252 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
OREGON STATE GOP REPS JOIN GOP SENATORS’ BOYCOTT OF CAP AND TRADE DELIBERATION
“House Republicans walked out of the Oregon Capitol on Tuesday, joining their Senate colleagues in protest of a greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill.” (Statesman Journal)
Before we turn to today’s national Call to Action, let’s take a look at the unacceptable behavior of fourteen GOP Oregon state senators and, as of yesterday, state GOP representatives, who have walked out to deny a quorum in both chambers. Action One below addresses our Rapid Response to this legislative malpractice.
“OREGON GOP SENATORS’ WALKOUT OVER BILL TO CAP GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS A ‘DERELICTION OF DUTY’ SAY DEMOCRATS”
(Newsweek)
SUPPRESSING THE CENSUS SUPPRESSES VOTES
The 2020 Census would seem to be one of the most basic, mundane exercises of government. Count how many people live here, and where they live.
But the consequences of that count are far-reaching. It determines the distribution of federal dollars and the number of congressional seats and electoral college votes for each state. The Census Bureau hopes to conduct the count primarily on-line. Their IT contractors have admitted that Russians have already hacked the website.
Paper forms can’t be hacked, but the Republicans don’t see an accurate census as important in a functioning democracy. Rather, the GOP sees an opportunity to skew the numbers to their benefit.
The Republican National Committee is mailing Trump campaign surveys that look like official Census forms, even using the heading “2020 Congressional District Census.” The concern is that people will fill out this propaganda survey thinking that it’s the actual Census form.
While showing little or no interest in preventing Russian hacking, the GOP is openly engaged in an on-going campaign of confusion and disinformation intended to under-count and disenfranchise entire communities.
Tell your Members of Congress that to protect fair elections and full representation, they must work to . . .
Provide stronger safeguards to ensure the integrity of the Census!
**ACTION ONE: GET THE OREGON LEGISLATURE BACK TO WORK**
This is a link to our RAPID RESPONSE TOOLKIT IF GOP SENATORS BOYCOTT. Please read this document for possible actions and sample scripts. We must demand that these people do the work they were elected to accomplish.
Click here to find your state representative.
Here are the fourteen GOP senators who have shut down deliberation and voting on the “cap and trade” bill before their chamber. If one of them is yours, please call or otherwise contact them to demand that they return to work and DO THEIR JOB.
DALLAS HEARD — District 1 — Western Josephine County, Curry and Coos counties, southern Douglas County
Phone: 503-986-1701
Email: Sen.DallasHeard@oregonlegislature
Twitter: @Heard4StateRep
HERMAN BAERTSHIGER — District 2 — North Jackson County, Josephine County
Phone: 503-986-1702
Twitter: @SenBaertschiger
FRED GIROD — District 9 — Parts of Linn, Marion and Clackamas Counties
Phone: 503-986-1709
Twitter: @FredGirod
DENYC BOLES — District 10 — Part of Marion County
Phone: 503-986-1710
Twitter: @DenycBoles
BRIAN BOQUIST — District 12 — Parts of Yamhill, Polk, Benton Counties
Phone: 503-986-1712
Email:
Twitter: @BrianBoquistGOP also (Boquist protest account) @BrianBoquistCOW
KIM THATCHER — District 13 — Upper Marion County
Phone: 503-986-1713
Email:
Twitter: @KimThatcherGOP
ALAN OLSEN — District 20 — Clackamas County
Phone: 503-986-1720
Twitter: @SenatorOlsen
CHUCK THOMSEN — District 26 — Hood River and part of Multnomah County
Phone: 503-986-1726
Twitter: Not found
TIM KNOPP — District 27 – Deschutes County – Note: Knopp did not walk out, but stayed behind to speak for the absent senators. He needs to call his colleagues back to work.
Phone: 503-986-1727
Twitter: @SenatorKnopp
DENNIS LINTHICUM — District 28 — Upper Jackson County, Klamath and Lake Counties
Phone: 503-986-1728
Twitter: @DennisLinthicum
BILL HANSELL — District 29 – Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, Union, Umatilla, Wallowa Counties
Phone: 503-986-1729
Twitter: @Hansell4Senate
LYNN FINDLEY — District 30 — Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, and part of Lake County.
Phone: 503-986-1730
Twitter: Not found
**ACTION TWO: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling today because . . .
. . . the integrity of the Census is vital to protect fair elections and full representation. I am asking the Senator to demand that a secure system be used to electronically collect census information. I am also asking that he support an update to the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act. No campaign should be allowed to subvert the Census. Everyone must be counted.
Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION THREE: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling today because . . .
. . . the integrity of the Census is vital to protect fair elections and full representation. I am asking Greg Walden to demand that a secure system be used to electronically collect census information. I am also asking that he support an update to the Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act. No campaign should be allowed to subvert the Census. Everyone must be counted.
Even after announcing his retirement, Greg continues to signal his full support for trumpism, regardless of how much damage Trump is doing to our democracy and to world stability. Know that we are still here and will continue working to flip ORD2 Blue in 2020.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION FOUR: BE AN ACTIVIST**
Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
Greg Walden Josephine County Town Hall – Grants Pass
February 29 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/greg-walden-josephine-county-town-hall-grants-pass/
De-escalation Training – Talent
March 7 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/de-escalation-training-talent/
Flash Mob Dance Rehearsals for “Break the Chain” for the Women’s March Southern Oregon on March 29 – Ashland
March 8 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/flash-mob-dance-rehearsals-for-break-the-chain-for-the-womens-march-southern-oregon-on-march-29-ashland/
ORD2 Indivisible General Meeting Featuring Representative Pam Marsh – Phoenix
March 9 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-general-meeting-featuring-pam-marsh-phoenix/
Rogue Indivisible Spring Fundraising Event & Silent Auction – Grants Pass
March 11 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/rogue-indivisible-spring-fundraising-event-silent-auction-grants-pass/
Flash Mob Dance Rehearsals for “Break the Chain” for the Women’s March Southern Oregon on March 29 – Central Point
March 15 @ 12:00 pm – April 19 @ 1:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/flash-mob-dance-rehearsals-for-break-the-chain-for-the-womens-march-southern-oregon-on-march-29-central-point/
VOTER ISSUES PROJECT ROLLOUT & PIZZA PARTY – TALENT
March 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/voter-issues-project-rollout-pizza-party-talent/
Women’s March Southern Oregon – Medford
March 29 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/womens-march-southern-oregon-medford-2/
ORD2 Indivisible 2020 Fundraising Campaign
As we approach what will be the most important election of our lifetimes, ORD2 Indivisible wants to be in a secure financial position to help engage as many voters in our district in the election process as possible. To accomplish this goal we are conducting the ORD2 Indivisible 2020 fundraising campaign. Click on the image below to donate.
To make a donation by check, please make the check payable to ORD2 Indivisible and mail to:
ORD2 Indivisible
P.O. Box 1242, Phoenix, OR 97535
ORD2 Indivisible is partnering with Jobs With Justice Southern Oregon and Washington Federal Bank to gather warm adult clothing for the homeless. We are also asking for tarps, throw blankets and sleeping bags.
