Call to Action #1059: We Need COVID Relief! (December 7, 2020)
Reminder: We are not doing daily CTAs for the time being. This week, please focus your calls, letters, postcards, emails — whatever you choose for your activism — on COVID relief and the Senate runoff in Georgia! Thanks for all you do!
29 Days until the Senate Runoff Election in Georgia!
(Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof)
See Action Three below for ways to HELP these two guys!
***CALL TO ACTION***
We Need COVID Relief!
In the next few days, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress will unveil a $908 billion compromise COVID relief bill designed to ease SOME of the hardships — from hunger to homelessness — on millions of families, and keep the broader economy from collapsing.
Components of the plan may include:
- Jobless benefits: Extensions of unemployment benefits due to expire Dec. 31. The plan may also include a weekly bonus, between $300 and $600, in jobless benefits.
- Direct payments: Trump has supported another round of $1,200 direct payments to most Americans.
- State and Local government aid: A priority for Speaker Pelosi, it would help prevent layoffs of police, first responders and sanitation workers among others.
- Liability protections: A priority for Sen. McConnell would allow businesses to escape financial responsibility for failing to protect workers.
If this bill passes, it will be an achievement for a Congress ridiculed for a decade of gridlock. After that, it must be signed into law by an irrational president. Democrats hope Biden will be able to build on this action with subsequent assistance, especially now that the virus is swamping both red and blue states.
Tell your MoCs to help struggling families, but to oppose liability shields for businesses that don’t protect their workers.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATOR MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
People need help now. [Optional: One in 6 adults with children in America say their families are hungry. One in 3 adults is having trouble paying their bills. And 1 in 4 small businesses can’t keep their doors open.] Please fight for the bipartisan COVID relief proposal. While I support relief for struggling families and for state, local, and tribal governments, I do not support a liability shield for businesses that do not protect their workers from the virus.
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:
COMING SOON — Holding Cliff Bentz Accountable!
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
2. Post Cards to Swing States: https://postcardstoswingstates.com/
3. Reclaim Our Vote: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k5pKB6cDRu9Q64nHgE5zUgrZrYvoigOrZddS1zEXBqA/edit
December 7, 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 Year-End Zoom General Meeting
December 7 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-year-end-zoom-general-meeting/
**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/
Sources
Congress eyes 1-week stopgap, longer session to reach deal | TheHill
Job Growth Slows Sharply In November As Pandemic Takes Toll On Economy : Coronavirus Updates : NPR
Sunday shows preview: Congress inches toward stimulus package amid COVID-19 surge | TheHill
Why Economists Support More Stimulus – The New York Times
Mitch McConnell’s stimulus offer is worse than doing nothing.
One man is standing in the way of coronavirus aid
Tyson lawsuit: Managers placed bets on how many workers get COVID-19
Opinion | Covid-19 Came for the Dakotas – The New York Times