MONDAY 3/6/17 CALLS TO ACTION: Resignation, not just recusal.

First things first: Precinct Organization Meetings for the following area precincts:

*Tomorrow* Tuesday March 7 – Randleman. Level Cross, Providence

*Tomorrow* Tuesday March 7 – Archdale, Trinity, Trinity-Tabernacle, Tabernacle, New Market

Saturday March 11 – Southwest and Southern

FEDERAL:

Jeff Sessions must go. He was a terrible pick in the first place. He is against voting rights. He is for private prisons, extreme measures against immigrants, including mass deportations, and now we know he misled Congress. Sessions can not be anywhere near the agency in charge of investigating suspicious Trump White House ties.

Script:
I am a constituent of Rep./ Sen. ______________ and I am calling for the resignation of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Sessions lied under oath to the Senate. Recusal is not enough. Sessions is now implicated in this potential scandal, and he must go. I also demand the appointment of a special prosecutor or special committee immediately to begin the work of unraveling what actually happened with Russia during the campaign.

SB 65 and HR 371: Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017
These are companion bills. The Senate version is sponsored by the Very Persistent Senator from Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren. According to GovTrack, “the legislation would require the president and vice president to both reveal and divest themselves from any potential financial conflicts of interest. The bill would also apply for presidential and vice presidential spouses, children, and appointees.” Opponents have said that the bill is political grandstanding targeted solely at Donald Trump, but notably, the bill is listed as having about a 20% chance of passing. We can send a message that we won’t stand for the kinds of corruption and conflicts of interest that have clouded Trump’s presidency.

Senate script:
Hello, I am a constituent in zip code _________ calling to urge Senator ___________ to support SB 65, the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017. This bill would require the president and vice president to reveal and divest themselves and their families from any conflicts of interest. The bill would bring much needed transparency to our political process and would make it easier for our leaders to govern. President Trump’s conflicts of interest have clouded the political process and added to the feeling of cynicism that many people have regarding the government. Please tell Senator ___________ to support SB 65.

House script:
Hello, I am a constituent in zip code _________ calling to urge Representative ___________ to support House Resolution 371, the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017. This bill would require the president and vice president to reveal and divest themselves and their families from any conflicts of interest. The bill would bring much needed transparency to our political process and would make it easier for our leaders to govern. President Trump’s conflicts of interest have clouded the political process and added to the feeling of cynicism that many people have regarding the government. Please tell Senator ___________ to support HR 371.

 

STATE:

Bipartisan Redistricting HB 200

HB200 is a bill that has bipartisan sponsorship, and is similar to a bill that was passed by the NC House before. This bill creates a truly bipartisan committee that would oversee the careful redrawing of all districts in the state, including Congressional districts. Lines would have to be drawn according to strict guidelines that would preserve natural boundaries so that districts would be as compact as possible. Most importantly, lines could not be drawn to favor a political party, or to disenfranchise a racial or ethnic minority. For tomorrow, we want to put specific pressure on the Majority Whip, John Hardister, particularly because some Republicans support this bill and the concept of nonpartisan redistricting generally. The job of the whip is to literally whip the votes from his party. Get to work, John!

Script:
Hello, I am a constituent in zip code _____________ and I am calling to urge you, Mr. Hardister, to whip up votes for HB 200, which would create a nonpartisan redistricting commission that would end gerrymandering. Some Republicans support this bill, and we urge you to get it to a swift vote. Thank you for your time.

 

HB 249

The hyperbolic “Economic Terrorism” bill, filed by John Torbett and John Faircloth, Republicans of Gaston and Guilford counties, respectively, is another is a set of bills popping up in state houses across the country that seek to suppress the actions of protestors. The intent of this bill seems to be to intimidate protesters, and to rouse public opinion against protests in general. Most of the provisions of the bill simply reinforce what is already statute, but there is one new section concerning blocking streets during “unlawful protests.” A new category, “economic terrorism,” would be added to the list of outlawed, felony-class acts of terror already proscribed by the state. Really this is just a ridiculous attempt to equate protesting with terror. Most of this bill is probably unenforceable, and possibly unconstitutional, but it sends a terrible message about the first amendment. Since the narrative painted by many in the right is that today’s town hall protesters and women’s marchers are angry mobs of potentially violent people paid by George Soros, we would do well to get permits when necessary and to follow common sense when enacting protests. However, the rights of speech and assembly should never be taken lightly. Perhaps this bill should be renamed “The Anti-First Amendment Act.”

Hello, I am a constituent in zip code _____________ and I am calling to urge Sen./Rep. _____________ to reject SB 249. This bill equates protesters with terrorists, is an attack on the first amendment, and seeks to suppress and intimidate protesters. Please reject this bill. Thank you.

 

NC HB 251:
Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Rockingham) has proposed a bill that would make it legal for people carry concealed weapons onto all UNC campuses or state community colleges. Such a law would make our campuses less safe.

Hello, I am a constituent in zip code ________________ and I am calling to urge Sen./Rep. _______________ to reject HB 251. This bill would require college campuses to allow concealed weapons onto all community college and UNC campuses. This would put students and faculty at greater risk. Please tell Se./Rep. ___________ to oppose HB 251.

 

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

 

Save Our Health Care Rally Greensboro

Rally to support the ACA in Greensboro!
The NC Justice Center and the Beloved Community Center are arranging an event on behalf of the “Save My Care” bus tour which has been traveling across the country during the last 6 weeks. They are coming through NC this week and will be holding a press event on Wednesday (March 8) at 11:00 at the Beloved Community Center, 417 Arlington St. Please come and show your support for the ACA!
For more details about Save My Care see https://www.savemycare.org/

Day Without A Woman

Anyone, anywhere, can join by making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, in one or all of the following ways:

Thank you to RISE Together NC for today’s calls to action.