Category: Our Elected Representatives

Can Jim Mattis Hold the Line in Trump’s ‘War Cabinet’?

Can Jim Mattis Hold the Line in Trump’s ‘War Cabinet’?

by | Mar 31, 2018 | ,

Dismissed as a warmonger during the Obama presidency, the defense secretary may be the only reliable voice of caution left in an administration inching closer to the brink. Relying on the reputation of generals to win over Congress or the public “sets up military leaders as the guarantors of public support, something that should be anathema to the longstanding balance of civil-military roles in America,” Mattis and a colleague wrote in an essay published in 2016.

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The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence

by | Mar 29, 2018 | , ,

When did you last read the Declaration of Independence? It grows increasingly relevant… “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” Makes you wonder if King George III assaulted women and had an orange comb-over.

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North Carolina GOP motto: If you can’t win your case, rig the courts

North Carolina GOP motto: If you can’t win your case, rig the courts

by | Mar 27, 2018 | , , , , , ,

North Carolina Republicans have been fighting for gerrymandered districts and suppressive voting laws for years. They’ve won too many victories. But they’ve also faced major defeats, principally in court. As Republicans await adjudication of a new round of critical cases—some dealing with their outrageous power-stripping moves against Gov. Roy Cooper (D)—they’ve changed their focus from laws to judges. Republicans’ sallies against individual judges are getting bolder (and more appalling).

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Tillis and NC Republicans paid $345,000 to the data firm that’s now banned from Facebook

Tillis and NC Republicans paid $345,000 to the data firm that’s now banned from Facebook

by | Mar 21, 2018 | , ,

Cambridge Analytica used the personal Facebook data of more than 50 million users, acquired through a third party, to create profiles of prospective voters and “microtarget” persuasive voting messages to them, according to a whistleblower who told his story to The Guardian and The New York Times.

Cambridge Analytica also worked for the Donald Trump campaign, earning more than $5.9 million in 2016 according to Federal Election Commission filings, and for the “Brexit” campaign in the United Kingdom.

Two years earlier, the data company helped Tillis, a Republican, defeat Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan by 1.7 points. It was at the time the most expensive U.S. Senate race in history with total spending of more than $121 million.

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Campaign Action Sign the petition to the U.S. Senate: Pass a bill to fully fund the Census Bureau and 2020 census activities.

Campaign Action Sign the petition to the U.S. Senate: Pass a bill to fully fund the Census Bureau and 2020 census activities.

by | Mar 18, 2018 | , , , , , , ,

The census historically undercounts communities of color, low-income people, and immigrant communities. The 2010 census failed to count over 1.5 million people of color. 1.5 million people weren’t counted when it was time to map voting districts and fund vital human services. Undercounting will have even harsher impacts on communities of color if we let Trump purposely starve the Census Bureau. 

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Sign the petition to US Senate: Reject armed Secret Service agents at polling places

Sign the petition to US Senate: Reject armed Secret Service agents at polling places

by | Mar 18, 2018 | , , , ,

Knowing armed agents could show up to polling places at any time at wouldn’t only intimidate voters in the moment—it could also keep people targeted by the Trump administration’s voter suppression efforts, like immigrants and people of color, from the polls in the first place.

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Tell Your Senators: End Our Unauthorized War in Yemen

Tell Your Senators: End Our Unauthorized War in Yemen

by | Mar 16, 2018 | , , , ,

This doesn’t happen very often—the Senate will soon debate and vote on an American war. Specifically, it will take up a bipartisan resolution (S.J.Res. 54) to end U.S. participation in the Yemen civil war.

This is a big deal. The United States’ role in the Yemen war is complicated and controversial. Importantly, it also hasn’t been authorized by Congress.

For too long, Congress has ceded its war powers to the executive branch. That’s always been a dangerous trend—but it’s especially perilous now that Donald Trump is the commander-in-chief.

There’s a lot at stake here. Here’s what you need to know.

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  • 19

    6:00 pm-8:30 pm
    04/19/2018
    Moving to Conservers
    Coffee Carts
    1061 Rosman Hwy, Brevard, NC 28712, USA

    Community Compost Raising

    You have heard of a barn raising.
    Join us for a community drop-off
    compost raising!

    When: April 19th at 6 pm

    Where: Coffee Carts
    1061 Rosman Hwy, Brevard, NC

    Hosted by: Moving to Conservers

    All are welcome! Please join us!

    We will be constructing a community
    compost drop-off site at Coffee Carts
    and celebrate with a community potluck!
    Bring a dish to share and your own
    non-disposable place setting. This is
    a zero-waste event.

    For more information email jbwkjc@gmail.com

  • 28

    8:00 am-12:00 pm
    04/28/2018
    Moving to Conservers

    The annual spring plant sale by the Transylvania Master Gardeners, The Transylvania Garden Club, The French Broad Garden Club and the Heritage Museum will be held Saturday, April 28, from 8 a.m. until noon at the Brevard Ingles parking lot on Asheville Highway. This will be the second year in this location and it allows very easy access and plenty of parking for customers.

    The annual plant sale raises funds to support gardening and landscape projects throughout Transylvania Count including the Master Gardeners projects including those at Silvermont and the Pisgah Ranger Station and scholarships provided by the garden clubs.

    Come early for the best selection from a large variety of high quality, locally raised perennials, annuals, vegetables, trees and shrubs. Local gardeners also will be on hand to offer advice.

    The plant sale takes place rain or shine. Admission is free.

    For more information, contact the Transylvania County Extension office, (828) 884-3109 or mmickew@ncsu.edu.

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RSS US House Activity Excerpt

  • H.R.5447
    Music Modernization Act (04/25/2018 legislative day)
  • H.R.3144
    To provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes. (04/25/2018 legislative day)
  • H.R.4009
    Smithsonian National Zoological Park Central Parking Facility Authorization Act (04/25/2018 legislative day)
  • H.Res.839
    Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4) to reauthorize programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3144) to provide for operations of the Federal Columbia River Power System pursuant to a certain operation plan for a specified period of time, and for other purposes; […]
  • H.R.256
    Protect Our Military Families' 2nd Amendment Rights Act (04/25/2018 legislative day)

RSS US Senate Activity Excerpt

  • PN1761
    Mike Pompeo, of Kansas, to be Secretary of State, vice Rex W. Tillerson. (04/25/2018 legislative day)
  • S.Res.429
    A resolution commemorating the 59th anniversary of Tibet's 1959 uprising as "Tibetan Rights Day", and expressing support for the human rights and religious freedom of the Tibetan people and the Tibetan Buddhist faith community. (04/25/2018 legislative day)
  • S.Res.401
    A resolution designating May 5, 2018 as the "National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls". (04/25/2018 legislative day)

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