What We Talked About
OUR CONCERN OVER THE SUPREME COURT... AND OUR SAFETY

Conservative companies are asking the Supreme Court to remove safety rules (for clean water, clean air, food safety and much more): Warren shared that Charles Koch (of the former Koch Brothers) is behind the upheaval of the case Chevron v. the Natural Resources Defense Council which is before the Supreme Court right now. Four of the conservative justices are ready to overturn the court’s earlier decision.

What’s this about? “Federal agencies frequently use highly trained experts to interpret and implement federal laws. Although the doctrine was relatively noncontroversial when it was first introduced in 1984, in recent years conservatives – including some members of the Supreme Court – have called for it to be overruled.” 

     In other words, they want to ignore the scientific experts & other watchdogs and have the court decide the rules (or lack thereof). Learn more here

AND THEN THERE’S THIS:  John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett are unsure if they should be in charge of everything

“Why is Chevron such a big deal?

Congress routinely passes laws that delegate policymaking authority to a federal agency.

The Clean Air Act, for example, requires certain power plants to use “the best system of emission reduction” that currently exists — then tasks the EPA with determining what the “best system” is at any given moment. The Affordable Care Act tasks the Department of Health and Human Services to come up with a list of preventive medical treatments and vaccines that health insurers must cover. Congress gave the Federal Communications Commission the power to determine whether “effective competition” exists between cable and other television providers in a given area — a determination that matters because the FCC has more power to regulate rates in areas without such competition.

One issue that inevitably comes up, when Congress delegates policymaking power in this way, is that it will sometimes be unclear whether a particular federal law gives a particular agency the power to take a specific action.

Take the Clean Air Act’s “best system” provision, for example. Suppose that two competing companies each invent a device that, they claim, is the best available technology to cut greenhouse emissions released by power plants. Both companies have an army of lobbyists, engineers, and scientists, who all argue that their employer’s invention is the “best system of emission reduction” and that the federal government should require power plants to install their tech. Each device is also incompatible with the rival device, so the government can require power plants to use either device, but not both.

Chevron recognized that, in a case like this, where it is unclear whether the law requires power plants to install one device or the other, someone has to have the final word on which device counts as the “best system” for reducing emissions. And Chevron held that the final word generally should rest with a federal agency (in this case, the EPA), and not with the courts.

As a unanimous Court explained in Chevron, there are two reasons why it is better to leave these kinds of policy making decisions to an agency and not a panel of lawyers in black robes.”

WHAT CAN WE DO? WHICH ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING ON THIS THAT WE CAN PARTNER WITH? The Natural Resources Defense Council is opposing Chevron in this SCOTUS case. Please take a look at the NRDC website with things we can do to help here

THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE: Warren suggests we write the FCC and ask it to do something about all of the misinformation and disinformation. Ask them to help us get back to ONE TRUTH on which we can depend. 

WE CAN ALSO CALL OUR U.S. LAWMAKERS ABOUT THIS CASE AND USE THE SAMPLE SCRIPT BELOW IN THE "Actions You Can Take Right Now" section. It’s easy-peasy ! Thanks. 

—-------------

IS THE SUPREME COURT MESSING WITH JACK SMITH’S CASE???

Supreme Court action already upending January 6 rioter sentencings, being looked at by Trump defense - The Supreme Court’s recent decision to take a case challenging how the Justice Department prosecutes January 6 rioters has already put on hold several rioters’ sentencings and could affect hundreds more cases — including Donald Trump’s.

If the challenge is successful, the Supreme Court could potentially wipe away two of the four counts that special counsel Jack Smith has brought against the former president in his federal election interference case, and up-end felony convictions for dozens of January 6 rioters.

—--------------

Supreme Court to hear case that could reshape how cities like San Francisco clear homeless encampments

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that “Gov. Gavin Newsom, governments in 20 other states and organizations of cities and counties had asked the court to review and overturn a September 2022 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prohibited local governments from sweeping homeless encampments unless shelter was available for the camp’s residents…A ruling is due by the end of June.”

     “Encampments are dangerous,” Newsom’s lawyers wrote, and the 9th Circuit decision is preventing local governments ‘from imposing common-sense time and place restrictions to keep streets safe and to move those experiencing homelessness into shelter.

  ‘Families can no longer walk the streets of Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle in safety,’ said lawyers for the 20 states, led by Idaho and Montana.”

   “But Ed Johnson of the Oregon Law Center, attorney for the homeless in Grants Pass, Ore., where the 9th Circuit case arose, said Friday the appeals court’s ruling does not tie the government’s hands and should be upheld.

