PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, NOT THE SENATE MINORITY'S

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

"It is a contradiction to say we must protect minority rights in the Senate while refusing to protect minority rights in society (Sen. Rafael Warnock)."

“The real operation [of the filibuster] is to embarrass the administration, to destroy the energy of the government, and to substitute the pleasure, caprice, or artifices of an insignificant, turbulent, or corrupt junto, to the regular deliberations and decisions of a respectable majority (Alexander Hamilton).”

The Senate rules committee meets tomorrow to establish rules for voting on the For The People Act. We need the Senate to pass S1 and other legislation that benefits us all. Tomorrow's rules committee decision may determine how these bills are handled.

The filibuster is an archaic Senate rule -- created to appease slave-owners, resuscitated to oppose Civil Rights legislation, and abused by today's Republicans to derail legislation that doesn't benefit them. It allows senators representing only 30% of the population to stop any and all bills from becoming law.

We are grateful our Oregon Senators support eliminating the filibuster. We stand with all those who want to protect us from the minority demand that a super, rather than a simple majority be required to pass legislation in the Senate.

1. 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 thank the Senator for his leadership in stopping the abuse of the filibuster. I look forward to him using his position on the rules committee to ensure S1 and other pro-democracy legislation can be passed by a simple majority.

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 thank the Senator for his position on the filibuster. I look forward to his continued advocacy for S1 and all other legislation to be passed by a simple majority.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

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

I am horrified by the GOP's anti-democracy stance. I hope you will consider that protecting your constituents' freedom to vote, be paid a living wage for their work, and keep themselves and their families safe during a pandemic without cutting Medicare is more important to us than your party loyalty or your loyalty to a particular former leader.

2. Call the House.

Look up your rep.

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].

As S1 begins its path through the Senate, I want to thank you for all your votes for legislation to restore our democracy and protect your constituents during and after the pandemic. Today, I especially thank you for your vote to suspend Pay-Go so that ARP would not trigger cuts to Medicare.

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].

I am horrified by the GOP's anti-democracy stance and by your vote against preventing cuts to Medicare triggered by ARP. I hope you will reconsider that protecting your constituents' freedom to vote, be paid a living wage for their work, and keep themselves and their families safe during a pandemic and after it ends is more important than party loyalty or your loyalty to a particular leader.

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].

As S1 begins its path through the Senate, I want to thank you for all your votes for legislation to restore our democracy and protect your constituents during and after the pandemic. Today, I especially thank you for your vote to suspend Pay-Go so that ARP would not trigger cuts to Medicare.

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].

As S1 begins its path through the Senate, I want to thank you for all your votes for legislation to restore our democracy and protect your constituents during and after the pandemic. Today, I especially thank you for your vote to suspend Pay-Go so that ARP would not trigger cuts to Medicare.

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].

As S1 begins its path through the Senate, I want to thank you for all your votes for legislation to restore our democracy and protect your constituents during and after the pandemic. Today, I especially thank you for your vote to suspend Pay-Go so that ARP would not trigger cuts to Medicare.