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FEDERAL DAILY ACTION Wednesday, August 2, 2017 Donald Trump’s kleptocracy is undermining American democracy The Call – #Conflicts #Corruption #Kleptocracy (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

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!

How Donald Trump’s kleptocracy is undermining American democracy
“This is the kind of thing you see in broken states.”
VOX.COM
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FEDERAL DAILY ACTION August 1, 2017 Call to Action: No military action without Congressional approval!

 

 

woman makes a phone call despite her fears

 

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.

Rep. Lee Criticizes Ryan For Stripping Her Amendment To Sunset 2001 AUMF
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) criticized House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) Tuesday for stripping her amendment to sunset the 2001 Authorization…
TALKINGPOINTSMEMO.COM
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FEDERAL DAILY ACTION Monday, July 31 STOP TRUMP FROM SABOTAGING THE ACA

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.

Frustrated in defeat, Trump threatens healthcare of voters — and lawmakers
Frustrated by the failure of the Obamacare repeal in the Senate, President Trump on Saturday threatened to end federal subsidies for he…
LATIMES.COM