CALL TO ACTION #918: America Demands People-First Relief Bill (May 8, 2020)
179 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
You should have your primary ballot.
If not, you can track it here.
Important Date
Ballots Due 8:00 PM, May 19: Postmark DOES NOT COUNT.
Don’t delay; study your voter pamphlet, make your decisions, mark your ballot, put it in the Postage Paid envelope, and mail it in or deposit it in a county ballot box (locations) before you lose it under a stack of bills! Urge all of your like-minded friends and family to do the same.
Progressive activism means voting the ENTIRE ballot, including seemingly obscure local boards and commissions, and those pesky initiatives.
Help the BLUE WAVE wash over every level of government!
***Today’s Call To Action***
AMERICA DEMANDS PEOPLE-FIRST
RELIEF BILL
Real leaders build national unity during crises—appealing to Americans’ better natures—and the Constitution requires the federal the government to respond impartially, treating everyone equally:
- Under “Take Care Clause” a President’s actions must benefit all
- 5th and 10th Amendments prevent conditioning aid on politics
- 1st Amendment prohibits withholding assistance to punish governors and citizens for political affiliation
Trump and his GOP allies (including our own so-called representative, Greg Walden), however, continue to ignore constitutional responsibilities, weaponizing the COVID-19 crisis to punish “blue states” and further their extremist white-nationalist agenda. The Trump regime is best understood as an organized crime family. Their power politics tactics include:
- Confiscating/withholding lifesaving equipment from Dem governors
- Threatening to financially starve states that won’t release immigrants to ICE
- Using the pandemic to further their anti-immigrant agenda
- Urging heavily armed right-wing protesters to “liberate” their states
- Forcing the premature reopening of the economy, increasing COVID-caused deaths, especially among minority and lower-income workers
- Insisting on payroll tax cuts offering no relief for 30 million newly unemployed while jeopardizing Social Security’s and Medicare’s solvency
- Refusing to expand SNAP benefits despite massive food insecurity
- Refusing to extend unemployment insurance to all laid-off
- Ensuring that most Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) aid is stacked against the neediest, going to red states with low COVID and unemployment rates
- Opposing state and local relief by falsely claiming only “blue states” have budget shortfalls
We The People WILL NOT ABIDE Authoritarianism!
Congress Works for the People!
Demand that Our Members of Congress STOP TRUMPISM!
**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].
We cannot let Trump and his GOP allies weaponize coronavirus aid by punishing states voting Democratic, and by refusing to fund programs needed by minorities and other vulnerable communities— all of which violate the federal government’s duty to treat all states and all citizens equally. The next relief package must focus on:
- State and local government aid
- Keeping people on payrolls
- Providing direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief and eviction protections to all, including the most vulnerable
- Fully covering all COVID-19 care and protecting all frontline workers
- Defending elections.
It must also require that scarce resources be transparently distributed solely according to states’ needs and that states and individuals be granted the right to sue if these requirements are not met.
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].
We cannot let Trump and his GOP allies weaponize coronavirus aid by punishing states voting Democratic, and by and refusing to fund programs needed by minorities and other vulnerable communities— all of which violate the federal government’s duty to treat all states and all citizens equally. The next relief package must focus on:
- State and local government aid
- Keeping people on payrolls
- Providing direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief and eviction protections to all, including the most vulnerable
- Fully covering all COVID-19 care and protecting all frontline workers
- Defending elections.
It must also require that scarce resources be transparently distributed solely according to states’ needs and that states and individuals be granted the right to sue if these requirements not met.
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: May 8, 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.
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/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: KS Wild – Climate Smart Conservation
May 12 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-ks-wild-climate-smart-conservation/
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/