Congratulations and thank you! Our actions are working. While the GOP-led Senate blocks the House’s many reforms, we’ve had major wins at the state level.
The Republican Party’s Coup of 2016 didn’t just come out of nowhere. They’ve spent over three decades quietly taking over state legislatures and passing “model legislation”… With help from Dark Money groups funded by well-heeled, right-wing extremist donors. But now, the tables are turning. In 2018, we won back the House and took back a few state governments. But we have a long way to go.
In Washington D.C., the House puts the brakes on Trump, but the GOP’s Senate still blocks the reforms we need. But, here in the state of Washington, it’s a different story. Boosting our majorities in 2018 has won us some major victories. Remember all those calls we made to our state reps and senators this year? And the Town Halls we went to back in January? They’re working.
Our Actions Get Results: Washington State Leads the Nation with Incredible New Reforms
Washington state is now leading the nation with some incredible and life-changing reforms. This shows how our actions — when joined with actions from members of other progressive groups — can make a major impact. For starters, we’re the first state to pass laws for a Public Option and 100% Clean Electricity.
- Cascade Care: We are now the first state that offers a Public Option. This creates state-funded subsidized health plans by 2121. Alas, for-profit “healthcare” companies remain in the mix, but it’s a start.
- 100% Clean Electricity: We’re also the first state to pass a sweeping clean energy bill. Establishes target dates for coal plant shutdown by 2025 and carbon-neutral electricity by 2030. Last week, Gov. Jay Inslee also spoke out against Puget Sound Energy (PSE)’s liquid natural gas (LNG) plant.
- Orca Task Force Measures: These laws put key recommendations by the Orca Task Force into law to protect our endangered orcas. These include funding for oil spill prevention, noise reduction for vessels, and restoring the chinook salmon supply.
- Voting Rights: The Native American Voting Rights Act of Washington removes barriers to voting and expands access to drop boxes so more people on tribal lands can vote.
This is exactly why Indivisible U.S. now wants us (and chapters across the country) to begin building power at the state level. By joining our efforts to those of local and statewide groups, we can create positive change.
Also in this Newsletter:
- New Laws in Washington State
- Upcoming Indivisible Tacoma Meetings
- Our Actions for This Week
- Support Our Allies: Calendar of Events
- Shout Outs
- Top
Upcoming General Meetings for Indivisible Tacoma
We’ve got some great speakers for our June and July meetings on the issues affecting us here in Tacoma, as well as across the country, and what actions we can take.
Photo: CC BY-SA 2.0 Brandon Koch via Flickr.
JUNE: Tacoma Liquid Natural Gas Plant: Environmental Benefit or Tragedy?
With featured speakers from 350 Tacoma and 350 Seattle.
Weds. June 5, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1115 S 56th St Tacoma, WA 98408
Map with Directions.
JULY: Disinformation and Elections
With featured speakers from FUSE Tacoma: Pierce County and the Progressive Voters’ Guide
Weds. July 10, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tahoma Unitarian Universalist Congregation
1115 S 56th St Tacoma, WA 98408
Map with Directions.
Our Actions for This Week
The 2019 session has ended for our State Legislature, so our actions for the week are focused on Washington D.C. Please call your members of Congress in support of the following:
- Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s Impeachment Resolution,
- Passing a strong Dream and Promise act to protect our immigrants.
- Opposing the GOP’s imminent war on Iran.
- Bringing down drug prices.
Time to support Rep. Tlaib’s resolution for starting an investigation for the impeachment of the GOP’s president. No imps were harmed in this visualization of the author‘s bad puns.
?Demand Your Member of Congress (MoC) Support Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s Impeachment Resolution (H.R. 257)
Whether it’s his actions to obstruct the Mueller investigation or his demands that members of his administration stonewall Congressional investigations, Trump has committed acts that should be addressed in an impeachment investigation.
☎️ Call Your Rep.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) 253-272-3515 | Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) 425-793-5180 | Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) 253-533-8332 | Rep. Kim Schrier (R-8) 202-225-7761
? Script
Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am from [CITY/STATE]. I’m calling Rep. [NAME] to urge them to support impeachment hearings immediately and demand that they cosponsor Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s resolution (H.Res. 257) that would instruct the Judiciary Committee to begin investigating whether Trump should be impeached.
? Write a Letter
Indivisible U.S. also makes it super-easy to Write a letter to your MoC. Simply follow the link, fill out the form, and they’ll send the letter for you. It’s as simple as that!
? Tell your MoC to Pass a Strong Dream and Promise Act
Family separations happen every day in the U.S. — not just at the border. Dreamers and TPS holders remain at risk of deportation due to Trump’ elimination of protections for these groups. This bill would provide permanent relief to Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED holders. Read more here.
