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Local Level Actions
RC New Year's Resolution Planning
Source: RC
Description: Crowdsourcing resolution ideas and resources. Can you help? We need to update our civic tithing organization list, and identify personal-level actions and goals which advance our larger agenda. Email us.
Background: The RC is about leveraging our collective power to stretch the edges of our comfort zones, and amplify our impact. Last year, RC members compiled this searchable list of local organizations, and introduced the concept of civic tithing. We need to update this list, and develop a list of other potential resolutions. Measurable, personal goals that we could support. For example:
- No flying pledge: recreate without flying for a year to drastically reduce carbon impacts
- Meat reduction: eat beans!
- Support local organizations through civic tithing
Keep It in the Ground: Comment by 11/15 on Pacific Coast Fertilizer SEPA
Source: Sierra Club, No to #Methanol360
Description: Pacific Coast Fertilizer proposes to construct and operate a facility in Longview, WA, to convert fracked gas into Anhydrous Ammonia, a liquefied natural gas petrochemical used in chemical fertilizers. The project would use 50-60 million cubic feet of fracked gas per day, require a pipeline expansion, produce up to 1.25 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and load 100-200 trucks full of ammonia per week and 10-12 marine vessels per year, increasing global warming, air pollution, and risk of spills. Comment on the SEPA by November 15th!
Background: Pacific Coast Fertilizer has submitted an application for an excavating and grading permit with an accompanying SEPA checklist. The SEPA checklist provides more information on the proposed project and its environmental impacts. The City issued a SEPA threshold determination and scoping notice on October 16. Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS during the 30-day scoping period which is October 16 to November 15, 2017. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required.
Contact Information: Click here for the comment form.
Suggested Script:
- This refinery would use 50-60 million cubic feet of fracked gas per day, causing climate impacts from fracked gas extraction, transportation, and refining. Please make sure to include the specific emissions are resulting from the gas burning and ammonia refining process in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project. Please also include the wildlife effects of the 197 foot tall flare stack.
- Recently, the methanol refinery backers were told to complete a supplemental EIS because they omitted upstream climate impacts from the original impact statement. Please include in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project: the upstream climate, health, safety and environmental impacts of this project, including fracked gas extraction and transportation, and anhydrous ammonia transportation and usage. The Sierra Club suggests using a 3% leakage rate for methane transportation via pipeline.
- Anhydrous Ammonia is a colorless and highly flammable liquefied gas that irritates skin. Please include the worst case scenario effect of a pipeline or refinery explosion, ammonia leak, storage tank rupture, loss of refrigeration, earthquake or flood into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project. Please be sure to include the economic, environmental, health and safety impacts of an ammonia spill in the river. Please also look into who will pay for these damages, who will provide and pay for emergency response, and what the city’s capacity is to deal with these worst case scenarios.
- Please make sure to study the water usage and disposal impacts of this project, and include them in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The refinery would use 2.5 million gallons of water per day. The public deserves to know what percentage of the city’s well capacity will be needed, and what pollutants would wastewater carry. We also deserve to know how much wastewater will be produced, and how will it be disposed.
Additional Information:
Project FAQs from the City of Longview
The Daily News: City launches environmental review of $1 billion fertilizer plan
Sightline: A Billion Dollar Gas-to-Fertilizer Plan in Longview?
Sign Up for Mueller Firing Rapid Response
Source: Move-On.org, RC, and local Indivisible groups
Description: If Robert Mueller is fired, we will join the nation-wide protests. You can sign up through Moveon.org, or if you’d prefer to share your email with the RC (we won’t share) use the form below.
Background:
Donald Trump is publicly considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, the person leading the Department of Justice investigation of possible illegal actions by Donald Trump and members of his presidential campaign, and the efforts to conceal those activities.
This would be a constitutional crisis for our country. It would demand an immediate and unequivocal response to show that we will not tolerate abuse of power from Donald Trump.
Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, and whether Congress—the only body with the constitutional power and obligation to rein Trump in from his rampage—will do anything to stand up to him.
That’s why we’re preparing to hold emergency “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies around the country in the event they are needed.
- If Mueller is fired BEFORE 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ 5 P.M.local time
- If Mueller is fired AFTER 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day
Source: RC
Description: Crowdsourcing resolution ideas and resources. Can you help? We need to update our civic tithing organization list, and identify personal-level actions and goals which advance our larger agenda. Email us.
