
STOP CONGRESS FROM TRADING STOCKS
“Lawmakers are the ones putting policies on the books that impact the market—we should not be able to buy and sell stock while in office. It's past time we banned this blatant conflict of interest, and I'm working to get it done in the Senate,” says Oregon’s Sen. Jeff Merkley who has introduced the Ban Conflicted Trading Act.

THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS IS EVERYONE’S PROBLEM
After a backlash in the Reagan era, politicians sought to make access to higher education easier. Faced with growing demand and costs, colleges raised fees knowing loans would cover their expenses. But the political engineering has led to a $1.7 trillion debt that’s crushing the economy and young workers and exacerbating income inequality.

MODERNIZING THE POSTAL SERVICE MUST ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS
President Biden has promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. This requires electrifying the government’s vehicle fleet. Since USPS trucks constitute 1/3 of the fleet, DeJoy’s award of a contract replacing its 30-year-old fleet largely with gas guzzling trucks cannot go forward. After restoring the USPS’ solvency, Congress must investigate this travesty.

FRIDAY RECAP: FEB. 4, 2022
Although we have not yet protected our freedom to vote and President Biden’s domestic agenda has stalled for the moment, now is not the time for despair. President Biden’s chance to appoint a progressive black woman to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration. It is also time for us to begin gearing up for the 2022 midterm elections. The GOP’s attempts to keep us from voting will be met with increased activities, so be sure to check out our Action 3 for suggestions on how you can get involved. Given the uncertainties of the moment, it is more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they need to keep fighting for us.

THE SUPREME COURT NEEDS REBALANCING
While the US has been moving towards a multiracial, multicultural society, the ultra-conservative 6-3 Supreme Court is undoing our advances. Rebalancing the Supreme Court and restoring its integrity requires adding additional judges, but swiftly confirming a highly qualified, progressive black woman will have an immediate positive impact on judicial decision-making.

REVIVE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
“Poverty is a policy choice. By refusing to extend the life-changing child tax credit payments, 50 Senate Republicans are forcing a generation of mothers and children to go without the help they need to survive,” Sen. Ron Wyden.

WE NEED A BILLIONAIRE’S TAX
“Poverty is a policy choice,” says Sen. Wyden. In a sense, so is extraordinary wealth. Wyden, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Blumenauer on the House Ways and Means Committee, can help correct both with the Billionaire’s Tax. It would help restore fairness in the tax code, and fairness is a democratic value worth fighting for.

FRIDAY RECAP: FEB. 4, 2022
Although we have not yet protected our freedom to vote and President Biden’s domestic agenda has stalled for the moment, now is not the time for despair. President Biden’s chance to appoint a progressive black woman to the Supreme Court is a cause for celebration. It is also time for us to begin gearing up for the 2022 midterm elections. The GOP’s attempts to keep us from voting will be met with increased activities, so be sure to check out our Action 3 for suggestions on how you can get involved. Given the uncertainties of the moment, it is more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they need to keep fighting for us.

“POWER CONCEDES NOTHING WITHOUT A DEMAND” — Frederick Douglass
Alongside the recent avalanche of statewide bills attempting to disenfranchise communities of color, a second attack on democracy played out women’s bodies is imperiling reproductive freedom. “The fight for gender equality and the fight for democracy are inextricably intertwined. The fight for one is the fight for the other.”

“WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS FOR?” KILLING DEMOCRACY.
Biden’s question “What are Republicans for?” sent political journalists scurrying for answers. They found zilch. ”(S)tanding for nothing is not a long-term survival strategy for a party that has managed to win the popular vote in only one presidential election since 1988.” Karen Tumulty, WaPo (1/23). So, to hold power, they have to change how our government is chosen.

THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT CANNOT SOLVE THE GOP’S ASSAULT ON VOTING
Manchin is reportedly working with Susan Collins on a bill that would strengthen the Electoral Count Act of 1887, correcting some of the flaws that nearly upended the Jan. 6 certification. While strengthening the Act is necessary, it doesn’t address the need that millions of people will be denied the vote in 2022. We need voting protections and must keep up this fight.

FRIDAY RECAP: January 21, 2022
Two days ago all 50 Senate Republicans and 2 Democrats refused to modify the filibuster and allow a vote on pending voting rights legislation. Afterwards, Senator Warnock stressed that, despite this major loss, “we cannot turn away. This will not be the last opportunity we get to fight for voting rights. We will meet the moment again, to try again. And again. Until we succeed”—making it more important than ever to keep reminding our Members of Congress that they cannot give up this fight.

DISQUALIFYING INSURRECTIONISTS FROM SERVING IN CONGRESS
The January 6 Commission, the Justice Department, and others are finding damning evidence of government officials and some candidates who aided the Trump coup attempt. The 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause prohibits people who’ve engaged in an insurrection against the United States from running for public office. Let’s use it.

VALUABLE LESSONS FROM THE FAILINGS OF THE SENATE
Senate Republicans and at least two Democrats are reportedly ready to kill voter protection laws. Denying the vote to people who would vote against them is part of the Republican war on our government. If the bills do indeed fail, it will deliver hard but essential lessons for the fight ahead.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY AT HOME AND ABROAD
We are experiencing many of the same problems as those countries whose democratic institutions are withering away or have died. We must impress on Congress and President Biden the need to act quickly and decisively to reverse our slide into authoritarianism before it is too late.