POLITICAL ACTION WITH THE WITCHING HOUR 12/3

The Witching Hour is HausWitch’s attempt to help our community stay accountable for their activism. We call representatives, senators and other government officials from around the Salem, MA area about things we care about and donate to local causes.

The next Hour is December 18th at 7pm at the shop.

Can’t make it to The Witching Hour? Too far away? Thinking about starting your own accountability group? Two words: Do it! Email cheryl@hauswitch.com if you need guidance.

Sadness Naps for All

If we're being honest, most people are pretty politically fatigued at this stage of the game. It's been almost a year of this insanity. With the news this week I was feeling pretty down. But you know what? There are some small wins every day. I met with some fellow Salemites who are forward-thinking progressives about a new group in town and there are still ways to make your voice be heard:

What we can still do about Net Neutrality:

Besides calling reps and the FCC please make sure to write down your thoughts for the record during this public comment period. I’ll be emailing around a script, or if you want to do this now here are the steps:

1. Go to gofccyourself.com
2. Click “+Express”
3. Check that “Proceeding(s)” is pre-populated with 17-108. If not, type 17-108 and click enter.
4. Fill in the Form
5. Under “Brief Comments” talk about your internet business, your friend's internet business, and how nixing net neutrality will effectively destroy small businesses that rely on the internet.

What we can still do about the Senate Tax Plan:

If 11 GOP House reps change their votes, the horrific tax bill can be defeated. Here is the list of HR1-yes-voting reps most susceptible to pressure (because they're in Dem-leaning districts). If you're a voter in any of these districts, call, write, visit their offices, ring their doorbells, give them no rest. Ask yourself if you know anyone who might live in one of these districts. If so, urge them to call, write, etc. I will be including this in the email so you can copy and paste it.

CA-10: Denham   CA-21: Valadao CA-25: Knight CA-39: Royce CA-45: Walters CO-06: Coffman FL-26: Curbelo FL-27: Ros-Lehtinen IA-01: Blum NY-22: Tenney

NY-24: Katko   OH-10: Turner OH-14: Joyce PA-06: Costello PA-08: Fitzpatrick PA-15: Dent TX-23: Hurd VA-10: Comstock WA-03: Buetler WA-08: Reichert

New progressive group in Salem: Progressive Salem MA

There is a new group forming in Salem that will hopefully unite the smaller progressive groups (like us!) that have been popping up around Salem. Head here join and I will approve you! This group is in its beginnings and this forum is meant to be a voice for the membership. The goal is to create a true, strong political arm in Salem that isn’t beholden to the whims of the Democratic Party and function more swiftly and nimbly than other political party-associated groups.

Call and thank your representatives (More scripts can be found on 5calls.org)

Seth Moulton + 202-225-8020 and if the office voicemail is full: + 978-531-1669

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, STATE, STREET]. I’m calling for a few reasons. First, I'm calling to express my opposition to [H.R.38 for House/S.446 for Senate]. This bill would invalidate state-level concealed carry restrictions, make it difficult for law enforcement to verify whether a weapon is legally carried, and essentially allow permitless carry across the country. Second, I’m calling today to ask Rep. Seth Moulton to support a clean DREAM Act and reject Trump’s demands to include massive, unnecessary spending on border security to the bill. It is unfair and immoral to use the lives of hundreds of thousands of young DACA recipients as bargaining chips to score political gains. Lastly, I'm calling to urge Rep. Seth Moulton to support [H.R. 669 if House, S. 200 if Senate] to prohibit the President from launching a nuclear first strike before Congress has declared war.

Thank you for your hard work answering the phones. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Call and thank our senators

+1 202-224-2742 (Office of Edward J. Markey, one of our Senators)

+1 202-224-4543 (Office of Elizabeth Warren, one of our Senators)

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, STATE, STREET]. I'm calling for a few reasons: First, I'm calling to express my opposition to [H.R.38 for House/S.446 for Senate]. This bill would invalidate state-level concealed carry restrictions, make it difficult for law enforcement to verify whether a weapon is legally carried, and essentially allow permitless carry across the country. Secondly, I'm calling to express my strong opposition to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the provision that enables a fetus to be the beneficiary of a 529 college savings account. This provision is an obvious unconstitutional attempt to erode abortion rights since parents-to-be can already open 529 accounts before a child's birth This act also has negative effects on students and higher education. The elimination of the student loan deduction and the taxation of tuition waivers would put devastating financial burdens on students. Congress should be working toward making higher education more affordable and attainable for everyone. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Ajit Pai, FCC Chairman
+202-418-1000

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a concerned customer from [CITY, STATE, STREET]. .

[IF FCC]: I'm calling to express my disapproval that the FCC is trying to kill net neutrality and the strong Title II oversight of Internet Service Providers. Preserving an open internet is crucial for fair and equal access to the resources and information available on it. Thank you for your hard work answering the phones. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Call the House Judiciary Committee

+202-225-3951

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, STATE, STREET]. I'm calling to express my concern about HR 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. This legislation will open the door for near permitless carry across the country, and I ask the committee to not move this bill to the House floor for consideration. Thank you for your hard work answering the phones. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Call local legislators: Senator Joan B. Lovely 617-722-1410 and Representative Paul Tucker 617-722-2396.

Hi, my name is [Name] and I’m a constituent from Salem at [#] [Street], Salem. First, I want to thank you for your recent vote to override the governor's elimination of funding for the youth homelessness line item 4000-0007, restoring $675,000 to the budget. Second, I am calling to ask you to make supplemental funding for housing and services for youth experiencing homelessness a priority when the Legislature starts formal sessions again in January. We must increase funds to address the urgent needs of young people without homes. Please speak to Legislative Leadership so that funding at least matches the Fiscal Year 2017 budget of two million dollars. While this amount would not be enough to meet all the housing, shelter, and service needs of youth and young adults age 24 and younger who are living outside the custody and care of their parents or guardians, it would allow the state to make a deeper impact. We know all too well that youth homelessness takes its toll on both the youth and our society at large. [Add a personal story about why this matters to you. This can be a personal story about yourself or a young person you know who has experienced homelessness or housing instability, a general value that makes you care about youth homelessness like protecting vulnerable people, etc.] Thank you for your time. Please let me know actions the (Representative/Senator) takes.

Choose (at least) two events and go to them before the next Witching Hour. Find a buddy, or a few and carpool.

Find all links to Facebook Events in our Google Doc: http://bit.ly/WitchingHourDoc

Before the Moon on 12/18/17:

12/5/17
Salem Democratic City Committee Year End Meeting & Holiday Party

12/6/17
Homeless for the Holidays Wine Tasting

12/7/17
Salem Stands with Puerto Rico Fundraiser

12/8/17
3rd Annual Rock for HAWC Fundraiser SHOW

12/10/17
Children's Protest: Stop the Detentions & Deportations

12/10/17
Stop the GOP Tax Plan

12/14/17
Reimagine Manhood: A Prevention Summit

12/14/17
Civics for Educators and Youth Workers Workshop

12/14/17
New Americans Voter Registration Drive

12/17/17
Massachusetts Bail Fund Annual Fundraiser

12/17/17
Decolonize Puerto Rico: March and Rally

12/17/17
GRCB Holiday Rock n' Roll Social

Friendly Reminder:

Our Moon Meditation starts at 8pm. If you come to The Witching Hour to get political and then want to stay for the meditation please remember to buy your ticket ahead of time next time at stag.hauswitch.com/events. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay in the shop…without a ticket ;).

Questions? Email hellol@hauswitch.com.