Weekly Call To Action - July 25, 2021

Take Two Actions Now:

​Black Voters Matter – Donate $ and Shout it Out

This past week two Black members of Congress (Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty and Rep. Hank Johnson) were arrested along with Indivisible founder Leah Greenberg in peaceful voting rights demonstrations at the Capitol. Voter suppression laws are already on the books in Georgia, Florida and Arizona. Non-partisan voter registration drives in Kansas have been halted for fear of breaking new laws there.

The time for speeches is over – the time for action is now.

Action: 

1. Donate to Black Voters Matter which is on the ground in DC organizing protests following their June arrival and the “Freedom Ride” across the South.
2. Then, choose your favorite megaphone (call, email, social media, letters, posters) and SHOUT IT OUT to Senators Murray & Cantwell.

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Talking points follow:

• Why aren’t you standing side-by-side with your Black colleagues passionately fighting for the voting rights of POC being stripped before our very eyes?
• Voting rights are civil rights – as Senators, you took a vow to protect and ensure our Constitutional rights – not to enforce Jim Crow traditions like the filibuster.
• We expect you to lead on this with the same conviction and investment of energy you show on other key issues (passing child care investments and grilling airline CEO’s about their use of government funds).
• The grassroots led by Black women and POC have done their part. Now it is up to other elected officials to do theirs – everyone from the President on down must move on this.
• Pass federal voting rights now – no excuses. Anything less will be treated as a failure.
• No August recess or weekends off until voting rights are secure.
• Grassroots groups can’t out-organize voter suppression because voter suppression moves the foundation that organizing is built on.  

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Ask Rep Strickland to STOP Blocking Medicare Negotiation of Prescription Drug Prices

​Rep. Marilyn Strickland (CD10) is one of 10 Democratic Congressional Reps threatening to block allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices. Vulnerable House Democrats call for Medicare drug price negotiation in reconciliation plan 

Strickland has joined a relatively small number of moderate Democrats, most of whom signed on to a separate letter in May threatening to vote against any action on pharmaceutical prices that did not have bipartisan support. The party’s small majority in the House means that these centrists could block any action. How Moderate Democrats Are Sabotaging Their Ideological Allies. 

Pelosi's H.R. 3 – The Lower Drug Costs Now Act would save roughly $456 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a stat the Democrats touted in their letter.

Action: Contact Marilyn Strickland: 202-225-9740 or Contact Form 

Script: Hello. My name is ___________. I am a member of (INDIVISIBLE
CHAPTER OR AFFINITY GROUP NAME) and am contacting you from (ZIP CODE/YOUR AREA). As your constituent, I'm asking you to support H.R. 3 – The Lower Drug Costs Now Act, giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. Please put the needs of seniors over your desire for bipartisan support. The government ought to be in a position to negotiate with drug companies for the best possible deal! To show your sincerity we ask you to pledge to not take contributions from big Pharma. ​

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Have You Scheduled These Events?

How Will Redistricting Affect You? 

Washington redraws the boundaries of voting districts every 10 years so they reflect our state’s changing populations.
You have one chance every 10 years to avoid partisan gerrymandering.  Only with citizen input can we stop gerrymandering in its tracks. 
This 2 minute clip explains how: 

• Congressional District 10 will expand.  
• Legislative Districts 2, 22 and 25  will contract. 
• Legislative Districts 20,28 and 35 will expand. 

Find out more about the effort at the Washington State Redistricting Commission.
Watch the entire video of Washington State Redistricting Commission - Congressional District 10 Public Outreach Meeting 6/22/21

Action: Learn how to participate and sign up for the 1 PM - 3 PM Meeting on 7/31/21. ​

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​Capitol Lake – Deschutes Estuary Management

Enterprise Services is asking the public to review their Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Capitol Lake – Deschutes Estuary Long-Term Management Project. Comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted through an online comment form, via email or mail, or at an online public hearing until August 13, 2021.

Action:  Visit the EIS website and learn about the project and how you can participate.  They are asking for comments about improvements to the plan. They are not asking which option you prefer. Look at the meeting schedule and see what meetings would be convenient for you to attend.  

Background Information

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​The August 8th Picnic is Postponed

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​The Olympia Indivisible Picnic WAS scheduled for August 8, 2021.  Due to circumstances including the uptick in COVID 19 infections locally, we will postpone the picnic until everyone is more comfortable getting together in person.

We look forward to reconnecting soon and getting the picnic back to an annual event.​​​