Call To Action July 12, 2020

SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY
 
Planning for the election, Chapter II of What’s the Plan?
 
November 2020, the election that we have been working towards for the last 4 years, is rapidly approaching.  This election will occur under circumstances that none of us could have imagined even six months ago.  We knew that Republicans would try to suppress the vote, but we didn’t expect the impact of a pandemic and the uncertainty it creates.   Since this is probably the most critical presidential election in a long time, it is prudent to plan for those complications know since we know that the Republicans are planning on how to exploit them.  
 
Two simple actions, suggested in a bipartisan opinion column in the Washington Post recently, can help prevent an election meltdown this November.  The authors wrote:
"But there are two kinds of steps that responsible leaders could take now to at least contain the danger without falling into partisan combat. The first is simply to speak to the problem in public. Elected officials and candidates — as well as journalists, commentators, scholars and others — should talk frankly about the challenges of running an election during a public health crisis, prepare the public for the possibility that we will not have results on election night, and that this does not mean that the results will be tainted when we do get them. Election officials must be given the time they need to count every vote.
 
Second, Congress can take a simple step to provide those officials with that time, particularly when it comes to the presidential election. Election Day, Nov. 3, should not be changed. But electing our president involves a series of steps following that day, which take place on a schedule established by law, not by the Constitution, and which Congress can adjust for this year’s special circumstances.
 
The first significant date on that schedule marks the end of the “safe harbor” period established by federal law, during which states are assured their reported presidential election results will not be challenged in Congress. This year that deadline is Dec. 8. Six days later, on Dec. 14, the 538 members of the electoral college meet in their state capitals to vote. Those votes are not officially tallied by Congress until three weeks after that, on Jan. 6, and the inauguration follows on Jan. 20.
 
That means 78 days pass between the election and inauguration, but states have only 35 of those days to process all the ballots and resolve all disputes and recounts — or 41 days if they forgo their safe-harbor protections.
If states confront serious logistical challenges, those 35 days could easily prove inadequate. Mailed ballots require signature verification, contacting voters whose handwriting is challenged and time for voters to respond. Some states already have efficient systems in place, including automated signature matching, but those procedures have been carefully built over several years. Other states are now trying to quickly set up new processes, equipment and training, and, inevitably, there will be problems and delays.
 
It is not hard to imagine time running out in a closely contested state facing these challenges. In 2000, for instance, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Bush v. Gore on Dec. 11, one day before the safe-harbor deadline, and the decision to end the recount was based in part on that deadline.
 
Changing the calendar after the election would be very difficult, because at that point various partisans looking at available results would have different views about who would benefit from an extension. But now, before anyone has voted, we can all agree that more time could help without giving one party an advantage over the other.
The specific calendar should be established by Congress, but it might be reasonable to have the electors meet on Jan. 2, after a safe-harbor deadline on New Year’s Eve. Even if the results remained unclear until well into December, state officials would have much more breathing room as transition preparations for both would-be presidents could commence."
 
ACTION:  We should continue to urge that our MOCs take preparation for free and fair elections this November seriously.  As part of a follow up from last week’s question, inquiring about our MOCs plan to prevent meddling in the election and urging them to speak up about the likely circumstances that could complicate the tally of votes.  And, sponsor legislation to give states reasonable time to count ballots (a new calendar).  Demand that our MOCs exert every effort to make sure this will be a free and fair election.
 
Senator Patty Murray    Phone: (202) 224-2621
Website: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
Senator Maria Cantwell Phone: (202) 224-3441
Website:  https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Representative Denny Heck      Phone:  202-225-9740
Website: https://dennyheck.house.gov/contact/email-me
 
Script:  I am _________________ and I am a member of Olympia Indivisible.   I am worried that the Republican party will use the COVID-19 pandemic as another opportunity to steal an election, and will exploit the confusion that may arise on election day to convince their supporters that the vote was rigged.  Please tell me what Representative/Senator _____ is doing to prevent meddling in the election and to prepare voters for uncertainty resulting from difficulty voting and tallying results as a result of the pandemic.  I encourage Representative/Senator _____ to sponsor legislation that will give states more time to count ballots than the current calendar provides, without changing the date of the election or the inauguration.  Our leaders need to speak out frequently on the voting process to help us maintain confidence in the validity of our election process, and ensure that states have the time necessary to cope with all of the complications that will arise from voting safely under the COVGID-19 pandemic.
 
