Quote of the Week:“Articulating a positive forward vision for democracy must begin now, and we must expect that executing that vision will take the rest of our lives. As the defense of democracy has failed and we set out on this mission with new clarity, we offer these ideas for centering our efforts.” -- Dave Troy from his newsletter America 2.0 Legislative Actions:The Key to Statewide Activism is Using TAN! Sign in PRO Health Sign in PRO to support HB1203 (Prohibiting the sale of certain tobacco and nicotine products.) DEADLINE: Jan 31 • 07:00 am Prohibiting the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco products will advance public health, reduce health inequities, and save lives. Action from the Northwest Progressive Institute Support SB 5126 for the establishment of a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health: Sign in "Pro" for Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 29 • 9:30am Support SB 5126 for the establishment of a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health. Support SJM 8004 (Bill SJM 8004 - 2025-26: Concerning Universal Health Care.): Sign in "Pro" for Senate Health & Long-Term Care's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 30 • 7:00am Request the Federal government to establish a universal healthcare system Immigration Sign in PRO to support HB 1321 (Concerning the governor's authority to limit outside militia activities within the state.) DEADLINE: Jan 29 • 12:30 pm Limit militia from another state to enforce state or federal laws. Voting Sign in PRO to support HB 1223 (Protections Against Voter Registration Challenges) DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 12:30pm HB 1223 limits frivolous claims by modifying forms, processes, and methods of adjudication for voter registration challenges. Sign in PRO to support HB 1448 (Increasing representation and voter participation in local elections.) DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 12:30pm Localities are beginning to implement ranked choice voting in their jurisdictions. HB 1448 sets up the procedures for how RCV will be implemented across the state to provide the framework for this system to be successful. Sign in PRO to support HB 1116 (Recognition of Election Day) DEADLINE: Jan 27 • 3:00pm This bill designates Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, as a state holiday. Justice Support SB 5231 (Connecting Incarcerated People with Friends and Family): Sign in "Pro" for Senate Human Services's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 27 • 12:30pm The high cost of prison phone calls means that many incarcerated people cannot afford to stay in touch with loved ones or their communities. Protect families and promote public safety by making prison phone calls free. Support SB 5342 (Legislative Oversight of Adult and Juvenile Prisons): Sign in "Pro" for Senate Human Services's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 12:30pm Legislative access to prisons is essential to ensure adequate oversight of the agencies that operate those facilities. This bill ensures that legislators have needed access and can't be arbitrarily turned away by the facility. Support HB 1239 (Earned Release for Good Behavior): Sign in "Pro" for House Community Safety's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 3:00pm The vast majority of people in prison will be returning to society. By allowing up to one-third off for good behavior, HB 1239 incentivizes participation in work, education, and rehabilitative programming and decreases the likelihood that people will reoffend once they are released. Support HB 1274 (Fixing Unjust Sentencing Laws): Sign in "Pro" for House Community Safety's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 3:00pm Automatically lengthening adult sentences based upon juvenile adjudications is wrong and has disproportionately impacted BIPOC communities. This bill ensures that people already harmed by this practice have opportunities for resentencing. Support HB 1301 (Connecting Incarcerated People with Friends and Family): Sign in "Pro" for House Community Safety's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 3:00pm The high cost of prison phone calls means that many incarcerated people cannot afford to stay in touch with loved ones or their communities. Protect families and promote public safety by making prison phone calls free. Support HB 1185 (Adding People With Lived Experience to the Committee Overseeing Prison Working Conditions): Sign in "Pro" for House Community Safety's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 28 • 3:00pm Currently the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee is not required to have any directly-impacted members. Adding such members will ensure that those who are most affected by the committee's work will have a voice. Support HB 1166 (Improving Educational Opportunities for People in Prison): Sign in "Pro" for House Postsecondary Education & Workforce's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Jan 29 • 12:30pm Education in prison is a key component to successful reentry into society. HB 1166 increases access to online and correspondence courses for youth and adults who are incarcerated, which will better prepare them for life in the community and reduce the chances of recidivism. -------- Contact the Legislature Support HB 1049 to increase access to trained sexual assault nurse examiners by providing a stipend for training. (House: In Committee (Appropriations)) DEADLINE: Feb 28 • 11:00pm This bill creates a stipend for nurses training to become sexual assault nurse examiners to address a shortage. Federal Actions: Hold the Line  Photo Source: Public domain, via Wikimedia Common Let our Members of Congress know that we expect them to resist the MAGA agenda. The Indivisible Guide, A Practical Guide to Defeating MAGA, tells us that we need to set our expectations for Democrats right away, and consistently push them to fight against the MAGA agenda and for a popular Democratic agenda. Action: Let your Members of Congress know that you expect them to resist the MAGA agenda. Members of Congress