Background: The RC is about leveraging our collective power to stretch the edges of our comfort zones, and amplify our impact. Last year, RC members compiled this searchable list of local organizations, and introduced the concept of civic tithing. We need to update this list, and develop a list of other potential resolutions. Measurable, personal goals that we could support. For example:
- No flying pledge: recreate without flying for a year to drastically reduce carbon impacts
- Meat reduction: eat beans!
- Support local organizations through civic tithing
Keep It in the Ground: Comment by 11/15 on Pacific Coast Fertilizer SEPA
Source: Sierra Club, No to #Methanol360
Description: Pacific Coast Fertilizer proposes to construct and operate a facility in Longview, WA, to convert fracked gas into Anhydrous Ammonia, a liquefied natural gas petrochemical used in chemical fertilizers. The project would use 50-60 million cubic feet of fracked gas per day, require a pipeline expansion, produce up to 1.25 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, and load 100-200 trucks full of ammonia per week and 10-12 marine vessels per year, increasing global warming, air pollution, and risk of spills. Comment on the SEPA by November 15th!
Background: Pacific Coast Fertilizer has submitted an application for an excavating and grading permit with an accompanying SEPA checklist. The SEPA checklist provides more information on the proposed project and its environmental impacts. The City issued a SEPA threshold determination and scoping notice on October 16. Agencies, affected tribes, and members of the public are invited to comment on the scope of the EIS during the 30-day scoping period which is October 16 to November 15, 2017. You may comment on alternatives, mitigation measures, probable significant adverse impacts, and licenses or other approvals that may be required.
Contact Information: Click here for the comment form.
Suggested Script:
- This refinery would use 50-60 million cubic feet of fracked gas per day, causing climate impacts from fracked gas extraction, transportation, and refining. Please make sure to include the specific emissions are resulting from the gas burning and ammonia refining process in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project. Please also include the wildlife effects of the 197 foot tall flare stack.
- Recently, the methanol refinery backers were told to complete a supplemental EIS because they omitted upstream climate impacts from the original impact statement. Please include in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project: the upstream climate, health, safety and environmental impacts of this project, including fracked gas extraction and transportation, and anhydrous ammonia transportation and usage. The Sierra Club suggests using a 3% leakage rate for methane transportation via pipeline.
- Anhydrous Ammonia is a colorless and highly flammable liquefied gas that irritates skin. Please include the worst case scenario effect of a pipeline or refinery explosion, ammonia leak, storage tank rupture, loss of refrigeration, earthquake or flood into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for this project. Please be sure to include the economic, environmental, health and safety impacts of an ammonia spill in the river. Please also look into who will pay for these damages, who will provide and pay for emergency response, and what the city’s capacity is to deal with these worst case scenarios.
- Please make sure to study the water usage and disposal impacts of this project, and include them in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The refinery would use 2.5 million gallons of water per day. The public deserves to know what percentage of the city’s well capacity will be needed, and what pollutants would wastewater carry. We also deserve to know how much wastewater will be produced, and how will it be disposed.
Additional Information:
Project FAQs from the City of Longview
The Daily News: City launches environmental review of $1 billion fertilizer plan
Sightline: A Billion Dollar Gas-to-Fertilizer Plan in Longview?
Sign Up for Mueller Firing Rapid Response
Source: Move-On.org, RC, and local Indivisible groups
Description: If Robert Mueller is fired, we will join the nation-wide protests. You can sign up through Moveon.org, or if you’d prefer to share your email with the RC (we won’t share) use the form below.
Background:
Donald Trump is publicly considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, the person leading the Department of Justice investigation of possible illegal actions by Donald Trump and members of his presidential campaign, and the efforts to conceal those activities.
This would be a constitutional crisis for our country. It would demand an immediate and unequivocal response to show that we will not tolerate abuse of power from Donald Trump.
Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, and whether Congress—the only body with the constitutional power and obligation to rein Trump in from his rampage—will do anything to stand up to him.
That’s why we’re preparing to hold emergency “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies around the country in the event they are needed.
- If Mueller is fired BEFORE 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ 5 P.M.local time
- If Mueller is fired AFTER 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day
Source: Move-On.org, RC, and local Indivisible groups
Description: If Robert Mueller is fired, we will join the nation-wide protests. You can sign up through Moveon.org, or if you’d prefer to share your email with the RC (we won’t share) use the form below.
