Weekly Call To Action - June 5, 2022

Quote of the Week & Special Actions:

​ “I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe.” – John Lewis, 2022

This week, we urge you to answer the call. Please do these two things, and then take the actions listed below.

• Participate in Olympia Indivisible’s Opavote to endorse candidates for the 2022 midterm. Your ballot is in your mailbox. We have resources to help make informed choices. 
• Save the date, make a sign, wear some orange, and show up: Olympia Indivisible’s June 11th March for Our Lives Sign-Wave and Processional Loop from 11am-12:30pm along Capitol Way by the Tivoli Fountain at the State Capitol. 

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Take Two Actions Now:

Advocate to Lower Prices on Essential Drugs

President Biden can use existing legal authority to dramatically lower costs of essential drugs like insulin, drugs that reverse opioid overdoses, hepatitis C drugs, HIV/AIDS drugs, cancer treatments, EpiPens, asthma inhalers, and COVID-19 treatments. A group of Democratic representatives are leading a letter calling on Biden to stop Big Pharma’s price gouging and to unilaterally lower prescription drug prices right now. 

Millions of patients (one in four to be exact) are struggling to afford the medication they need to stay healthy and alive. We know that people of color disproportionately bear this burden. And we also know that at the same time, Big Pharma continues to drive up prices, for no other reason than to pad their pockets.

We need a strong showing of support for using executive action to lower prescription drug prices. That means we need as many members of Congress (MoCs) as possible to sign on to the letter sponsored by Rep. Doggett, Rep. Jacobs, Rep. Porter, and Rep. Castro.

Action 1: Ask Representative Marilyn Strickland to sign onto the Doggett-Castro letter urging President Biden to lower drug prescription prices immediately.

Option A: Take this action with one click in Take Action Network (TAN) Advocate to Lower Prices on Essential Drugs!

Option B: Contact your Representative.

• Marilyn Strickland, Phone: 202-225-9740 or Contact Form 
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Script: “Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am from [CITY/STATE]. I’m encouraging Representative Strickland to sign on to the letter from Rep. Doggett and Rep Castro calling on President Biden to lower prescription drug prices. While we need both legislative and executive action on the issue, it’s extremely important for Biden to use his existing authority right now.  

Will Representative Stickland be signing on to the letter? I hope to see their name on the final list.”

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Comment on Rule for Landmark Climate Change Program

​“The new cap-and-invest program will invest an estimated $500 million a year in reducing emissions and protecting Washington communities from the effects of climate change.”

This is your chance to learn about the design of the cap-and-invest program and provide input as we move toward the clean energy future we all urgently need.”

Details found in the Department of Ecology: Climate Commitment Act.
Overview: Climate Change Program

Provide input
The public is invited to learn about the proposed cap-and-invest rule and to share input on the program’s design. Ecology is accepting comments on the proposal until 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2022.

Public hearings
Ecology will hold four virtual public hearings June 21, 22, 27, and 28.
At each hearing, Ecology staff will give an overview of the cap-and-invest program and the rule proposal, hold a question and answer period, followed by public comment.

• Hearing 1: Tue., June 21, 10 a.m. Register here.
• Hearing 2: Wed., June 22, 6 p.m. Register here.
• Hearing 3: Mon., June 27, 1 p.m. Register here.
• Hearing 4: Tue., June 28, 10 a.m. Register here.

Action 2:  Comment on the proposed cap-and-invest rule

Option A: Take this action in Take Action Network (TAN) Comment on Rule for Landmark Climate Change Program

Option B: Choose your contact method.  
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Comments can be submitted online, by mail, or at a public hearing:

• Comment online or
• Mail to: Joshua Grice,Department of Ecology Air Quality Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA  98504-7600

Please modify the script with the talking points below or your own and then submit them in the Department of Ecology.

Script: I support the new cap-and-invest rule needed to implement the Climate Commitment Act. 

Talking Points:

• We are facing a climate crisis and must start making changes. 
• Chapter 173-446 WAC, Climate Commitment Act Program provides meaningful emissions allowance budgets.
• The Climate Commitment Act includes provisions to promote environmental justice and equity.
• The best climate policy — environmentally and economically — limits emissions and puts a price on them. Cap and invest is one way to do both.
• Cap and invest encourages aggressive climate change goals
• We need a path to meet the greenhouse gas emission limits set in state law.
• This rule supports new investments in climate resiliency programs, clean transportation, and address health disparities across the state.

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​Special OI Events:

We Need Your Vote on Candidates to Endorse
Vote By Sunday, June 12 at Midnight

Olympia Indivisible is gearing up for the August Primaries with our annual membership endorsement vote. This year we have already endorsed four incumbent positions, but still have several federal and local elections to consider.

