indivisibleebadmin Call and Email MoCs, Congressional legislation, Contact, ICE, Meetings, Our Impact, Town Halls, Uncategorized

IEB Meets with Senator Harris’ Staff, May 2018

Sen. Harris office visit 050518

By Myra S. Mitzman

On May 3, 2018, Indivisible East Bay met with Senator Kamala Harris’ State Director, Julie Rodriguez, and Bay Area District Director, June Williams, in downtown Oakland.  

We opened with a serious discussion surrounding ICE tactics of detaining pregnant women and separating children from their parents. Julie stressed that, in light of misinformation about the recently-arrived “caravan,” it is important to humanize the narrative—something we can do to help. Please email Senator Harris if you have a story concerning someone adversely affected by these harsh ICE policies.

The dialogue turned to national security, in particular Trump’s nominee to head the CIA, Gina Haspel (torture, anyone?). We pointed out that the Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA Rendition, Detention and Interrogation, about the treatment of detainees during the so-called “War on Terror” rightly belongs to the Senate, not the CIA, and perhaps could be publicly released by any member of the Senate Intelligence Committee – which includes both Senator Harris and Senator Feinstein. Also on the national security agenda: Syria, where there is seemingly no long-term strategy, and where, according to Julie, the U.S.’s “muscular diplomacy” (i.e., ability to engage in effective negotiation) has dwindled.

On the topic of Social Security, IEB members and staff alike took umbrage at the characterization of this program as an “entitlement” when so many of us have paid into it for decades. Ironically, one of the best things we could do to shore up Social Security is to pass comprehensive immigration reform, so more young immigrants will be able to pay into the system—and earn more money, and create more jobs, growing an economy that can take care of the aging population. And let’s not forget how the Trump tax scam was always intended to dry up funding for social safety net programs.

Over the course of the next 60 minutes, we covered climate change (see S.2352, the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2018, currently in need of co-sponsors); Puerto Rico (debt restructuring/renewable energy?); Trump’s latest judicial appointments (see snippet of Senator Harris grilling Wendy Vitter); defense spending (don’t count on a Harris “No” vote on increases); election security (demand paper ballots!); and sexual harassment in Congress (Harris’s staff undergoes regular harassment training, but she appears to be in the minority in doing this).

We also got into drug policy, including Senator Schumer’s proposed national Democratic platform for marijuana decriminalization. Julie pointed out that, with Democrats holding so few Washington “power levers,” one way to effect change is through the appropriations process. If Congress doesn’t approve appropriations, the Department of Justice can’t implement its regressive drug enforcement policies. For now, the Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment is still good law (the DOJ isn’t supposed to spend money enforcing federal drug laws in states that have legalized medical cannabis). But as we know, true drug reform requires reforming sentencing laws, eliminating cash bail (promising, but not if the algorithm used to determine flight risk, etc. is inherently biased), and decriminalizing marijuana (including a nationwide “equity agenda” similar to Oakland’s).

Sen. Harris office visit 050518

A few more notable moments:

  • Julie saying that, for Senator Harris, the conversation always needs to be, “How do we improve people’s lives?” It’s her “litmus test” whenever evaluating an issue or proposal. Amen.
  • Quote of the day: “The Senator’s ability to be fearless is because you all are.” Awwww. See the Senator’s interview on the Stephen Colbert show, where she was perhaps a bit measured, but watch and judge for yourselves.
  • Reminding Julie that, despite Mitch McConnell’s bluster, any Senator can introduce the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, which would protect Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia 

Last but not least, we’re pushing for another town hall. June Williams said she’s been pressing the Senator on this. Historically, town halls were held only by House representatives. Fun fact: Before the 2016 election, Senators Feinstein and Boxer had not held a town hall in 24 years—last year’s Feinstein April town hall in San Francisco was her first ever! But in these troubled times, people’s demands have changed, and town halls are an important way to have our voices heard. Please call our senators and reps and demand more town halls this year—then show up (and speak up!) if and when they happen.

