The way events have taken place in the last month I wouldn’t be surprised if our representatives’ websites are taken down or their contact information is no longer available. We need to ACT NOW to flood the zone with calls. Calls work better than emails or postcards…a direct line of YES or NO on issues.
The Save Act is being fast-tracked under our noses while Trump points ‘OVER THERE!’ And no other issue will matter if the power of the VOTE is taken away, which is why this is one of the crucial battles to win. Michael Waldman of the Brennan Center notes, This would be the worst voting bill to be passed by Congress in memory, probably ever. It would restrict millions of eligible citizens from registering. And in the clamor of the moment, it could slip through. Defenders of democracy need to stand up, stand firm, and fiercely call attention to its risks.
Thom Hartmann in his very fine Substack writes that all the rants and raves from Trump about voter fraud in his four years golfing at Mar-a-Lago were all lies. In reality, over 250,000,000 votes were cast in primary and general elections in 2020 with only 193 criminal convictions for vote fraud. Those numbers are in the “struck by lightning” realm: the effort required to fraudulently vote is simply not worth the minimal effect it has on an election.
Republicans will have you believe that this bill is intended to prevent non-citizens from voting, but existing law already does that. If passed, this bill would require all voters to provide in person, documentary proof of citizenship – a passport or birth certificate (with a photo ID) in most cases – anytime they register or update their registration. A Real ID would not be acceptable, nor would military IDs, without accompanying documentation like a birth certificate.
42 states now have online voter registration. This bill would do away with that allowing only in-person registration. It would also do away with mail-in voting, which lowers the stress at the polls and makes it extremely convenient for many people, especially those who find it difficult to get away from work or family obligations.
And Non-Profit Vote writes that even if the documents could be submitted online, over 21 million otherwise eligible American voters don’t have these proof of citizenship documents readily available. In the end, tens of millions of eligible American citizens who don’t have access to the required documents or can’t get to a government office in person would be unable to vote – all to prevent an exceedingly small number of non-citizens, a few dozen perhaps, from voting.
And isn’t it odd that with the clarion call of voter fraud running rampant, WAH* was just fine with the recent election results?
Nevertheless, Republicans have put forth H.R. 8281 which would specifically outlaw voter registration by an estimated third (and perhaps two-thirds) of all American women.
Did you catch that? This bill would specifically outlaw voter registration by an estimated third (and perhaps two-thirds) of all American women.
Hartmann makes the argument that if this bill passed, his own wife would need to hire a lawyer and go before a judge to legally change her name, 52 years after they got married, or she won’t be able to vote. Here in Oregon or anywhere else in the country.
THIS is just one way Republicans are gaming to system to stay in power.
Hartmann gives examples of these fascists just coming out and saying it. The former Republican Lt. Governor of North Carolina, Trump-endorsed Mark Robinson, says he knows how to fix America’s political and social problems—“I absolutely want to go back to the America where women couldn’t vote.”
Ann Coulter, supposedly a woman, said “Once again, it is time to reconsider our rash experiment with women's suffrage.”
Friday’s post was about calling folks to congratulate them on their good works. Today it’s about making calls to VOTE NO on the Save Act. To dig a bit deeper into this bill, read Joyce Vance’s piece from yesterday.
As President Musk and the WAH* are saying outright they can do whatever they want without the approval of Congress or the court system, it’s time to move some chess pieces. As this bill affects women more than men, here’s a list of Republican WOMEN Senators to call.
Zip codes are provided so when you call, here’s a sample script if a person answers:
Although I voted for Senator __________ and for President Trump, I sincerely hope she VOTES NO on the Save Act, H.R. 8281, a bill using overblown allegations of voter fraud to justify voter suppression that disproportionately affects women and minorities.
May I have your name and address?
I prefer not to give that put but my my zip code is ______ and I live in ______. Thank you.