Background:
Donald Trump is publicly considering firing special counsel Robert Mueller, the person leading the Department of Justice investigation of possible illegal actions by Donald Trump and members of his presidential campaign, and the efforts to conceal those activities.
This would be a constitutional crisis for our country. It would demand an immediate and unequivocal response to show that we will not tolerate abuse of power from Donald Trump.
Our response in the minutes and hours following a power grab will dictate what happens next, and whether Congress—the only body with the constitutional power and obligation to rein Trump in from his rampage—will do anything to stand up to him.
That’s why we’re preparing to hold emergency “Nobody is Above the Law” rallies around the country in the event they are needed.
- If Mueller is fired BEFORE 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ 5 P.M.local time
- If Mueller is fired AFTER 2 P.M. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day
National Level Actions / Other
Call Your Reps: Stop the #TrumpTaxScam
Source: Indivisible Guide
Description: Call your representative, Larsen or DelBene.
Contact Information:
Rick Larsen (WA 2nd Leg District) WA 360-733-4500, DC (202) 225-2605
Suzan DelBene (WA 1st Leg District) WA (360) 416-7879, DC (202) 225-6311
Background:
We’ve finally seen the Trump Tax Scam, and unsurprisingly it’s a massive giveaway to the wealthy and corporations, paid for by raising taxes on some middle class families and forcing deep cuts down the line to critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid. They want to eliminate taxes that only affect the wealthiest individuals and let corporations pay even less than they already do. The majority of the tax benefits from the Republicans’ plan will go to the top 1%, which will exacerbate our country’s massive racial wealth gap.
The fight in Congress over the Trump Tax Scam is happening right now. Republicans voted along party lines to report their Tax Scam bill out of the Ways and Means Committee on November 9, and want to have it ready for Trump to sign by Thanksgiving. Their plan is to use the same secretive, partisan process they tried (and failed) to use for health care, using “reconciliation” to pass the Trump Tax Scam through the Senate with only 51 votes.
The first step is to pass a bill through the House, which is why it’s critical that we tell Democrats they need to stand strong against the Trump Tax Scam. The more we can delay this bill and give people time to learn about what’s really in it, the better a chance we have of stopping the Trump Tax Scam before it ever gets off the ground. Call your Democratic MoC and tell them: do everything you can to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. NO to the Trump Tax Scam.
SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT
Caller: Hello! My name is [___] and I’m calling from [part of state]. I’m calling to let [Congressman / Senator __] know that I strongly oppose the tax bill that the Ways and Means Committee reported out on November 9. This tax bill is a scam that will give massive cuts to the wealthy, paid for by forcing deep cuts to critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security down the line.
MOC OPPOSES TRUMP TAX SCAM
Staffer: Thank you for calling! The [Congressman / Senator] is against the Republican tax bill; he / she does not believe we should give a tax cut to the wealthy and corporations.
Caller: That’s great. I’m very glad the [Congressman / Senator] is standing with his/her constituents instead of standing with Donald Trump and his rich friends. [If speaking to Senate office: Will the Senator commit to withholding consent on votes in the Senate so that we have time to mobilize against this bill?]
Staffer: I haven’t talked to the Senator about that, but I’ll pass your thoughts along.
Caller: That’s what I expect out of the [Congressman / Senator]. It’s not enough just to vote no, he/she needs to actively work to slow down the Trump Tax Scam and expose it for the scam it is. Please take down my info so you can let me know what he/she is doing to slow down the Trump Tax Scam.
MOC SUPPORTS TRUMP TAX SCAM/WON’T GIVE YOU A HARD NO
Staffer: The [Congressman / Senator] thinks our tax code is broken and it’s holding us back. [He / She] hopes there is a chance to work with Republicans to reform the tax code on a bipartisan basis and make sure that middle-class families get the tax relief they deserve.
Caller: It’s clear that Republicans aren’t interested in working on a bipartisan basis. They’re not even trying to be — if they were, they would have expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit or the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit. Instead, they only made those credits, that help hard-working families, more difficult to claim.
Staffer: The [Congressman / Senator] agrees with you on that but he/she would like to see a lower corporate tax rate. [He / She] is also concerned that our corporate tax rate, which is the highest in the world, is hurting American competitiveness.
