The Freedom to Vote Act Senator Merkley helped to draft this summer will go a long way towards protecting our freedom to vote and realizing the promise of democracy for all. It creates a federal right to vote that can be protected in the courts and sets national standards for the safe and free casting of ballots and for ensuring that every vote is properly counted—which will finally let us choose our representatives rather than letting them use gerrymandering to pick their voters. We must work tirelessly to help get this legislation passed.

Next week in Congress could be a train wreck. So much needs to be accomplished in the remaining days of this month. This week’s DAs focused on preparing advocates for the week ahead and urging calls to our Members of Congress so they know how we feel about the Freedom to Vote Act, taxing billionaires to help Build Back Better bill, and confronting the ridiculous but dangerous drama of the debt ceiling.

The $3.5 trillion Build Back Better Plan, the most significant expansion of the social safety net since the 1960’s War on Poverty, will touch virtually everyone throughout their lives. If financed by ending the rigged tax system and requiring the super-wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share, it would reverse America’s increasing income inequality and fundamentally reshape our economy to work for us all.

When the planes exploded, the reverberations blew apart our sense of personal security and confidence in our institutions. The cloud of debris that rained down contained a toxic fear. It still poisons us today. That fear has been exploited by extremists. They use it to attack truth and expertise, to bolster white supremacy and stoke xenophobia. It has empowered them to dismantle democracy and elevate their strongman. All that’s standing in their way is the ballot box. So, we must ensure the right to vote for everyone, and that means first defang the filibuster

The Supreme Court’s ultraconservatives are misusing the shadow docket to make highly unpopular, and even unconstitutional law. The latest example is its nullification, in an unsigned order without explanation, of the constitutional rights of millions of American women to reproductive choice. Congress must prevent this raw exercise of judicial power which is antithetical to self-government and the rule of law.

The filibuster poses an existential threat to our democracy at both the state and federal levels. Unless it is eliminated, extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression and nullification will enable the GOP, through election manipulation, to “win” more states and even the White House and Congress without actually persuading the majority to vote for them. Our Members of Congress cannot let that happen.

“[I]ncreasing or suspending the debt limit does not increase government spending, nor does it authorize spending for future budget proposals; it simply allows Treasury to pay for previously enacted expenditures. Failure to meet those obligations would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy and the livelihoods of all Americans.” Statement from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, August 9, 2021

This week the House passed the John Lewis voting act this week. It could end the Supreme Court’s 50 year war on minority voting rights. Next, it heads to the Senate buy bills to protect democracy could die by filibuster. This fight is about one thing, does every citizen have the right to vote or should it be a perk for the privileged? Call your MoC!