Take Action
Ask Gov. Abbott “Where are the tests?”
Gov. Greg Abbott is rolling out plans to reopen Texas businesses. He needs to hear from us that, without adequate testing and other measures, this will be a death sentence for many Texans.
ProPublica interviewed experts and frontline officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea and identified the commonalities needed to contain the virus, including:
- Testing on a scale far greater than what we have today.
- Contact tracing—other countries are deploying thousands of people to do this.
- Humane ways to isolate people suspected of having the virus.
Additionally—and specifically to Texas—Governor Abbott needs to EXPAND MEDICAID to provide health care to millions of currently uninsured Texans.
Demand that federal COVID-19 relief helps people, not corporations
Here’s what a moral and ethical government would do right now:
- Keep people on payrolls: Stop mass layoffs, and preserve employment relationships for all businesses, including small businesses. Ensure federal dollars go to workers and small businesses, not enriching CEOs and Wall Street.
- Provide financial relief: Expand aid for the most vulnerable in the COVID-19 epidemic, including direct cash assistance, increased food aid, debt relief, and eviction protections.
- Protect public health: Guarantee full health coverage for all COVID-19 care and protections for all frontline workers.
- Defend elections: Enact a vote-by-mail requirement for 2020 federal elections while maintaining access to in-person voting for those who do not have access to mail voting.
Keep supporting the USPS: Buy stamps and demand full funding
Not coincidentally, as vote-by-mail gains traction, Trump and the GOP are trying to gut the U.S. Postal Service. In addition to being a public utility, encoded in the Constitution, the USPS provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of Americans, including a disproportionate number of veterans and minority groups.
Virtual Events
Monday, April 27
Virtual Roundtable with Julie Oliver—Mental Health
6 p.m. Join Julie, along with Melanie Dyer, Cassandra Hulsey and Tarik Daniels, for a virtual roundtable on mental health and remaining socially, but not emotionally, distant during this time. They will be discussing how we can approach mental health, and talk through ways we can support one another and stay healthy while weathering this uniquely challenging time.
Last day of the #TXLEGE “Week of Giving” to local food banks
The Texas House Women’s Caucus and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus held a “Week of Giving” to local food banks. Rep. Vicki Goodwin: “Nearly 1 in 7 Texans are food insecure, and we know that has likely risen with COVID-19. Please consider donating or volunteering this week and help spread the word by using #iGaveTX.”
Give to or volunteer for Central Texas Food Bank (and continue giving after today!)
Tuesday, April 28
Special City Council Meeting on COVID-19
Beginning at 9 a.m. City Council will meet to discuss matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and response efforts, including the public orders that are in place.
Physician Town Hall with Dr. Sang and Dr. Johannsen (hosted by State Rep. Erin Zwiener
State Rep. Erin Zwiener will be joined by Dr. Lee Cal Johannsen, MD (Chief Medical Officer at Christus Santa Rosa – San Marcos), and Dr. John E. Lee Sang, MD (Pathologist, Tri County Medical Society) for a discussion on COVID-19.
Ongoing
National Virtual Letter Writing Parties from Swing Left
Join Swing Left staff and volunteers from around the country for a virtual letter writing party, where we’ll be writing letters to potential voters asking them to vote in critical elections.
RSVP to write letters with Swing Left
Congress Critters of the Week: Reps. Michael McCaul & Chip Roy
Reps. Michael McCaul and Chip Roy were two of three Texas GOP reps who refused to wear protective face coverings on the House floor last week. (The third was Louie Gohmert, if that’s any indication of the company these critters keep.)
This might seem like Texans trying to look tough “cowboy” their way through a crisis, but let’s remember that the point of the masks is not to protect yourself but to protect others. Mike and Chip could very well be asymptomatic carriers of COVID-19 and just willingly put their colleagues at risk of contracting the deadly disease.
Are these guys your reps? Give ‘em a call. McCaul: (512) 473-2357. Roy: (512) 253-4420.
Read more in the Dallas Morning News
Activist Spotlight: “Oh This World” podcast
Austin activists Lucas Schaefer and Antoinette Perez—both very active in TX21 and TXLEGE Indivisible groups—have a new podcast called “Oh This World.” And it’s delightful. Tune in each weekday for their warm and whipsmart banter, and for recommendations on “the best actions to take as responsible citizens in this supremely uncertain new world (dis)order.”
OhThisWorld (@OhThisWorldPod) on Twitter
Oh This World (BuzzSprout)
Coronavirus News & Resources
COVID-19 Testing Information (City of Austin)
TX10 Resource Guide (Mike Siegel campaign)
TX17 Resource Guide (Rick Kennedy campaign)
TX21 Resource Guide (Wendy Davis campaign)
TX25 Resource Guide (Julie Oliver campaign)
TX31 Resource Guide (Christine Mann campaign)
TX35 Resource Guide (office of Rep. Lloyd Doggett)
Texas, Fort Worth need more coronavirus testing to reopen (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
I just lost my job. How do I get health insurance? (CPPP)
How New Mexico Jump Started Aggressive COVID-19 Testing (TPM)
In times of crisis, progressives show how leadership is done (Progress Texas)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announces team to restart the economy, loosens some restrictions (Texas Tribune)
Editorial: Grocery store workers also on front lines (San Antonio Express News)
COVID-19: How You Can Help (RAICES)
Please consider donating to @workersdefense Undocu Fund.
Undocumented folks have been denied their basic rights in this pandemic. No unemployment benefits. No relief check.
For those of us who have the privilege to do so, lets give in solidarity. https://t.co/6RlIXqrLjr
— Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) April 24, 2020
We interviewed experts and frontline officials from Italy, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.
Of all of them, we found more commonalities than differences. So…
These are the 7 things we must do before we open up America.
A thread:
— ProPublica (@propublica) April 23, 2020
Please consider donating to @workersdefense Undocu Fund.
Undocumented folks have been denied their basic rights in this pandemic. No unemployment benefits. No relief check.
For those of us who have the privilege to do so, lets give in solidarity. https://t.co/6RlIXqrLjr
— Gregorio Casar (@GregCasar) April 24, 2020
We all want businesses reopened as soon as possible, but we have to follow doctors' orders for it to be safe to do so. That starts with better testing.
THREAD on testing – what Gov. Abbott has said, what the data shows, and what his and other experts recommend (1/28)#txlege
— Chris Turner (@ChrisGTurner) April 22, 2020
National Endorsement
Indivisible TX 25 East and Wimberley Indivisible nominated Julie Oliver for a national endorsement. If you would like to join their groups or get involved, you can find them on their Facebook pages: Wimberley Indivisible and Indivisible TX25 East Austin.
From the national Indivisible Project:
Julie Oliver was another Texas candidate whom we endorsed in 2018 and also came closer than ever to flipping a red district. We are endorsing Julie to represent Texas’ 25th district once again because she has shown she is still committed to the issues that matter and is again running a people-powered campaign. Julie was spurred to run after seeing Republicans attack the healthcare of the sick, the elderly, and people with disabilities. She wants to go to Congress to stand up for these people instead of taking away the services their lives depend on. Indivisible is proud to endorse Julie and is committed to fighting alongside her, in the campaign trail and in Congress.
Congratulations, Julie!
Your Moment of Zen
Juvenile primate mauled by domesticated wolves. Horrific. pic.twitter.com/xSjryH7cRg
— Steve Stewart-Williams (@SteveStuWill) April 18, 2020