Search for your OpaVote ballot in your email with the title OpaVote Voting Link.
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As always, you have the option to choose to not endorse any candidate. If "Do Not Endorse" earns a majority, then OI will not endorse that race.

For more information about these candidates, go to the Elections 2022 page on our website. Check out the slideshow from the Endorsement Presentation at last Saturday’s All Member Meeting as well as the video of that event.

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Americans Are 
Marching for Our Lives

March For Our Lives, a nationwide call to action, is marching once again on June 11, 2022. After countless mass shootings and instances of gun violence in our communities, it’s time to take back to the streets and march for our lives. 

We marched in 2018 after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, Florida, and now we march again after the tragedy at Uvalde. How many young people must die?

Join us on June 11th at 11am by the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol Campus and be part of this nationwide rally. Bring a sign, wear orange. 

Date:        Saturday, June 11
Time:       11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Where:    Capitol Campus, Meet at the Tivoli Fountain
What:       We will march around & Wave signs along Capital Way
Register: March For Our Lives - Olympia

Actions: In addition to this national “showing up” and being counted at this in person March, we will be taking actions that can lead to the gun regulation required to create safe and healthy communities. You can:

• Register to vote, 
• Call your State and Federal senators and representatives to demand gun control legislation,
• Sign up to volunteer or donate to candidates in the 2022 midterm elections who are advocating for reasonable gun laws.  ​

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Have You Scheduled These Events?

Action Cafe 
Monday (June 6) 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.

Action: Register HERE for the next Action Cafe. 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. 

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Mary Hall Presents: 
Elections, Security, & Misinformation

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall, Tuesday, June 21st, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. 

Register here: TC Auditor Mary Hall Presents: Elections, Security, & Misinformation

Much of the fallout from Election 2020 can be traced to misinformation and disinformation which has crossed the divide from conspiracy theory to mainstream media. The result of this babble is a dangerous decline of voter confidence in the election process. With all the misinformation, disinformation, and myths swirling around us, we know of no one better to provide a clarifying, fact-based perspective than Thurston County Auditor, Mary Hall. 

We have also asked Mary to address the impact that misinformation and disinformation has had on her staff and on her co-workers across the country, and how we as citizens can help to alleviate the resulting atmosphere of stress and fears in which too many elected public servants now work. Mary’s presentation will be followed by a Q&A period.

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​You Might Also Like to Attend:

June 8: Indivisible National Truth Brigade Workshop, 3:30pm on Zoom
Register for Indivisible National’s Truth Brigade's next Wednesday Workshop and New Member Orientation on Wednesday, June 8. Our “Big Truths” calls explore timely topics with expert speakers. This week, we'll have special guests from Media Matters join us for Disinformation and Violence in America, a discussion on the entrenched relationship between extremists seeking power and the violence their disinformation enables and encourages.

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​Campaigns, Get Active: 

Jessica Bateman, LD 22 Representative:
Thursday June 9th, 5:30 pm -7:30 pm. Join Rep Bateman for her Campaign Kick -Off. Women's Club of Olympia,1002 Washington St., Olympia, WA
Special Guests Lt. Gov Denny Heck and Rep. Laurie Dolan
RSVP: Molly@sullivancampaignservices.com 

Mary Hall, Auditor:
Monday June 13, 3:00 pm. A virtual fundraiser for Mary Hall with Pat McCarthy, Washington State Auditor. Join to meet and hear from Pat and Mary about current issues facing our State and County. For Zoom Link, RSVP to: joexhyer@gmail.com. 

Tye Menser, Commissioner:
Wednesday June 15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Campaign event at the home of Sen. Karen Fraser (ret.), 7806 Cooper Point Road NW, Olympia.  Last house on right at the end of Cooper Point Rd. Carpooling advised. Food, drinks and fun.  RSVP:Terri@sullivancampaignservices.com  

Tye Menser, Commissioner: 
Saturday July 9th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. A fun Campaign Picnic, Lion’s Park, 800 Wilson Street SE, Olympia. Costco platters and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided. Tye will speak at 11:30 am.

OI Website: 
Keep up with what is happening with candidates on OI’s Election 2022 resource page. And discover more about OI plans and activities on the website. 

Yard Signs: 
Pick up a yard sign to support Jessica Bateman (State Rep), Beth Doglio (State Rep), Mary Hall (Thurston County Auditor), and Tye Menser (County Commissioner) any Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at 1014 E. 4th Avenue in Downtown Olympia!

Kim Schrier, CD-8: 
Volunteer to re-elect Congressional Rep. Kim Schrier! Take the CD-8 survey to let the Schier campaign know what kind of time and help you can offer.