CALL TO ACTION #909: Demand Congress Fund Postal Service! Protect Voting by Mail! (April 27, 2020)
190 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Be sure to fully participate in our
May state and local elections!
Important Dates
April 28: Voter registration deadline*
April 29: First ballots are mailed
May 19: Primary Election Day
*You can’t vote if you’re not registered! Check here to confirm or change your registration status. The deadline is . . .
Tomorrow at midnight!
Don’t delay. Urge all of your like-minded friends and family to do the same. Progressive activism means working the entire ballot, including seemingly obscure local boards and commissions.
Make the BLUE WAVE wash over every level of government!
Today’s Call To Action
DEMAND CONGRESS FUND POSTAL SERVICE
PROTECT VOTING BY MAIL
The US Postal Service (USPS) has always been an indispensable part of American life—delivering 143 billion items to 160 million homes, maintaining 35,000 post offices, 276 distribution plants, and 228,000 trucks and vans.
Now more than ever, Americans depend on the USPS for essential medicine, supplies, information, stimulus checks, census forms, online purchases, face masks and everything else that uses postage—which includes conducting elections by mail. Unlike private carriers receiving bailout assistance, the USPS is required to offer universal service at one affordable price for every household six days/week—essential for rural areas and inner cities.
630,000 postal workers put themselves in harm’s way every day—over 1200 have tested positive for COVID-19, 54 have died and over 6000 are in self-quarantine.
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin has threatened to withhold an emergency $10 billion loan unless given control over management decisions, terms of major contracts, and collective bargaining strategy. And Trump is signaling he will veto USPS funding legislation unless large package prices are drastically raised—exploiting the pandemic to bust unions, privatize the most popular government agency, and disenfranchise Americans voting by mail.
Stop Trump’s Extortion Tactics from Privatizing the USPS!
Demand Full USPS Funding!
Protect and Expand Voting by Mail!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
The Postal Service has always played an essential role in our national life, but it’s even more important now with much of America under stay-at-home orders. Like other frontline workers, Postal Service employees work tirelessly on our behalf despite exposure to COVID-19. We cannot let Trump and Mnuchin weaken or destroy the Postal Service, which will starve our democracy, cut off the receipt of goods we need to survive, and disenfranchise many Americans. The next stimulus package must include:
- Full funding for expanded vote-by-mail legislation
- Protect Our Post Offices Act (HR.6425), providing billions in Postal Service emergency funding
- Repeal the requirement making a $10 billion loan subject to Treasury’s approval
- USPS Fairness Act (HR .2382), repealing the pension prefunding requirement
- Guaranteed legislative oversight of all appropriated funds
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 TWO: 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 to demand that Greg Walden oppose all attempts to privatize the Postal Service and to limit voting by mail in any way. In other words, it’s a moral imperative that he act to prevent harming his rural constituents. Tell him to only vote for another spending package that includes:
- Full funding for vote-by-mail
- The billions in emergency funding for the Postal Service contained in HR.6425
- Guaranteed legislative oversight of all funds appropriated by Congress
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 THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Ongoing Event: Oregon Health Authority Coronavirus Update Zoom Conference Calls
TODAY: Monday, April 27, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Fire and Climate Summit Webinar Series: Preparing for Wildfire Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Virtual
May 5 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-fire-and-climate-summit-webinar-series-preparing-for-wildfire-season-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-virtual/
ORD2 Indivisible Virtual General Meeting: Candidate Meet & Greet – Your Home!
May 11 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-virtual-general-meeting-candidate-meet-greet-your-home/
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**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/