URGENT ACTION REQUEST

FEDERAL:

Stop Two Anti-Immigration Bills Already Passed by the House:

Last week two bills passed the U.S. House, the “No Sanctuaries for Criminals” and “Kate’s Law.” Both of these bills threaten civil liberties, demonize immigrants, and completely misrepresent the work of so-called sanctuary cities. From the minute candidate Trump descended an escalator on that fateful day in June, 2015, he fomented the myth that immigrants, particularly from Mexico, were typically violent. The facts do not bear this premise out. Moreover, his Attorney General Jeff Sessions had long championed some of the most onerous anti-immigration measures yet proposed, and now that he is at the top of the law enforcement pyramid, he is looking for any way to punish cities that use community-based approaches to fighting crime that include receiving tips from undocumented residents. Sessions, Trump, and Homeland Security chief John Kelly are bent on enforcing a my way or the highway, tough guy, law and order set of policies. As these bills stand, they are going to face opposition in the Senate, and not just from Democrats. Our own Thom Tillis makes periodic noise about immigration reform, although he has yet to sign on to any piece of legislation. Let’s put the pressure on him and Burr, who as Trump’s flunky, may do nothing more than parrot the administration’s talking points.

Tillis

DC: (202) 224-6342

Charlotte: 704-509-9087

Greenville: (252) 329-0371

Hendersonville: (828) 693-8750

High Point: (336) 885-0685

Raleigh: (919) 856-4630

Burr

DC: (202) 224-3154 (pick option 2 to speak to a staffer)

Winston-Salem: (800) 685-8916

Rocky Mount: (252) 977-9522

Wilmington: (888) 848-1833, (336) 631-5125

Asheville: (828) 350-2437

SCRIPT:

I am a constituent calling from ________ to urge Senator _______ to oppose two anti-immigration bills that recently passed the House, “No Sanctuaries for Criminals” and “Kate’s Law.” While it may be tempting to pile on to the administration’s demonization of immigrants, what we need to do instead is work on urgently needed, bipartisan reforms to the immigration system. Thanks for recording my message.

Health Care: McConnell Doesn’t Take a Holiday, and Tillis Faces an Election in 2020

As the nation stands transfixed by the spectacle of the Twitter in Chief, and we all take some much needed rest and relaxation, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell is working recalcitrant members of his caucus over one at a time, offering tweaks to the BCRA that might satisfy enough Senators to get to fifty votes. Meanwhile, Democrats and advocates are attempting to put pressure on GOP Senators who will face stiff re-election challenges in 2020, including a certain junior Senator from North Carolina. Does Tillis really want to face an electorate who has suffered from the effects of thousands thrown off insurance rolls? Let’s be sure to ask him just that question. In addition to the usual calls and emails, we also present an opportunity brought to you by the NC NAACP. This campaign involves making calls from home to citizens in specifically targeted states. To sign up, click here or the link below.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfMiCjyVEprsCak0eifPbNorKx-C86ygqSasdbbLaA4gX874g/viewform

SCRIPT:

I am a constituent calling from _______ to urge Senator _________ to oppose the BCRA. This bill would throw millions off the insurance rolls, make drastic cuts to Medicaid, and would disproportionately affect veterans, the poor, and the elderly. Thanks for recording my message.

Tillis

DC: (202) 224-6342

Charlotte: 704-509-9087

Greenville: (252) 329-0371

Hendersonville: (828) 693-8750

High Point: (336) 885-0685

Raleigh: (919) 856-4630

Burr

DC: (202) 224-3154 (pick option 2 to speak to a staffer)

Winston-Salem: (800) 685-8916

Rocky Mount: (252) 977-9522

Wilmington: (888) 848-1833, (336) 631-5125

Asheville: (828) 350-2437

STATE:

The Kobach Commission and NC Voter Suppression: How to Fight Back

Kris Kobach notoriously asked states to send sensitive voter information, a request rebuffed by over 40 states, in his bid to legitimize Trump’s specious claim that “millions” voted illegally. What does that have to do with North Carolina? We have been living with these bogus claims of fraud for years, dramatically illustrated when the NC GOP nearly managed to steal the governor’s mansion from Roy Cooper. We know that the General Assembly is likely to introduce new voter suppression legislation, so it is vital that we be on the ready, and that we stay fully informed. North Carolina resistance groups are busily organizing a tweet storm, letters-to-the-editor campaigns, and direct actions to give proper and accurate attention to the cause of voting rights. The action we have for you today is to read and share this outstanding summary of where we are today in North Carolina brought to you by Aylett Colston of Stronger NC:

http://strongernc.org/call-coming-inside-house-threat-election-integrity-north-carolina/

♡lmsp