Haunted House of Delegates: Oct. 23rd-30th

10/29/2017 0 Comments

Haunted House of Delegates: Oct. 23rd-30th

Happy Halloween Teen Resisters! This week, we're coming atcha with issues new and old that deserve your attention and dedication.

What went down:

Virginia Senate Races: Things are heating up in Virginia! We know what you're thinking: Virginia went for Hillary last election so what is there to worry about? A lot, it turns out. Virginia's governor and lieutenant governor are both Democrats and a large portion of the state is progressively minded. But due to gerrymandering (purposeful rezoning of districts in an inequitable way for political gain), the majority of Virginia's state congress is Republican. There are some pretty BS bills being proposed: ones that target women and minorities in particular and they're in huge danger of passing if we don't try to Flip Virginia Blue. There are a few candidates that are running and could help make sure that these laws aren't passed- and you can help from wherever you are.
What you can do: Through the lovely work of NYC's The Broad Room (thebroadroomnyc.com), 7 of us had the opportunity to attend a phone bank for two candidates we'll highlight: Danica Roem and Jennifer Carroll Foy.
About Danica: Danica Roem is a Virginia native, and her campaign has focused on fixing transportation and infrastructure problems in her district. She's a mom and worked for nine years as a journalist. If elected, she'll also be the first transgender person ever elected in the House of Delegates. She knows these issues in and out and they matter to her. Call for Danica here.
About Jennifer: Jennifer Carroll Foy is a foster mom and was one of the first Black women to graduate Virginia Military Institute. She has worked as a public defender and she promises to protect VA's water supply from coal ash contamination, protect Planned Parenthood funding, education, transportation and help Medicaid stay strong in VA. Call for Jennifer here.
Want a more general way to help VA? Click this link for a great resource. Interested in seeing rad pics from The Broad Room's event? Click here (and play Spot the Teen Resisters!).

DACA: If you haven't heard, Trump is planning on rolling back DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), an imperative program that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children (under 16). Known as Dreamers, these people (some of whom are now in their 20s and have children) are able to get jobs and financial aid for college as well as live without fear of being deported. These children had no say over whether they were brought here or not and they have grown up in America and contribute immensely to our society. All of the benefits DACA provides will be no more if, come March, DACA is repealed. But good news! A Dream Act of 2017 is in the works. A bipartisan bill, it will work to make sure that DACA recipients have an easy path to citizenship, and in the meantime, won't live in fear of deportation.
What you can do: Call your reps! FWD (dreamers.fwd.us/daca-ending-call) provides a great way to call your senators in support of the Dream Act. Not a fan of their script? Check out ours via the Must-Have List.
Resources: fwd.us; maketheroadny.org; aclu.org

ACA Update: It's time to make sure we demand that congress fund cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers! Did you just read that sentence and audibly groan? We did too, when we first caught a glimpse of it on thesixtyfive.org. Here's what that basically means (in regular-people language): According to the LA Times, "The Affordable Care Act set up... [a system] in which Americans who don’t get coverage through an employer can shop among health plans that must all cover a basic set of benefits... Low- and moderate-income consumers qualify for subsidies [payments from the government] that offset the cost of their monthly insurance premiums." In addition to that, under Obamacare, people within 100-250% of the poverty line can receive extra subsidies and payments through certain Affordable Care Act plans. This does cost insurers extra- but through the ACA, the government would pay the companies back for it. It worked for everyone. Trump, however wants to change this and it would increase premiums and costs for insurance for people all over the country.
What you can do: Sign this petition. Have more time? Call your reps!
Script (adapted from the 65): Hello, I'm _____. I'm extremely concerned about Trump's announcement that he intends to end cost-sharing reduction payments to ACA insurers. I'm calling because I expect you to immediately pass legislation to fund CSRs and stabilize the insurance market. I want Congress to work on fair, bipartisan solutions to improve the ACA, not just cut it, and, in doing so, put millions of Americans in danger. Thank you.
Number: 202-224-3121