Caller: We’ve tried giving corporations a massive tax break before, in 2005, and it was a huge failure that cost us jobs and did nothing to raise wages. But more importantly, businesses are already talkingabout how they will use this opportunity to help their shareholders, not create new jobs or increase wages. Lowering the corporate rate won’t benefit anyone besides investors. [Congressman / Senator] ___ shouldn’t fall for these washed-up, trickle-down talking points.
Staffer: Well, we want to work with Republicans to help families and small businesses by simplifying the tax code and letting small, pass-through businesses pay a lower rate.
Caller: I agree that there are too many loopholes in the tax code that the wealthy and corporations exploit to get away with paying less than their fair share. But simplifying the tax code is an idea that only benefits the rich. And most pass-through businesses already pay a lower rate than the one in your bill; in fact, this change would mostly benefit businesses like the Trump Organization. Does [Congressman / Senator] ___ think that I should be paying more so Donald Trump can get a tax cut?
Staffer: I’ll pass your thoughts along to the [Congressman / Senator].
Caller: Yes please do, and please take down my contact information so you can let me know what the [Congressman / Senator] decides to do.
Call Your MoCs: Protect America’s Clean Energy Economy
Source: Climate Solutions
Description: Last week, Republican leadership in the House of Representatives rolled out their new tax plan…and it’s a climate and clean energy disaster. The House GOP plan preserves most tax breaks for Big Oil, while shrinking incentives for renewable energy and eliminating support for electric vehicles. Ask your elected officials to oppose these rollbacks and protect America’s clean energy economy.
Background: People who make the choice to switch to electric cars spend two thirds less on fuel, and they don’t dump dangerous pollution into the air. Making it easy and affordable to expand electric vehicles is a crucial and cost-effective way to promote clean air and a healthy planet. Protecting sensible tax breaks for renewable energy pays off, in the form of less pollution and less volatile energy prices. Tax breaks for big oil, on the other hand, will only quicken our path towards climate chaos.
Contact Information:
Senator Patty Murray
- WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- https://www.murray.senate.gov/contact/e-mail.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
- WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
- https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Congressman Rick Larsen (WA 2nd Legislative District)
- WA 360-733-4500, DC (202) 225-2605
- http://larsen.house.gov/contact-rick/email-rick
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA 1st Legislative District)
- WA (360) 416-7879, DC (202) 225-6311
- https://delbene.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Suggested Script:
I was disappointed to see the recent House tax plan slashing support for key clean energy programs, eliminating the electric vehicle incentive, and heavily cutting investment in new renewables.
These are critical money-saving, homegrown investments that contribute to clean air, a healthy planet, and reduced spending on energy. I hope I can count on you to push back against these reckless cuts.
Thank you.
Additional Information:
NY Times: GOP Tax Plan picks winners and losers in energy sector
Comment: Reject National Park Service Fee Hike
Source: National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club
Description: The Trump administration has proposed dramatic fee increases at 17 of the country’s most popular national parks during peak seasons, including Mount Rainier, Olympic, Denali, Glacier, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks. Entrance fees could jump from $25 to $70, and the plan would take effect in 2018. This fee hike would reduce access to too many families at the same time the administration continues to work to increase access to the fossil fuel industry. Comment by 11/23/17 to oppose the fee hike.
Background: The administration claims this fee hike will address the agency’s $11.3 billion maintenance backlog, but Interior Secretary Zinke estimates that the new fees could raise around $70 million annually. That’s just a tiny fraction of the maintenance backlog. Congress already has a better solution at its fingertips: the National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751). The Act would establish a dedicated park maintenance fund to invest a more substantial amount toward the Park Service repair backlog. This investment, plus a responsible current federal budget, would make real progress toward restoring and improving parks for the future — without creating hurdles that could keep people out of their public lands.
Contact Information: Access the comment form here.
Suggested Script:
I strongly oppose the proposal to increase fees to the 17 most popular national parks during peak season. It’s increasingly clear that time outside is not just a luxury, but central to the health and well-being of our communities. This dramatic increase will prohibit many families from accessing our most beautiful natural places. This proposal is unjust and unacceptable, and should be dropped immediately. The fact that the Trump administration is limiting access to everyday people while opening up our public lands to corporate polluters is a blatant giveaway to fossil fuel allies and a betrayal of the American people. I stand with thousands of others in opposition to this proposed park fee increase.