Myra Mitzman is an Oakland real estate/business attorney and sideline women’s fiction author (under the pseudonym Sheryl Sorrentino).

Photos by Maria Bernstein

 

indivisibleebadmin Events, Uncategorized

Evolve California’s Plan to Reform Prop 13

By Ted Lam

On a school night – Tuesday, January 23 – over 20 people sat in El Cerrito High School’s auditorium for an hour to hear Ben Grieff, the campaign director for Evolve California, talk about the drive to reform Proposition 13.

Evolve California is working to reform the infamous Prop. 13 so that owners of commercial property valued at $2 million or more would pay the 1% market rate property tax.

Grieff reminded us that Prop. 13 passed in June 1978, almost 40 years ago, as part of an anti-tax/anti-government campaign by Howard Jarvis, a wealthy property owner. California voters were willing to vote for Prop. 13 even if it meant less money for schools, which it indeed did.

Before Prop. 13, California was tied with New York State in fifth place for spending on education. Forty years later, California is in the bottom ten states for educational spending, and the lack of funding strikes hardest in the communities that can least afford it. California’s Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) raise $600 million a year, sometimes to pay for basic needs in schools; and rich communities can raise large sums that poorer communities can’t. Rich communities can also afford to raise parcel taxes or establish private foundations to make up for revenue lost due to Prop. 13.

It’s more important now than ever to talk about reforming Prop. 13. The Trump tax cuts greatly reduce California’s ability to deduct property taxes, while Congress added another huge last-minute benefit to corporations that own commercial real estate. All of this means even less money for crucial services like education.

Proposals to reform Prop. 13 could make huge corporate beneficiaries of the Trump tax bill pay their fair share. They could restore $11 billion every year (approximately half for schools and half for special districts, like fire districts) through the county property tax process. Seventy-seven percent of revenue from this reform would come from the 8% of commercial properties in California that have owned land since 1978. It wouldn’t change Prop. 13 for any residential properties, AirBnB property owners, renters, or those with second homes. No small businesses ($2 million or less) would be affected. In fact, as recommended by small business owners, the reform would eliminate the small business taxes. The reforms would be phased in over time to allow businesses to adjust. The proposed 1% property tax rate is less than in New York and other states.

Grieff offered this thought in El Cerrito High: Disneyland has increased its ticket prices over 800% since 1978. Yet unless Prop. 13 is reformed to require corporations to pay their fair share, when Grieff’s hypothetical future grandchildren go to Disneyland, the park will be paying the same property tax as it did in 1978 – and the average homeowner will be paying more property tax than Disneyland.

Evolve California’s website has estimates for how much money each county in the state would receive if Prop. 13 was reformed to include corporate payments (for example, Contra Costa County would get $350 million every year through commercial property tax re-assessments).  

Evolve California and other coalition partners have submitted their proposition name and description to the California Attorney General, and will begin collecting signatures between February and early May to qualify for the November 2018 ballot. They are looking for signature collectors, and will train them. They need 585,000 signatures in total but hope to get 900,000 signatures by May.

If and when the proposition appears on the ballot in November, it will require only 50% plus one of the total votes cast. Three of the four declared Democratic gubernatorial candidates support Prop. 13 reform. If the facts about Prop. 13 and the need for reform are spread widely, we hope the public will, too.

Ted Lam is retired from the USCG and currently works as a civil engineer.

indivisibleebadmin Events, Meetings, Our Impact, Town Halls, Uncategorized

Congressman DeSaulnier Holds Tax Town Hall

By Catherine de Neergaard

Congressman Mark DeSaulnier’s (CA-11) January 13 Tax Town Hall was standing room only, with more than 400 people packed into the El Cerrito Community Center and spilling out the doors. Many elected officials were there, including Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, who introduced DeSaulnier.

