October 2, 2023
45 days to avoid a shutdown, solidarity with Ukraine and the UAW, challenging the GOP narrative on immigrants, and more!
*** ANNOUNCEMENT: SUBMITTING YOUR ACTIONS TO ROGAN’S LIST ***
We’ve had a number of the Rogan’s List family (now 12,000 strong!) send in action items in the last few weeks – and some really important ones at that! So we’re setting up a “tip line” you all can use if you have ideas or submissions for us: roganslisttips@gmail.com. Please don’t hesitate to email and pass on your suggestions, we look forward to hearing from you!
Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- SHUTDOWN AVOIDED… FOR NOW
In a surprising development over the weekend, Kevin McCarthy functionally folded and brought to the floor a continuing resolution that extends government funding for another 45 days and includes the requested disaster funding along with extending authorization for the FAA and the National Flood Insurance Program. This swiftly passed the House and Senate with large majorities, although in the House 90 Republicans voted no. While the appropriations requested to support our Ukrainian allies were excluded (see below), this is a temporary victory that will keep the basic function of government going. The Democrats won it by standing firm and refusing to give in to ridiculous Republican demands that demonize immigrants, cut crucial programs like nutrition assistance to pregnant women and newborns and funding for public schools in low-income areas, and stand to kick more than a million families out of their homes. But the GOP isn’t giving up on their extreme and destructive agenda – their strategy is to buy time while they try to muster majorities for their plans. If we’re represented by Democrats, let’s reach out and tell them to hold the line, continue to insist that the GOP sticks to the debt ceiling deal, and reject these sadistic cuts. If we’re represented by Republicans, let’s contact them to tell them we will hold them accountable for forcing a shutdown for their cruelties. - LET’S NOT ABANDON UKRAINEThe last minute, stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded and prevent a MAGA Republican shutdown passed without providing for additional aid to Ukraine. Experts at the German Marshall Fund are warning that the MAGA Republican-led softening of support for Ukraine is a strategic and economic mistake for the US. Let’s read why here. Speaker McCarthy has reportedly committed he will bring aid to Ukraine up for its own separate vote. Let’s tell our MoCs that we want the US to continue supporting the Ukrainian people against Russian’s brutal invasion by sending military and humanitarian aid.
- DON’T LET REPUBLICANS HAVE THE FINAL SAY ON IMMIGRATION
Even though common sense prevailed and moderate Republicans joined with Democrats to temporarily prevent a shutdown, the GOP is looking to pivot back to trying to gain concessions on border policies. The Republicans have been quick to equate increased immigration with fewer jobs for native-born workers, but in reality, immigrants are filling a crucial role as baby boomers retire out of the workforce and the post-pandemic American economy remains in need of lower-wage workers. Let’s share this information from the LA Times and Marketplace to counter this falsehood in our interactions with friends and family who have “drunk the GOP KoolAid.” And then, let’s tell–and urge them to tell–our MoCs in both the House and Senate that we need to follow international law and do the morally right thing to honor our commitments to refugees and asylum seekers who are fleeing to our shores as a safe haven.
- NEW WAYS TO STAND WITH THE UAW
7,000 more workers joined the picket line on Friday as the UAW expanded its strike against the Big Three automakers after another week of insufficient progress towards a fair deal. And they’re calling for our help. The UAW is encouraging supporters to start community canvasses at Big Three auto dealerships. We can find a list of canvasses we can join, along with instructions and a toolkit for starting our own if there’s nothing scheduled near us yet, here. President Shawn Fain has also issued an open invitation to allies of the workers to join them on the picket line, and we can find a map of lines near us, along with information on the UAW locals we can reach out to for more information, here.
- FREE COVID TESTS NOW AVAILABLE
COVID isn’t over, and cases are on back on the rise. But every U.S. household can once again place an order to receive four *free* COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. We can place our orders at www.covid.gov/tests.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- MI – ACTION PARTY TONIGHT FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE PLAN
Michigan is set to consider the Clean Energy Future Plan, a package of bills to speed up the state’s transition to a clean, carbon-free economy – establishing clean energy standards and mandating carbon-free energy by 2040, upgrading buildings and the grid to be more energy efficient, ensuring agricultural land can be used for clean energy, and expanding the authority of the Public Service Commission so it can ensure utilities include impacts to climate change in their long-term plans. We can join local and national environmental groups and the Climate Action Now app team for an action party TONIGHT AT 7PM to send messages to key decisionmakers about this legislation. Let’s sign up here, and let’s reach out to our legislators and tell them we want fast action to pass the clean energy package using these talking points from Evergreen Action.
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
- LAST WEEK’S WINS
The road to progress is long and wearing, so it’s important to celebrate the victories we earn along the way. Here’s a summary of some of last week’s biggest from our friend and ally Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Water, including charges dropped against environmentalist protesters in Minnesota, baristas winning back pay after Starbucks was busted for violating the National Labor Relations Act, and the new FCC chair proposing to reinstate net neutrality.