Happy Thursday, Democrats! 
 

FEDERAL
 
Representative Bill Posey is No Patriot

In 2021, Bill Posey continues to show his true colors. They aren't red, white, and blue. On January 6, just hours after hiding from violent Trump-supporting rioters, Posey joined 146 other Republican congressman in refusing to certify Joe Biden's victory in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Posey followed this act of sedition with a vote against the American Rescue Plan, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, a relief package that even many, many Republicans support.  Bill Posey continues to wage war against our working families in Indian River County.  Posey has voted against the Equality Act, Protecting the Right to Organize, Background Checks, Violence Against Women Reauthorization, Our Dreamers, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, and Extending the Deadline for the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. 
 
Bill Posey voted for $0 stimulus checks.  Let your friends and families know who Bill Posey really is…a man who puts his own personal power ahead of his responsibility to represent the citizens in his district.
 
 

ACTION NEEDED: Campaigns Across America

Pop quiz! When is the best time to reach out to voters?

Did you say right before an election? Because while yes, that is a crucial period to turn out the vote, research shows that by that time, voters have already made up their mind and just need that last reminder to get to the polls. So, when is it that they learn about who's running in the election and whether or not they're going to support that candidate?

Well, many months prior to the election! So today, we wanted to take a moment and let you all know about three organizations with postcarding campaigns that are active right now or are about to start.

Postcards To Voters - They've got active campaigns happening right now. You can read all about their current postcarding campaign for a state Senate seat: https://postcardstovoters.org/2021/02/15/buchwald/.

Field Team 6 - They're active right now. Their focus is on registering Democrats. You can learn more about them and sign up for an account: https://fieldteam6.herokuapp.com/getting_started.
 
Postcards to Swing States - They are gearing up to get started again in early April. They'll be focusing on the statewide elections happening this year in Virginia and New Jersey. And both of those states have primaries in June so the time to get involved is right now! Sign up Here: https://postcardstoswingstates.com/.
 
 
 
STATE
 
ACTION NEEDED:  Ron DeSantis Wants to Suppress First Amendment Rights
 
HB 1/SB 484 is an authoritarian wish list of laws to stifle dissent. One outrageous feature of the bill is to create an "affirmative defense" for those accused of violence against peaceful participants in political rallies. This is the bill that would protect motorists who intentionally run over demonstrators. This is the bill that immunizes people like James Alex Fields, Jr. who ran over and injured 19 people and killed Heather Heyer as she protested at a KKK rally in Charlottesville. This bill says there are very fine people on both sides.

Features of HB 1 include: 

• It would require a person arrested for the minor charge of unlawful assembly to remain in custody until their first appearance for bail.
• The legislation would create a new “mob intimidation” offense that could be applied to three or more people who act “with a common intent, to compel or induce, or attempt to compel or induce, another person by force, or threat of force, to do any act or to assume or abandon a particular viewpoint."
• The bill would allow citizens to sue local governments trying to reduce local law-enforcement budgets and give the governor and cabinet the authority to overturn spending reductions.
• The bill will encourage violence against protesters peacefully exercising their first amendment rights by allowing a counter-protester to escape civil liability for injuring or killing a protester with their car, with a gun, or by any other means.

• MEDICAID: card or most recent eligibility letter for any member of your household.
• Public housing assistance documentation such as your lease, housing assistance payment (HAP) contract, or eligibility documentation from HUD.
• SNAP: letter indicating you are approved for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
• TANF: eligibility letter for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
• SSI: eligibility letter for Supplemental Security Income.
• NSLP/Head Start: copy of a letter indicating current participation in the National School Lunch Program or Head Start, with your child's name, the school name, and the address of where you are requesting service.
• LIHEAP: letter confirming your eligibility for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. 
• WIC: eligibility letter for the Women, Infants, and Children program.
• FEDERAL PELL GRANT: (Colorado and Illinois only) documentation from your community college’s financial aid office.
• VA PENSION: veterans pension eligibility determination letter from the Veterans Administration. 
• Tribal assistance eligibility letter, including TTANF, FDPIR, etc.

• High-speed Internet service
• No term contract
• No credit check
• Free self-install kit
• The option to purchase an Internet ready computer for just $149.99 + tax 
• Free online digital training classes and access to the Internet Essentials online Learning Center

Other Retail Options

Walmart and Sam's Club – http://www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine and http://www.samsclub.com/covid


Winn-Dixie – 
https://www.winndixie.com/pharmacy/covid-vaccine
 
Vaccine supply remains limited and appointments may not be available immediately.


 
TIDBITS
 
The Power of Hope

Watch the animated short film “The Power of Hope,” directed by 14-year-old Kalia Love Jones, tells the inspirational story of a young girl with big dreams. The film, inspired by a speech from former first lady Michelle Obama, is nominated for a NAACP Image Award.
 
https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/watch-14-year-old-filmmaker-kalia-love-jones-s-animated-short-film-the-power-of-hope/vi-BB1eQbpK?ocid=msedgntp
 
 
 

That’s all!
See you next week!
Stay Safe and Well!