ENSHRINING THE RIGHT TO VOTE DETERMINES OUR COUNTRY’S DESTINY
Trump-appointed judges are sabotaging progressive policies and destroying our democracy—demonstrating vividly why protecting the right to vote and its exercise matters.
QUICK READ: While Biden has appointed great judges to the lower federal courts, the voters who made Trump president by staying home in 2016 allowed him to tilt the courts far to the right. These judges, especially the six ultra-conservative Supreme Court Justices, are sabotaging Biden’s agenda, intent on killing “the administrative state” and destroying our democracy. To stop this power grab requires protecting voting rights.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Federal judges with lifetime tenure affect every aspect of our lives. Whether they protect our rights and support progressive government policies depends on the President nominating and the Senators confirming them.
Thus, who has the right to vote and whether citizens exercise it have consequences that often last decades.
Had Democrats who disliked Hillary Clinton voted in 2016, the Supreme Court would have a 5-4 Democratic majority not a 6-3 ultra-conservative one, and lower courts would be committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, not just the wealthy and corporations.
Instead, ultra-conservative judges are ignoring precedents and sabotaging Biden’s agenda:
Blocking deportation pause
Forcing reinstatement of Trump’s “remain in Mexico” policy
Negating eviction moratorium
Frustrating vaccine mandates
Refusing to enjoin Texas’ unconstitutional abortion ban
Even more serious, the Supreme Court intends to obliterate “the administrative state”—the hundreds of federal agencies, like the EPA, CDC, OSHA, and HHS, that implement life-changing laws. This effectively shifts power from the executive to itself—the unelected branch of government—and gives it the ability to veto all Biden’s regulations.
Stopping this power grab requires Democratic wins in 2022 and 2024—making it imperative to protect voting rights before it’s too late.
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Senator has a constitutional duty of to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of silent Senators. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you.)
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Senator has a constitutional duty of to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of silent Senators. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you.)
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Elections have consequences. Every Senator has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Don’t be on the wrong side of history.
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Member of Congress has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of those claiming otherwise. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you.)
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Member of Congress has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. I demand that you call out the anti-democratic behavior of those claiming otherwise. Don’t be on the wrong side of history.
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Member of Congress has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of those claiming otherwise. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you))
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Member of Congress has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of those claiming otherwise. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you))
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].
Elections have consequences. Every Member of Congress has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens’ right to vote and to ensure they are encouraged to exercise it. Call out the anti-democratic behavior of those claiming otherwise. Don’t let GOP members off the hook.
(Personal stories have the most impact so, in addition to this script, tell your Member of Congress how this affects you))
ACTION 3: Other ways of fighting back
Sign up for the informative ASO Movement Briefings
Freedom to Vote Act Phonebank with Common Cause · Common Cause
Call your Senators to Pass the 'Freedom to Vote Act' | RepresentUs
FURTHER READING:
How Biden is Reshaping The Courts
It Will Be Tough for Biden To Reverse Trump’s Legacy Of A Whiter, More Conservative Judiciary
The Supreme Court’s coming war with Joe Biden, explained
The Supreme Court May Execute Steve Bannon’s Plan to Destroy the Administrative State
The Supreme Court’s Plot Against Democracy—and the Planet
Supreme Court Medicare fight opens door to Chevron war
Just how much is Trump’s Judiciary sabotaging the Biden presidency?
The Supreme Court showdown over Biden’s vaccine policies, explained
COVID Is an Emergency. To SCOTUS’s Conservatives, It’s Also an Opportunity
Opinion: How blocking Biden’s vaccine mandate would be a Supreme Court gift to Trump
