A day after neo-Nazis and white supremacists marched violently on an American city, people in Jax of all colors, faiths, genders and backgrounds stood together with the people of Charlottesville against the hate. Candles were lit and a moment of silence was observed in remembrance of those who were killed or injured while defending love and equality.
John H. Rutherford R-FL
202-225-2501
Al Lawson
202-225-0123, (904) 354-1652
Ted Yoho
202-225-5744, 904-276-9626
Your Call: Call your representative. Express your outrage that this open rally was permitted to take place and express your anger at Trump’s unwillingness to call this act of terrorism what it is or name the offenders as white supremacists.
The ‘Unite The Right’ rally turned violent after a car intentionally drove into a group of counter-protestors, leaving one dead and 19 others injured. We must stand up against this violence and hate.
On August 11th in Charlottesville, Virginia, a group of white protesters (mostly men) marched through the University of Virginia campus carrying torches and chanting “White Lives Matter” and “Jews Will Not Replace Us.” As disturbing as this modern day KKK rally was, it was only a preview of the next day’s larger event in Emancipation Park: the “Unite the Right” rally and march. No longer expecting consequences, these extremists did not bother to conceal their faces behind white hoods as in years past. Instead, they proudly raised their hands in Nazi salutes and used other anti-LGBT, anti-black, anti-Muslim chants and symbols. Attended by openly racist leaders like David Duke and Richard Spencer, there were multiple skirmishes between those carrying Nazi and Confederate flags and those counter protestings. Millions around the nation and world watch as American society is pummeled yet again by the destructive forces of hate.
Although speech of all kinds is protected by the 1st Amendment, that protection does not require silence on the part of those who disagree. The American people need and deserve leadership that affirms the values of acceptance and inclusion that our country was founded upon and that we have struggled to extend to all people over the past 240+ years. The American people deserve leaders that stand up to hate and promote unity at a time when our President employs multiple openly racist advisors like Sebastian Gorka, Steven Miller, Steven Bannon, and appointed Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. Both the Governor of Virginia and Mayor of Charlottesville were quick to denounce these gatherings, as were some other members of Congress, but Trump only tweeted 3 vague and generic sentences about unspecified “hate.” All elected officials in our government must join what should be a deafening chorus of denunciation against this kind of racist and hate-fueled speech.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members
Call this office:
John H. Rutherford R-FL
202-225-2501
Busy line? Click here to see local office numbers
Why you’re calling this office:
This is your local representative in the House.
Your script:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from Ponte Vedra Beach.
I’m calling to express my outrage about the ugly demonstrations in Charlottesville. I demand that Rep. John H. Rutherford join [his/her] colleagues on both sides of the aisle in denouncing the ‘Unite the Right’ white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Protecting free speech does not equate to silence on matters of racism, hate, and violence.
Thank you for your time and attention.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
Sen. MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
Sen. BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Following the collapse of the Republican proposals to repeal and replace ACA/Obamacare, President Trump has made repeated threats to sabotage the exchanges. Trump is threatening to withhold Obamacare cost sharing subsidies that help lower income consumers meet deductibles and co-pays. Without certainty that these cost sharing reduction payments will be made, insurers will be forced to pull out of markets or seek massive premium increases.
While pending court action, supported by Democratic state Attorney Generals, would require the payments to be made, decisions may not be made in time for insurers to make plans for 2018. Several bipartisan proposals have been made in the House and in the Senate to ensure the cost reduction payments are made and the exchanges are stabilized.
The president’s spiteful threats to sabotage the ACA exchanges would, if carried out, cause enormous harm to the American people in the form of huge premium increases, inability to obtain insurance and inability to afford needed medical treatment. Congress must act to ensure the Trump administration stabilizes the exchanges rather than withholding funds to sabotage them.
Your Action
Call your three members of Congress and tell them to support urgent bipartisan action to stabilize the ACA exchanges and stop the administration from sabotaging them.
