CALL TO ACTION #941: Extend Unemployment Benefits; Keep Liability Laws (June 11, 2020)



145 Days

Until the November 3rd Election


***Today’s Call To Action***

EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

KEEP LIABILITY LAWS


Grim Reaper Mitch McConnell preemptively announced he opposes extending the $600/week unemployment benefit passed in the HEROES Act. He thinks he has cover from:

  • The Congressional Budget Office, which concluded that continuing the benefit would damage the economy in 2021.
  • A drop in unemployment, either to 13% or 16% depending on whether you count the Bureau of Labor Statistics’s misclassification of 5 million unemployed people.

By any count, at least 21 million people are out of work. Economic activity is far below pre-pandemic levels. There will be few jobs to find come July 31 when benefits end. Black and brown workers will feel the pain disproportionately given generations of barriers to building up assets and savings. The cruel indifference from the Republicans is breathtaking.

McConnell is forcing the Senate to wait until the July 20 work period to even consider another relief bill. That doesn’t leave much time before the August recess begins. It’s possible, maybe probable, that he is holding unemployment benefits hostage to extort relaxations in liability laws covering businesses that don’t protect their workers.

Demand that Congress keeps liability laws to protect workers!

Demand that COVID-19 unemployment benefits be extended!


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 

As the Senator addresses the Republican’s answer to the HEROES Act, please ask him to make the Act’s unemployment insurance benefits non-negotiable, and to refuse demands to lift liability for workers’ safety.

Also, please remind him to call for both Barr and Trump to resign. Publicly. Loudly. Every Day. 

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]. 

If the Senate passes another stimulus package, and the House considers whether to support it, tell Greg Walden that I want him to make the HEROES Act’s unemployment insurance benefits non-negotiable, and refuse Senate demands to lift liability for workers’ safety. 

These are not partisan issues; they are human issues. To remain silent now, as Greg continues to do, is a moral outrage. If that is his decision, I call on him to resign his office effective immediately. 

History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake. 

Thank you.”

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN

DC (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**

US Senator Ron Wyden Virtual Town Hall – Hood River, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler and Wasco Counties
June 12 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/us-senator-ron-wyden-virtual-town-hall-hood-river-sherman-gilliam-wheeler-and-wasco-counties/

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Ongoing Event: Oregon Health Authority Coronavirus Update Zoom Conference Calls
June 12, 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: BLM Community Outspeak – Medford
June 13 @ 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-blm-community-outspeak-medford/

US Senator Ron Wyden Virtual Town Hall – Jackson, Josephine, Klamath and Lake Counties
June 15 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/us-senator-ron-wyden-virtual-town-hall-jackson-josephine-klamath-and-lake-counties/

Friday Night at the Guerrilla Drive-In – Medford
June 19 @ 8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/friday-night-at-the-guerrilla-drive-in-medford/

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/