CALL TO ACTION #1014: Healthcare is a Human Right! Fight for It! (September 24, 2020)
40 Days
Until Voting Ends!
We’ve been calling it the November 3rd election, but it really takes place in OCTOBER.
Just 27 Days Until Voting Starts!
Mail service could be iffy this year with Trump and DeJoy attacking the USPS. We urge you to vote early, use a ballot box if you can get to one, then track your ballot (more on tracking once the ballots are mailed).
Important Dates:
October 13: Last day to register to vote; postmark or online by 11:59 pm
October 14-20: Voter’s ballots mailed; find your ballot box
October 20: Last day for county Voter’s Pamphlet distribution
October 21: Our recommended last day to mail your ballot
November 3: Ballots must be in a ballot box or with the county clerk by 8 pm
We invite you to watch and share this YouTube video by ORD2 Indivisible co-founder, Jessica Sage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQNs_kR5JN0
Our Endorsements for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise endorse may be missing from this list.
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
State Senate District 2: Jerry Allen
State Senate District 28: Hugh Palcic
State House District 4: Mary Middleton
State House District 5: Pam Marsh
State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
***Today’s Call To Action***
Healthcare is a Human Right!
Fight for It!
No matter where we live or who we vote for we have the human right to healthcare. Trumpists think otherwise, favoring the obscenity of for-profit healthcare companies which prices many of us out of the market. While 200,000 Americans have been dying from COVID, they funneled money for life-saving masks to military contractors and are pulling out all the stops to install a Supreme Court justice who will likely help to try to overturn the ACA.
Meanwhile, the Democrats have taken note of our healthcare calls, letters and protests these last four years. The HEROES Act passed by the House five months ago and awaiting action on Grim Reaper Mitch McConnell’s desk provides for:
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Free COVID testing for everyone;
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Additional money for Medicaid;
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Money for PPE;
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Expands SNAP;
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Expands paid family/medical/sick leave;
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Extends unemployment;
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Another $1200 stimulus check;
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Moratorium on evictions and foreclosures;
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Student debt relief.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will address COVID day-one, improving access to testing and personal protective equipment, and helping our schools. Their stimulus plan to jump-start the recovery from the COVID economic crash includes a climate plan and green jobs.
Turn UP the Healthcare Noise!
Call Congress Today!
Get Out the BLUE Vote!
**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].
I have never stopped worrying about our healthcare since Trump and the Russians stole the 2016 election. 200,000 have died from COVID while Trump is forcing a SCOTUS nominee who will likely work to overturn the ACA.
I need the Senator to do all he can to get the HEROES Act passed immediately. I also ask him to make sure Mitch McConnell cannot muster hearings and a confirmation vote to fill RBG’s vacated SCOTUS seat by using any means available, including withholding consent and making the GOP form a quorum on their own.
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/
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’m still here, demanding that Greg put country above party. He must call on his Republican colleagues to stop Mitch McConnell from permanently damaging the integrity of the Senate by hypocritically hijacking yet another Supreme Court seat. If they refuse to stop this raw push for power by Donald Trump, Greg must support any call by the House for the president’s impeachment.
Lindsey Graham was right about one thing, Donald Trump (and Mitch McConnell) is destroying the GOP. How can Greg enable that? It makes him complicit.
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
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**
September 25, 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.
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/