This past week the House capitulated on a bill to fund border control, giving unrestricted money to ICE and CBP that, we know from the experience of the last year, will be used to harm more children and families, not to improve conditions for them.
It was the Senate’s bill, which placed no restrictions on how the money would be used, that the House approved, abandoning their own, which at least included restrictions, among them the right to visit the camps to check on the conditions the children are being held under.
We’re furious with Senator Feinstein for voting “yea” on this blank check for abuse and with Representative Thompson for doing the same – his “Blue Dog Coalition” was one of two House groups that caused the collapse of negotiations.
We hope you will be incensed, too and will call this week to let them know. Fortunately, Congressman Jared Huffman opposed the bill. Senator Harris didn’t vote (we assume she was campaigning).
SENATOR DIANE FEINSTEIN
DC phone: (202) 224-3841
SF phone: (415) 393-0707
SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS
DC phone: (202) 224-3553
SF phone: (415) 981-9369
REPRESENTATIVE JARED HUFFMAN
DC phone: (202) 225-5161
Petaluma phone: (707) 981-8967
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE THOMPSON
DC phone: (202) 225-3311
Santa Rosa phone: (707) 542-7182
Defund Hate
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask [the MoC] to demand that funding for ICE and CBP be cut to 2016 levels or lower. I’m also asking that no additional unrestricted funds be given to either ICE or CBP.
Under Trump, ICE and CBP have gone completely out of control, becoming agents of his violent racism. They are tearing families apart and abusing the children, holding them in cages and concentration camps. They brook no oversight and are unresponsive to Congress’s inquiries. Any additional funds given to them will be used for more abuse, not better care, because they’ve shown that the abusive care isn’t an accident, it’s intentional. The one recourse Congress has is to CUT FUNDING. This is a power that Congress has: it MUST use it.
Background:
https://indivisible.org/resource/tell-your-representative-defund-hate
Hearings NOW on Trump’s Concentration Camps
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask [the MoC] to demand hearings NOW about the concentration camps of refugee children the Trump regime is operating at the border.
More reports continue to emerge that demonstrate that the camps are rife with human rights abuses – against children, some toddlers, who have been separated from their parents. This is beyond abhorrent and it is being done in our name. If we don’t oppose it with everything we have, we are complicit, too.
I’m asking [my MoC] to make this a priority right now: speak out about it, demand immediate hearings about it, and have subpoenas, fines and jail sentences ready for any who refuse to show or testify. Make the hearings public and televised. Make the regime back off with the publicity and keep it up. If you stop, they’ll start again.
Background:
https://twitter.com/ECMcLaughlin/status/1139192167501484033
NO WAR with Iran
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask [the MoC] to make it clear that there must be NO WAR with Iran. They must call out Trump’s lies and desire to start a war to bolster his terrible approval ratings.
Trump is the least-liked president in memory. This past week he flirted with declaring war on Iran (to boost his approval ratings), but pulled back. He will stop at nothing to stay in power and he’s well aware that starting a war is one way to do it. He must be stopped. To do that, [the MoC] must name what Trump is doing, call out his lies, and demand that we avoid conflict. I’m watching and will hold [the MoC] accountable.
Background:
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE THOMPSON
DC phone: (202) 225-3311
Santa Rosa phone: (707) 542-7182
Rep. Thompson Abandoned the Children
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to express my outrage at Representative Thompson’s capitulation last week that resulted in more unrestricted funds for ICE and CBP to abuse children being held in camps.
The House bill for additional funding at least imposed restrictions on how the money would be spent, but Rep. Thompson’s Blue Dog Coaltion torpedoed it by giving in immediately to the Senate bill, which had no restrictions whatsoever. We know what will happen: Trump won’t use the money to properly care for the children he is holding in camps. He will use it to increase the scale of his abuse. Congress had one power available, that of withholding funds targeted for abuse. Rep. Thompson gave that away and endangered more children in the process.
Background:
Impeachment Hearings NOW!
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask Representative Thompson to support the beginning of impeachment hearings NOW.
