Dear Friends,
On Friday, the vast resistance network of which we are a part demonstrated its true power, TrumpCare went down in flames, and a ray of hope shone through the dark and dreadful turbulence of the past few months. Yes, vast forces are arrayed against the people, against decency, against compassion, against life itself—but they are not prepared for the level of inspired and relentless resistance they have unleashed.
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So let’s enjoy this reassuring and sustaining glimpse of the ultimate victory that lies ahead, and then let’s give even more of ourselves to this fight.
We know that our opponents are regrouping, absorbing lessons, and making plans. It’s bound to be difficult, and we’re bound to suffer some defeats along the way. But we can change the entire social/political landscape of our country by choosing to be responsible for our own destinies, and working to create a world which embodies our highest values.
We have that power, simply by attaching will and effort to vision, and then remaining engaged for as long it takes. Let us not leave the course of history to others.
Let us Resist! Persist! and Prevail!
In solidarity, and with passion,
Karl Oakes
LCI Steering Committee Chair
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CONTACT YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS
TO OPPOSE THESE BILLS!!
- “HR” means the bill is in the House of Representatives
- “S” means it's in the Senate
- Most effective are phone calls to Congressional offices, letters too
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The Trump Administration’s war on public education continues
in the proposed budget. The budget reduces public education funding by 13%, including elimination of the 21 st Century Community Learning Centers. It increases funding for school choice, which is full of potential problems, including blurring the lines of separation between church and state. In addition, the restructuring of education funding tends to promote exclusivity and create divisions among families and neighborhoods. Massachusetts schools will lose $12M just with the elimination of the Learning Centers. Increasing charter school funding will decrease parent involvement and transparency... Read on
Current Status: Submitted to House/Senate
Stakeholders: Taxpayers, Students, teachers, school administrators,national school associates, religious organizations.
Actions: Contact MoC’s as well as House Budget Chair, Diane Black (R-TX) and committee members Bernie Sanders, Angus King, Tim Kane and Sheldon Whitehouse. Contact Mass Teachers Association (MTA), Mass Education Justice Alliance and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
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Action: Block Gorsuch by Blocking "Cloture"
Judge Gorsuch didn’t have a lot of answers in this week’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, and what he did have to say just confirmed that as a Supreme Court Justice, he’ll keep on defending the interests of the wealthy and powerful. Sen. Chuck Schumer has announced that he intends to filibuster Gorsuch’s nomination. But it’s not enough to just filibuster—they have to commit to voting against “cloture.” The cloture vote ends a filibuster, and it requires 60 votes. Regardless of who your senator is, YOUR ASK this week is for them to commit to voting against cloture for Gorsuch. Let them know that #WeObject.
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Action: Thank you!
Take a moment to thank your Cape legislative delegation for attending and addressing the Pilgrim NRC hearing on March 21.
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Noted!
The Issues team is getting to know the hard working staffs of our legislators at all levels of government. We were reminded in a call with Senator Markey’s office this week “1 topic per call/letter/email” But do call or write on all of them!
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Wednesday, March 29, 6:30 pm
Zion Heritage Museum, 276 North Street, Hyannis
Thursday, March 30, 11:30 am - 1 pm
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, 5 Patti Page Way
Lobbying 101 (see announcement below)
Friday, March 31, 6:30 pm
Barnstable UU Church
ACLU Freedom Agenda: Protecting and Expanding Civil Rights in the Age of Trump
Car pool meet-up at Drummer Boy Park, 6A Brewster at 6 pm.
Contact: Bob Isadore at 508-362-1696 or velore20@gmail.com
Sunday, April 2, 1-3 pm
Cape Cod Beer
1336 Phinney's Lane, Hyannis
Conversations on Climate Change
To kick off Earth Month and cultivate more understanding about climate change, local impacts, and individual responses, the newly formed Cape Cod Chapter of 350 Mass will host a conversation on climate change . Learn more here.
Wednesday, April 5, 10 am
Immigrants' Day at the Statehouse in Boston
Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
Bus leaves the Barnstable Park & Ride at 7:15 am . See announcement below for more info. Sign up here.
Saturday, April 22, 11:30 am
Brewster DTC's annual Andrew Kamarck Award
Honoring Robin Hubbard, keynote speaker Dan Wolf
contact: katie.m.jacobus@gmail.com
Saturday, April 22, 1-4 pm
Yarmouth Senior Center
Peace and Planet before Profit
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) will be hosting a public assembly, called Peace and Planet before Profit, on Earth Day. This is billed as an opportunity to reach out to new members and other like-minded groups. This is a place to share who we are and build mailing lists and alliances. Contact Elenita to sign up or for more information.
Saturday, April 29
People's Climate March
Tuesday, May 2, 7:00 pm
Town Hall Meeting with Attorney General Maura Healey
Tilden Arts Center, Cape Cod Community College
RSVP at http://goo.gl/forms/F2obJ7DzzvngI7Pz1
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Cape Delegation calls for immediate closure of Pilgrim
The Cape Delegation came through at the NRC meeting and called for the immediate shutdown of Pilgrim. Rep. Peake, Rep. Fernandes, Rep. Hunt, Rep. Crocker, Rep. Whelan, and Rep. Vieira, along with Senator Cyr, made a strong case to the NRC. Let them their powerful push for public safety is appreciated. Click here for full contact information.
