FOR AMERICA TO THRIVE IMMEDIATE FILIBUSTER REFORM IS IMPERATIVE

Jump to today’s actions:

Call the Senate
Call the House

Background

Our representative democracy is under attack in both Congress and 47 state legislatures, where the GOP’s introduced 361 bills to curb or complicate access to the polls--108 in the last month alone.

Because passage of S.1 (For the People Act) would invalidate such legislation, it, rather than infrastructure, must be the Senate’s immediate priority. Its swift passage would also prevent GOP gerrymandering when the census results are released in August.

To meet this timeline, Senator Schumer must immediately bring to the floor House-passed bills subject to the filibuster--starting with S.1. Not until wavering Senators see the GOP filibustering them to death--which will take time to register--will they confront the need for meaningful filibuster reform, which can take such forms as:

Creating carve-out for voting rights, implementing Section 5 of 14th Amendment.
Reinstating talking filibuster.
Requiring 40 votes to sustain, rather than 60 to overcome.
Decreasing threshold to percentage of Senators present, or lowering threshold number.

Unless Senators quickly choose democracy over racist Senate rules that encourage gridlock, not bipartisanship, democracy will wither and die. We cannot let that happen.

How you can help: Attend an Indivisible Oregon Voter Outreach Event or Virtual Town Hall with your Members of Congress

Please check Indivisible Oregon's events page for updates on voter outreach actions in support of pro-democracy legislation.

Currently Scheduled Recovery Recess Town Halls:

Senator Wyden’s Recovery Recess town hall:

https://www.wyden.senate.gov/town-halls

Representative Bonamici Recovery Recess town hall: https://bonamici.house.gov/about/events

Representative Schrader’s Recovery Recess town hall:

https://oregoncitizenslobby.org/events/us-rep-kurt-schrader-virtual-town-hall-3-29-21/

1. Call the Senate.

Script for 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]

Without filibuster reform, we can neither protect our representative democracy from the voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures nor prevent GOP gerrymandering from distorting Congressional and legislative districts when census results are released to the states in August. Until S.1 and other stalled bills are subjected to GOP filibusters, wavering Senators will not be forced to seriously consider reforms. Please convince Senate leadership that time is of the essence and continue stressing to your colleagues that without filibuster reform democracy will wither and die. Thank you for your continued leadership on these critical issues.

Script for 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].

Without filibuster reform we can neither protect our representative democracy from the voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures nor prevent GOP gerrymandering from distorting Congressional and legislative districts when census results are released to the states in August. Until S.1 and other stalled bills are subjected to GOP filibusters, wavering Senators will not be forced to seriously consider reforms. Please convince Senate leadership that time is of the essence and continue stressing to your colleagues that without filibuster reform democracy will wither and die. Thank you for your continued leadership on these critical issues.

Script for Republican Senators

All Americans have the right to have their votes counted, secured and protected. S.1, which accomplishes this, is popular with your constituents. It is time for you and your party to stop saying no and begin working with Democrats to find real compromises on S. 1 and other 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.

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]. I am calling because…

The voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures poses a grave threat to our representative democracy. We need both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) to prevent our democracy from withering and dying. Please do all that you can to help the House build the evidentiary record needed to protect the VRAA from the inevitable court challenges that will be launched after its passage and continue to speak out about the necessity of both of these bills.

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].

All Americans have the right to have their votes counted, secured and protected, and both HR1 (For the People Act) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) are popular with your constituents. Although you voted against HR1, it is time for you and your party to stop saying o and to begin working with Democrats for the good of the country. Your constituents demand nothing less.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

The voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures poses a grave threat to our representative democracy. We need both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) to prevent our democracy from withering and dying. Please do all that you can to help the House build the evidentiary record needed to protect the VRAA from the inevitable court challenges that will be launched after its passage and continue to speak out about the necessity of both of these bills.

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].

The voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures poses a grave threat to our representative democracy. We need both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) to prevent our democracy from withering and dying. Please do all that you can to help the House build the evidentiary record needed to protect the VRAA from the inevitable court challenges that will be launched after its passage and continue to speak out about the necessity of both of these bills.

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].

The voter suppression legislation now moving through 47 state legislatures poses a grave threat to our representative democracy. We need both the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA) to prevent our democracy from withering and dying. Please do all that you can to help the House build the evidentiary record needed to protect the VRAA from the inevitable court challenges that will be launched after its passage and continue to speak out about the necessity of both of these bills.