In fine form, DeSaulnier focused on why the Republican Tax Scam Bill is such a disaster for everyone except the very wealthiest (the so-called 1%) and why it is so important to take back the House and Senate in 2018 and reverse the tax scam. In DeSaulnier’s view, getting out the vote is key to winning in November, which in turn is crucial to recover democracy and economic equality.

DeSaulnier issued a rallying cry: “American citizens have to fight now for their democracy,” and said he’d like to see Contra Costa County come alive with activism, words that resounded with the members of Indivisible and several other local progressive groups. He closed with a story about the advice Frederick Douglass in the 19th century gave a young man asking how to live. Douglass replied, “Agitate, agitate, agitate.” Amen to that!

DeSaulnier’s presentation well reflected Indivisible’s agenda, values, and policy goals. Unlike Senators Feinstein and Harris, he voted NO on the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act adding $100 BILLION to the already bloated $600 BILLION-plus military budget. Continuing his tradition of blending activism with proselytizing policy wonkery, DeSaulnier opened the Town Hall by recommending that people read “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right” by Jane Mayer and “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America” by Nancy MacLean to really understand what is going on in America now. He also recommended Thomas Piketty’s much-lauded book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” to, among other things, understand why the ‘trickle down effect’ (the theory behind the Reagan era tax cuts for the rich and the current tax scam bill) doesn’t work.

DeSaulnier’s town hall was one of many across the country given by House Democrats. In California, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) held her “GOP Tax Scam Teach-In” at Laney College; House Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5) presented their teach-in together in San Francisco. You can watch it here.

If you missed it, the Facebook video broadcast of DeSaulnier’s Town Hall is well worth watching, and his excellent Power Point program should be available soon on his website.

Catherine de Neergaard is a gardener, artist, and environmental Activist working within a variety of organizations including Quaker Earthcare Witness, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Kensington Green, and, of course, Indivisible.

Photograph by George McRae

indivisibleebadmin Uncategorized

What We Can Learn From GOP Tax Bill

By Rohit Reddy

Business leaders called it a “moral abomination” and the wrong way to spur wage growth. Experts argued it was divisive policymaking that penalized blue states because they did not vote for Trump. Others noted secrecy and lack of hearings showed contempt for democracy and American norms of governance. Still Republicans rammed through Congress a tax bill that is so unpopular and corrupt some are calling it the worst piece of legislation in modern U.S. history.

What is there to learn from GOP tax bill’s passage?

The Tax Bill Revealed Republicans’ Values

Forget passing aid package to assist communities devastated by natural disasters in Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands; delay the simple act of reauthorizing the CHIP health insurance program that covers 9 million children; leave in limbo hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who need protection from deportation. Apparently, nothing is more important than raising taxes on millions of Americans and increasing the deficit by $1.4 trillion in order to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-rich. Aside from a handful of individuals who evidence some trace of human decency, the modern Republican party has shown a demonstrable contempt for working people, democratic norms, and fiscal responsibility. What I find shocking is that Congressional Republicans value tax cuts for foreign investors over American families.

Congressional Republicans are Waging War on California

California is special. It is a global leader culturally and economically. The way California does things may irk conservatives, but in our federal structure, states have the leeway to experiment and pursue public policies that reflect the will of their residents. So it is profoundly divisive and un-American that the Republican party is using taxing policy to undermine California’s economic competitiveness. After all, the lower cap on the mortgage interest deduction will worsen housing affordability. Severely limiting ability to deduct state income and property taxes will make living in California more expensive, which means companies will have harder time retaining workers or attracting workers to move to the state.

Congressional Republicans singled out for the highest tax increases upper middle class households in California. They know that households that earn more than $200,000 a year (6.1% of tax filers) contribute the lion’s share of tax revenues (61% of all local tax receipts) to the state; increasing their tax burden will either get them to leave the state or pressure the state to limit spending, thereby hurting education and health programs.