The House Judiciary has scheduled a “markup” of the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) for May 8, where they will make substantive changes to the bill. There is a real risk that the Committee will severely weaken the bill by narrowing the eligibility rules. If they do so, it would mean fewer Dreamers and TPS holders getting the permanent relief they deserve.
Call your MoC and tell them you want them to pass a strong H.R. 6 bill — without watering it down.
☎️Call Your Rep.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) 253-272-3515 | Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) 425-793-5180 | Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) 253-533-8332 | Rep. Kim Schrier (R-8) 202-225-7761
? Script
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m calling from [PART OF STATE]. I’m calling to ask [MoC] to vote for H.R. 6, the Dream and Promise Act, and to commit to rejecting any amendments in committee or on the floor that would narrow the eligibility rules.
The Dream and Promise Act would provide permanent relief from the threat of deportation to Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED holders. Trump has tried to use these communities as leverage against Democrats to force them to pay for his wall or otherwise expand his deportation machine. Democrats must fight back by extending protections to these people, many of whom have lived here their entire lives — and who would face serious threats of violence or death if they were forced to return to their country of origin. That includes rejecting any amendments that would narrow the eligibility rules.
Will [MoC] commit to voting for this legislation, and voting against any amendments that would narrow the eligibility rules?
? More Info
For more info on the Dream and Promise Act, click here.
? Tell Your MoCs: No New War in Iran!
Donald Trump and his war cabinet seem to be itching for a new war with Iran. First, the Trump administration violated the Iran nuclear deal. Then, they mounted an Iraq War-style campaign to prime the public. Now, they’re trying to provoke a reaction from Iran. Learn more here.
For those who recall the lead-in to the Iraq War, this all probably feels pretty familiar. But history must not repeat itself. It’s essential that Congress use its powers to stop this march to war.
Congress needs to hear from you today. Congress must deny Trump the authority to start a new war with Iran. Tell your members of Congress (MoCs) to co-sponsor H.R. 2354 / S. 1039 to explicitly deny him this authority!
☎️Call Your Senators & Rep.
- Sen. Patty Murray 253-572-3636 | Sen. Maria Cantwell 253-572-2281
- Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) 253-272-3515 | Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) 425-793-5180 | Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) 253-533-8332 | Rep. Kim Schrier (R-8) 202-225-7761
? Script
Hello, I’m a constituent from [part of state] and I’m very concerned about the possibility of a new war with Iran.
Trump foolishly violated the nuclear deal and put it in danger of falling apart, even though Iran was complying and it was keeping us all safer. Now John Bolton and the war cabinet are escalating tensions. It feels a lot like Iraq War 2.0.
Will [MoC] co-sponsor [H.R. 2434/S.1039] and issue a public statement urging diplomacy, not war with Iran? I will be closely watching for [MoC]’s actions on this and following up.
? Act Now to Bring Down Drug Prices!
Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s bill, H.R. 1046, would guarantee that Medicare could negotiate prices for all drugs while protecting patient’s access to their medications. This bill has the support of huge majorities of the public, along with co-sponsorships from every corner of the Democratic caucus, yet House Democratic leadership is working with the White House on bad proposals that would delegate the authority to make a final call on drug prices to unaccountable, third-party arbitrators. Make sure your MoC knows that the Doggett bill is the best option for bringing drug prices down.
☎️Call Your Rep.
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-6) 253-272-3515 | Rep. Adam Smith (D-9) 425-793-5180 | Rep. Denny Heck (D-10) 253-533-8332 | Rep. Kim Schrier (R-8) 202-225-7761
? Script
Hi! My name is <NAME>, and I’m calling from <PART OF STATE>.
I’m calling to urge <MoC> to co-sponsor H.R. 1046, Rep. Doggett’s Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act because it will bring down our obscenely high drug prices while protecting patients’ access to critical medicines.
We need to give Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices, but that new power must be paired with the appropriate leverage so that drug companies can’t continue gouging patients. Rep. Doggett’s bill, which uses competitive licenses as a “backstop” if drug companies refuse to come to the table, is the strongest proposal out there. I’ve heard that there may be another bill coming that would use arbitration instead, and that isn’t good enough. We need to put drug companies’ monopolies in the crosshairs — not people’s access to medicine
Will <MoC> commit to rejecting an approach that uses arbitration to bring down drug prices, and to co-sponsoring H.R. 1046, the Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act?
? More Info
For more info on Rep. Doggett’s Medicare Negotiation and Competitive Licensing Act, click here.
