INDIVISIBLE TACOMA 2024 ENDORSEMENTS

INDIVISIBLE TACOMA 2024 ENDORSEMENTS

PRIMARY ELECTION JULY 19 – AUGUST 6 Return your ballot as early as possible!

These candidates show the characteristics, values, and action records most consistent with Indivisible values. Our evaluation results from research and deliberation by the Legislative Action Team over several months.

June 30 Candidate Forum

June 30 Candidate Forum

WATCH THE VIDEO!

 

 
June 30 Candidate Forum
Around 90 people turned out for Indivisible Tacoma’s June 30 Candidate Forum ready to work for great candidates!
Big thanks to Co-Hosts: The Conversation 253, LD2, 25, 28, 29 and Pierce County Democrats, and Women’s Think Tank-Tacoma. We are deeply grateful to the Bryant Neighborhood Center and master videographer, Dan Villa.
FILE FOR PCO THIS WEEK!  YES, YOU!!

FILE FOR PCO THIS WEEK! YES, YOU!!

Between 8AM May 6 and 5 PM May 10, you can file to be elected to a 2-year term as Democratic PCO by your neighbors in the August primary. It’s fast, free, and you can do it online.

 
What is a Precinct Committee Officer? Why should you consider running for the position?
It’s the backbone of local politics, voter engagement, and winning campaigns. If you’ve been looking for a way to get more involved in your neighborhood and community, or if you have some civic or political issues that you are passionate about, this will be a great starting point!
Who is Eligible?
Anyone who is a registered voter and a member of a major political party may become a candidate. A candidate must file an online Declaration of Candidacy form. Since voters do not register by political party in Washington, a candidate declares himself/herself to be a member of a political party at the time of filing.
 
One of the best ways for you to have an influence on voter turnout and the Democratic Party policy is to become an elected Precinct Committee Officer. In many Legislative Districts, only 1/3rd of the Democratic PCO seats are filled, which means just a few people are making powerful decisions.

If you’re the only one to file in your precinct, you won’t appear on the ballot. If someone else also files, you can work together to do voter outreach, but only one of you will be elected PCO. The PCO term starts in December.

If you’d like to get started with voter outreach and education before December, please apply to your LD Democrats to become an appointed PCO. Each organization has its own method for this, so check out their website for details.
Thank you to all who decide to serve!

WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE

WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE

Our work as citizens is to speak to those who make the laws. Our representatives tally and note our contacts. We can have a real effect on state laws in February!

Join allied groups in Olympia or virtually to lobby for bills for the public good. Examples:

~League of Women Voters – February 6-10

https://www.lwvwa.org/event-4701721?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=2%2f7%2f2023&emci=3a135ffb-5476-ed11-819c-000d3a9eb474&emdi=49f9f18a-eb77-ed11-819c-000d3a9eb474&ceid=3540579

~Environmental Lobby Days – February 14-16
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1LXh4pwVpm_nZwC6zq2L-rAmxCvwvZJCPstqNB71gGxI-FA/viewform

~Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates – February 20

https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/a/washington-presidents-day-lobby-day?contactdata=H9kigYMf%2fuc4OtBeu%2b5MOMNwOSr75NfJfroi8izx1fPKMcK%2bvdr%2bJNO8xSBA4yX0rFws9Z3j48IK%2bELTM2HnvTTBQ8%2byDcKTUTLQPK%2fx8HaR1d9xnxh4DL8zY%2f8enSz5tjABnjeqeLgkzamwiA58cL3t7NvjraUsme%2fhhaJ8P%2fN%2flbpuwg3745ogWhh4acgSIf%2bS2mcZaa%2fqeqwAEEztuKKkzbDPy2uAI8VmZl9qkzw7fBGP66yiZYf4y2gZ7IrZUvgR8iF6qTJFp1KWwrXfPSQH9KiMovMPdLezlLoxp00%3d&emci=9276b984-1792-ed11-9d7b-00224832e811&emdi=3bacb6cf-a693-ed11-9d7b-00224832e811&ceid=6331264