Sen. MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
Sen. BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Rep. Ted Yoho: DC:202-225-5744
Orange Park: 904-276-9626
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Rep. Ron DeSantis
DC 202-225-2706
Palm Coast 386-302-0471
Rep. Al Lawson
DC 202-225-0123
Jax: (904) 354-1652
Talking Points
• This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
• [IMPORTANT] Describe how the sabotage of the ACA exchanges would personally impact you, your friends or family.
• The President has threatened to sabotage the ACA exchanges by withholding cost sharing reduction payments and taking other destabilizing actions.
• Congress has an obligation to protect the American people until a comprehensive bipartisan healthcare plan can be formulated.
• I urge [Sen/Rep_____] to support prompt bipartisan action to stabilize the ACA exchanges.
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Rep. Al Lawson
DC 202-225-0123
Jax: (904) 354-1652
House Judiciary Committee
202-225-3951
Nine Republican House Representatives are currently sponsoring HR 2796, the Civil Rights Uniformity Act. This hateful bill would exclude transgender people from federal civil rights protections against gender discrimination. The bill specifically bans gender identity from being “treated as a protected class in Federal law or policy” without congressional approval, meaning that only Congress would be able to pass laws protecting trans rights.
While this bill is likely just a political stunt that will never make it out of committee, its consequences could still be deadly. There is an established correlation between passage of bigoted policies like this one and increased rates of suicide in the transgender community. Hate-based law making fuels anti-trans attitudes at the highest levels of our government and sends a message to trans people that their rights and their lives are unimportant. Transgender people face significant discrimination and violence because of their gender identity, with over a quarter of trans people reporting being fired because of bias and half reporting harassment at work. Trans people of color also face even higher rates of discrimination than white transgender people.
Eroding transgender people’s rights at a federal level would endanger both their financial and psychological well-being. This latest assault on transgender people is despicable and unacceptable. We must make it abundantly clear that Americans will not tolerate these blatant attacks on transgender people’s civil rights.
YOUR ACTION TODAY: 2 Calls-Your Representative AND the House Judiciary Committee Chair
Here’s how to find your local reps http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/…/Repre…/myrepresentative.aspx
Ted Yoho: DC:202-225-5744
Orange Park: 904-276-9626
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Rep. Ron DeSantis
DC 202-225-2706
Palm Coast 386-302-0471
Rep. Al Lawson
DC 202-225-0123
Jax: (904) 354-1652
YOUR SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from _________.
I am calling to express my strongest opposition to HR 2796, the Civil Rights Uniformity Act, a bigoted attack on transgender people. I ask that [REP NAME] vocally denounce HR 2796 as an unacceptable assault on transgender people’s rights.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
House Judiciary Committee
202-225-3951
YOUR SCRIPT #2
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from ________..
[IF COMMITTEE]: I’d like to pass along a message for the Chairman and committee members. I ask that the committee not take any action on HR 2796, the Civil Rights Uniformity Act. This bill is an unacceptable, bigoted attack on transgender people and their rights.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
YOUR ACTION: Call the Department of Justice
202-353-1555
On August 1st, the New York Times revealed details of an internal Department of Justice document they obtained that describes plans by the Civil Rights Division to crack down on university ‘affirmative action’ policies. In the document, the department is seeking lawyers to investigate and potentially sue universities for discriminating against white applicants (“intentional race-based discrimination”) in their admissions processes. Typically, the Educational Opportunities Section of the DoJ handles university matters, but due to reported unwillingness by these career civil servants/education experts to reverse course on civil rights, the political appointee staffed Civil Rights Division will handle this project.
This new affirmative action project falls in line with other actions taken by Jeff Sessions and the DoJ that attack civil rights and equal opportunity for minority American populations. The continuing systemic racial discrimination and oppression in our society often makes it harder for young people of color to obtain the same educational resources as their white counterparts. Affirmative action admissions programs allow students from these disadvantaged backgrounds more balanced access to higher education. The Supreme Court has also ruled that a diverse student body has its own educational benefits, allowing universities to use race as an admission factor.