Suggested Script: I am a constituent in [YOUR CITY] and I am deeply alarmed and fearful about the GOP trifecta’s plans for 2025-26. I count on you to use your power as my elected representative to forcefully oppose the GOP agenda, and make it clear that Democrats are on the side of the people. Do not compromise Democratic values by voting with the GOP when they seek to hurt vulnerable people, decrease voting rights, and destroy the environment and national security. I promise that I will be cheering you on as you do the right thing in this perilous time. Local Actions:March for Immigrant Justice this Thursday, January 30 Photo Source: A1Cafel via Wikimedia Commons From Our Friends at Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network Mark your calendar and Show Up! This Thursday, January 30th from 1:30-3pm, the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) is holding a March for Justice in Olympia. Immigrants and allies will gather, learn from each other, and organize toward a future where everyone can thrive. It’s a moment for all of us who care about justice for immigrants and refugees to re-center ourselves as a community to make sure everyone knows that this movement has our backs. The march will commence at 1:30 pm and last for 30 minutes to demonstrate solidarity for our city and our legislators and show Olympia our people power. There will then be a 2pm rally at the Capitol steps with a range of speakers, including Senator Rebecca Saldaña and Asian Counseling and Referral Service Executive Director Michael Byun. If you can’t march, please show up at the Capitol Steps at 2pm for the rally. More information here: Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day 2025 - WAISN. Have You Scheduled These Events?Black History Month 2025 The month of February will again be celebrated by the New Life Baptist Church in Lacey (7838 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey) in recognition of Black History Month. Activities are planned for the entire month which includes
-------- New TCAT Initiative: The Clean and Safe Homes (CASH) Campaign From our friends at the Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) This spring, local elected officials for Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey, and Thurston County will consider two climate and energy proposals:
For our local jurisdictions to approve these positive measures, they need support from the public. That's YOU! So TCAT is launching the Clean and Safe Homes (CASH) Campaign, to mobilize together in support of these initiatives. What: TCAT's CASH Kickoff Campaign When: Monday, February 10th, 6:30 pm Where: Olympia Center - Room 204, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia, WA RSVP: Please contact [email protected], Subject: Yes, I'm RSVPing to TCAT's Cash Kickoff -------- Come to the Action Cafe! Every Monday at noon the Action Cafe provides a virtual space where OI members meet, make new friends, and take actions together. Every Cafe comes with a side order of live music and a heapin’ helpin’ of good cheer! Cafe patrons receive an email on Sunday with a sneak-peek at what we'll do at the cafe the next day. On Monday morning, Chef Lisa will send you a pdf "Menu" with links to the actions we'll take together at the Cafe. Action: Register HERE. Your Work Pays Off: Leonard Peltier to Leave Prison In the final hours of his presidency, President Biden commuted Leonard Peltier's life sentence to home confinement, allowing the 80-year-old Native American activist to leave federal prison after nearly 50 years. The White House cited Peltier's age, health, and strong support from tribal nations, Nobel laureates, and former law enforcement officials in granting the commutation. The decision marks a significant moment for Indigenous advocates who have long questioned the fairness of his trial and campaigned for his release. Thank you to all of you who took our CTAs asking Biden (again and again and again) to pardon Leonard Peltier. Leonard Peltier to Leave Prison After 50 Years as Biden Grants Commutation Department of Good News:Vaccination Is Eliminating Cervical Cancer and Malaria
Source: The Guardian, Jan. 7, 2025. Prof Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh. “We are getting ever closer to eliminating cervical cancer using the HPV vaccine; and also seeing more being done to reduce child deaths of malaria thanks to the rollout of the malaria vaccine in African countries. Vaccines are sometimes seen as controversial, but the science is straightforward: they train our immune system in how to respond and fight off pathogens. Safety and efficacy are carefully studied and documented for scientists to analyse and discuss. There is now a real possibility of preventing these early deaths and giving millions of children and women the chance to live longer. That is worth celebrating this new year.” -------- WA Public Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove Orders Pause on Logging Sales Source: The Washington Standard. Bill Lucas, Jan. 16, 2025. On his first day in office, Dave Upthegrove, the state’s new public lands commissioner, said he would pause logging sales in some older state-managed forests for about six months. This is a step toward fulfilling a campaign promise to set aside nearly 80,000 acres of older structurally complex mature forests. A Department of Natural Resources spokesperson said Wednesday the pause would involve more than 20 timber sales. Comments are closed.
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