WILL CONGRESS REIN IN PRESIDENTIAL ABUSES AND PREVENT FUTURE COUPS?

Daily Action
Written By Guest User

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator.

QUICK READ: “Trumpism with or without Trump remains a peril, because his unprecedented appetite for authoritarianism has spread to his followers. . . .The continued viability of the United States as a constitutional republic requires both that seditionists be brought to justice and that we. . .repair the weaknesses in our system that they exposed.” Laurence Tribe, Professor of Constitutional Law, Harvard University

TAKE ACTION NOW:

BACKGROUND

Trump’s presidency, which shredded the constraints on the exercise of presidential authority, exposed the frailty of our system of checks and balances. 

He continued to trample on the Constitution after his loss:

  • using all the levers of government to pressure state and local officials, Congresspeople, and Pence to declare him the winner

  • sending insurrectionists into the Capitol to prevent certification

  • refusing to concede and continuing to maintain he won the election.

Insurrectionists are being prosecuted, but Trump and his minions, who incited insurrection and created a seditious conspiracy, still walk free, and Congress has done nothing to prevent future assaults on our democracy. 

The just-introduced Protecting Our Democracy Act, which strengthens checks on the presidency, reclaims the authority of Congress, and constrains any president seeking to exploit his position for personal or political gain, is a good first step.

Bills are also being drafted to reform the Electoral Count Act Trump attempted to use to limit partisan interference in presidential vote tallying.

While Trump’s no longer president, he’s left behind a detailed road map for unscrupulous, aspiring dictators to follow. Congress must act quickly to restore the guardrails he demolished so our democracy will never again be placed in peril.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for 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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also:

  • Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also:

  • Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also: Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

ACTION TWO: 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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also:

  • Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

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].

Congress must act quickly to restore Constitutional checks and balances and prevent a future would-be dictator stealing an election. Supporting the Protecting Our Democracy Act and reforming the Electoral Count Act is not a partisan issue.

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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also:

  • Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Thank you for co-sponsoring S.2921, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Please also:

  • Convince your colleagues of the urgent need for this legislation and and for reforming the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

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].

Congress must act quickly to restore checks and balances and prevent Trump from becoming America’s first dictator. Please co-sponsor HR.5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act, and work for its quick passage. Please also:

  • Convince colleagues of the need to reform the vague, outdated Electoral Count Act
  • Ask the Attorney General to criminally prosecute Trump and all those involved in his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election

Action 3:

Other opportunities for action include:

  • WRITE LETTERS AND POSTCARDS IN GOOD COMPANY, 

        FRIDAY, OCT. 15, 4:00pm: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/274619/

  • PHONEBANK TO ENCOURAGE VIRGINIANS TO VOTE

        SATURDAY, OCT. 16, 12:00 noon-2:00pm: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/410893/

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