Weekly Call To Action - November 20, 2022

​Quote of the Week:

“Thank you, Olympia Indivisible members and teams, for your abiding dedication, resolve, and moxie. You are the frontline of citizen pro-democracy activism. Once again, you have proven that when we gather together, again and again, to take up the cause of democracy, we make a difference.” – Lisa Ornstein, Co-founder, Olympia Indivisible, Nov. 19, 2022

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Final Campaign – Get Active:

​Help Senator Warnock Win the Dec. 6 Georgia Senate Run-off

Background: If you're wondering why Warnock's seat matters when Dems have 50-50 "control" of the Senate--here it is, in a nutshell: 
With a slim 50-50 margin of control for Democrats, Republicans will slow progress in the Senate to a crawl.

• With a true majority, Democrats can continue to conduct business in the absence of two members of the Democratic caucus.
• With a 51-vote Democratic majority, the Senate can confirm judicial nominations with a simple majority vote.

Action 1: Make a donation! Better yet, sign up to make it weekly until December 6th. Donate to Movement Voter Project in GA - funds are distributed to Black-led organizations working in communities in Georgia. Donate: Georgia Fund: We Can Win the Runoff
​
Action 2: Sign up with our ally Common Power to phone bank Georgia voters. Common Power is hosting four phone banks per day, welcoming amazing volunteers like you and special groups across the U.S. + abroad! They host a training session at the start of every shift. Visit Common Power’s Fieldwork Calendar, pick a shift, and sign up!

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Local Actions:

Thank Port Commissioner Amy Evans-Harding
for Responsible Financial Stewardship

Port Administration offices at Percival Plaza, 626 Columbia Street NW
(Photo Source: Googled: 626 Columbia Street NW, Olympia)

At the November 14 Port Commission meeting, Commissioner Amy Evans-Harding showed critical thinking about the long term viability for one of the Port’s capital investments. She objected to the use of public funds for a new administrative office building for Port staff to be located on the Port Peninsula. 

Her objections included: 

• The administrative office building did not appear in the Port’s Vision 2050. (Vision 2050 was adopted by the Port in 2019 as a guiding document for the future after an extensive community and local stakeholder engagement process.)
• There was no plan for how the Port will pay for the building, 
• The Port’s expenses are currently outpacing its revenues, and
• The Port has adequate office space (at 626 Columbia Street NW).

Let’s thank Commissioner Evans-Harding for demonstrating good financial analysis and critical thinking about the Port’s use of public funds. 

Action: Send an email to Commissioner Evans-Harding AmyE@portolympia.com

cc: Commissioner Iyall BobI@portolympia.com
cc: Commissioner Downing JoeD@PortOlympia.com

Subject: Thank you for responsible financial stewardship at the Port

Dear Commissioner Evans-Harding,
Thank you for your objection to funding a costly and unnecessary staff administrative building on the Port Peninsula. Your sound financial analysis of the Port’s capital investments is highly appreciated. I look forward to your continued scrutiny of the viability of Port investments, responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and your efforts to increase transparency and good governance at the Port. 

Sincerely,
(Your Name)

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Danger from 11 Conservative Initiatives

Beware of paid signature gatherers for 11 ultra conservative initiatives that will try to roll back progress in our state. Once they get enough signatures, these issues will be on the next ballot. 

Action: Read this list, and don’t sign these initiatives. Inform your friends. View the list and details. 

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New Climate Program Positions for City of Olympia

We've been asked to share this exciting news from the Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT).
​
The City of Olympia is recruiting for two new Climate Program positions: Climate Program Specialist and Buildings and Energy Program Manager.
 
The full job announcements can be found at the links above. This 
recruitment is open until filled. First review will be for all applications
received by 5 pm December 7, 2022

Action: Please share this information with people you know or step up and apply!

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Upcoming Washington Legislative Priorities

Now that we’ve elected great progressive candidates, let’s put our new found energy into the upcoming state legislative session. 

Whether it’s the environment, healthcare, good government, gun safety or any number of other issues, we want to hear about your top priorities.

Action: Tell the Washington Indivisible Legislative Action (WILA) team about your top priorities by taking the survey located HERE! 

Thank you Indivisible Vashon for this CTA.

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Federal Actions:

​Ask Murray and Cantwell to Lead on 
Lifting the Debt Ceiling 

Jericho, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Background: One of the most dangerous hostages that Republicans could take next Congress is the debt ceiling, which will need to be lifted again next year. Republicans are already threatening to do so, unless Democrats agree to cut programs like Medicare and Social Security! This does not need to happen.

Although the reconciliation process (which only requires 50 votes in the Senate instead of the usual 60) is most often talked about as a tool to raise or spend money, it can also be used to address the debt ceiling. Democrats should use reconciliation to go ahead and lift the debt ceiling and take one of the most dangerous Republican hostage-taking scenarios off the table. 

Action: Contact Senators Cantwell and Murray and ask them to use their leadership to get a Senate vote to lift the debt ceiling before January 3rd.

• Senator Patty Murray, Phone: 253-572-3636 or Contact Form 
• Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 253-572-2281 or Contact Form 
  • Email both your MOCs at once using Democracy.io. 

Script: My name is _______ and I am a constituent calling from ______. One of the most dangerous hostages that Republicans could take next Congress is the debt ceiling. Republicans are already threatening to do so, unless Democrats agree to cut programs like Medicare and Social Security. I ask you to use your leadership and influence to get a Senate vote to lift the debt ceiling before January 3rd in order to take a dangerous hostage-taking scenario off the table.

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Stop Trump’s Secret Service Abuse

Marine One idling and guarded by Secret Service agents during a 2020 campaign stop for president Trump.

An ongoing investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform has revealed that former President Donald Trump’s businesses may have billed the Secret Service more than $1.4 million. The charges profit businesses in which Trump is invested, and some of the lodging charges have far exceeded what the government normally pays hotels. 

Background
How Trump Is Fleecing the Secret Service (and How to Stop It) 

Action: Ask your MoC to stop the swindle!

Option A: Take this copy/paste action in Take Action Network (TAN) Stop Trump’s Secret Service Abuse

Option B: Contact your legislators

Contact WA MOCs

• Senator Patty Murray, Phone: 253-572-3636 or Contact Form 
• Senator Maria Cantwell, Phone: 253-572-2281 or Contact Form 

• Marilyn Strickland, Phone: 202-225-9740 or Contact Form 
  • Email all three MOCs at once using Democracy.io. 

Subject: Stop Trump's abuse of the Secret Service

Script: Trump is making money from his Secret Service protection. 
I am asking you to introduce legislation that will either reinstate the limits on Secret Service agents’ lodging expenses or prohibit any payments to individuals they are protecting, other than any costs or damages protected individuals can show they have incurred. 

New restrictions should cover not only payments directly to protected individuals and any businesses they own, but also payments to their relatives or their relatives’ businesses. 

Add requirements that the DHS inspector general provide detailed reports accounting for all expenditures related to protective activities of the Secret Service.
 
Sincerely,
[NAME] from [CITY, ZIP]

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​Have You Scheduled This Event?

Action Cafe, Every Monday at noon
Please come to tomorrow's Action Cafe! This weekly Zoom lunch hour gathering is a place to meet, eat, build fellowship and take actions together.
Register HERE. We will send you a Zoom link and tomorrow morning, we'll send you our "menu" with live links for the actions we'll take together.