California’s Republicans Have Betrayed Their State

It doesn’t matter whether you’re conservative or liberal, most Californians will lose from the tax bill. Congressional Republicans will argue that most of their constituents will get a modest tax cut in 2019. But after that, the reality of depressed home prices, repeal of deductibility of state income and property taxes, job losses from California’s diminished economic competitiveness start catching up, and the bill is an open wound to our economy. To paraphrase Ivanka Trump (who paraphrased Dante), there is a special place in hell for those who betray their people. All Californians must unite to vote the traitors out.

Don’t despair: There are some silver linings

Public outrage over earlier versions of the tax bill tempered some of its crueler parts: deductions and credits for grad students and adopting parents will remain, as will the ability to deduct student loan interest and high medical expenses. And some features of the bill, such as more generous child tax credits, increasing the standard deduction, and the lower margin tax rate, will benefit many Americans. Last, let’s not forget that no Democrat in either chamber of Congress voted for the bill. For a party of such diverse views, that’s huge.

The truth is I am bummed the bill passed. I know it will hurt a lot of Americans and exacerbate income inequality in our country. But recent wins in Virginia, Alabama, the energy and inspiring work of Indivisibles and so, so many other things make me realize: there is little that Congressional Republicans are doing that can’t be reversed if – when  – we take back Congress.

Rohit Reddy is a marketing professional, who has a particular interest in bringing facts and evidence to inform decision-making. He resides in Alameda with his wife and two adorable little boys.

 

indivisibleebadmin Uncategorized

Republicans Are Using Tax Reform to Loot California

By Rohit Reddy

The GOP tax bills will be catastrophic for California’s communities. While the tax scam is not law yet and there will be some changes from the House-Senate reconciliation process, we have enough information to know that it will raise taxes on millions of Californians, and that it lays the groundwork for dismantling Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and greatly diminishes the ability of local and state governments to implement policies that benefit their residents.

Tax Hike on Millions of California’s Families

The GOP tax plan at the simplest level is a $5.5 trillion tax cut, funded by $4 trillion in tax increases and $1.5 trillion in deficit spending. The tax cuts skew heavily to benefit the ultra-wealthy and corporations. The shocking part is that the tax increases fall on tens of millions of families that live in blue states like California, New York and New Jersey.

For example, the plan eliminates deductions for state, local, and property taxes (“SALT”), resulting in a $1.3 trillion tax increase. The SALT deduction, which has been around since 1862, is valuable because it protects us from being taxed on money we’re already paying in (local) taxes. And the savings from this deduction are huge for us in the Bay Area:

Screen Shot 2017-12-07 at 9.28.40 AM

Source: 2015 IRS Data (Individual Returns)

Congressional Republicans’ Betrayal of Their Own Constituents

Repealing SALT is thus a major tax hike on a broad base of taxpayers. And it is not just a coastal Democratic thing; 54% of taxpayers in Republican congressional districts claimed the deduction.

Yet all but three members of the California Republican House delegation support the GOP tax plan:

Screen Shot 2017-12-07 at 9.28.50 AM

Source: 2015 IRS Data (Individual Returns); Blue indicates voting against House tax bill

The GOP Plan Will Depress Local Economies and Home Values

The GOP tax plan will be a gut punch to our local economies. Here’s one way: Californians claimed $112 billion in SALT deductions in 2015. Let’s assume 2018 would be in the same ballpark if the deductions were allowed: that means that next tax year, with the deductions not allowed, the tax savings from $112 billion will get sucked out of our communities by the federal government and redistributed to millionaires, multinational corporations, and their American and foreign shareholders. Now ask yourself, who is more likely to spend their tax savings in the East Bay: the family earning $150,000 per year with two kids? or Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO? I respect and admire Mr. Cook, but I doubt we are going to see him at Ole’s Waffle Shop on Park Street in Alameda, or any of the Pegasus Bookstores, or the San Leandro Costco.

Eliminating SALT deductions also means the cost of owning your home goes up and home ownership becomes a lot less attractive, leading to a decline in home values that economists estimate to be in the 5-10% range. While many rightly bemoan the high cost of housing in the Bay Area, depressing the value of housing stock isn’t the answer for homeowners, who need to maintain the value of their most valuable asset and a vital source for retirement savings.

