Take Action
The "We Choose To Fight" national Zoom call February 2 was great -- exactly what we all needed to have organized leadership and inspiration from a great coalition who know how to fight for our Democratic rights. Here's the call recording if you missed it, or want to hear those motivating messages again.
URGENT: Call Senator Tillis to Vote Against Emil Bove
There is a dangerous nominee coming up for a vote in the U.S. Senate. Emil Bove, one of Trump's own former defense attorneys, has a record that shows he puts political loyalty far ahead of the law. He pushed to fire the prosecutors who went after the January 6 attackers and was even accused by a DOJ whistleblower of telling officials to use a crude, two-word curse to disregard court orders. He also helped broker a deal to drop corruption charges against a political ally in a blatant quid pro quo.
Giving a man like that a lifetime seat on a federal court isn't just a bad call—it's a permanent loss for the rule of law. We can’t afford to have a political player in a judge’s robe for the next thirty years.
The FINAL committee vote is this Thursday, and Senator Thom Tillis is the key. As you know, he is retiring, which gives him more freedom to do the right thing. More importantly, he has already rejected another nominee for politicizing the January 6 investigations! His own past words make it very hard for him to support Bove now.
Make the call to Senator Thom Tillis: 202-224-6342
Sign Petition to Pause Student Loan Payments
According to an official at the Department of Education (ED), interest will begin accruing for anyone in the SAVE forbearance as early as August 1. Right now, the SAVE plan is being challenged in the courts, and the Department is claiming that a ruling from back in February requires them to resume interest.
ADD YOUR NAME: PAUSE STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS NOW
The timing of this announcement really could not come at a worse time. While so many of us are worried about housing, food, medical, and childcare costs, we’re now being dealt another blow. Additionally, most income-driven repayment (IDR) plans are going away in the coming years due to the recent reconciliation bill, which will leave borrowers with limited repayment options and skyrocketing student loan payments. This is simply unacceptable.
Good Trouble Call to Action
One of our calls to action on Thursday for the Good Trouble Lives On Rally will be to educate our friends and neighbors on the upcoming municipal elections this NOVEMBER! Did you know that the voter turnout for municipal elections is abysmal - it was 16% during the last Greensboro municipal election. That means every voter we get to the polls can have a large impact!
Feel free to share this graphic to make sure your networks are registered to vote AND know that there are elections coming up this November!
Call Your NC General Assembly House Representatives to Sustain Gov. Stein’s Vetos
VETO SEASON is here! The NCGA has completed its initial work following the crossover between the NC Senate and the NC House. Big shout out to Rep. Tracy Clark for getting this information together!
Governor Stein is now up to 11 bills vetoed (for very good reasons):
The latest vetoes include:
SB 254 Charter School Changes
SB 266 The Power Bill Reduction Act
SB 227 Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education
SB 558 Eliminating “DEI” in Public Higher Ed
HB 549 Clarify Powers of State Auditor
HB 805 Prevent Sexual Exploitation/Women and Minors
HB 171 Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI
This article does a good job explaining the various bills and their issues.
We are now on veto watch. The NC House is supposedly not coming back to session until July 29 so let’s hope the NCGA can stick to a schedule and not spring any surprise votes on members. Republicans need a super majority to override a veto, which is 72 votes in the House. The current House makeup is 49D; 71R. If 1 or 2 members are absent, they need 71 to overrule a veto. If 3 are absent, they need 70 to overrule a veto.
Watch this space for CALLS TO ACTION!
Find your NCGA House Member. And stay ready to contact them and ask them to uphold Gov. Stein’s veto.
Become a Community Ally of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE)
Community Allies are friends, parents, and community members who believe that every student in North Carolina, regardless of family income or place of residence, deserves a quality education. Learn more here!
Summer Postcarding
We're partnering with Postcards to Swing States to write postcards to voters in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and most of all, our neighbors to the north in Virginia!
Find out more information and sign up here.
Want to host your own…
…bridge or sidewalk protest? How about a social gathering or book club? Do you want to host something in your neighborhood? Here is your opportunity! We recognize that we can't be everywhere and want our members to have the opportunity plan their own events! Just fill out this form and we will promote your event for you on Facebook and Mobilize!
(Please give us at least 48 hours notice for the events to be reviewed and posted.)
Advocate for Teachers: Write to the State Health Plan Board
The North Carolina GOP is at it again: They have consistently denied any pay raises to teachers over the years, stating lack of funds -- while they dish out millions in vouchers to religious unregulated private schools. Now they are pushing to increase the premiums and out-of-pocket maximums for educators' health insurance benefits. This was one of the only perks for their underpaid public service. Out-of-pocket maximums are slated to increase from $5900 per person up to $9000 per person and deductibles would increase from $1500 per person up to $5000 per person. The cost of carrying their entire family on the plan would increase as well. We are already having problems recruiting enough teachers in the current pay environment and this will not help.
Please write to the members of the State Health Plan Board and let them know you won’t stand for those who educate our children to be treated this poorly any longer. NC has been near the bottom of teacher pay for many years now. It’s time for a change! There are 10 members on the State Health Plan’s Board of Trustees and they can all be contacted via e-mail at SHPBoard@nctreasurer.com.
If you prefer to send snail mail, you can send written correspondence to:
NC State Health Plan
Attention: Board of Trustees
3200 Atlantic Ave
Raleigh, NC 27604
Become a Member
Email us today to join our newsletter and become a member!
Donate
Help us with any financial needs for our events!
Wishlist
Help us fund our postcard and letter writing, plus all our other events.