    ‘The issue before the court is whether cities can punish homeless residents simply for existing without access to shelter,’ Johnson said. ‘This case is not about a city’s ability to regulate or prohibit encampments. That has always been permissible, is explicitly allowed under the 9th Circuit’s ruling, and is not at issue here. Nevertheless, some politicians and others are cynically and falsely blaming the judiciary for the homelessness crisis to distract the public and deflect blame for years of failed policies.’ ”

—------------

AGAINST FEEDING CHILDREN? Annette shared that the Biden Administration just launched a new, permanent grocery program to feed children during the summer, and 15 Republican-led states have opted not to use it this year. 

      From the Baltimore Sun: “At least one Republican governor believes she has found the cause of obesity in America. Her solution: Stop feeding hungry children. To that end, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has refused to accept her state’s share of the federal government’s summer food funding for children, which makes up for school breakfast and lunch programs over the months school is out. The governor wondered why poor children need more food ‘when childhood obesity has become an epidemic’.

  Reynolds is one of 15 Republican governors who have indicated that they will not participate in the summer food program. “

    The 15 states refusing the funds include Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming. All are led by Republican governors and many of them have some of the highest poverty rates in the nation.

   And more from Business Insider

 Spokespeople from some of the states not participating in the Summer program told Business Insider that they have similar programs in place already, plan to enroll in the program in the future, or do not plan to enroll in the program at all.

   Some who declined to participate in the program, however, were more direct. "I don't believe in welfare," Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen said in December, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

    [DOUBLE-TAKE] WAIT A MINUTE: Republicans turning down free money???? Hard to believe, isn't it? We’ll be writing to these governors on behalf of the children.

  Joan volunteered to look up the names of the governors and their mailing addresses for our Saturday work session. Thanks, Joan! Here is the list

------------------

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AVERTED - Continuing Resolution through at least MARCH 1

US Congress passes bill to avert government shutdown, sends it to Biden - this extends last year's spending levels until two deadlines of March 1 and March 8 for completing action of spending for various government agencies.

With the temporary funding bill now on its way to enactment, the focus shifts to the need to pass the 12 bills providing the full-year budget.

—------------------

CHALLENGERS TAKING ON NANCY PELOSI IN UPCOMING ELECTION - Amy shared that Bianca Von Krieg, a transgender candidate to the US House of Representatives, will be taking on Nancy Pelosi in the March 5, 2024 primary election for the 11th District of California. This is the second time Von Krieg has attempted to unseat Pelosi after trying in 2022. Pelosi’s other challengers are Marjorie Mikels and Jason Boyce according to Ballotpedia.

   Amy is seeking support for Von Krieg, and looking for volunteers (paid + remote). They train BIPOC + at-risk-youth in partisan independent skills (school credit for SF area high-schools). Email bianca.for.sanfrancisco@gmail.com if interested. For more information, see http://www.BiancaForSanFrancisco.org | https://linktr.ee/Bianca4SF

NOTE: we are merely sharing the information from our call. This is not to be considered an endorsement. We endorse DEMOCRATS.

—-----------------

In Other News sent in by our members…

Florida Democrats flip Republican House seat in Special Election: Warren shared that “Florida Democrats scored a win Tuesday night in a special election to fill a vacant House seat with Tom Keen defeating Erika Booth in a closely watched race that saw major outside spending and an avalanche of mailers and TV ads.” 

DEMOCRACY DOCKET ISSUES REPORT ON VOTING CASES IN 2023: read more here Terri shares that between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, they tracked:

• 73 new democracy-related lawsuits filed across 31 states.

• 146 court orders that impacted voters across 34 states.

• 83 victories for voters across 26 states.

The statistics in this report are based on the lawsuits in their case database as of Dec. 31, 2023.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Friday Jan 19th, 1pm EST Simon Rosenberg will be presenting his updated version of “With Democrats, Things Get Better.”This is Simon’s 30-minute talk on the most important, least understood story in American politics today - that when Democrats are in power, things get better; when Republicans come to power we get recessions, higher deficits and American struggle and decline. It’s quite inspiring.

Register here. If you can’t join live, a recording will be available.

This is a really good event to attend if you want talking points for convincing folks to vote blue. 