Cuts in services to the most vulnerable members of our community

We also want homeownership to remain vibrant because property taxes pay for schools and local needs. New homeowners mean new property assessments, which means more revenue to fund teacher salaries, transportation, and local services. For example: 57% of East Bay households are homeowners, but all East Bay families benefits from our schools. If the revenues from our tax base declines, what are we going to do: raise taxes or cut services?

Because the GOP plan will create a $1.5 trillion hole in the federal budget, we will likely see cuts in services due to a federal rule called PAYGO or “pay as you go.”  The rules requires that if Congress is going to pay Paul, it had better rob Peter. The Peter in this case means Medicare (up to $25 billion in cuts per year) and other federal programs. PAYGO is only the beginning as Speaker Ryan has made explicit his intention to cut entitlement program due to … wait for it … deficit concerns.

It doesn’t take economic analysis, though, to realize this about the GOP tax plan: It demands neither shared sacrifices nor delivers shared benefits. It picks as winners those who least need help and losers those who need tax relief and our support. At a time when our nation faces formidable challenges, we need tax policy that advances our common national interest and provides for shared prosperity.

Rohit Reddy is a marketing professional who has a particular interest in bringing facts and evidence to inform decision-making. He resides in Alameda with his wife and two adorable little boys.

 

indivisibleebadmin Actions, Events, Our Impact, Uncategorized

Halt the Heist Tax Scam Rally

Tax rally photo by Charles Moehle
Photo credit: Charlie Moehle from Pro-Bono Photo

On December 4, 2017, IEB and other local Indivisible chapters held a rally in front of Senator Kamala Harris’ San Francisco office to protest the tax scam bills making their way through the Congress. Below are accounts from several IEB members who attended the rally, beginning with rally co-lead Nancy:

By Nancy:

I walked up from Civic Center BART to the UN Plaza to be met by gorgeous rally weather – blue skies and gentle winds. A few wonderful team-mates from the rally organizing team were already there, with set-up well underway – and two frenzied weeks of planning were about to pay off. 

A little before noon people were gathering, some singing tax carols and chanting. I’m an introvert, and was waiting to get nervous but I never did – I think I was too angry. Or more likely I was just too happy to look around and see this radiant gathering of the community – of people who know that this is what Democracy looks like. Honestly, most of the rally feels like a blur at this point. All I really remember is that it was a gorgeous show of solidarity, caring, and action. The beautiful crowd wanted EQUITY, and they wanted it NOW!

Most of us didn’t even know each other until we threw our hats in the ring together to plan this rally, but we were united in our rage at the unfairness, wrongheadedness, and bottomless bad faith of the tax heist. I am in awe of the willingness of everyone to say at every turn: “sure, yes, I’m on it.” No matter what else they had going on, they just got it done – and with brilliance and boundless good humor. I’m so grateful to the whole amazing team! Clear heads, valiant hearts, speaking truth to power: that’s who we are, dammit.

Tax rally photo by Charles Moehle
Photo credit: Charlie Moehle from Pro-Bono Photo

Meet the team (with a partial list of their duties):

  • Karen (Indivisible Sonoma County): Rally Co-Lead, Press List Wrangler, Tireless Promoter, Warrior Goddess and Cat Herder
  • Lisa (Indivisible Sausalito): Rally Co-Lead, Warrior Goddess and Mover-Alonger of Rally Activities
  • Ted (IEB): Steward of Rally Signs and Doer of Everything that Needs to be Done
  • Heather (IEB): Media Advisory Writer, Ruthless Editor, and Keeper of Captive Designer of Rally Signs
  • Robyn (Indivisible Sonoma County): Harris Team Liaison and Person Bonding with Rally Crowd
  • Shana (Indivisible Sonoma County): Keeper of Rally Central on Rally Day, and Cheerful Rememberer of Small Details Leaders Have Forgotten
  • Rohit (IEB): Writer of Harris Letter, Prolific Live Tweeter, and Knower of All Things Tax Bill/Healthcare-Related
  • Barbara (IEB): Storyteller and Person Making Sure All is Well with the Sound System