While many white students have criticized and waged lawsuits against affirmative action, claiming unfair rejections in favor of “less qualified” students, the statistics simply don’t line up. In fact, white women are the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action policies. University ‘legacy’ policies also grant admission to students from predominantly white families, regardless of their performance level. A glaring example of this practice is Jared Kushner’s acceptance into Harvard to the surprise of many of his teachers who thought he was not qualified. (His father also donated $2.5M to the school.)
YOUR ACTION: Call the Department of Justice
202-353-1555
(Why you’re calling this office:
This organization is driving legislation related to the issue.)
Your script:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from _________.
I’m calling to express my serious disapproval of the Department’s plans to investigate and sue universities because of their affirmative action admissions policy. This is clearly another attempt by this Department to deny equal opportunity to minority Americans in order to perpetuate white privilege, and I demand this project be shut down immediately.
Thank you for your time and attention.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Rep. Al Lawson
DC 202-225-0123
Jax: (904) 354-1652
Trump’s presidency is so rife with conflicts that Walter Shaub, who recently resigned as ethics chief, warns that the US is at risk of being seen by the world as a kleptocracy. Unlike all previous presidents, President Trump has defied norms by refusing to divest financial assets which create a conflict of interest. With Ivanka and Jared and in the White House and Don Jr. and Eric actively involved in politics, the Trump family has seemingly endless conflicts of interest.
The Atlantic keeps a running list of Trump conflicts, most recently highlighting his claim, in connection with his Scottish golf course, that his pledge not to make any new foreign investments does not apply to “expanding” existing investments.
It is very telling that Trump was especially upset with Mueller’s investigation when he heard Mueller would get access to his tax returns.
Legislation that would require Trump to divulge his tax returns and divest financial assets that create conflicts of interest has been stalled in the House and Senate since January.
Urge our members of Congress to support The Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 introduced in both the House (H.R.371) and the Senate (S.65). Americans should not have to tolerate kleptocracy. We deserve transparency from the President and to know whether he is a crook.
YOUR ACTION:
Call your members of Congress to urge them to support The Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 (S.65/H.R.371).
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Ted Yoho: DC:202-225-5744
Orange Park: 904-276-9626
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Rep. Ron DeSantis
DC 202-225-2706
Palm Coast 386-302-0471
Rep. Al Lawson
DC 202-225-0123
Jax: (904) 354-1652
SCRIPT Talking Points
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
[Sen/Rep____] should support (S.65/H.R.371), which would require the President to divest financial assets which create a conflict of interest.
It is outrageous that the president flouts ethical norms and has countless conflicts that appear to affect his foreign and domestic policies.
The President and his family appear to be profiting from the presidency, which looks more like a kleptocracy than a transparent democracy.
The American People deserve transparency and to have a president free from conflicts.
Thank you!
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Rep. John Rutherford
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
Reports of an angry president obsessing on the Russia investigation raise serious concerns he may try to distract from the investigation with a major military action.
Article I of the Constitution gives the power to authorize military action to Congress. However, in recent decades, Congress has often failed to fully assert its prerogative and has acquiesced to the executive taking various military actions with flimsy Congressional authority.
Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Congress authorized President Bush to take military action against any entity that aided the attacks, or harbored perpetrators, in order to prevent future attacks (the 2001 AUMF). Most use of US military force since then, including recent actions have relied on the 2001 AUMF. Recently, a House committee voted to sunset the AUMF, but Speaker Ryan stripped the sunset provision from the final bill.
North Korea’s recent successful test of an ICBM that could reach the central US raises serious concerns about Trump’s response. Besides tweets bashing China, Trump had the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley deliver the message that the “time for talk is over.”
Frighteningly, former press secretary Sean Spicer stated in April that Trump does not believe he needs Congressional approval for military action against North Korea.