Speaker Pelosi’s strategy of avoiding impeachment hearings is a catastrophic mistake. Trump is precisely the type of president impeachment is meant to protect us against. Regardless of Republican complicity, the House must act and make the case to the American people that he should be removed from office. If they are successful, either the Senate or, failing that, the American people at the ballot box will render judgement. But by not making the case at all, Pelosi signals that there’s no case to be made (“he’s not worth it”). This couldn’t be further from the truth.
It’s time to begin impeachment hearings NOW.
Background:
https://indivisible.org/resource/impeaching-trump-hold-him-accountable
https://www.gq.com/story/democrats-impeaching-trump
Where Are Trump’s Tax Returns?
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask Representative Thompson to demand that the House Ways and Means Committee stop stalling and do everything in its power to get Trump’s tax returns – including those from New York State.
Of all the Congressional committees investigated Trump malfeasance, Ways and Means has been the weakest and slowest. Now Committee Chair Neal is refusing to even get Trump’s returns from New York State. This is frankly pathetic. I’m asking Representative Thompson to push for aggressive and fast action to get Trump’s returns. I will be watching the Committee closely and will hold my representative accountable if they continue to fail.
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REPRESENTATIVE JARED HUFFMAN
DC phone: (202) 225-5161
Petaluma phone: (707) 981-8967
Thank You for Voting to Defund Hate
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to thank Rep. Huffman for voting NO last week on the bill that gave additional unrestricted funding to ICE and CBP, money that will be used to harm more children.
The House bill for additional funding at least imposed restrictions on how the money would be spent, but the “Problem-Solvers Caucus” and the “Blue Dog Coalition” torpedoed it by giving in immediately to the Senate bill, which had no restrictions whatsoever. We know what will happen: Trump won’t use the money to properly care for the children he is holding in camps. He will use it to increase the scale of his abuse. Congress had one power available, that of withholding funds targeted for abuse. Representative Huffman tried, at least, to put that power to good use. Thank you!
Thank You for Supporting Impeachment Hearings!
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to thank Representative Huffman for supporting the beginning of impeachment hearings NOW.
Speaker Pelosi’s strategy of avoiding impeachment hearings is a catastrophic mistake. Trump is precisely the type of president impeachment is meant to protect us against. Regardless of Republican complicity, the House must act and make the case to the American people that he should be removed from office. If they are successful, either the Senate or, failing that, the American people at the ballot box will render judgement. But by not making the case at all, Pelosi signals that there’s no case to be made (“he’s not worth it”). This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Thank you for standing up and doing the right thing! Thank you for calling for impeachment hearings!
Background:
https://indivisible.org/resource/impeaching-trump-hold-him-accountable
The Democratic National Committee
(202) 863-8000
Hold a Climate Debate!
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to say that I’m appalled that the DNC is not only NOT HOLDING a climate debate, it’s threatening 2020 presidential candidates who even PARTICIPATE IN ONE with banning them from other debates. This is outrageous!
Climate change is not just a “single issue” but something that impacts all other issues. Americans understand that. It's why climate is a top issue in this election – it must be debated!
Frankly, the DNC’s threatening presidential candidates over even engaging with the most critical issue of our time makes me angry and mistrustful of the DNC. Unless you reverse your position and welcome a climate debate, I will withhold all donations from you and donate only to individual candidates, ones who aren’t in thrall to the fossil fuel industry – as you appear to be.
As an activist, I can say that you are undermining what the Democratic Party should be standing for. Shame on you!
Background:
California State Senators
STATE SENATOR MIKE MCGUIRE
Sacramento phone: (916) 651-4002
Santa Rosa phone: (707) 576-2771
STATE SENATOR BILL DODD
Sacramento phone: (916) 651-4003
Santa Rosa phone: (707) 576-2093
Eliminate Plastic Pollution and Waste
Hi, my name is _______ and I’m a constituent from zip code______ and a member of Indivisible. I’m calling to ask [the Senator] to support Senate Bill 54, to illuminate plastic pollution and waste.
Single-use products—typically plastic packaging – are overflowing our landfills, fouling our oceans and streets, and burdening the environment. Current disposal and recycling policies cannot resolve these problems, and California can no longer afford to wait for a resolution.
Senate Bill 54 requires reduction, composting or recycling of 75 percent of single-use packaging by 2030. It’s a goal we can and must achieve in California. I’m asking the Senator to vote “YES” on SB 54.
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