Upcoming Events with Our Allies
Fossil Fuel Free 253: Speak Up at Tacoma City Council
Hosted by Protect Tacoma’s Tideflats and Citizens for a Healthy Bay
- Final Reading of Ordinance: Tideflats Interim Regulation Extension: Tuesday, May 21 5:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.pin
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St, Tacoma, Washington 98402
WE CAN ENSURE A FOSSIL FUEL FREE FUTURE FOR TACOMA (#FossilFuelFree253)
The City of Tacoma, with its partners the Puyallup Tribe and the Port of Tacoma, are working on a Subarea Plan for Tacoma’s Tideflats, which will establish rules for economic development and environmental review (and hopefully permanently bans fossil fuels) in the Port of Tacoma. In November of 2017, Tacoma City Council passed interim regulations pausing new fossil fuel development during the Tideflats Subarea Planning Process.
These interim regulations must be renewed by Tacoma City Council every six months. If you believe Tacoma’s future must be fossil fuel free so we can reduce our city’s carbon footprint in this era of rapid climate change, we need you to speak at these three city council meetings. We need all our voices.
Before each city council meeting, at 4:15 pm, we will be meeting in the lobby outside of council chambers to discuss strategy, help each other write our comments, and get in the sign-up line early. Please join us if you can. If you have any questions or would like to receive talking points to help you write your public comment, please contact Kenny Coble (kcoble@healthybay.org).
350 Tacoma General Meeting
Weds. May 15, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
311 Puyallup Ave. Tacoma, Wash. 98421
Join them in their new space. They’ll start off with a plant-based potluck and then talk about what’s going on and how to get involved. if you’re new, come at 5:30 to learn more about what they do.
Kristin Ang for Port Commissioner 5 Campaign Kickoff
Weds. May 15, 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
Asia Pacific Cultural Center
4851 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma, Washington 98409
Tickets: https://secure.anedot.com/votekristinang/
(Please note, we’re not endorsing her, we’re just letting you know about her event)
The Black Fantastic Hosted by Brown Better
Friday 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Tacoma Arts Community Center
1102 South 11th Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405
Building on the success of 2018’s Summer SOULstice, former poet laureate Kellie Richardson is planning an event centered on celebrating the Black bodies, Black joy and the Black imagination. “The Black Fantastic” is a 3 hour experience honoring the brilliance and influence of Black bodies throughout history. The space will be a catalyst for joy and healing in the Black community with presentations from Black leaders, artists and innovators. The event will feature an opening blessing, musical performance, interactive healing stations, and an art exhibit; all for the love of Black bodies.
This space is centered on Black folx, but all are welcome with the understanding that there will be ZERO TOLERANCE for anti-Blackness, xenophobia, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, sexism, misogynoir, slut shaming, body shaming, or racism of any kind.
The space welcomes all ages however, there will be adult material shared/exhibited, so parents/guardians use your judgment. No childcare will be provided.
This event is free thanks to the generosity of Breathe Healing.
2019 Tacoma Shoreline Survey
Hosted by: The Ikkatsu Project
Saturday, May 18th, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Les Davis Pier
3427 Ruston Way, Tacoma, WA 98402
A one-day beach survey and cleanup that covers the entire 13-mile shoreline of the city of Tacoma. A meeting of citizen science and basic good stewardship, seeking volunteers.
To register: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d45adaa2ca7f58-tacoma
Shout Outs
Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) Resistance
This is to give a shout out to the NWDC Resistance here in Tacoma. There’s only one good thing about this monstrosity of a for-profit prison here in Tacoma… It gives us the unique ability to support detainees and their families while we protest the cruel way our nation treats immigrants.
The NWDC Resistance donates supplies, sets detainees up with pen pals, coordinates events, outreach and protests, and more. To see how you can help, visit their website at https://www.nwdcresistance.org/
Citizen Tacoma
We encourage you to listen to this podcast with Candice Ruud.
- Episode 58: The Future of Tacoma’s Tideflats: https://www.citizentacoma.com/2019/05/09/episode-48-the-future-of-tacomas-tideflats/
These and other podcasts can tell us more about local issues here in Tacoma, and inform our actions moving forward.
Regular citizens CAN get involved at all levels of government. Through interviews with decision makers, candidates for office, and political activists, we hope to inspire YOU to take action. Citizen Tacoma is a podcast about local government in the City of Destiny. With Jenny Jacobs (host) and Doug Mackey (sound/commentary), with support from Erik Hanberg (the Alec Baldwin of Tacoma podcasts), Marguerite Giguere (pod auntie), and Mary Holste (cover art).