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Lower Cape Indivisible in the news
Karl Oakes and Lyn Wilkinson will be guests on Ira Wood's show, The Lowdown, on WOMR. The show will air April 18 at 12:30 pm.
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How to write an effective letter to the editor
William Mills, editorial page editor of the Cape Cod Times, has provided LCI with the newspaper's Guidelines for Letters and Op-Eds. We've placed the document on our website, under the Resources tab.
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Bus to Participate in Immigrants' Day at the Statehouse
In the last several months many of you have expressed an interest in efforts to protect the civil and human rights of foreign born residents here on the Cape and Islands.
On Wednesday, April 5th, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition is holding its annual Immigrants' Day at the State House in Boston. The formal events begins at 10 with a rally in the Hall of Flags. Before and after that constituents will be going to visit their own legislators to tell them how important it is to support the Safe Communities Act. The bill is now before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security (S. 1305 and H. 3269).
Cape & Islands Stronger Together and the Barnstable Democratic Town Committee have chartered a bus so it will be easy for many of us to participate. The bus leaves the Barnstable Park & Ride at 7:15 am; it leaves the Sagamore Park & Ride at 7:40.
Info on the Boston event and the Safe Communities Act.
Click here to sign up to join the Cape and Islands delegation for this action. A donation of $15 is suggested as you board the bus (for those who are able). No one will be turned away if we have space!
Contact Susan Truitt
774-327-7277
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Need an educational night out?
Want to support women's empowerment? Check out Dining for Women!
Every other month chapters across the country (8,000 plus one on the Cape) share a meal together, usually in someone's home, while learning about grassroots projects that empower women and girls. Members donate what they would have spent dining out. There is no minimum donation. Every gift, combined with thousands of others, can make a difference. www.diningforwomen.org
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Lobbying 101 Workshop
When: March 30, 11:30-1 pm
Where: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, 5 Patti Page Way
Topics Include: State/Federal Rules, How to build relationships with Lawmakers, & Keys to a successful ask.
Feel like you're "winging it" with your political advocacy goals? Do you have legislation or budget priorities you need lawmakers to support but aren't sure where to begin? Ever wish there was a training you could take on how to lobby? Nexus Werx LLC offers just that with training programs where you learn how to navigate the political world confidently.
$15 for Chamber members, $25 for non-members.
Register
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If you have resources worth sharing—news, events, links, suggested actions—send them before next Monday 5 pm for inclusion in the upcoming newsletter.
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Massachusetts Elected Officials
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Edward J. Markey D – Senator
7 Townsend St.
Malden, MA 02148
(781) 396-2900
255 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2742
JFK Federal Office Bldg,
15 New Sudbury St.
Boston, MA 02203
617-565-8519
http://www.markey.Senate.gov/contact
Elizabeth A. Warren D – Senator
24 Linnaean St.
Cambridge, MA
(617) 286-6715
317 Hart Senate Office Building
2 Russell Courtyard
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4543
202-228-2072
JFK Federal Office Bldg,
15 New Sudbury St.
Boston, MA 02203
http://www.warren.senate.gov/contact
617-565-3170
William R. Keating D – District 9 Congressional Representative
10 Adeline Pl.
Quincy, MA 02169
(202) 224-3121
2351 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3111
315 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-3111
297 North Street, Suite 312
Hyannis MA 02601
508-7771-0666
http://keating.house.gov
MA Senate
Julian Andre Cyr - D
P.W. Box 1269
Truro, MA 02666
(617) 722-1570
24 Beacon St. Rm 405
Boston, MA 02133
Julian.Cyr@masenate.gov
Vinny M. DeMacedo – R ( Bourne, Falmouth & Sandwich)
525 Ship Pond Rd.
Plymouth, MA
(617) 722-2100
24 Beacon St. Room 313C
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1330
Vinny.deMacedo@masenate.gov
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MA House
Timothy R. Whelan – R First Barnstable Representative District
238 Leland Rd.
Brewster, MA
(617) 722-2014
24 Beacon St. Rm 39
Boston, Ma 02133
Timothy.Whelan@mahouse.gov
William Crocker– R Second Barnstable Representative District
24 Beacon St Rm 437
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2425
William.Crocker@mahouse.gov
David T. Vieira – R Third Barnstable Representative District
44 Silent Way
Falmouth, MA
(617) 722-2000
24 Beacon St. Room 167
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2230
David.Vieira@mahouse.gov
Sarah K. Peake – D Fourth Barnstable Representative District
7 Center St.
Provincetown, MA
(508) 487-5694
24 Beacon St. Rm 163
Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2040
Sarah.Peake@mahouse.gov
Congressional Committee Chairpeople
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6050
202-224-5375
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA 6)
House Judiciary Committee
2138 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 25010
202-225-3951
Oppose HR 610, HR 899, HR 370:
SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER (R TN)
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
428 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5375
REP. VIRGINIA FOX (R-NC-5)
House Committee on Education and the Workforce
2176 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4527
Oppose HR 861:
SENATOR JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY)
Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
410 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-6175
202-224-6176
REP. ROB BISHOP
House Committee on Natural Resources
1324 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2761
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United In Hope
Lower Cape Indivisible is...
- a group of civic-minded individuals dedicated to progressive change in federal, state, and local government
- one of 7,000 non-partisan Indivisible groups across the U.S. united in resisting the Trump Agenda
- designed to hold politicians accountable for fair and ethical action
- committed to standing up for justice, inclusion, tolerance, and fairness
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