by Kate Turner '21
September 24, 2018
[Taken down for site construction and re-uploaded 5.17.19]
what are the dems up to?
Next week, we’ll be visited by Dan Carey, the Democratic nominee for state representative in Mount Holyoke’s district! He’ll be stopping in to give us a look into his campaign and a chance to ask him questions about his plans for the district.
Also coming up is the CDM (College Democrats of Massachusetts) Western Regional Kickoff this Saturday. The event will be hosted at Smith College and is a great opportunity to meet college Dems from other schools in the area.
We will be canvassing in South Hadley on behalf of Elizabeth Warren on Sunday! Shifts are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. — if you’re interested in signing up to help out and haven’t received an email prompting you to do so, reach out to Lily James (james22l) for more information!
in the pioneer valley
A coalition of Pioneer Valley organizations are meeting this week to discuss a natural gas pipeline expansion through parts of Hampden and Hampshire counties. The expansion was proposed by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the company that operated the gas lines involved in last week’s explosions.
state-wide
After inspections by federal regulators showed that the pressure inside gas pipes through the Merrimack Valley was 12 times higher than normal preceding last week’s explosions, newly-examined federal safety data shows that Columbia Gas has a history of noncompliance or delays with federal regulations. Columbia Gas and other subsidiaries of its parent company, NiSource, have reported at least 15 explosions since 2010, not including the three in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover last week.
Jay Gonzalez, the Democratic nominee for governor, has proposed a revenue plan that would include taxing college endowments at 1.6 percent, or a billion dollars annually. A similar proposal made by Republicans a year ago met with fierce opposition from Massachusetts Democrats, including Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Edward Markey (D) and Rep. Michael Capuano (D). They have so far been noncommittal regarding Gonzalez’s version of the plan.
national news
CW: Gun violence
Hurricane Florence is gone, but the Carolinas are struggling in its aftermath, with at least 42 dead so far and flood waters still rising. Here’s how to help victims of the storm.
The Trump administration is planning to cap the number of refugees allowed into the US for resettlement at 30,000, the lowest ceiling for our refugee program since its creation. The International Rescue Committee is an organization that responds directly to humanitarian crises, including working with the US to resettle refugees. Here’s their list of ways to help refugees in the US, including letting Congress know that the proposed cap for refugee resettlement is far too low.
The Trump administration is unable to account for the whereabouts of 1,500 of the migrant children recently released from government detention. The government reportedly placed them with sponsors, but their inability to locate these children has raised concerns that the children may be subject to human trafficking and unfair child labor practices.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is diverting millions of dollars from other programs, including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health, Head Start, the Ryan White HIV/Aids Program, and the National Cancer Institute to pay for housing for the growing number of detained migrant children.
A shooter at a Rite Aid distribution center in Maryland killed three and then herself on Thursday. This was at least the third workplace shooting in 24 hours, according to the New York Times. Here are seven actions you can take to prevent gun violence and a helpful guide for finding gun sense candidates to support in your area from Everytown for Gun Safety.
about elections
There’s no excuse not to vote in this year’s midterm elections! Check out Vote Save America to check whether you’re registered to vote, look into races in your area, and find out ways to take action.
Here are five battlefield districts to watch out for on November 6th, and an organization to connect with that will help you find swing districts in your area. Democrats only need to flip 23 seats to flip the house!
get involved!
CW: Sexual assault
Another woman has come forward with an allegation of sexual misconduct against Brett Kavanaugh. This woman, Deborah Ramirez, was a Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, and claims that in their first year of college, the two were at a party where she was encouraged by her classmates to drink copiously. Although her memory of the event is patchy due to her drunkenness, she remembers a penis being shoved into her face and Kavanaugh standing to her right, laughing and pulling up his pants. Ramirez’s allegations have been backed by the independent recollections of another classmate who was present at the party. Taken with Christine Blasey Ford’s story of sexual assault at the hands of Kavanaugh, the two women’s stories are remarkably similar (both, for example, involve the presence of alcohol).
Ford’s testimony is scheduled before the Senate for Thursday and Ramirez has scheduled an FBI investigation, but with two credible allegations against him, the evidence is clearer now than ever that Kavanaugh is not fit to serve.
Call your senators here and let them know how you feel.
Want to do more? There are seven undecided votes in the Senate on Kavanaugh’s nomination. Call them and let them hear your voice!
Doug Jones (D-AL)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)F
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
And, as always, check out this week’s Americans of Conscience checklist for easy, simple ways to take action!
stories we saw this week
From Maggie: This is What it's Like to Be a Teacher in America