Act Now - Register below!
Pushing Election Officials to Increase Safe Voting Access!
We are winning the fight! 11 of 27 original states so far have agreed to help voters stay safer while exercising their right to vote.
 
Come to one of the two sessions this week and find out how!  
“Check-in and Get started” working sessions for the Advocacy Initiative project this week.
 
Safe voting nation-wide couldn’t be more imperative than it is today. Let’s PUSH the last 16 states to provide mail-in ballots and expanded early in-person voting.  We can make this a reality through the Advocacy Initiative project.  Register for one of the work sessions to learn all about this project, get your questions answered, and let us help you get started. “These sessions are offered two days a week and will continue through mid-August. 
 
Click the link below to get registered and join us this week:  
Check-in & Get Started Advocacy Initiative sessions
Mondays at 12 Noon PDT      Use this link to register for this meeting.
Fridays at 10:00 a.m. PDT Use this link to register for this meeting.
 
PROTECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
Are We About to Create A COVID Epidemic in our Children?
TELL OUR SENATORS TO FUND COVID PROTECTIONS FOR SCHOOLS
 
The data is not yet conclusive why children have been largely spared from the pandemic. But we do know that they have been protected by our quick closing of schools.
 
We all want our children back in school with a realistic plan that will do this in a safe way.  Teachers, principals, and school boards, are telling us that the only way this can be done safely is with extra funding to put protections in place.  The Administration has no plan and no funding. Betsy Devos has even threatened to withhold federal funds from public schools and give those funds to private religious schools that do reopen. This is a recipe for disaster. Are we about to force our schools to end up like the rapid outbreaks in Florida and Arizona by ignoring guidelines and reopening too early and ignoring science?
 
ACTION:  Tell our Senators that schools need time and extra funding to safely reopen. While The latest funding bill passed in the House has provisions for helping schools, the Senate bill has no provisions yet.
 
Script: My name is _______ and I am calling as a member of Olympia Indivisible.  I am concerned that we are about to cause a COVID epidemic in our children by reopening our schools too early and without realistic safeguards in place.  President Trump and Betsy Devos have no plan and no funding for schools.  Will Senator _____________sponsor legislation to provide schools with COVID funding so that children and teachers can be safe?
 
How is it possible that our government just gave 1.4 Billion public tax dollars to the Catholic Church for COVID relief, while doing nothing for public schools? What is the Senator going to do about this?
 
Demand That Our MoCs Verify That Funds Distributed Through The HEROS Act Go To Small Businesses
 
Everyone has undoubtedly heard about the millions of dollars from the CARES Act intended to help small businesses, but that went instead to large businesses and corporations. Hundreds of millions of dollars that should have gone to neighborhood hair salons, independent record stores or small manufacturing firms suffering potentially irreversible losses did not receive any money, while Potbelly Corp with 6000 employees received 10 million dollars. Other notable recipients include:
 
Kanye West worth $1.3 billion, got a loan of between $2 million and $5 million for his clothing and shoe design company Yeezy. 
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s family’s business, Foremost Maritime, got a loan valued at between $350,000 and $1 million. Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
The Archdiocese of New York got a loan valued at between $5 million and $10 million.
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in New Jersey, which is named after Trump’s son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner’s grandfather, got a loan in the range of $1 million to $2 million.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/here-are-the-public-companies-that-got-coronavirus-aid-meant-for-small-businesses-2020-04-22
 
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/06/coronavirus-stimulus-list-of-ppp-small-business-loan-recipients-released.html
 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/denizcam/2020/07/06/kanye-west-west-virginias-governor-jim-justice-and-13-other-billionaires-businesses-got-ppp-loans/#5262218f4f0d
 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6800
 
 
ACTION: Call Senator Maria Cantwell 253-572-2281 local office 202-224-3441 DC office 
                     Senator Patty Murray 253-572-3636 local office 202-224-2621 DC office
 
Ask our them how it is that corporations with thousands of employees qualified for PPP and how will they prevent that from happening with the HEROS Act. Then insist that the Senate pass the HEROS Act, with safeguards in place to assure that the PPP funds allocated to small businesses goes to those small business that need and deserve it. Americans know how necessary small businesses are to stimulating our economy and to the survival of our way of life. We are tired of the corruption in DC, tired of seeing our tax dollars being stolen by the rich and powerful. If the Democrats want to win elections in November, they need to prove that they are representing working Americans, not just corporate or political interests.
 
STATE & COUNTY ACTIONS
Tell The Port HELL NO!
Oppose the lease of a 200-acre forested parcel to a developer and the expansion of the Olympia Regional Airport.