Tue, Jan 23rd at 9pm ET / 6pm PT: Watch Nazi Town USA on PBS. It tells the largely unknown story of the Bund, which had scores of chapters in suburbs and big cities across the country and represented what many believe was a real threat of fascist subversion in the United States. In February 1939, more than 20,000 Americans filled Madison Square Garden for an event billed as a “Pro-American Rally.” Images of George Washington hung next to swastikas and speakers railed against the “Jewish controlled media” and called for a return to a racially “pure” America. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THE TIME IN YOUR AREA AS THEY MAY VARY

Wed, Jan 31 at 8pm ET / 5pm PT : You may have heard about Activate America and its post card writing campaigns to get out the vote. On Wed, Jan 31, the staff of Activate America is opening the floor for questions on the 2024 election. Interested? Sign up HERE for the Zoom info

Please Join Us For Our Civics lesson & Work Session on Saturday

430-6P ET / 130-3P PT THIS SATURDAY Join us for a brief Civics lesson from Maria followed by a work session consisting of two 25-minute sprints. The Zoom call information is sent to this Grassroots of Democracy group so watch for the email. If you didn’t receive it, email grassrootsofdemocracy@gmail.com

OTHER ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

From Jessica Craven, Chop Wood Carry Water: 

Call Your Senators (find yours here) and use this sample script. Feel free to revise it as needed.

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______. I’m calling for two reasons today:

First, please ask the Senator to confirm Nicole Berner to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is a brilliant labor rights and civil rights lawyer who will make an excellent judge. 

Second, I’m horrified that the Supreme Court is about to overturn the Chevron deference. The right-wing majority is clearly beholden to extremist billionaires who want what’s best for business, not for Americans. It’s unacceptable. The Senate needs to pass S. 1616, the Judiciary Act, to expand the court to 13 justices, and S. 359, the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act. Nothing less will do to restore Americans’ confidence in this court.

[If Democrat add:] Also, there are nearly 100 vacancies on the federal bench right now. We need to get them filled with pro-democracy justices immediately. Please ask the Senator to make this a priority.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) and ask him/her to stand up to Greg Abbott

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

First, I understand that the Senate has almost finalized a new immigration policy proposal but that Speaker Johnson is saying he won’t consider it until Trump is elected. This is outrageous. Our immigration system is in desperate need of help NOW that only Congress can give. Putting partisan politics over solving this problem is unforgivable.

Speaking of which, I am heartbroken and disgusted by the drowning deaths of a mother and her children in the Rio Grande this weekend. Greg Abbott owns these deaths—his Texas Military Department has control of the area where they happened and they did nothing to save these poor people. I’m sick over it. The federal government needs to stand up to Greg Abbott—he’s a sadist whose willingness to allow migrants to die is shocking. But more importantly the state of Texas is not in charge of the border—the federal government is. Please act like it. Thanks.

—------------------------------

Sign Petition to Protect All Workers Rights - to oppose HR 98

—------------------------------

Write Postcards with Markers For Democracy (MFD) - Right now, they are writing postcards in support of four important Riverside & Orange County (CA) Board of Education candidates whose districts are nested in four key swing Congressional districts. Riverside and Orange Counties are the hotspots for Moms For Liberty and White Christian Nationalists. Everything you’ve heard about PA, FL and TX is happening now in CA: book bans, whitewashed curriculum, targeting LGBTQI students with forced outing. School board candidates have no party designation on the ballot, and March 5 is THE Election Day for these candidates (early voting begins Feb 5). Supporting these candidates now will help these communities push back against extremism & activate voters for up-ballot Congressional races both in the March primary & November general election.  

     They are also writing postcards for Tom Suozzi’s Feb.13 Special Election race with Postcards To Voters (linktr.ee/postcardstovoters) & working closely with the Suozzi campaign. [Join them for Sundays For Suozzi]   

     How to start? Set up an account here.    

Once you’ve set up an account, the program will send you an email prompting you to confirm your email address. After you’ve confirmed your email address, you will be good to go.

    Finally, if you need to replenish your postcard supply, check out our Markers For Democracy Vistaprint Pro Shop filled with voting themed postcards designed by members & friends. They receive no proceeds from the shop; they pass the discount on to friends, family & others who support voting rights & democracy. Shipping is free for orders over $50. The shop is private, so you will need the link above to access it & you will need to set up an account (one time, no pre-approval).

—------------------------------

Want to share what YOU are doing? Write us at grassrootsofdemocracy@gmail.com

2024 summaries: https://rb.gy/yasgbu

2022-23 summaries are here: https://bit.ly/3R9sCp2                          

Website: https://www.grassrootsofdemocracy.com  

Email us at grassrootsofdemocracy@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING
TO IMPROVE HUMANITY & SAVE DEMOCRACY

Click here to send us a comment or question