THE AUDACIOUS SUPREME COURT GRABS NEW AUTHORITY
The Supreme Court just gave itself new, vast authority over regulations from expert government agencies.
QUICK READ: After the Supreme Court struck down abortion, it turned its attention to the regulating agencies that issue rules to fight climate change, to ensure drugs are safe and effective, and to protect worker safety. For years, corporations have been losing to the regulators, but the Supreme Court has just taken away that authority, thereby threatening the health and safety of everyone. As Lincoln once said when facing another runaway Supreme Court: “(T)he people will have ceased to be their own rulers.”
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Obscured by their abortion and guns rulings, the extremists on the Supreme Court also ruled last week against life on Earth.
The 6-3 decision came in a case that was not ripe for decision and was a major departure for the Court. Instead of ruling for or against the plaintiff, in a case ostensibly about the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2), a major climate-warming gas, the Court gave itself control over the federal regulations written by the EPA’s experts.
The vast authority the Supreme Court appropriated for itself “threatens the ability of federal agencies to issue rules of any kind,” wrote the NY Times, including regulations that “ensure the safety of food and drugs, that protect workers from injuries, and that prevent financial panics,” and fight climate change.
“The Court appoints itself — instead of Congress or the expert agency — the decision-maker on climate policy,” wrote Justice Elena Kagan. “I cannot think of many things more frightening.”
To the oil industry and the anti-science Christians who put these justices in power it was payback. To others, it was sabotage.
If this summer’s warming again sparks fires, drought and death, blame the GOP. And, in November, vote for Democrats, who want to make government work for all Americans.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The Supreme Court has gone wild and is threatening our future. Please reign it in.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
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].
The Supreme Court has gone wild and is threatening our future. Please reign it in.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
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].
I expect you to vigorously speak out about the Supreme Court’s ruling giving itself the authority over reducing (or not) carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas. These Justices do not care about what most Americans want or government agency expertise. They answer only to their right-wing, corporate benefactors.
ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
NEXT TUESDAY LETTER WRITING PARTY, 11:30am-12:30pm - INDIVISIBLE OREGON:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/442887/Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive, and electing a Democrat in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Demand that your primary news source stop creating false equivalencies and just report the truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
further reading:
Opinion | The E.P.A. Ruling Goes Beyond Coal Regulation - The New York Times
The Supreme Court Appoints Itself to Be America’s Regulatory Czar | The New Republic
Opinion: Supreme Court deals a massive blow to the planet - CNN
What to know about the Supreme Court’s EPA case and climate change - The Washington Post
Court-packing, and nine other proposals to fix the Supreme Court - Vox
The Federalist Society: Architects of the American dystopia | Opinions | Al Jazeera
The Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling Is Going to Be Very, Very Expensive - The Atlantic
Evidence Shouldn't Be Optional - Scientific American
The Christian Right is winning at the Supreme Court, but not in public opinion : NPR