And special thanks to:

  • Amelia (IEB), who reached out to and coordinated with staff from Harris’ and Pelosi’s office
  • Christine (ISF) who edited our Media Advisory
  • Gen (Indivisible Sonoma County) who helped with the press list and sent out the Advisory and Press Release
  • Charlie Moehle (IEB) who documented the rally

Remarks to the crowd by George McRae:

Immediately after my 16th birthday I had to, by law, begin to have deductions made from my paycheck. There was the shock of a take-home amount much, much less than I had been used to. But I understood, and accepted that this was my responsibility as a citizen to contribute to the common good of the nation. Among the deductions were Social Security and Medicare, money I have since been faithfully paying into my account my entire working life. I always had the expectation that this money would be there for me when I needed it. Now at 64 years old I have no expectation, because the government is planning to steal this money to make up the budget shortfall with the tax scam. The Republicans admit to this and Senator Sanders got them to admit it the other day. Mitch McConnell himself said that the middle class would be screwed.  I played by the rules, and now I’m about to get screwed. No one held a gun to my head and told me — you are now 64. You get to this age automatically. And I didn’t get here with the expectation that I would be screwed for just getting here. The only way to stop this is to flip the congress. I urge everyone to work tirelessly to do that. Here in California that means the primaries in March, only three months away! Unless we get these sons of bitches out, this will continue. Thank you.

By Rohit:

When we come together, anything seems possible. Over 200 people attended the protest in front of Senator Harris’ office. Many courageously shared personal stories of how the GOP tax plan will hurt our communities. Representatives from Harris’ and Pelosi’s office listened and reiterated their resolve to do everything possible to stop the Trump tax heist. Special thanks to the indefatigable organizers at Indivisible chapters of East Bay, San Francisco, Sausalito, and Sonoma County, for bringing us together, and a shout-out to our partner indivisible San Francisco, who helped so much with promotion and who brought a big contingent to the rally. Check out Facebook to see how we are continuing the fight.

By Barbara Kluger:

I’m overwhelmed with the continuous daily political assaults and relieved whenever I can be with others who actually want to talk openly about it. Some people shared their personal stories on paper we made available on the info table; we will send these to Senator Harris. Others shared stories aloud by microphone to the crowd. Everyone attending was keen on meaningful human interaction: singing the satirical songs, chanting slogans, encouraging speakers with focused attention. It’s good to be together when so much of our time is spent keeping up with the latest news and interacting online. I had planned to tweet our activities during the rally, but never had time. I’m not sure my tweets would have made any impact on anyone, but I know that talking face-to-face with others was good for me.

Tax rally photo by Rohit Reddy
Ted speaking at tax rally. Photo by Rohit

By Ted:

For several weeks, a team of amazing Indivisibles from Indivisible East Bay, Sonoma County, and Sausalito planned the December 4th anti GOP tax rally in United Nations Plaza in San Francisco. The goal of this noon rally was to get Senator Kamala Haris’ staff and as many concerned citizens involved in this blatant “rob from the poor to give to the rich” GOP tax bill.

IEB’s Nancy kicked off the rally with an introduction of the terrible tax bill and its near certain bad effects. She and Karen of Indivisible Sonoma County led the large crowd in chants of “Kill the Bill” and similar messages. Many progressive groups showed up to show their support in creative ways: one group sang “Kill the Bill” Christmas carols! After ten people told the crowd how the tax bill would negatively affect them personally,  Robyn from Indivisible Sonoma County gave a letter, drafted by all the Indivisible groups present, to Daniel Chen from Senator Harris’ office, urging Harris to stand strong against the GOP bill. Mr. Chen then addressed the large crowd and reiterated Senator Harris’ opposition to the bill and her efforts to fight it.

