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Local Level Actions
ONE CALL: Water Availability, Carbon Tax, Solar Power, Clean Air (OH MY!)
Source: Solar Installers of Washington, Fuse Washington, Washington Conservation Voters (edited by the RC)
Description: I lied, this is actually three calls (one senator and two reps). Call your legislators to SUPPORT the carbon tax proposal, the solar jobs bill, and funding to implement the Clean Air Rule, and to OPPOSE the Hirst “fix”. The solar jobs bill is now OUT OF COMMITTEE.
Background: See details on the carbon tax proposal, solar jobs bill, and Hirst “fix” bill in last week’s action list. Washington Conservation Voters provides the following background on funding needed for Clean Air Rule implementation: Washington is not on track to meet our statutory greenhouse gas limits. A 2013 report to the legislature found that the state has made some progress in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, but that existing state and federal policies do not require adequate emission reductions to put Washington on track to meet our statutory limits. Last year Governor Inslee and the Department of Ecology implemented the Clean Air Rule which requires large carbon emitters in Washington to reduce their emissions over time or invest in projects that reduce the equivalent emissions if they are unable to reduce on-site. The Clean Air Rule is the FIRST piece of policy that actually requires reductions based on and linked to these statutory limits. Funding for this important step towards carbon reduction is critical in order for it to be enforced. Failure to fund the enforcement of pollution regulations is the latest tactic being used to obstruct progress.
Suggested Script: Hello my name is __________ and I am a constituent of __________. I am calling to ask my legislator to SUPPORT the carbon tax (HB 1646/SB 5509), SUPPORT the solar jobs bill (HB1048/SB5499/SB5939), and OPPOSE the “Hirst fix” (SB 5239). I would also like to ask her/him to include funding for implementation of the Clean Air Rule in the final budget.
Contact Information:
Legislative Hotline: (800) 562-6000 (TTY for Hearing Impaired 1-800-635-9993)
42nd District
40th District
Practice Your Dialogue Skills
Source: RC Member
Description: We have challenging issues to solve in our community. Finding solutions to homelessness, housing, water, protecting undocumented folks, etc. will require all of us working together productively. This means thoughtful conversations where different opinions are shared. Time to fine tune your dialogue skills!
Additional Information: Do you know the difference between debate, discussion, and dialogue? Read one or all of these to find out.
National Level Actions / Other
Protect Our National Monuments! Comments Accepted Through 07/10/17
Description: President Trump has ordered the Department of the Interior to review all designations of national monuments greater than 100,000 acres created since 1996. Public comments on 26 monuments will be accepted through July 10, 2017.
Background: On April 26, 2017, the White House issued a Presidential Executive Order on the Review of Designations under the Antiquities Act, directing the U.S. Department of the Interior to review certain National Monuments designated or expanded since 1996. The Secretary of the Interior will use the review to determine whether each designation or expansion conforms to the policy stated in the Executive Order and to formulate recommendations for Presidential actions, legislative proposals, or other appropriate actions to carry out that policy. There are 27 National Monuments under review, including Hanford Reach in Washington and 5 marine national monuments; the list can be found here.
Contact Information: Submit comments online through regulations.gov (Docket ID# DOI-2017-0002).
Suggested Script: Click here for suggested scripts. Scripts for new monuments (including Hanford Reach) have been added recently. We’ll update with new scripts as often as we can, so check back often!!
Additional Information:
Oppose DeVos and Trump's Education Funding Cuts
Source: RC Member
Description: Join the National Education Association in writing to your Senators to oppose the DeVos/Trump education funding cuts.
Background: On May 23, President Trump released his budget request for FY 2018. As we expected, the Trump-DeVos budget is devastating for students and our nation’s public schools. This budget reduces opportunities for the students most in need, includes painful cuts to after school programs, funds private school vouchers, and makes college less affordable. This approach is reckless and misguided. We should be investing in what we know works and that means providing adequate resources to our neighborhood public schools and in programs and services that help all students regardless of their zip code.
Contact Information:
- Call (855) 764-1010 and tell Congress to reject this budget!
- Senator Maria Cantwell: (206) 220-6400
- Senator Patty Murray: (866) 481-9186 (toll free)
Suggested Script: The Trump-DeVos budget is a wrecking ball aimed at our nation’s public schools. Their budget shows how dangerously ill-informed they are about what works for students and in public education. Their reckless and irresponsible budget would smash the aspirations of students, crush their dreams, and make it difficult for them to go to college and get ahead.
Additional Information:
Tweet President Trump
Source: RC Member
Description: Tell Senate GOP that even Donald Trump says their healthcare bill is mean.
Suggested Script: Thanks, @realDonaldTrump. I agree that the #AHCA healthcare bill is mean. #MAGA @SenateGOP
Additional Information:
From the Calendar
Link to the Riveters Collective Calendar
Every Monday: Attend a vigil hosted by C2C and Keep Bellingham Families Working between 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m. or 5:00p.m. in front of City Hall. Show the powers that be that you stand by our undocumented workers and anyone else running afoul of ICE. Let the officials know it’s not alright to tear families apart!
Monday, June 19, 2017 at 7:00p.m.: Attend the Bellingham City Council meeting, sign in to speak during Open Session, and ask that they vote NO on the Jail Funding Agreement. More info here.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 from 6:30-8:00p.m.: Join a forum “Fund the solutions, price the pollution: The future of climate policy in Washington state” with the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy on a statewide policy initiative for 2018 to reduce carbon emissions and build a clean energy future while supporting impacted communities and a just transition for workers. The event will be held at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St., Bellingham. For more information, click on the link above for the RC calendar or visit Facebook.
Tuesday, June 20, 2017 from 8:30-10:00p.m.: Join a session of Ask Me Anything with Ross Cohen from All in for Action to help us understand how fixing our tax code would solve many problems in our state. To learn how to participate, please visit the RC calendar (link above) or visit Facebook.
Sunday, June 25, 2017 from noon-3:00p.m.: June is Orca Month in the Pacific Northwest. For the whole month, we celebrate one of our region’s most iconic wildlife species — and work to make sure that they will still be here in the future. Come together for a family-friendly outdoor picnic and community event to protect our Southern Resident Orcas and the Salish Sea! Join a group to walk, bike or paddle to Boulevard Park (470 Bayview Dr., Bellingham, WA) for kite building and other family-friendly activities, refreshments, live music and a short program of incredible speakers. Please visit Facebook for more details.