It is also very concerning that congressional leadership aims to cut the Department of Interior’s budget, while it’s clear we need more investment in our parks and its infrastructure. The solution to the funding shortfall should fall to Congress, and cannot and should not be shouldered by its visitors. The National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751) that is pending in Congress addresses the National Park Service maintenance backlog, and it deserves the Department of the Interior’s support. This bipartisan legislation would provide a more substantial — and sustainable — investment in our parks.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Additional Information:
National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog
Outside Magazine: DOI Backtracks on Addressing Inequality in Our Parks
Call Senators: Oppose So-Called Resilient Federal Forests Act
Source: Washington Wild
Description: The Resilient Forests Act is a dangerous attack on our national forests and other public lands that would allow unprecedented unregulated logging, weaken protections of the Endangered Species Act, and remove judicial review and the citizen objection process from timber sales in the name of reducing wildlife risk. Over 70 conservation and recreation organizations signed on to a joint letter to the House asking them to oppose this legislation. The bill passed the House on Nov 1, 2017; Skopos Labs gives it a 59% chance of being enacted. Write your Senators and ask them to oppose it.
Background: The bill will allow faster approval for logging and other actions to reduce fire risk in national forests. As written in the Washington Post, “Republicans and the timber industry have long complained about environmental rules that block or delay plans to cut down trees to reduce fire risk. Democrats and environmentalists say GOP policies would bypass important environmental laws to clear-cut vast swaths of national forests, harming wildlife and the environment.”
Contact Information:
Senator Patty Murray
- WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- https://www.murray.senate.gov/contact/e-mail.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
- WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
- https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Suggested Script: Please oppose HR 2936, the so-called Resilient Forests Act. This bill is a direct attack on our public lands, aiming to increase logging without taking environmental concerns into account. While the needs for improved forest management and increased wildfire funding is clear, this bill is not the right way to do it. Thank you!
Additional Information:
GovTrack: HR 2936: Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017
Joint letter to House from 70 conservation and recreation organizations on HR 2936
WA Post: House approves bill to speed logging to combat wildfires
Source: Indivisible Guide
Description: Call your representative, Larsen or DelBene.
Contact Information:
Rick Larsen (WA 2nd Leg District) WA 360-733-4500, DC (202) 225-2605
Suzan DelBene (WA 1st Leg District) WA (360) 416-7879, DC (202) 225-6311
Background:
We’ve finally seen the Trump Tax Scam, and unsurprisingly it’s a massive giveaway to the wealthy and corporations, paid for by raising taxes on some middle class families and forcing deep cuts down the line to critical programs like Medicare and Medicaid. They want to eliminate taxes that only affect the wealthiest individuals and let corporations pay even less than they already do. The majority of the tax benefits from the Republicans’ plan will go to the top 1%, which will exacerbate our country’s massive racial wealth gap.
The fight in Congress over the Trump Tax Scam is happening right now. Republicans voted along party lines to report their Tax Scam bill out of the Ways and Means Committee on November 9, and want to have it ready for Trump to sign by Thanksgiving. Their plan is to use the same secretive, partisan process they tried (and failed) to use for health care, using “reconciliation” to pass the Trump Tax Scam through the Senate with only 51 votes.
The first step is to pass a bill through the House, which is why it’s critical that we tell Democrats they need to stand strong against the Trump Tax Scam. The more we can delay this bill and give people time to learn about what’s really in it, the better a chance we have of stopping the Trump Tax Scam before it ever gets off the ground. Call your Democratic MoC and tell them: do everything you can to prevent tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. NO to the Trump Tax Scam.
SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT
Caller: Hello! My name is [___] and I’m calling from [part of state]. I’m calling to let [Congressman / Senator __] know that I strongly oppose the tax bill that the Ways and Means Committee reported out on November 9. This tax bill is a scam that will give massive cuts to the wealthy, paid for by forcing deep cuts to critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security down the line.
MOC OPPOSES TRUMP TAX SCAM
Staffer: Thank you for calling! The [Congressman / Senator] is against the Republican tax bill; he / she does not believe we should give a tax cut to the wealthy and corporations.
Caller: That’s great. I’m very glad the [Congressman / Senator] is standing with his/her constituents instead of standing with Donald Trump and his rich friends. [If speaking to Senate office: Will the Senator commit to withholding consent on votes in the Senate so that we have time to mobilize against this bill?]
Staffer: I haven’t talked to the Senator about that, but I’ll pass your thoughts along.
