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FREE THE SENATE!


Political parties have a responsibility to address society’s problems. Perhaps, no one has done more than Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to flip that mandate and put party before country.

Because his party has a dwindling base but a robust connection to gold-plated funders, McConnell’s achievements have been blocking popular initiatives, usually through hyper-partisanship. He has said one of his proudest moments was blocking Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court.

McConnell is responsible for packing federal courts with extreme conservatives, furthering his highest cause—positioning Republicans to win future elections. 

He has enabled Trump by largely avoiding the scrutiny of presidential accountability. McConnell also:

  • Kept Americans in the dark about Russian interference before the 2016 election by threatening to label any Obama Administration revelation as “partisan politics”
  • Refused to hold a vote on protecting Mueller and his investigation
  • Refused to end Trump’s shutdown by blocking a vote
  • Has now vowed to kill the bill the House just passed that strengthens voting rights while addressing dark money’s influence

By contrast, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley just launched a campaign to restore a “functioning Senate” which he calls “the graveyard of good ideas.” We must support him.

Resist Mitch McConnell!

Make the Senate Function Again!


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Senator Wyden:

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

 . . . I’m concerned that bills to strengthen our democracy, like HR1 with its much-needed ethics and voting reforms, will die in the Senate. I ask that the Senator push hard to get a vote on HR1, and HR8 (recently House-passed bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases). If you can’t get votes on these bills, please make it clear to the public that the Senate is broken and needs to be fixed so we can have the governance the Founders envisioned. Thank you.”

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/

 

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Senator Merkley:

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

. . . I’m concerned that bills to strengthen our democracy, like HR1 with its much-needed ethics and voting reforms, will die in the Senate. Senator Merkley is right; we can’t fix America without fixing the Senate. As he said, it has become the “graveyard of good ideas.” Therefore, I ask him to push hard to get a vote on HR1, and HR8, (recently House-passed bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases). And finally, I vigorously support Senator Merkley’s campaign to fix the Senate. 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/


**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 because . . .

. . . I’m concerned that bills to strengthen our democracy, like HR1 with its much-needed ethics and voting reforms, will die in the Senate. I ask Greg Walden to join the effort to get a vote on HR1 by recognizing the Senate has become the “graveyard of good ideas,” as Senator Merkley calls it. Mr. Walden must use his leadership role in the Republican party as a platform to say publicly that the Senate is broken. We The People demand the government that the Founders envisioned.

As a Republican loyalist—always putting party before country—Greg Walden is complicit with Mitch McConnell’s subversion of a representative government. Will he do the right thing in this instance and demand that the Senate do its job? #2020Starts Now. 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**

Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on our local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. Check out the following:

Ron Wyden Town Hall – Lakeview
March 15 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ron-wyden-town-hall-lakeview/

Ron Wyden Town Hall – Klamath Falls
March 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ron-wyden-town-hall-klamath-falls/

Greg Walden Town Hall Meetings – Hood River, The Dalles, Hermiston
March 15 – Hood River @ 8:30 am – 10:00 am
March 15 – The Dalles @ 11:15 am – 12:45 pm
March 15 – Hermiston @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/15010/

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Central American Newcomers: Who, Why and Now – Medford
March 16 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-central-american-newcomers-who-why-and-now-medford/

ORD2 Indivisible Teach & Greet: Can Oregon Lead by Example? – Talent
March 17 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-teach-greet-can-oregon-lead-by-example-talent/

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Take Action in Salem to Stop Jordan Cove LNG – Salem
March 28 @ 9:30 am – 4:30 pm  REGISTRATION IS DUE BY MARCH 15
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-take-action-in-salem-to-stop-jordan-cove-lng-salem/

SUBMIT EVENTS TO BE ADDED TO THE ORD2 INDIVISIBLE EVENT CALENDAR
Help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/