This week it’s all about cabinet nominees in the Senate. Call Cruz and Cornyn’s offices. If you don’t get through to the Austin office, try one of the others.

Cruz is 512-916-5834

Cornyn is 512-469-6034

MONDAY:

Cabinet Nominees / Fast-Tracking / OGE Letter

I’m calling to ask what the Senator is doing about cabinet appointees such as Rex Tillerson and Betsy DeVos who have not completed financial disclosure forms or undergone background checks. In the Office of Government Ethics’ 40-year history, the Senate has never held a confirmation hearing before the nominee’s ethics review was complete.  The Senator cannot fulfill his Constitutional duty if he doesn’t fully understand potential conflicts of interest. Can you tell me what the Senator is going to do about this?

Hat tip to Indivisible D/FW TX – contact them for long-form scripts

TUESDAY:

Jeff Sessions

I am calling to voice my concerns about the selection of Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, and urge you to block his appointment to the Justice Department. Sessions has a long record of racial insensitivity, bias against immigrants, disregard for the rule of law and hostility to the protection of civil rights that makes him unfit to serve as the attorney general of the United States.

Affordable Care Act

Call your senators to protest the repeal of the ACA. Be sure to share your personal stories. More here:

The Affordable Care Act

 

Millions March Action

Millions March Action and Rally at the State Capitol

WEDNESDAY

Rex Tillerson

Hello. I’m calling to ask my senator to vote NO on the nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. I am concerned about Mr. Tillerson’s numerous potential conflicts of interest, especially his close ties with Russia’s Vladmir Putin. These ties are worrisome in light of the US intelligence community’s assertion that there was Russian interference in the November 2016 election. Furthermore, Tillerson’s stance on climate change is unclear and should be considered during his confirmation because as Secretary of State he could have some influence on environmental policy. Thank you for your time.

Courtesy of Kendall Shearman

Elaine Chao

Hello, I’m calling to ask my senator/representative to vote NO on the nomination of Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation. I am concerned about Ms. Chao’s financial and political conflicts of interest. Furthermore, Ms. Chao’s tenure as Secretary of Labor was earmarked by brutal cost slashing and union busting efforts. If this same style of reduction is applied to our nation’s infrastructure, it could potentially have a deadly result. Thank you for your time.

Courtesy of Kendall Shearman

John F. Kelly

Hello, I’m calling to ask my senator/representative to vote NO on the nomination of John F Kelly as head of the Department of Homeland Security. I am concerned about Mr. Kelly’s flippant attitude about civil rights issues, particularly in regards to prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay. Mr. Kelly described actions by civil rights groups as “foolishness.” The President Elect’s attempt to fill positions with warhawks is disconcerting. Thank you for your time.

Courtesy of Kendall Shearman

(Betsy DeVos delayed until next week!)

THURSDAY

Ben Carson

I’m calling to urge you to block the appointment of Dr. Ben Carson as head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Dr. Carson himself admits that lacks the experience and expertise necessary for this, or any, cabinet position, and his retrograde statements on fair housing rules are a threat to the civil rights of countless American citizens. Please block Dr. Carson’s confirmation. Thank you.

James Mattis

Hello, I’m calling to ask my senator/representative to vote NO on the nomination of James Mattis as Secretary of Defense. I am concerned that Mr. Mattis has not yet completed the mandatory waiting period required between armed service and appointed office. Furthermore, Mr. Mattis has a checkered history, having once been quoted as saying it was a “a hell of a lot of fun to shoot” people. The President Elect’s attempt to fill positions with warhawks is disconcerting. Thank you for your time.

Courtesy of Kendall Shearman

Mike Pompeo

Hello. I am calling to ask you to vote No on the confirmation of Mike Pompeo for CIA director. Pompeo has no meaningful experience in espionage. He has advocated for the bulk collection of domestic calling records that violates US citizens’ privacy. He also advocates returning to the use of waterboarding and other ineffective torture techniques, and is against closing CIA black sites. Please vote no and do not confirm Mike Pompeo.

Rex Tillerson

(Call today if you didn’t get to it yesterday.)

Hello. I’m calling to ask my senator to vote NO on the nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. I am concerned about Mr. Tillerson’s numerous potential conflicts of interest, especially his close ties with Russia’s Vladmir Putin. These ties are worrisome in light of the US intelligence community’s assertion that there was Russian interference in the November 2016 election. Furthermore, Tillerson’s stance on climate change is unclear and should be considered during his confirmation because as Secretary of State he could have some influence on environmental policy. Thank you for your time.

Courtesy of Kendall Shearman

*URGENT* #SaveACA Conference Call TONIGHT 7 pm CST

SUNDAY

Austin Writers Resist: A Counter-Inauguration

6-9 p.m. at BookPeople

—

View all our scripts here:

Sample Scripts