Caller: That’s what I expect out of the [Congressman / Senator]. It’s not enough just to vote no, he/she needs to actively work to slow down the Trump Tax Scam and expose it for the scam it is. Please take down my info so you can let me know what he/she is doing to slow down the Trump Tax Scam.
MOC SUPPORTS TRUMP TAX SCAM/WON’T GIVE YOU A HARD NO
Staffer: The [Congressman / Senator] thinks our tax code is broken and it’s holding us back. [He / She] hopes there is a chance to work with Republicans to reform the tax code on a bipartisan basis and make sure that middle-class families get the tax relief they deserve.
Caller: It’s clear that Republicans aren’t interested in working on a bipartisan basis. They’re not even trying to be — if they were, they would have expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit or the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit. Instead, they only made those credits, that help hard-working families, more difficult to claim.
Staffer: The [Congressman / Senator] agrees with you on that but he/she would like to see a lower corporate tax rate. [He / She] is also concerned that our corporate tax rate, which is the highest in the world, is hurting American competitiveness.
Caller: We’ve tried giving corporations a massive tax break before, in 2005, and it was a huge failure that cost us jobs and did nothing to raise wages. But more importantly, businesses are already talkingabout how they will use this opportunity to help their shareholders, not create new jobs or increase wages. Lowering the corporate rate won’t benefit anyone besides investors. [Congressman / Senator] ___ shouldn’t fall for these washed-up, trickle-down talking points.
Staffer: Well, we want to work with Republicans to help families and small businesses by simplifying the tax code and letting small, pass-through businesses pay a lower rate.
Caller: I agree that there are too many loopholes in the tax code that the wealthy and corporations exploit to get away with paying less than their fair share. But simplifying the tax code is an idea that only benefits the rich. And most pass-through businesses already pay a lower rate than the one in your bill; in fact, this change would mostly benefit businesses like the Trump Organization. Does [Congressman / Senator] ___ think that I should be paying more so Donald Trump can get a tax cut?
Staffer: I’ll pass your thoughts along to the [Congressman / Senator].
Caller: Yes please do, and please take down my contact information so you can let me know what the [Congressman / Senator] decides to do.
Call Your MoCs: Protect America’s Clean Energy Economy
Source: Climate Solutions
Description: Last week, Republican leadership in the House of Representatives rolled out their new tax plan…and it’s a climate and clean energy disaster. The House GOP plan preserves most tax breaks for Big Oil, while shrinking incentives for renewable energy and eliminating support for electric vehicles. Ask your elected officials to oppose these rollbacks and protect America’s clean energy economy.
Background: People who make the choice to switch to electric cars spend two thirds less on fuel, and they don’t dump dangerous pollution into the air. Making it easy and affordable to expand electric vehicles is a crucial and cost-effective way to promote clean air and a healthy planet. Protecting sensible tax breaks for renewable energy pays off, in the form of less pollution and less volatile energy prices. Tax breaks for big oil, on the other hand, will only quicken our path towards climate chaos.
Contact Information:
Senator Patty Murray
- WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- https://www.murray.senate.gov/contact/e-mail.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
- WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
- https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Congressman Rick Larsen (WA 2nd Legislative District)
- WA 360-733-4500, DC (202) 225-2605
- http://larsen.house.gov/contact-rick/email-rick
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA 1st Legislative District)
- WA (360) 416-7879, DC (202) 225-6311
- https://delbene.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Suggested Script:
I was disappointed to see the recent House tax plan slashing support for key clean energy programs, eliminating the electric vehicle incentive, and heavily cutting investment in new renewables.
These are critical money-saving, homegrown investments that contribute to clean air, a healthy planet, and reduced spending on energy. I hope I can count on you to push back against these reckless cuts.
Thank you.
Additional Information:
NY Times: GOP Tax Plan picks winners and losers in energy sector
Comment: Reject National Park Service Fee Hike
Source: National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club
Description: The Trump administration has proposed dramatic fee increases at 17 of the country’s most popular national parks during peak seasons, including Mount Rainier, Olympic, Denali, Glacier, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks. Entrance fees could jump from $25 to $70, and the plan would take effect in 2018. This fee hike would reduce access to too many families at the same time the administration continues to work to increase access to the fossil fuel industry. Comment by 11/23/17 to oppose the fee hike.