If it’s an answering service, try something like this:
Although I voted for Senator __________ and for President Trump, I sincerely hope she VOTES NO on the Save Act, H.R. 8281, a bill using overblown allegations of voter fraud to justify voter suppression that disproportionately affects women and minorities. My zip code is ______ and I live in ______. Thank you.
You can even simplify and just say to VOTE NO on the bill without the description of the bill.
(I left messages on answering services over the weekend but somebody should answer the phone on a week day)
Make your script a bit different so if we all call, they won’t seem scripted. You get the idea. We only need a few of these Senators VOTING NO to make a difference.
The whitest of lies to take down the whitest of men. — Me
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
DC: 202-224-3344 (use any zip code below)
TN: 901-527-9199, (ZIP-Memphis: 38103) 731-660-3971 (ZIP-Jackson: 38301)
Katie Britt (R-AL)
DC: 202-224-5744 (use any zip code below)
AL: 256-429-3450 (ZIP-Huntsville: 35801), 205-731-1384 (ZIP-Birmingham: 35203), 251-662-9990 (ZIP-Mobile: 36602)
Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
DC: 202-224-6472 (use any zip code below)
WV: 304-347-5372 (ZIP-Charleston: 25301), 304-262-9285 (ZIP-Martinsburg: 25401), 304-292-2310 (ZIP-Morgantown: 26501)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
DC: 202-224-2523 (use any zip code below)
ME: 207-618-5560 (ZIP-Portland: 04101), 207-784-6969 (ZIP-Lewiston: 04240), 207-945-0417 (ZIP-Bangor: 04401)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
DC: 202-224-3254 (use any zip code below)
IA: 319-365-4504 (ZIP-Cedar Rapids: 52401), 515-284-4574 (ZIP-Des Moines: 50309), 712-352-1167 (ZIP-Council Bluffs: 51501)
Deb Fisher (R-NE)
DC: 202-224-6551 (use any zip code below)
NE: 402-444-4600 (ZIP-Lincoln: 68508), 402-391-3411 (ZIP-Omaha: 68154)
Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
DC: 202-224-5054 (use any zip code below)
NE: 601-965-4459 (ZIP-Jackson: 39201), 228-867-9710 (ZIP-Gulfport: 39501)
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
DC: 202-224-3424 (use any zip code below)
WY: 307-261-6572 (ZIP-Casper: 82602), 307-772-2477 (ZIP-Cheyenne: 82001)
Ashley Moody (R-FL)
DC: 202-224-3041 (no local offices, use 33707-Gulfport as zip)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
DC: 202-224-6665 (use any zip code below)
AK: 907-586-7277 (ZIP-Juneau: 99801), 907-271-3735 (ZIP-Anchorage: 99501), 907-456-0233 (ZIP-Fairbanks: 99701)
If it’s too much to play the game above, maybe one of YOUR representatives is in the following list:
Arizona: (use 85716-Tucson)
Ruben Gallego (D) 202-224-4521
Mark Kelly (D) (202) 224-2235
New Mexico: (use 87501-Santa Fe)
Martin Heinrich (D) (202) 224-5521
Ben Ray Luján (D) 202-224-6621
Kansas: (use 66062-Overland Park)
Rep. Sharice Davids (D) (202) 225-2865
Jerry Moran (R) (202) 224-6521
Roger Marshall (R) 202-224-4774
Missouri: (use 64093-Warrensburg)
Josh Hawley (R) (202) 224-6154
Eric Schmitt (R) (202) 224-5721
Wesley Bell (D) (202) 225-2406
Emanuel Cleaver (D) (202) 225-4535
*Walking Anus Hole
Couple other quick things…On January 21, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded its policy restricting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in sensitive areas such as schools, healthcare facilities, and places of worship. This reversal of policy allows DHS, ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to freely conduct operations in these previously protected areas, including college campuses such as ours. The University of Arizona must take action now to protect its students.
To fight against this ICE activity, you can sign a petition here.
And a rally is scheduled today, President’s Day, at the El Presidio Plaza downtown Tucson, Arizona, at noon. Your mind and body is requested.
And now…