Tax rally photo by Charles Moehle
Photo credit: Charlie Moehle from Pro-Bono Photo
ameliacass Actions, Call and Email MoCs, Call Scripts, Get Involved, Uncategorized

Giving Thanks for Social Security and Medicare – TAKE ACTION NOW!

At Thanksgiving we remember what we’re thankful for. For many seniors among our family and friends, thankfulness includes financial security in old age through Social Security and Medicare. But Trump’s go-for-broke tax bill gives big tax cuts for the wealthiest people in our country, and this will cause large budget deficits to threaten Social Security and Medicare.

The Congressional Budget Office has warned that Trump’s tax cuts for the very rich would add $1.5 trillion to the national debt. Because of the pay-as-you-go rule, Medicare could be cut by $25 billion as soon as next year. Afterwards, our government would have to cut “mandatory spending” – which means Social Security and Medicare – because of even bigger deficits from Trump’s tax plan.

We’re thankful for the support people receive from Social Security and Medicare. But if we want to keep it we have to take action now. Please call your U.S. senators and ask them to vote NO on Trump’s go-for-broke tax plan. And please pass this message on to everyone you know, all over the country!

WHAT TO SAY:

My name is [name] and I’m a constituent from [zip code]. Trump’s tax cuts will benefit the wealthy over the middle class and they will cause big budget deficits for years. I’m afraid Social Security and Medicare benefits will be cut because our government won’t have enough money to pay for them. My family, friends, and I all benefit from the financial security that Social Security and Medicare give to seniors. Their health and financial peace of mind matter to us.  Please vote against Trump’s tax plan.

California Senators:

Sen. Kamala Harris (email)
(415) 355-9041 • DC: (202) 224-3553

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (email)
(415) 393-0707 • DC: (202) 224-3841

Contact your Senator (anywhere in the country)

More info:

 

 

 

indivisibleebadmin Actions, Events, Get Involved, Uncategorized, Volunteer Opportunity

Kill the Tax Scam Bill

There is widespread agreement among experts that the tax scam is a horror show. Huge tax cuts to the hyper-rich are paid for by the poor and middle class. It will take Obamacare down. It will do nothing to help our economy. Inequality – already bad – will get worse. The racial wealth gap will widen.

Here’s a partial list of the folks who will lose under the tax bill: women, seniors, students paying back their loans, teachers paying out of pocket for school supplies, those with incomes less than $75K, non-rich families with children, those facing high medical costs, people who need health insurance. In other words, all of us.

Hard to believe something this awful could become the law of the land very soon – but it absolutely can, and we are getting perilously close.

With our constituent power, we showed up, called, rallied, put our bodies on the line – and we killed Trumpcare. We must do it again with the tax scam! Here are some some actions you can take:

  • Use Indivisible’s tool to call fellow progressives in key #TrumpTaxScam target states and patch them through to their Senators. Indivisible HQ has brought back a super effective peer-to-peer calling tool from the TrumpCare fight so you can take action to stop this bill by reaching out to progressive constituents in Alaska, Arizona, and West Virginia. Find out more here and sign up to start calling! And, the IEB cookie competition is back and better than ever!
  • Phone bank with your East Bay neighbors to mobilize red state progressives. Phone banks are happening in Berkeley November 25 and 26. Find out more and RSVP here.
  • As Ben Wikler from MoveOn has instructed: MELT THE PHONE LINES the whole week of November 27th, when the bill will probably come to the floor of the Senate. We especially need to demand that our wonderful Democratic senators withhold consent. Scripts, numbers, and info here.
  • Come to the UN Plaza in San Francisco for a Tax Heist Rally from 12-1:00PM on December 4. IEB is partnering with Indivisible Sonoma County and Indivisible Sausalito so we can deliver a letter to Senator Harris, tell our stories in the public square, and make some noise! If you want to know more, or join the planning committee, come see us in the #tax-scam-action channel on slack.
indivisibleebadmin Meetings, Uncategorized

Barbara Lee Speaks With IEB (about impeachment and other things)

Ultimate Womens Power Luncheon Barbara Lee
Representative Barbara Lee speaking in October 2017. Photo by Kristen Law

Katie Hooper is a member of IEB’s Governance Committee and is a co-lead of the MoC Team Lee (CA-13).