Background: The administration claims this fee hike will address the agency’s $11.3 billion maintenance backlog, but Interior Secretary Zinke estimates that the new fees could raise around $70 million annually. That’s just a tiny fraction of the maintenance backlog. Congress already has a better solution at its fingertips: the National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751). The Act would establish a dedicated park maintenance fund to invest a more substantial amount toward the Park Service repair backlog. This investment, plus a responsible current federal budget, would make real progress toward restoring and improving parks for the future — without creating hurdles that could keep people out of their public lands.
Contact Information: Access the comment form here.
Suggested Script:
I strongly oppose the proposal to increase fees to the 17 most popular national parks during peak season. It’s increasingly clear that time outside is not just a luxury, but central to the health and well-being of our communities. This dramatic increase will prohibit many families from accessing our most beautiful natural places. This proposal is unjust and unacceptable, and should be dropped immediately. The fact that the Trump administration is limiting access to everyday people while opening up our public lands to corporate polluters is a blatant giveaway to fossil fuel allies and a betrayal of the American people. I stand with thousands of others in opposition to this proposed park fee increase.
It is also very concerning that congressional leadership aims to cut the Department of Interior’s budget, while it’s clear we need more investment in our parks and its infrastructure. The solution to the funding shortfall should fall to Congress, and cannot and should not be shouldered by its visitors. The National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751) that is pending in Congress addresses the National Park Service maintenance backlog, and it deserves the Department of the Interior’s support. This bipartisan legislation would provide a more substantial — and sustainable — investment in our parks.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Additional Information:
National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog
Outside Magazine: DOI Backtracks on Addressing Inequality in Our Parks
Call Senators: Oppose So-Called Resilient Federal Forests Act
Source: Washington Wild
Description: The Resilient Forests Act is a dangerous attack on our national forests and other public lands that would allow unprecedented unregulated logging, weaken protections of the Endangered Species Act, and remove judicial review and the citizen objection process from timber sales in the name of reducing wildlife risk. Over 70 conservation and recreation organizations signed on to a joint letter to the House asking them to oppose this legislation. The bill passed the House on Nov 1, 2017; Skopos Labs gives it a 59% chance of being enacted. Write your Senators and ask them to oppose it.
Background: The bill will allow faster approval for logging and other actions to reduce fire risk in national forests. As written in the Washington Post, “Republicans and the timber industry have long complained about environmental rules that block or delay plans to cut down trees to reduce fire risk. Democrats and environmentalists say GOP policies would bypass important environmental laws to clear-cut vast swaths of national forests, harming wildlife and the environment.”
Contact Information:
Senator Patty Murray
- WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- https://www.murray.senate.gov/contact/e-mail.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
- WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
- https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Suggested Script: Please oppose HR 2936, the so-called Resilient Forests Act. This bill is a direct attack on our public lands, aiming to increase logging without taking environmental concerns into account. While the needs for improved forest management and increased wildfire funding is clear, this bill is not the right way to do it. Thank you!
Additional Information:
GovTrack: HR 2936: Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017
Joint letter to House from 70 conservation and recreation organizations on HR 2936
WA Post: House approves bill to speed logging to combat wildfires
Source: National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club
Description: The Trump administration has proposed dramatic fee increases at 17 of the country’s most popular national parks during peak seasons, including Mount Rainier, Olympic, Denali, Glacier, Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon and Canyonlands National Parks. Entrance fees could jump from $25 to $70, and the plan would take effect in 2018. This fee hike would reduce access to too many families at the same time the administration continues to work to increase access to the fossil fuel industry. Comment by 11/23/17 to oppose the fee hike.
Background: The administration claims this fee hike will address the agency’s $11.3 billion maintenance backlog, but Interior Secretary Zinke estimates that the new fees could raise around $70 million annually. That’s just a tiny fraction of the maintenance backlog. Congress already has a better solution at its fingertips: the National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751). The Act would establish a dedicated park maintenance fund to invest a more substantial amount toward the Park Service repair backlog. This investment, plus a responsible current federal budget, would make real progress toward restoring and improving parks for the future — without creating hurdles that could keep people out of their public lands.
Contact Information: Access the comment form here.
