights protections are passed, or step down and leave room for someone who’s willing to do the work.
Example call scripts are below.
Sen. Feinstein: Step up or step down!
- Sen. Feinstein: 415-393-0707 (SF) 202-224-3841 (D.C) (email)
Sample Call Script: (your own words are best)
Hi, my name is [name]. I’m a voter and a constituent of Senator Feinstein. My zip code is [zip code].
I’m asking Sen. Feinstein not to go on recess until Build Back Better is passed and voting rights are protected, and if she’s not willing to do the work, to resign and leave room for someone who will.
I want to voice my escalating frustration that Senator Feinstein can’t or won’t represent Californians in the fight to pass voting rights protections, particularly the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Last week the Senate modified the filibuster to raise the debt ceiling, but Senator Feinstein continues to hang back and remain quiet in the fight to fix the filibuster to protect our fundamental right to vote in fair elections. She appears to be content to allow the US Senate to sink further into dysfunction as long as it remains well cloaked in the myths of tradition.
It’s time for Senator Feinstein to step up or step down. I urge her to call loudly and clearly for elimination of the filibuster so that the US Senate can be restored to an effective legislative body or to step down so that Governor Newsom can appoint a Senator who CAN represent us.