The Port of Olympia Commissioners are considering two proposals:

1. Lease 200 acres of the New Market Industrial Complex (NMIC) in Tumwater, to a development company which will be allowed to cut down the forest. Two of the Port Commissioners appear to be eager to sign a contract at their July 13th meeting.
2. Vote on a request by the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission (CACC) to have Thurston County considered as one of six possible locations for a new SeaTac-sized airport and/or expand the current Olympia Regional Airport. 

At their July 13th meeting, these proposals will be on their "Action Calendar" and may be voted upon.

ACTIONS you can take:

• Sign Black Hills Audubon's petition opposing the expansion of the Olympia Airport.
• https://blackhills-audubon.org/say-no-to-olympia-airport-expansion-and-or-a-seatac-in-thurston-county/
• Send letters in opposition to both proposals before 9:00 a.m. on Monday - all written comments will be compiled and sent to the Commissioners prior to the meeting. Send the letter in your own words and own format. See the Letter. For talking points about the NMIC.  For information about the airport, see the Petition Opposing Expansion of Olympia Airport.
• Sign up to testify at the meeting on July 13 - the port requests that you do so by 12:00 p.m. on Monday

GET YOUR CAMPAIGN SIGNS NOW – IT’S EASY!
CAMPAIGN YARD SIGNS INITIATIVE: So far 35 Olympia Indivisible members have put in requests for yard signs for our endorsed state, County, and federal candidates (Doglio, Bateman, Stearns, Hunt, Amamilo, Mejia, Dolan, and Steadman). Hats off to those 35 members, but HEY! That's less than 5% of our membership.  Please step up and do your part! Every campaign yard sign generates on average 6–10 additional votes for that candidate and also helps to increase overall voter turnout. We are extending the deadline for requests for campaign yard signs to Friday, July 17. 
ACTION: Here is the link to make yo
ur request: https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/candidate-sign-request-form.html

Help Beth Doglio Get An Indivisible.org National Endorsement.  
 
Please help secure a national endorsement for Beth Doglio by completing a very simple registration form from Indivisible. org which will allow you to participate in their voting process to determine the endorsement.   We, Olympia Indivisible, have submitted Beth’s name for consideration.  After vetting, they will pole registered CD10 members.  There are a number of benefits to this endorsement for Beth, so please help and register.   https://act.indivisible.org/signup/endorsement-signup
 
Olympia Indivisible Elections Alerts and Events
You can help out our OI endorsed candidates – go to https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/endorsed-candidates.html to see their upcoming needs. Here’s what’s posted this week:

Mike Steadman County Commissioner Campaign Phone Bank
​When
Weekly from 6pm to 8pm on Mony, Tuey, Wed, Fri from Fri Jul 10 to Wed Aug 5 Pacific Time

Where
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89332559510 (map)

Joining info
Join with Google Meet meet.google.com/tsn-ucnn-euh

 
 
Jessica Bateman's campaign is currently requesting volunteers who will do phone banking and/or literature dropping. Any of our members who would be willing to volunteer should contact Sara Develle via email (sara.develle@gmail.com).
 
Team Carolina Mejia needs your help! We need volunteers and we will train!
What: Here is what our campaign needs:

• Virtual phone banking
• Lawn sign planting
• Host a virtual fundraiser 
• Sign waving

Where: Volunteer from home or walk/drive around your community and plant lawn signs!
When: We meet virtually every Thursday and Friday from 4 - 7pm and Saturday from 11 to 2pm. You can make phone calls, plant yard signs or host a virtual fundraiser on your own schedule. 

Please contact Antonia Moore Volunteer Coordinator (antonia@carolinaforthurston.com) for more information.
Phone:253-468-3725 
Or visit: www.carolinaforthurston.com
 
July 9th, Thursday, 5 - 7:30 PM Phone Banking for Beth Doglio
Join us for a remote phone bank to your neighbors in the 10th Congressional District!
​We'll meet on Zoom for training, practice, and Q&A before getting on the phones from home. This is THE most powerful thing supporters can do before the primary - we need YOUR help to elect a Progressive Champion to represent us in Congress!!!

• Zoom training will be provided before phone banking. ​
• Register at: Olympia Indivisible Phone Bank for Beth!

July 14th 7:00PM
CD10 Indivisible Endorsed Candidate Beth Doglio & Intros
Registration link: https://bit.ly/CD10_TownHall
Shareable Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2600119200240061/
Indivisible National event: https://act.indivisible.org/event/attend-local-actions/153940