First look at state and local ballot props
Indivisible SF Newsletter
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Republican obstruction tactics have once again brought us to the verge of yet another government shutdown. Federal authority to spend money expires at midnight Friday because Republican extremists in the Senate have blocked passage of all 12 appropriations bills. Their tactic is gun-to-the-head extortion: "Give us the right-wing policies and programs that we don't have enough popular support or Congressional votes to pass legitimately or we'll force the government—which we loathe—to shut down."
To keep the lights on and maintain essential federal services, a Continuing Resolution (CR) has to be passed before the Friday midnight deadline. In essence, a CR authorizes federal departments to keep spending money as they have been doing for the same purposes and at the same levels for a limited time until new appropriations bills can be enacted.
Senator Manchin (D-WV) tried his own version of gun-to-the-head political extortion by trying to jam through his anti-environment, pro-fossil fuel, "permit-reform" bill (his “dirty deal”) by inserting it into the must-pass CR. Progressives in Congress wanted Manchin’s deal presented as a separate bill, subject to full debate and public scrutiny. Therefore, Manchin had to have Republican votes to jam it into the CR—but they stiffed him. They refused to back his ploy in part as political payback to punish him for supporting the Inflation Reduction Act and in part because they want even worse anti-environment permit-reform legislation.
Because the proposed CR is being negotiated in secret by a small group of congressional leaders, it's still unclear what is in it and what is not (other than Manchin's dirty deal). If past is prologue, we can expect Republicans to try to jam in their Wall Street-friendly fiscal provisions and also their repugnant anti-democratic social policies known as "poison pills."
As we have so many times before, Indivisible SF will oppose Republican poison pill tricks.
** October is almost here. Are you ready to vote?
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In a little over a week, you can expect to receive your ballot in the mail for the October–November 2022 general election. (If you’re registered to vote! Check your registration now at the City’s Voter Portal ([link removed]) .)
Early voting is easy voting, and it’s easiest when you’ve started your decision-making ahead of time. In that spirit, we offer an early peek at the propositions—both state and local—that await your yes-or-no votes this October.
Read our explainer on the ballot propositions ([link removed]) on our blog. And check out our Vote page ([link removed]) for more information.
** Student loan relief: What you need to do, and when you need to do it by
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The Biden Administration is delivering student loan relief on multiple fronts.
* If you’ve been working for schools, the government, or non-profits, you may be eligible for expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
* The Department of Education is working on a new income-driven repayment plan that won’t allow your balance to increase as long as you make your minimum payments.
* Borrowers who got fleeced by certain for-profit schools will be able to apply to have entire loans canceled.
* And, oh yeah, there’s that $10,000 or $20,000 of one-time forgiveness.
The biggest catch: There are deadlines. Some of these are available now but closing soon; others aren’t open yet but coming soon.
Our blog post lays out in simple terms what you can do to get all the relief available to you, and when you’ll have to do it by. Read our explainer here! ([link removed])
** Get your updated COVID-19 booster!
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Right now, you can book your appointment to get the new 2022 booster that covers the BA.5 variant. It’s available through healthcare providers, at chain pharmacies (including Walgreens and Safeway), through county vaccination sites, and on MyTurn. Kids 12 and older can get Pfizer; adults 18 and older can get Pfizer or Moderna, although Moderna is currently hard to find due to supply issues. Whichever you pick, make your appointment now to restore maximum protection.
It’s also time for you to get your flu shot. Flu shots are available through your healthcare provider and at all chain pharmacies, including Costco.
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If you’re interested in participating in activities like drafting letters to our Members of Congress and developing our strategy for influencing them, the Indivisible SF Federal Working Group ([link removed]) is where it happens. Our next meeting is on Thursday, Oct. 13. Details on how to register below.
ISF Federal Working Group meeting: Thursday, Oct. 13, 7:30–9 PM. Register here ([link removed]) to join our regular Zoom meeting, where we work together to develop strategies for influencing our Members of Congress and the Biden administration to support a progressive agenda. We welcome anyone who wants to participate and contribute, even if you’ve never attended an ISF meeting before.
Indivisible Sonoma County “Hold the House” Online Meeting with guest Josh Harder, CA-09: TONIGHT, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 6:00–6:45 PM. The road to keeping our House majority runs through California, where we have the opportunity to hold a number of the “Blue Wave” districts that we flipped in 2018. One of those districts is the newly-configured CA-09, where Josh Harder is defending his seat against Republican challenger Tom Patti. Please join us on Wednesday, September 28th, at 6:00 pm as we welcome CA-09 incumbent Congressman Josh Harder as our guest for our seventh “Hold the House” meeting.
RSVP here. ([link removed])
You can also RSVP now for next week’s “Hold the House” meeting with Mike Levin ([link removed]) (CA-49).
Bay Area Coalition Phone Banks: Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Help our friends at Swing Left talk to voters about the upcoming primaries and midterms. Join Swing Left and the Bay Area Coalition on Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons to make calls to voters in California and around the nation. Sign up to participate from home ([link removed]) or in person ([link removed]) :
* TODAY, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 5–7 PM
* Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 AM–12 PM
* Sunday, Oct. 2, 1–3 PM
* Tuesday, Oct. 4, 11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Voter registration drive in the California Central Valley with Swing Left: Saturdays. Do you want to help register voters in Central Valley CD-13 and CD-22, from Modesto to Bakersfield? Join our friends in Swing Left every weekend until Tuesday, November 8, for door-to-door and COVID-safe canvassing to register voters. Sign up here ([link removed]) :
* Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 AM–3:30 PM
* Saturday, Oct. 8, 9 AM–3:30 PM
* Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 AM–3:30 PM
** About this week’s photo
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If you’ve seen our newsletter posts on Twitter and Facebook, you might have noticed that we include a photo or graphic with each issue.
Today’s image is a social graphic of a ballot with the text “October is Voting Month” overlaid on it. The social graphic was made by one of our members using their own photo.
Keep Fighting,
The Indivisible SF Team ([link removed])
If you'd like to support our all-volunteer team:
DONATE HERE ([link removed])
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