With an unpredictable and ill-informed President desperate for a diversion from the Russia investigation, it is imperative that Congress perform its Constitutional duty and reassert its obligation to approve or disapprove of military force before it occurs.
YOUR ACTION:
Call Senator Rubio, Senator Nelson and your representative and tell them Congress must reassert its Constitutional duty and require the President to obtain Congressional approval before any further military action.
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
BILL NELSON: DC: 202-224-5274
Jacksonville: 904-346-4500
Rep. John Rutherford Rep.
DC 202-225-2501
Jacksonville 904-831-5205
SCRIPT TALKING POINTS:
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
Congress must authorize any further military action by the president.
Trump is carrying out military operations in Syria without any
Congressional oversight or approval.
Congressional authorization must be required for any military action
in North Korea, where war could be nuclear.
Thank you.
Your Action (all week): Calls to Senator Rubio and Secretary Tom Price
Call #1:
MARCO RUBIO DC : 202 224 3041
Jacksonville: (904) 354-4300
SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is __ and I’m a constituent from_____. I’m calling to express my serious concern about Trump’s intention to let Obamacare fail and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk. I urge Senator Rubio to immediately pass legislation to stabilize the insurance market and ensure the ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies are fully funded. The American people want to see the insurance market fixed, not sabotaged for political gain.
Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
Call #2:
SECRETARY TOM PRICE at the Department of Health and Human Services
202-205-5445
SCRIPT:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from _____.
HHS: I’m calling to express my serious concern about Trump’s intention to let Obamacare fail and put the lives of millions of Americans at risk. I urge Secretary Price to continue cost-sharing reduction payments and enforcement of the individual mandate in order to maintain stability in our national insurance market. The American people want to see the insurance market fixed, not sabotaged for political gain.
MORE INFO:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s plan to repeal the ACA (the “Skinny Repeal”) failed on the Senate floor, 49-51, on July 27th. While he called the downfall of his ongoing efforts to dismantle the ACA “disappointing” and stated that it was time to “move on.” McConnell continued to denounce the ACA and its effectiveness, repeating myths of its instability. The Congressional Republicans’ ability to repeal the ACA may be over, but now the threat of Republican sabotage of the law by undermining its enforcement is still a real possibility. Indeed, Trump has called on Republicans to “let Obamacare fail, it will be a lot easier,” stating, “We’re not going to own it. I’m not going to own it.”
Analyses of the ACA have repeatedly shown that the individual markets are largely functioning well, with cost-sharing subsidies shielding buyers from premium cost increases. However, Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Tom Price, are taking steps to destabilize these markets. Trump is threatening to withhold insurance payments known as cost-sharing reductions (CSRs), which allow insurers to offer lower-cost individual market plans with lower out-of-pocket costs to low-income consumers. If these payments are discontinued, experts predict, it could collapse the individual insurance market and dissuade insurers from offering plans in the individual marketplace.
The administration could also stop the enforcement of the ACA individual mandate, a provision that ensures younger and healthier people buy insurance. Without this provision, insurance companies would be forced to consider major premium increases, affecting the affordability of insurance for the sick and elderly. Trump issued an executive order discouraging IRS enforcement of this mandate, and the Republican-controlled House Appropriations Committee has included a draft provision in a spending bill to defund the IRS’s mandate enforcement.
Insurance experts and the Congressional Budget Office have all stated that the ACA is stable and not in a so-called death spiral. However, the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress now appear committed to creating instability for political gain, creating turmoil in the national insurance market and putting the lives of millions of Americans at risk.
RubioNelson
202-224-5274
904-346-4500
Call both your senators and tell Democratic senators to use every tactic available to save the ACA. Tell Republican senators that voting on a bill that affects the lives of all Americans without hearings is absurd. Any bill that torpedos the ACA exchanges and leaves vulnerable Americans without insurance is wrong for the country. It is time for a bipartisan solution.
Republicans failed to get the 60 votes needed for the Senate Trumpcare plan or the 50 votes needed for straight repeal, and will next vote on a so-called “skinny repeal” which would repeal the ACA mandates and some taxes.