IEB members and activists from Alameda4Impeachment and others participated in a November 15 phone call with Representative Barbara Lee about impeachment and a few other matters. Although she had to take a couple of breaks to vote on the House floor, Rep. Lee was very forthcoming and couldn’t have been more grateful for our collective passion and activism.

Lee did not agree to sign the current impeachment articles by Representatives Cohen and Gutierrez, but only because she said she’s working with her colleagues (even across the aisle) on a more robust set of articles, and this takes time. She seemed to understand that we want her publicly stating her support for the effort, but she really wants it to be with a larger consensus.

The most intense part of the call came at the end, when Lee said how grounding and moving it is to take a break from the constant politics of House votes to actually talk to her constituents, and told us that she felt reinvigorated for the upcoming vote on the tax (scam) bill. She told us that her aides Josh and Lisa, with whom IEB’s MoC Team Lee meet and correspond on a regular basis, update her constantly with our questions and concerns, and that we should keep bringing things up that we care about. We are hoping to meet with her staff after the holiday to talk about policy vs. grassroots efforts.

I had the chance to thank Rep. Lee, on behalf of our team and everyone at IEB, for all her hard work in the resistance.

By Katie Hooper

indivisibleebadmin Actions, Events, Uncategorized

Tax Scam Protests: Week One

Protest Trump tax plan. Photo by Charlie Moehle
Protest of the Trump tax plan. Photo by Charlie Moehle

IEB member Candace Goldman connected with Indivisible at its beginning, after the devastating 2016 election. She has participated in many events, from meetings at congressional district offices to protests, town halls, phone banking, emailing, and sending “thank you” notes to our elected officials.

November 6, 2017 marked the kick-off of a nationwide protest of the proposed Republican tax “reform” bill. Big picture, this bill would give enormous tax cuts to large corporations and the wealthiest 1% of individuals, to be paid for by the rest of us along with a deficit increase of another $1.3 – 1.7 trillion. This is not reform; it’s a scam that does great harm and increases the wealth gap. Or, as I am calling it, Structured Collusion Against the Majority.

So how’d this first week go? We began by encouraging our members (and family, and friends, and friends of friends!) to call and write their Members of Congress to encourage a NO vote on the tax scam. On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 7, while districts were flipping blue in state elections around the country, a small group of us gathered at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland for a rush hour reminder to passersby to say NO to the tax scam. To our surprise, within ten minutes we were in the midst of a major police action straight out of a “Lethal Weapon“ movie. Police cars screaming everywhere, a helicopter overhead, fire engines and ambulances rounding the corner, and road blocks set up. It was disconcerting but we stood our ground and, despite all the flashing lights and screaming sirens, the public saw us and the response was very favorable.

After a protest organized by Indivisible Berkeley on the Berkeley Overpass on Thursday, November 9, which we supported, another small group of us met at the plaza in front of the Oakland Federal Building on Saturday, November 11, Veteran’s Day. We soon decided that Broadway, with much more foot and vehicle traffic, would be a better audience location than quiet Clay Street, so we changed spots. We handed out lots of leaflets and had some good conversations with pedestrians who stopped to talk and get more information; cars, and even some bus drivers, showed their support by honking and waving as they drove by.

We clearly reached a lot of people and drew their attention to the imminent threat posed by the tax scam; and we have a lot more work to do to ensure that Congress hears our roar of “NO” to this devastating bill. Thank you to all who participated in this week’s  events. Thanks to all of you who will be adding your energy and your voices to stopping this legislation. We will not be done until the tax scam is defeated. Keep your eyes peeled for more information. With your help, this “reform” WILL GO DOWN.

By Candace Goldman