MAKE MITCH MCCONNELL DO HIS JOB: REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT NOW
#DitchMitch #EndTheShutdown
Trump’s shutdown—which McConnell and the GOP-controlled Senate won’t end—is in its fourth week with no exit plan. That it’s causing the greatest hardships to the lowest-paid federal workers and contractors and negatively impacting the least fortunate Americans, concerns neither Trump nor the right-wing GOP members who appear happy to diminish the federal government. Trump’s selective callback of furloughed employees to support his political agenda or reward key constituencies violates the Antideficiency Act’s requirement that such callbacks are permitted only to address emergencies.
Under the Constitution, Congress makes laws that the Executive Branch enforces. While the Executive can veto legislation sent to it, Congress is given the power to override any veto by a 2/3 majority in each house. McConnell knows this—overriding Reagan’s vetoes six times and passing a dozen bills Obama threatened to veto.
In its first act of business, the new House passed legislation to reopen the government that the Senate had passed – almost unanimously – in December. McConnell can reopen the government immediately by allowing this Senate to do likewise. Instead, he’s refused to bring to the floor anything Trump hasn’t approved—an act of cowardice effectively making Trump an autocrat.
Congress must act now.
The Senate must refuse to conduct any business until the government reopens.
The House must investigate any Antideficiency Act violations.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because Mitch McConnell is preventing the Senate from carrying out its constitutionally-mandated legislative function and because neither he nor Trump appears to be concerned that Americans are suffering, both directly and indirectly, from the government shutdown.
Please ask the Senator to press Mitch McConnell to do his job by allowing votes on House-passed legislation to reopen the government with no money for the wall; ask the Senator to convince his colleagues on both sides of the aisle the refuse to conduct any Senate business—no hearings on executive or judicial nominees, no votes, no other Senate activity—until after McConnell allows the Senate to vote to reopen the government. Thank you.”
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/
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:
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:
TODAY – Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Greg Walden Town Hall Meetings – Grants Pass, Medford, Klamath Falls
January 18: Grants Pass: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Medford: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Klamath Falls @ 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Additional dates and times throughout Oregon Congressional District 2.
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-greg-walden-town-hall-grants-pass/
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-greg-walden-town-hall-medford/
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-greg-walden-town-hall-klamath-falls/
Women’s March Southern Oregon – Medford
January 19 @ 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-womens-march-southern-oregon-medford/
Rogue Indivisible: Grants Pass Womens Wave – Grants Pass
January 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/rogue-indivisible-grants-pass-womens-wave-grants-pass/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Women’s March – Klamath Falls
January 19 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-womens-march-klamath-falls/
Rogue Indivisible: Women In Politics – Grants Pass
January 19 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/rogue-indivisible-women-in-politics-grants-pass/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: The Karen Lovely Band – Post Women’s March Celebration – Ashland
January 19 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-the-karen-lovely-band-post-womens-march-celebration-ashland/
TEACH & GREET Featuring Representative Pam Marsh – Talent
January 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/teach-greet-featuring-representative-pam-marsh-talent/
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/
SOURCES:
Government shutdowns hurt poor families and low-paid workers
It’s Not a Government Shutdown, It’s a Right-Wing Coup
Trump taps free government labor to execute political agenda
The shutdown is giving some Trump advisers what they’ve long wanted: A smaller government
Mitch McConnell could end the shutdown. But he’s sitting this one out
Republicans Can Reopen the Government With or Without Trump
McConnell doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Trump and end shutdown