In a Democracy the Minority Does Not Rule
We can only rid our government of the tyranny of the minority if we defang the filibuster.
Jump to today’s actions:
Background
In 2020 Americans, seeking to improve their lives and protect democracy, elected a Democratic President and Congress. Biden made changes through executive orders and the House passed bills to do just that, only to see them languish in the Senate.
The GOP left us a calendar with so little time in session to get essential work done. They left us with the archaic filibuster rule that prevents legislation from reaching the floor unless supported by a supermajority--a rule existing in no other democracy.
The GOP has already voted down the January 6 commission and the Paycheck Fairness Act, and Schumer is vowing to force actual filibusters of other popular legislation. Requiring talking filibusters, during which Republicans must justify their opposition, is the only way to show wavering senators and the American people that Republicans’ sole goal is obstruction.
All of this must be done rapidly because the Senate will be in recess for all but 35 days over the next 3 months.
To end this logjam, we must demand that our Senators
Forcefully seek the filibuster’s elimination
Pressure Schumer to require talking filibusters of popular legislation
Pressure Biden to actively use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform
Seek cancellation of the August recess.
1. Call the Senate.
Script Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Time is running out to pass S.1 and other legislation the American people want and need. As your constituent I insist that you convey my message to Majority Leader Schumer and President Biden that we must eliminate the filibuster to break the logjam in the Senate by:
- Forcefully seeking the filibuster’s elimination
- Pressuring Schumer to require talking filibusters of popular legislation
- Pressuring Biden to actively use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform
- Seeking cancellation of the August recess.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Time is running out to pass S.1 and other legislation the American people want and need. As your constituent I insist that you convey my message to Majority Leader Schumer and President Biden that we must eliminate the filibuster to break the logjam in the Senate by:
- Forcefully seeking the filibuster’s elimination
- Pressuring Schumer to require talking filibusters of popular legislation
- Pressuring Biden to actively use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform
- Seeking cancellation of the August recess.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
It is time for you and your party to stop delaying and obstructing and begin working with Democrats to find real compromises on the House-passed legislation pending in the Senate. Never forget that your job is to serve your constituents, protect their rights, and preserve our representative democracy.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
To break the legislative logjam in the Senate, the filibuster must go. Please inform President Biden that your constituents insist that he use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform and press Senate colleagues on the need to bring widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force Republicans to use talking filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It is time for you and your party to stop delaying and obstructing and begin working with Democrats to find real compromises on the important issues affecting our country. Never forget that your job is to serve your constituents, protect their rights, and preserve our representative democracy.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
To break the legislative logjam in the Senate, the filibuster must go. Please inform President Biden that your constituents insist that he use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform and press Senate colleagues on the need to bring widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force Republicans to use talking filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
To break the legislative logjam in the Senate, the filibuster must go. Please inform President Biden that your constituents insist that he use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform and press Senate colleagues on the need to bring widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force Republicans to use talking filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
To break the legislative logjam in the Senate, the filibuster must go. Please inform President Biden that your constituents insist that he use his bully pulpit to promote meaningful filibuster reform and press Senate colleagues on the need to bring widely popular House-passed legislation to the Senate floor, one after another, and to force Republicans to use talking filibusters for each bill it opposes. Otherwise, the Biden agenda is doomed, and so is our democracy.
3. Take Action.
Join us on Tuesday June 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT for Indivisible Tuesday - a district visit with Senator Merkley’s staff.
Join us again on Saturday, June 19th from 12-2 for our For the People phone bank: https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/phone-bank-ftpa-06-19-21
Further Reading
Schumer plans to force key votes to win over Democratic holdouts on filibuster
So What The Hell Do We Do Now?
The “Talking Filibuster” Has Unintended Consequences
The Democratic Senators Hiding Behind Joe Manchin
