Avoiding a shutdown, constructively remembering January 6th, investigating voter purges, and more!
JAN 8
*** 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:
- STEPS FORWARD ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING?
After months of brinksmanship, Speaker Mike Johnson has agreed to topline numbers for this fiscal year’s appropriations that are in line with the debt limit deal the White House and congressional leadership reached last summer. This is a real step towards a broader compromise on funding the government, but the arsonists in the Republican caucus are unlikely to quietly accept this move, the Christian nationalist speaker is still pushing to attach huge conservative policy concessions to the deal and we’re just 11 days from a partial shutdown. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and the White House and tell them we’re tired of Republican obstruction keeping this deal from getting done, and we want them to hold firm here – no cruel giveaways on the border, no anti-abortion policy riders and no cuts to satisfy the extremists. - CONSTRUCTIVELY REMEMBERING THE JAN. 6 INSURRECTIONA mere three years after Trump left the White House in disgrace for inciting the January 6, 2021 siege on the U.S. Capitol, he is set to win the Republican Party’s nomination. “Every member of the House Republican leadership is formally backing his campaign to recapture the White House.” Nineteen Republican senators have endorsed him. The Republican Party is now the party of The Big Lie, the party of insurrectionists, a threat to American democracy. As we seek ways to constructively remember the January 6 insurrection, if we have the means to donate money, let’s support the cause of electing Democrats by making a contribution to one or more of these funds from Swing Left. Even just $5.00 can make a difference.
- WRITE POSTCARDS TO FLIP SANTOS’ SEAT BLUENow that George Santos has been expelled from Congress, we have a new chance to flip his seat (NY-3) in a special election this February 13. The race is rated a tossup but with a strong candidate – former Congressman Tom Suozzi held this seat for 6 years – we have a good chance of flipping it back to blue! Activate America is getting out the vote and we can help out by sending postcards to voters, letting them know about this election and telling them about our strong, experienced candidate. We can sign up here for postcard lists today, and make sure our cards are in the mail starting Jan. 26 and by Feb. 3 at the latest.
- ASK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO INVESTIGATE VOTER PURGES
Just before the deadline to register to vote on the abortion referendum in Ohio last September, the Ohio Secretary of State quietly purged 26,000 people from the voter rolls, giving them no time to re-register. In Georgia, six conservative activists challenged nearly 100,000 people’s voter registrations. And the attack on voting rights continues as the 2024 election nears, with conservatives scrutinizing state voting rosters to challenge minority and younger voters who are more likely to vote Democrat, many of whom are unaware of the challenge until they show up to vote. While technically not illegal, “these purges disenfranchise eligible voters and undermine public confidence in our electoral system.” Let’s ask the Department of Justice to intervene to make sure that voting rights are protected and investigate these questionable tactics that reek of similar tricks played during the Jim Crow era. - URGE INSURANCE COMPANIES NOT TO COVER THE PROPOSED RIO GRANDE LIQUID METHANE GAS FACILITY
Local activists, municipalities and indigenous groups have been engaging in a long battle to prevent the completion of the Rio Grande LNG facility in Brownsville, Texas. Their consistent engagement with regulators delayed approvals and led several investors to bow out of the project. But last summer, a new investor was found and the project appears to be moving forward. Organizers now are turning to insurance companies, asking that they refrain from insuring this environmentally destructive project. Let’s use this portal and sample letter template from Action Network to send messages to the CEOs of major insurance companies that could potentially cover this project, and urge them to do the right thing for the health of the environment and the people who live in the area.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- MA – HOUSING CRISIS FORUM WEDNESDAY
Housing prices continue to be a heavy burden on Massachusetts, where you need to be making more than $40 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental home – third highest in the country. Advocates pushing for change are hosting a virtual forum on the housing crisis Wednesday at 7:00pm to discuss emergency measures, long-term solutions and how we can get involved. We can RSVP to join the Zoom here.
AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS
- LAST WEEK’S WINSIt may not always feel like it, but our work is making a difference every day. Our friend Jessica Craven at Chop Wood, Carry Wateroutlines a few ways how in her run-down of last week’s wins, including hundreds of gun purchases by young people blocked thanks to the Safer Communities Act, the number of electric school busses more than doubling, and improved tax incentives for electric vehicles and the cap on out-of-pocket costs for insulin in Medicare taking effect.