“Skinny repeal” would cause a death spiral in the ACA exchanges, leading to almost complete collapse. The CBO issued a score for “skinny repeal” on Wednesday night which found it would result in 16 million losing insurance and premiums rising an additional 20%.
Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) basically admitted the skinny bill is a “trojan horse” to get to a conference committee with the House, where deep cuts would likely be added to the bill.
Democrats have been adjusting their strategy in response to dynamic events and are ready to either flood the bill with amendments once it is introduced or, if they believe it will be defeated, push for an immediate vote.
Democrats should be thanked for using every possible tactic to defeat the ACA repeal and urged to stay the course. Republicans need to told that any bill that leaves sick and vulnerable Americans without insurance is unacceptable. A high volume of calls is crucial.
Your Script:
This is [NAME] and I’m a constituent in [ZIP].
[IMPORTANT] Describe how the repeal of the ACA would personally impact you, your friends or family.
[Democratic senators] Thank you for using every possible tactic to prevent the repeal of the ACA. Please continue to do everything possible to protect healthcare for the American people.
[Republican senators] It is absurd to do even a “skinny repeal” which will torpedo the ACA exchanges, leave millions of Americans without affordable insurance, and raise rates for everyone else, without hearings.
[Republican senators] Skinny repeal by itself is bad for the country and if passed and reconciled with House bill, is almost certain to be a death sentence for sick and vulnerable Americans.
[Republican senators] It is time to work on bipartisan solution to strengthen and improve the ACA.
Rubio – 202-224-3041 or 904-398-858
Find your senator: https://www.senate.gov/…/contact_informati…/senators_cfm.cfm
BLOCK THE SENATE REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
The Senate has passed the Motion to Proceed to begin floor debate on the repeal of the ACA. Now, a series of amendments and new healthcare bills will be brought forth and voted on on the floor. It is unknown what the end result of this debate will be, but any version will surely involve a repeal of the ACA that will devastate the nation’s healthcare system, leave millions uninsured, and collapse the insurance market.
McConnell and Republican Senators will introduce amendments to a bill developed without any committee hearings, discussions, bipartisan debate, or public comments (by contrast, Senate Democrats held over 30 Senate Finance Committee meetings to draft the Affordable Care Act and included their Republican colleagues in these meetings). McConnell has publicly refused to commit to allowing more than 20 hours of debate on this massive legislation. With such a short turnaround time between announcing which bill they will put forward and the final vote, most congresspeople (including Republican Senators not directly involved in drafting the legislation) will have insufficient time to understand the bill’s full implications. Furthermore, the American public has been left in the dark about which bill Congress plans to vote on. This GOP strategy contravenes the spirit of our democratic process, and we must not stand for it.
We CAN do something about this: Demand Democratic Senators continue doing everything they can to block a final healthcare vote, e.g. by withholding consent for regular Senate procedures and introducing thousands of amendments during the reconciliation process in an approach known as filibustering by amendment. Further, we must urge Republican Senators to push their colleagues to develop their healthcare legislation openly and publicly. The American public deserves to know what is in their healthcare legislation, and the egregious behavior by the GOP must be stopped.
Your script:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from (zip code).
IF DEMOCRAT: I’m calling today because I’m furious that the Senate has proceeded to move forward on the repeal of the ACA. I want to thank Senator Bill Nelson for their vote against this ongoing effort and encourage them to keep fighting by filibustering by amendment! Their constituents are counting on them to fight for their healthcare.
IF REPUBLICAN: I’m calling today because I’m furious that the Senate has proceeded to move forward on the repeal of the ACA. I’m demanding that Senator Marco Rubio vote against any version of repeal that emerges from this undemocratic debate, and instead work in a bipartisan manner to fix the ACA, using traditional Senate processes such as open hearings and expert testimony.
[OPTIONAL: Share a personal story of why the ACA is so important to you, your family, and/or your community]
Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.
[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]
