December 4, 2023
Stop fossil fuel exports, consequences for corruption, power the polls, and more!
*** SUBMITTING YOUR ACTIONS TO ROGAN’S LIST ***
We’ve set up a “tip line” so Rogan’s List subscribers can send in their ideas or submissions for action items at 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:
- REJECT NEW LIQUID METHANE GAS EXPORT FACILITY ON THE GULF COASTEven as nations meet in Dubai amid the realization that the only way to prevent climate catastrophe is to phase out fossil fuels, the United States continues to greenlight several new controversial projects, like the Willow Project in Alaska. The latest item on the table is a new liquid methane gas export facility called CP2 on the Gulf coast of Louisiana, proposed by Venture Global. Earthjustice.org is organizing a letter-writing campaign to President Biden and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking that the proposal be rejected. We can get information and personalize our comments on their template or reach out directly to the White House, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. We can also urge our members of Congress to follow the lead of Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and put out public statements opposing this project, and donate to and get updates from the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, which is leading opposition to this project on the ground.
- LEONARD LEO WON’T COMPLY
The Senate Judiciary Committee finally voted to subpoena conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo and right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow as part of the inquiries into Justice Clarence Thomas’ corruption. Within minutes, Leo announced he would not comply. The next step is for the Senate to vote to enforce the subpoenas. Let’s reach out to our senators and tell them to pursue this step with as much haste as Leo announced his refusal, and urge them to push for contempt of Congress charges if he ultimately defies the subpoena.
- STOP PENTAGON PRICE GOUGINGThe Pentagon budget is $842 billion, and almost half of that goes to defense contractors. And those contractors “overcharge the Pentagon on almost everything the Department of Defense buys each year.” Example: a shoulder-fired stinger missile that cost $25,000 in 1991 now costs $400,000—“even accounting for inflation and some improvements, that’s a seven-fold increase.” Meanwhile, “while contract spending is going up, Pentagon oversight is going down because of cuts and attrition.” The bipartisan Stop Price Gouging the Military Act would “close loopholes in current acquisition laws, tie financial incentives for contractors to performance, and provide the Department of Defense the information necessary to prevent future rip-offs.” Let’s tell our Members of Congress that when the Pentagon is ripped off, we taxpayers are ripped off, and we want our US Senators to co-sponsor S.2049 and our US Representative to co-sponsor H.R.4409.
- PROTECT ELECTIONS. BE A POLL WORKER.A shortage of poll workers in US elections is a constant problem that can interfere with the smooth running of elections. We can help by becoming poll workers ourselves. Power the Polls is a nonpartisan project that recruits citizens to serve as poll workers and connects them to their local official channels so they can apply. Let’s sign up with Power the Polls so we can get started as poll workers for our upcoming 2024 elections.
- FUNDING THE HUMANITIES
Given the great deal of good that humanities organizations do in communities throughout the United States, policymakers and humanities advocates alike would do well to advocate for increased funding for this historically-underfunded field. Instead, they’ve long been under attack by conservatives – and just this week we saw them trashed in the New York Times. This resource, put together by National Humanities Alliance, gives “an overview of how states, counties, and cities raise funding for the humanities, including for state and local departments or for individual cultural institutions. In addition to showcasing the most common policies that raise additional funding for the humanities, it offers notes on some less common—but nonetheless successful—funding policies employed by some cities and states to support the humanities in their communities. Fortunately, the task for humanities advocates is to increase humanities funding, not to build it from the ground up. Our hope is that this report is a starting point for humanities advocates and policymakers who are aiming to increase support for the humanities where they live.” Let’s check out and put to work the very practical tips in this guide.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- OH – STOP THE TRANS CARE BANS
Trans and nonbinary Ohioans are being targeted once again by the right, with the Senate Government Oversight Committee holding a hearing on HB 68. This bill, which has already passed the House, would ban accepted best-practices gender-affirming care for kids whatever their parents wish, target doctors who treat trans people, and bully trans kids out of school sports. Let’s contact Governor DeWine and our state senators, either directly or with this tool from the ACLU, and tell them to say no to this hateful legislation. (We can also reach to our state reps to oppose the drag ban bill HB 245, which received a hearing this week as well.)
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
- LAST WEEK’S WINS In recent days we’ve seen multiple efforts that have taken years of hard work and sacrifice finally culminate in real change. Our friend Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Water features several in her run-down of last week’s wins, including the Starbucks Workers Union securing a crucial concession they’ve long sought on pausing mobile orders during rushes, Michigan Democrats seeing the trifecta they fought to create expanding voting rights, and Medicaid expansion beginning after a decade of struggle in North Carolina.