Produced by The Coconino County Democratic Party & Democrats of the Red Rocks
Important Note: While the struggle for voting rights at the federal level is critical, there is something you can do right now here in Arizona: Sign the petitions to reverse the voter suppression legislation passed by the Arizona legislature this Spring. Getting a sufficient number of signatures will stop the Arizona legislation in its tracks. But time is short. The Coconino Democrats have scores of events scheduled over the next three weeks where you can find an opportunity to sign. Better yet, become a petition circulator. Find out about the events at CoconinoDemocrats.org or democratsoftheredrocks.org and to take petitions to circulate yourself, call 928-214-0393.
PASS THE WOMEN’S HEALTH PROTECTION ACT!!!
In light of the new Texas law banning abortions after 6 weeks (before many women realize they are pregnant) and authorizing citizens to act as vigilantes (for cash rewards!) reporting anyone who aids the woman in obtaining an abortion (from cab drivers to counselors to physicians) – and the Supreme Court’s decision to allow this to stand, we encourage you to push for a vote and passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021. And thank Representative O’Halleran, and Senators Kelly and Sinema, for having signed on as co-sponsors.
Sample text or voice message for any of our elected representatives: My name is XXXX, and I’m a voter and constituent in YYYY. I am horrified that the Supreme Court has allowed the new Texas law on abortion restrictions to go into effect. Legal abortion under medical care has been saving women’s lives for decades and has been ruled constitutional – the new law is a terrible setback that will cost lives. I firmly believe that a woman has the right to control her own body and reproductive decisions – the Texas law removes that right, even in cases of rape or incest. And authorizing everyday citizens to act as vigilantes, “turning in” other citizens for everyday behaviors, is a terrible precedent. Thank you for your co-sponsorship of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 (HR 3755, S 1975) – your support for women’s privacy and reproductive health is much appreciated. Please do whatever you can to bring this crucial bill to the floor for a vote.
Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov
Sen. Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at “http://www.sinema.senate.gov” Tag the Senator at @senatorsinema.
Sen. Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 or email via website at http://www.kelly.senate.gov and tag him at @SenMarkKelly
This week for Pres. Biden and Rep. O’Halleran (Raise Refugee Cap-Afghanistan), Infrastructure linkage in the House for O’Halleran, and John Lewis Voting Rights Act carve-out to the filibuster rule for Sinema.
TO PRESIDENT BIDEN (and Rep. O’Halleran) ON RAISING REFUGEE CAPS IN LIGHT OF AFGHANISTAN:
In a letter (pdf) to President Joe Biden, 66 Democratic lawmakers (but not Rep. O’Halleran) wrote that “as the people of Afghanistan face an unfolding tragedy, the United States must open its doors to refugees fleeing the devastating consequences of a 20-year U.S. military occupation and 40 years of U.S.-fueled war. To ensure their safety, we urge you to increase the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program cap to no less than 200,000 when you issue your Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 before October 1st.” Earlier this year, Biden set the Fiscal Year 2021 refugee cap at 62,500 after he faced backlash over his earlier plans to keep in place the historically low 15,000-person limit imposed by the Trump administration. Biden had shown little urgency to expedite visas for Afghans in the months before the collapse of the Afghan government.
Sample voice mail or email for Pres. Biden: “Dear President Biden. I’m a lifelong Democrat living in XXXX. Given the immense human suffering in Afghanistan I’m imploring you to raise the FY 2022 refugee cap to 200,000 individuals to accommodate many thousands of Afghan refugees displaced by war. You talked about not abandoning our allies in Afghanistan. Raising the cap to 200,000 will show the world you mean what you say. It’s simply the right thing to do.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: email to https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ or leave a message on the comment line at (202) 456-1111.
Sample voice mail or email for Rep. O’Halleran on Refugee Cap. “Dear Rep. O’Halleran. I’m a Democrat living in XXXXX. I’ve voted for you several times. I was thrilled to learn that 66 Democrats in the US House recently sent a letter to President Biden urging him to raise the refugee cap for FY 2022 to 200,000 in order to help Afghans that sacrificed so much for us. Why didn’t you sign it? Even your Aug 26 statement on Afghanistan does not mention accommodating refugees. There are times to simply do the right thing, and often I’m disappointed that your attempts at being non controversial lead to avoidance on important issues. This is not leadership. Please take an active and public role in raising the refugee cap.
Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov
FOR REP. O’HALLERAN ON INFRASTRUCTURE: The House of Representatives has just passed the blueprint for President Biden’s $3.5 Trillion Build Back Better social infrastructure plan. The plan is largely funded by rolling back the Trump era tax cuts for the super-rich. Speaker Pelosi and the vast majority of House Democrats want to pass the $3.5 social infrastructure package via the reconciliation process, together with the Senate approved $1.1 Trillion traditional infrastructure bill. De-coupling the bills runs the risk of losing the social infrastructure bill. Conservative House Democrats have balked at the price tag and Progressive Democrats balk at passing anything smaller. It’s time to urge Rep. O’Halleran to back our President and House Speaker Pelosi in passing both bills at some reasonable and high level of funding and to work with both sides to ensure this happens.
Sample message for Rep. O’Halleran. I’m a lifelong Democrat voting for you repeatedly out of XXXXX, Arizona. Thank you for voting for the $3.5 trillion budget blueprint to address social infrastructure in the American Families Plan. I’m strongly urging you to back President Biden and Speaker Pelosi, and work with your colleagues, to get both infrastructure bills passed through the House at the same time with a high level of funding. If we pass only one first, we risk losing the other. We need to invest in the future of America. The investments these bills have to potential to transform the nation, save us from global warming, increase access to health care and education, and bring America back into the top rank of the world’s developed nations.
Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov