Week of July 24, 2017
Early Friday morning, with three key Republican NO votes, the Senate’s latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid failed decisively. That victory was a testament to constituent power. Groups from all over the country banded together to protect our care — and it worked!
Back in January, we heard daily that the ACA would be repealed in full on day 1. Here we are, more than six months later, with Congress’ repeal attempts in tatters. This is a huge win!
But this fight is not over, and as a movement we’ll need to remain vigilant against further attacks on the ACA and Medicaid, promised as early as this week. Together we’ll keep fighting until zealots like Ted Cruz and John Cornyn no longer hold office.
View our photo album from Saturday’s March for Healthcare Austin: Our Lives on the Line. We’ll keep organizing to protect our care as long as we need to!
There are two things you can do this week to keep this momentum going this week:
- Call John Cornyn and Ted Cruz’s offices and tell them that you expect the senate to return to “regular order,” with bipartisan cooperation and at least 60 votes on any healthcare bill.
- Support National ADAPT’s “Disability Integration Act” (DIA). Call both senators and your House representative and tell them to support the DIA, which addresses the fundamental issue that people who need Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) are forced into institutions, rather than remain in their communities.
Monday, July 24
All Day #TXLEGE Action: Flood Texas Republican Senators’ Phone Lines
From Indivisible TX LEGE:
We’re targeting the four Republican Senators below, and the Lt. Gov’s office. But after you’ve called these four Senators & the Lt. Gov, feel free to contact any one of the Republican Senators’ offices.
Senator Don Huffines
Capitol: (512) 463-0116
District: (214) 239-6131
Senator Joan Huffman
Capitol: (512) 463-0117
District: (281) 980-3500
Senator Donna Campbell
Capitol: (512) 463-0125
District: (210) 979-0013
Senator Konni Burton
Capitol: (512) 463-0110
District: (817) 882-8157
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Capitol: (512) 463-0001
Capitol: (512) 463-5342
Background & Script Suggestions:
The agenda being jammed through with little oversight or public input this special session are a huge waste of my taxpayer money. Texas has real problems. There are other things that really matter for Texans, that we should be focusing on, but it’s clear that the Senator/Lt Gov doesn’t care. The Sunset bill should have been all we needed.
Republicans are attempting to revive legislation that would divert public funds to private school vouchers and restrict bathroom use for transgender students, which would subject kids to dangerous bullying and, would further vilify a misunderstood minority group.
It is deeply troubling that the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the Senator are cynically using Texas’ children as pawns in a political game where our students, schools and educators will be the biggest losers.
This is a war on local control. We elect city council members and our neighborhoods know what’s best for our citizens. I heard the Senator try to use the term “liberty,” but individual liberties do not trump the common good of our society. This is just another proxy war for the “them vs us” strain of paranoia politics that’s taken over Texas.
Furthermore, these bills push unfunded mandates onto cities and counties; the teacher raise is a perfect example of that. It doesn’t go into effect until 2020, it’s a paltry $60 a month AT MOST, and there’s still no telling there’s no NEW money for it. It just means local ISD’s have to cough that money up somehow.
The state–and the Republican party–needs to accept responsibility for its failure to properly fund public education and for our ever increasing property taxes, which will continue to increase unless a real, long-term solution is proposed. That is not happening in this special session.
7 p.m. Bill Flores (TX-17) Tele-Town Hall (Northern Counties)
Telephone and Video Town Hall Northern Counties (Falls, Freestone, Leon, Limestone, McLennan, Milam and Robertson)
Call-in number: 1-877-229-8493 Access code: 111954
Tele-Town Halls are a sham. But you can still make the most of them. Watch this short video for tips on how to do that.
Tuesday, July 25
Morning. Senate to vote on “motion to proceed” on ACA repeal / BCRA vote — they need 51 Senators, so keep calling!
7 p.m. Bill Flores (TX-17) Tele-Town Hall (Southern Counties)
Telephone and Video Town Hall Southern Counties (Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Lee and Travis) Tuesday, July 25, 2017 7:05 PM – 8:05 PM Call-in number: 1-877-229-8493 Access code: 111954
See the video in Monday’s section for tips on how to make the most of sham Tele-Town Halls.
Wednesday, July 26
Volunteer to help out with Indivisible TX Lege
In the coming weeks, and importantly to prep for the 2018 elections, Indivisible TX Lege needs your help! Let them know how you can help create a Texas that better reflects the rich diversity and empathy of its residents.
Indivisible TX Lege – I want to help!
Thursday, July 27
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Indivisible Austin Women’s Lunchtime Coffee Meetup
New World Deli, 4101 Guadalupe
Back by popular demand! The Indivisible Women’s Lunchtime Coffee Meetup is now coming to you monthly. This is intended as a safe space to get to know each other, network, discuss our activism activities, check in about how we’re holding up, and see if we can offer help, resources, and connections for our various resistance activities. This will be a facilitated discussion and every attempt will be made to make sure everyone attending has a chance to be heard and offer their thoughts, struggles, questions, etc.
Friday, July 28
Check back for TX Lege and Trumpcare updates.
Saturday, July 29
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March for Healthcare Austin: Our Lives on the Line
Austin City Hall, 301 W 2nd St
With the fate of healthcare coverage for millions of Americans still hanging on the line, we invite you to help us form a LIFE LINE for all those that depend on the ACA and Medicaid to survive and thrive! Join us on Saturday, July 29 at City Hall from 10am noon. We will gather at 10 a.m. with the program starting at 10:20. At roughly 11:05 we will begin to form LIFE LINES down the two sides of Congress Avenue and we will MAKE SOME NOISE! COME HELP US FORM THE LONGEST LIFE LINE POSSIBLE for the 22-32 (depending on which bill you look at) Americans whose healthcare is at risk.
This event is part of the national OUR LIVES ON THE LINE movement that is working to raise the voices of people across the nation to send a message to Congress to Protect Our Care!
On the LIFE LINE that we will physically hold for all to see, we will hang our STORIES. Please bring or be prepared to write your personal story or – if not directly impacted – your reason for supporting healthcare for ALL.
WHAT YOU CAN BRING:
- Yourself, your family and friends
- An item to contribute to a massive community display to honor and lift up the lives of those threatened by cuts any cuts to our healthcare (photographs, written stories, letters, drawings) or an item that celebrates the lives and health of those helped by the ACA!
- 2 copies of a personal letter we’ll hand deliver to Senators Cornyn and Cruz detailing your concerns about undermining the ACA and cutting Medicaid
- Sunscreen, water, bug spray
Our coalition includes Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, ADAPT OF TEXAS, Our Revolution Central TX, Indivisible Austin, Austin DSA, TARA Austin, Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, Young Invincibles, Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas, Left Up To US, and others.
Join our diverse coalition on Saturday July 29 at 10 a.m. We welcome Texans from all racial and ethnic backgrounds and from all identities to speak with one voice for our health, our children, and our nation!