~NAMI Washington – February 20

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nami-lobby-day-2023-registration-504074810327

ISSUE DETAILS & TRACKING – LWV

https://lwvwa.org/current-issues-2023

Sign up for updates on bills:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ (enter bill number at top)
• On right-hand side of page, click on red envelope “Get Email Notifications”

Get committee updates
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WALEG/subscriber/new

Youtube Channels (To watch hearings, floor votes, etc.)
https://www.youtube.com/@wasenate8100/streams
https://www.youtube.com/@wahouseofrepresentatives3484/streams
~About testifying / stating your position / submitting written testimony
https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House

~Signing in to testify / state your position / submit written testimony
https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi

2023 Session Calendar
January 9 – First day of session
February 17 – Policy committee cutoff – house of origin
February 24 – Fiscal committee cutoff – house of origin
March 8 – Floor cutoff – house of origin
March 29 – Policy committee cutoff – opposite house
April 4 – Fiscal committee cutoff – opposite house
April 12 – Floor cutoff – opposite house
April 23 – Sine Die

MEDICARE PRIVATIZATION

MEDICARE PRIVATIZATION

Stop the REACH program from taking over Traditional Medicare

In 2020, the Trump Administration launched a new policy “experiment” designed to privatize Traditional Medicare.
Under this model, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has moved millions of Traditional Medicare beneficiaries into mostly commercial, for-profit plans called Direct Contracting Entities, without the enrollees’ full understanding or consent.

In ways similar to commercial Medicare Advantage plans, these entities have a financial incentive to interfere with care decisions and waste taxpayer dollars when compared with the efficiency of Traditional Medicare.

The Biden Administration has renamed this program “REACH” and made it even more generous to industry, but privatization by any name threatens the future of Medicare.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE
~Learn more: https://protectmedicare.net
~Contact your representatives: Rep Kilmer 253 272 3515. Rep Strickland 202 225 9740.
Sen. Murray. 253 572 3636  Sen. Cantwell  253 572 2281
~Call Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra directly at (202) 690-7000 and ask him to cancel the REACH program immediately.
~Sign the petition:
https://pnhp.salsalabs.org/DCEpetitionSeptember2021/index.html

BACK TO SCHOOL

BACK TO SCHOOL

An honest and equitable education – all students deserve that. it’s time to kick our advocacy for public education into high gear!

Start with the Clover Park School Board, Monday, Sept.12, 6PM.

What can you do? Support the staff, administration, parents, and board members who work for honest and equitable education for all students.

~Write notes of encouragement to school personnel.
~Write a letter-to-the-editor celebrating the freedom to learn and the heroic daily work of educators.
~Attend school board meetings to show strength in the face of irrational attacks on public education.

Extremists may bring complaints about:
diversity-equity-inclusion policies, sex education, teaching about systemic race or gender  impacts, etc. We have to be clear and strong standing for academic freedom.

Indivisible Tacoma now convenes a small group to work on school issues. If you would like to  join, send an email to:
indivisibletacomachapter@gmail.com

Local school board meetings coming up:

CLOVER PARK SD
Monday, September 12, 6PM
Room 4 of the Student Services Center, 10903 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW,  Lakewood

UNIVERSITY PLACE SD
Wednesday, September 14, 6:30PM
Educational Service Center, 3717 Grandview Dr. W, University Place, WA 98466

TACOMA SD
Thursday, September 22, 6PM
4th Floor Auditorium, Central Administration Building, 601 South 8th Street, Tacoma (Public parking and main entrance  west side of the building at South G Street.)

FRANKLIN PIERCE SD
Tuesday, October 11, 6PM

Other local districts needing public education advocates:
PUYALLUP SD

BETHEL SD

PENINSULA SD