Happy Tuesday, Activists!
We hope you're having a good week. Firstly, you can check out our upcoming actions in last Friday’s newsletter at this link. And you can go to our Eventbrite page at this link and see the new opportunities we’ve added since then.
Sooooo, we have our next deadline to pass the two infrastructure packages -- now October 31. Fortunately, progressives were able to hold their ground on the terms of an inclusive recovery, so now we’re fighting to get the full Build Back Better Act passed by October 31. See more detail here.
As you know, it’s essential that the House pass reconciliation alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIF) in order to ensure the House passes a bill that’s comprehensive enough to meet this moment. We’ve been supporting the Congressional Progressive Caucus's (CPC) demands for a big, inclusive recovery package that helps us recover from the pandemic and begin to reverse what conservatives have done since 1981 to tear down the New Deal social contract.
The CPC stayed strong and we remained strong, making sure they know we want them to keep up the fight and showing them we have their backs. That's what we need to keep doing now, and the subject of our Calls To Action today.
And by the way, are you frustrated (or worse) with Sen. Manchin? Sen. Sinema? Know what makes them irrelevant? Electing more Democratic senators, particularly in PA to fill the soon-to-be-open senate seat!!! And that's the focus of our new projects.
We know that the most effective way to convince voters to show up for next year's critical PA elections is to talk to voters. We have two canvasses on the schedule plus a training to help you learn more about them. If you're upset with the obstruction by just two Democrats blocking transformative legislation, we have ways for you to easily make a difference. Click here to sign up for one of our projects to help expand the Democratic majority in the senate next year. If you don't see something you like on that list, let us know! We have other behind-the-scenes projects you can work on.
CALLS TO ACTION
Rep. Evans – D.C. office 202-225-4001; Phila office 215-276-0340; email link
Rep. Boyle – D.C. office 202-225-6111; Phila office 215-335-3355; email link
Sen. Toomey – Phila office 215-241-1090; D.C. 202-224-4254; email link
Sen. Casey – Phila office 215-405-9660; D.C. 202-224-6324 email link
For outside PA: Find your Senators’ phone numbers and emails at this link.
Call now – tell your representative and our senators to vote on an inclusive recovery package!
This is a key moment for us to push to win the most progressive reconciliation bill possible. We must call our Representative and tell them how important it is that we pass an inclusive recovery bill that works for everyone. Then, call our senators and demand they pass the bill immediately after the House sends it over.
Call our senators and demand they move quickly on the Freedom to Vote Act.
Senate Democrats released a new version of their democracy reform bill called the Freedom to Vote Act. It builds on the For the People Act and brings us closer to passing transformational democracy reform this Congress. Call our senators and tell them you want them to adjust the filibuster now to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. See more detail about the Act at this link.
NOTE: We may see another failed procedural vote on Sen. Manchin’s Freedom to Vote Act bill in the next couple of weeks. If that happens, we expect it to tee up a fight over the filibuster in late October.
Call our senators and tell them to protect Roe v. Wade now.
The House has passed the Women's Health Protection Act, a bill aimed at preserving access to an abortion nationwide, as Republican-led state legislatures pass countless bills across the country threatening abortion rights. The bill now has to pass a vote in the Senate, which is why it is urgent that we call our senators and demand they protect reproductive rights.
--> Tell Senator Casey he must vote YES on this bill.
NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION
1. Voter registration -- Make sure your voter registration is up to date. And make sure your family and friends confirm theirs too. You can check it at this link. Find all voting information at vote.pa.gov or at this link (it's a new web address, same information).
2. Vote By Mail -- As a reminder, you must sign up every year to vote by mail for elections that year. In Philadelphia, the mail-in ballots were mailed out last Friday, so you should see yours very soon if you signed up to vote by mail. If you didn't sign up for this year you'll need to go to the polls, unless you sign up immediately. Sign up at this link. The deadline is October 26, but don't wait to the last minute!
3. Ballot drop boxes – Find a map of the locations at this link. All the drop boxes are available 24/7 and are monitored by security cameras. You can only drop off your own ballot unless you fill out this form. 4. You can check your ballot status with the state ballot tracker at this link. 5. Ballot Questions This election there are four ballot questions we need to vote on. We get it -- sometimes the ballot questions are so confounding and we want to say, "What the heck are you asking me to decide for?!?!" Well, this is our lot in life in PA and this election is no different. So READ UP to understand them here. You can read an explainer about them at this link. An explainer for Question #3 and the reasons for this change is at this link. We'll keep adding to the credible explainers for you as they are produced.
YOU CAN TESTIFY AT REDISTRICTING HEARINGS
In our recent meeting with Fair Districts PA we learned about the redistricting process happening now and how we can take action to have an impact on the outcome. You can see the meeting video at this link. You’ll hear exactly what is happening, when you can testify, and exactly the types of arguments that make sense for your testimony.
The redistricting hearings are happening now and the upcoming hearings are listed at this link. The specific information for the Philadelphia (in person) hearing on October 20 is at this link. The deadline to sign up to testify is October 13. You can find all the helpful tips for testifying at this link and more general tips at this link.
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