Suggested Script:
I strongly oppose the proposal to increase fees to the 17 most popular national parks during peak season. It’s increasingly clear that time outside is not just a luxury, but central to the health and well-being of our communities. This dramatic increase will prohibit many families from accessing our most beautiful natural places. This proposal is unjust and unacceptable, and should be dropped immediately. The fact that the Trump administration is limiting access to everyday people while opening up our public lands to corporate polluters is a blatant giveaway to fossil fuel allies and a betrayal of the American people. I stand with thousands of others in opposition to this proposed park fee increase.
It is also very concerning that congressional leadership aims to cut the Department of Interior’s budget, while it’s clear we need more investment in our parks and its infrastructure. The solution to the funding shortfall should fall to Congress, and cannot and should not be shouldered by its visitors. The National Park Service Legacy Act (S. 751) that is pending in Congress addresses the National Park Service maintenance backlog, and it deserves the Department of the Interior’s support. This bipartisan legislation would provide a more substantial — and sustainable — investment in our parks.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Additional Information:
National Park Service Proposes Targeted Fee Increases at Parks to Address Maintenance Backlog
Outside Magazine: DOI Backtracks on Addressing Inequality in Our Parks
Call Senators: Oppose So-Called Resilient Federal Forests Act
Source: Washington Wild
Description: The Resilient Forests Act is a dangerous attack on our national forests and other public lands that would allow unprecedented unregulated logging, weaken protections of the Endangered Species Act, and remove judicial review and the citizen objection process from timber sales in the name of reducing wildlife risk. Over 70 conservation and recreation organizations signed on to a joint letter to the House asking them to oppose this legislation. The bill passed the House on Nov 1, 2017; Skopos Labs gives it a 59% chance of being enacted. Write your Senators and ask them to oppose it.
Background: The bill will allow faster approval for logging and other actions to reduce fire risk in national forests. As written in the Washington Post, “Republicans and the timber industry have long complained about environmental rules that block or delay plans to cut down trees to reduce fire risk. Democrats and environmentalists say GOP policies would bypass important environmental laws to clear-cut vast swaths of national forests, harming wildlife and the environment.”
Contact Information:
Senator Patty Murray
- WA (206) 553-5545, DC (202) 224-2621
- https://www.murray.senate.gov/contact/e-mail.cfm
Senator Maria Cantwell
- WA (206) 220-6400, DC (202) 224-3441
- https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form
Suggested Script: Please oppose HR 2936, the so-called Resilient Forests Act. This bill is a direct attack on our public lands, aiming to increase logging without taking environmental concerns into account. While the needs for improved forest management and increased wildfire funding is clear, this bill is not the right way to do it. Thank you!
Additional Information:
GovTrack: HR 2936: Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017
Joint letter to House from 70 conservation and recreation organizations on HR 2936
WA Post: House approves bill to speed logging to combat wildfires
From the Calendar
Link to the Riveters Collective Calendar
Every Monday: Attend a vigil hosted by C2C and Keep Bellingham Families Working. A vigil will be held from 11:30a.m.-12:30p.m. in front of City Hall or from 5:00-6:00p.m. at the WTA downtown bus station. Support undocumented and immigrant families to live in safety and dignity in our community. Come together and join in building power in people!
Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 from 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.: Join the Medicare for All Rally in Everett. Whatcom DSA is hosting the event and a carpool has been arranged. Meet at the Lincoln Creek Park and Ride at 9:00a.m. The rally is planned for 11:00a.m.-2:00p.m. and appointments with Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, and Representative Rick Larsen are scheduled between 1:00-1:30p.m. Visit the RC calendar page or Facebook for more information.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 from 8:30-11:30a.m.: Attend the Red Line Salish Sea (formerly the Bellingham #NoDAPL Coalition) Court Hearing at the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Whatcom County, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225. We need your support in these court hearings to shed light on the injustice taking place behind the court doors in Whatcom County. We ask that you fill the courtrooms to send a message that we will not be intimidated and corruption will not be ignored. One hearing is in Bellingham on 11/14/17 and the other is in Seattle on 11/17/17. We call on our Southern allies to show up in Seattle to support. Attend both if possible! Our freedoms depend on it. Wear red in solidarity. Visit the RC calendar page or Facebook for more information about the hearings. For more background on the warrants against Bellingham #NoDAPL Coalition, please visit Red Line Salish Sea Facebook page.
Saturday Nov. 18, 2017 from noon – 1pm: World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. A UN-affiliated worldwide event to honor family members, friends and neighbors who have died in traffic collisions, and to thank the first responders who provide aid and comfort at vehicle crash sites.