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Remember to Like the HDCC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Tweet (@HaverhillMADems) or email us content and action items: hdccnewsma@gmail.com.
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Many thanks to HDCC Member Steven Gordon for the following guest post:
Ringling Brothers likely folded their tent this week because it could no longer compete with the ongoing circus that is Washington, DC. While the clown act was distracting us, the elephants were very busily stampeding over America’s healthcare.
In case you didn’t notice, thirteen white, male, Republican senators were meeting behind closed doors cobbling up their version of the AHCA to be dropped, sight previously unseen, on the floor of the Senate. No women! No Democrats! No daylight! Why? Because forewarned is forearmed. They want to sneak this one by us like a Pedro Martinez fastball. And they don’t want anyone else’s input.
Now the usual suspects will quickly respond that Obamacare (ACA) was “rammed” through Congress. This is an alternative fact. The ACA was subjected to more than 40 hearings and innumerable mark-up sessions. It took many months to get it to a vote. It also contained quite a few Republican amendments. They will also misinform us about Congresswoman Pelosi’s quote, which was actually “But we have to pass the (health care) bill so that YOU can find out what’s in it”. Cong. Pelosi said that because of all the misinformation and outright lies that were being spread by those opposed to any health bill. The supporters knew what was in it and so did the detractors.
This legislation needs to be created in an open and diverse manner with input from everyone, including the public. If it eventually gets passed, it will be a Republican bill just surely as the ACA was a Democrat bill. But, at least it will be done in a manner fitting of a functioning democracy.
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If you’re outraged about what the Senate is doing, check here for a way to fight back.
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For Further Reading
- Democrats Just Flipped Seats In 2 Districts That Voted For Donald Trump
- How unpopular is Donald Trump?
- THE RAA: THE WORST BILL YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
- SENATORS BALDWIN, MARKEY, MENENDEZ, SHAHEEN CALL FOR INCREASED FEDERAL FUNDING TO COMBAT OPIOID EPIDEMIC
- There is no $1 trillion Trump infrastructure plan—and there never was
- Here’s where the White House got its insane growth projections
- Massachusetts Schools Receive Unprecedented Funding to Prevent Opioid Addiction Under New AG Healey Initiative: Haverhill is one of the cities receiving funds for drug abuse prevention. “With these grants, we will partner with schools and community organizations to empower young people and protect the next generation from falling victim to this public health crisis. But, these grants are only a start, we must continue to address this unmet need. We will never get control of this epidemic until prevention becomes a priority,” said AG Maura Healey.
- Hands Off Our Air, Water, and Public Lands
- Even in hard hit states that have been battling fentanyl for more than three years, the death toll continues to spike. Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Rhode Island were among the states hit hard by fentanyl as early as 2013.
- Why Trump alarms so many educators: Mike Rose, a respected research professor in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, explains why Trump’s disregard for the truth, displays of historical ignorance and other behaviors are of such concern to many educators.
- Watch Katherine Clark’s tense exchange with Betsy DeVos over discrimination in private schools: In the era of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Education Secretary, vouchers could become more appealing because of the constant marketing. DeVos’ response to every question is an elevator speech on parent’s right to choose. After hearing a talking point hundreds of times, one often accepts it as fact regardless of how wrong it is. Katherine Clark takes on the issue of discrimination in “voucher” school programs when parents select a “choice.”
- Connecticut Mirror newspaper explores ways to close the achievement gap — in this case for English Language Learners.
- Jared Kushner’s sister solicited investments in Kushner’s NJ real estate deals at a meeting in Beijing, where she promised that investors of at least $500,000 would get a green card in exchange. Investing in charter school construction is another way in which the EB-5 visas are up for grabs.
- The Betsy DeVos School Choice Lie: Deutsch gives a critical analysis of the speech.Betsy DeVos gave on May 22, 2017, to a pro-voucher group that she founded, the American Federation for Children (AFC).
- Dear Jeb Bush
******************************************HDCC NewsThe new website is live: haverhilldems.org — check it out. We’d love to have your ideas and input: what do you want to see on the website? Get involved!The Young Democrats Outreach committee is getting up and running. Stay tuned for more information from this exciting committee soon.New! Just today getting underway: an Immigration Task Force. Please contact Kathy Rurak (jarandkas@comcast.net) if you want to be involved.There’s been so much enthusiasm for Saving Capitalism that the HDCC has decided to make a book discussion group a recurring event. Look for information on our next book and meeting date coming soon!Also coming soon: Social Media training. Whether you have no idea what a tweet or a Like is, or if you just want to use your social media presence to further social justice causes, this training is for you. Beginners and old hands alike, look for more details about social media training coming to the HDCC this summer!And don’t forget yoga — we need it now more than ever! Wednesday nights; 5:30-6:30 Giving Tree Yoga and Wellness, Yoga 4 HDCC Sign up now: whitsps@gmail.comThe HDCC has committees that could use your ideas, help, and energy. The Events Committee (young01950@yahoo.com) has started the book discussion group and is planning the HDCC Annual Breakfast.The Action Committee (chere.bemelmans@gmail.com) puts out the newsletter, maintains the new HDCC website, and is planning outreach with other Democratic city committees. Events and Action are co-planning forums, so stay tuned for information on that.
*******************************************What Our Reps Are Up To*******************************************National Action ItemsCall, email, or send a postcard to your representatives! Be outraged! Phone numbers and other calling information below. Per Elizabeth Warren: send this list to red state friends! Most of this week’s action items are taken directly from Indivisible’s Memorial Day Recess resources:
- Protect the Affordable Care Act in the Senate.
- Oppose Trump’s disaster-of-a-budget proposal.
- Get an independent commission on #TrumpRussia.
- Protect our savings, homes, and jobs from Wall Street.
- Demand that your Senator take this Hippocratic oath promising to do no harm to the American health care system.
Massachusetts Action Items
- Massachusetts Teachers Association and Raise Up Massachusetts
- Join the fight for $15. There are several action items on this page: Fight for 15. well over half of Democrats in Congress joined together as co-sponsors of the Raise the Wage Act of 2017 . If the minimum wage had kept pace with workers’ productivity for the past 50 years, it would now be $21.36—instead it has remained stagnant at $7.25 for seven years and counting. Many cities and states have led the way with their own minimum wages—including several going to $15 per hour—bills, but still millions of Americans are left behind. A federal minimum wage of $15 an hour would mean $144 billion in higher wages for 41 million U.S. workers. More money in those pockets is good for the whole economy.
- Please call or write your legislators asking them to support Paid Family and Medical Leave (un-amended) and $15/Hr. Minimum Wage for Massachusetts’s workers, plus the Fair Share Amendment.
In the state senate:
- Fight for $15 Minimum Wage—S1004 (filed by Sen. Ken Donnelly)
- Paid Family and Medical leave—S1048 (filed by Sen. Karen Spilka)
- Fair Share Amendment – Amendment to MA State Constitution, a.k.a. “millionaire’s tax”
In the state house:
- Fight for $15 minimum wage—H2365 (filed by Rep. Dan Donahue)
- Paid Family and Medical Leave—H2172 (filed by Rep. Ken Gordon)
- Fair Share Amendment – MA State Constitutional Amendment, a.k.a. millionaire’s tax
For more information:
- Paid Leave (http://raiseupma.org/campaigns/paid-leave/)
- Fight for $15 (http://raiseupma.org/campaigns/the-fight-for-15/)
- Fair Share Amendment (http://raiseupma.org/campaigns/fair-share-amendment/)
*******************************************Coming Events
- Wednesday nights; 5:30-6:30 Giving Tree Yoga and Wellness, Yoga 4 HDCC Sign up now: whitsps@gmail.com.
- June 1 at 5 PM – 7 PM, El Taller, 275 Essex St, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840, The Schools Our Communities Deserve, Greater Lawrence Education Justice Alliance. (978) 965-4145, submissions@eltallerarts.com
- June 3, 10 – 5, MA Democratic State Convention, DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester, MA
- June 3, Sat 2 PM · Brewer Fountain · Boston, March for Truth: Restoring Faith in American Government
- June 14, 6:30-8 pm, International Dinner and Multicultural Exchange, 512 Washington St, Haverhill, MA 01832-4518. Hosted by the Mt.Washington Alliance.
- June 14, 6 p.m., League of Women Voters of Greater Haverhill, Roma Restaurant, Haverhill. Guests are invited. Linda Dean Campbell will talk about the importance of the Civic Education bill and why it is critical to have this issue gain more significance in our cities and towns and how the schools can refocus on civics.
*******************************************Important links
Here’s a sample script:Hi, my name is Mark, I’m a constituent from Seattle, zip code 98***, I don’t need a response. I am opposed to banning the sale of blueberries and I encourage the Senator to please oppose implementation of any such ban. Thanks for your hard work answering the phones!5 Calls makes calling your reps easier than speed dialing!