Action Items: Week of September 25

1.  Don't think we've won the day yet on healthcare!

The Graham-Cassidy bill has been amended to be even worse - the amendments make it even easier for states to allow substandard coverage, and they include a big fat bribe for Alaska.  Call, call, call - they're expecting you to relax once McCain came in as a "no", but this is NOT over.

Senator Tim Scott
DC Office: (202) 224-6121
Midlands Office: (855) 802-9355

Senator Lindsey Graham
DC Office: (202) 224-5972
Midlands Office: (803) 933-0112

"I'm _____ and I'm a consitutent of Senator ______ calling to tell the senator that I am firmly opposed to the Graham-Cassidy bill, with or without amendments.  It represents an economic disaster for the state of South Carolina and a humanitarian disaster for its people."

2.  We stand with Planned Parenthood!

With all that's been going on in the Senate, it's easy to forget about Governor McMaster's August executive order cutting off funding for all healthcare providers connected with abortion clinics. Remember, it's already illegal for tax dollars to pay for abortions.  This order serves only to cut women's access to healthcare. Here's an article from August about the order:

http://www.postandcourier.com/features/your_health/s-c-gov-henry-mcmaster-issues-executive-order-cutting-off/article_972cbc4a-88d7-11e7-9ca4-03959637f6fb.html

Call McMaster and tell him that you don't support defunding these women's health clinics.

Governor Henry McMaster
(803) 734-2100

"Hi, I'm ______ from _____ and I'm calling to tell the governor I strongly oppose any attempt to defund Planned Parenthood or any other women's health provider for political gain.  These clinics provide women with cancer screenings, birth control, and health education, and I will fight any action that harms South Carolina's women."

3.  Support the DREAM Act!

Attend a concert at the State House on Friday, September 29 from 5-9, sponsored by Appleseed Legal Justice Center, to support and raise awareness for the DREAM Act.  Rock out to Space Coke and The Haves while making your voice heard for young immigrants.  See the Facebook invitation here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1925894294403803/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22bookmarks%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmarks_menu%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D%2C%7B%22surface%22%3A%22dashboard%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22calendar_tab_event%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22[]%22%7D]%2C%22ref%22%3A46%2C%22source%22%3A2%7D

4. If you live in District 70 and have an opinion about the roads you drive on, speak up!

Representative Wendy Brawley of District 70 (southeast Richland County and west Sumter County) will be holding a town hall on roads on Thursday, September 28 at 6:30 at Hopkins Park.  Please see the Facebook invitation here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/894799084007345/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A5%2C%22page_id_source%22%3A1822518011330338%2C%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22main_list%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A1822518011330338%2C%5C%22tour_id%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D

Action Items: Week of September 18

Deja vu, all over again!

Here we go again!  Everybody's favorite emotional rollercoaster, Lindsey Graham, has put us in this particular mess again.  The Graham-Cassidy bill is just as catastrophic to American healthcare as the previous repeal attempts, and it's sneakily close to a vote.  It's claimed that the Senate is within a few votes of passage.  For more information on this harmful bill:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2017/09/18/graham-cassidy-bill-the-last-ditch-gop-effort-to-deprive-millions-of-healthcare/#7440b7c53b92
http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/15/16313888/senate-republicans-cassidy-graham-vote
http://slate.com/business/2017/09/the-new-republican-plan-to-repeal-obamacare-is-even-more-vicious-than-the-old-plan.html

So what are we doing about it?

1.  Call your senators.  Yes, Graham too.

Senator Tim Scott
DC Office: (202) 224-6121
Midlands Office: (855) 802-9355

Senator Lindsey Graham
DC Office: (202) 224-5972
Midlands Office: (803) 933-0112

"Hi, I'm _____ and I'm Senator ______'s constituent from _______.  I'm calling to let the senator know that I am against the Graham-Cassidy bill because it will leave many South Carolinans without healthcare or with inadequate healthcare that doesn't cover their needs and has no lifetime cap.  I'm especially against any plan that will leave healthcare without funding after 2026, which is stunningly irresponsible."

2.  Attend the events planned for this week

Indivisible Midlands has a Facebook event for a week of action against this bill: https://www.facebook.com/events/1707750692867714/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2229%22%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3A%22plan_user_invited%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1505733551531656

Their tentative schedule is:

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
11:30 am -12:30 pm Tim Scott Office Visit/ Street Phone Bank
Where: 1901 Main Street (Bank of America building)
Host: Indivisible Midlands

Then head on over to the State House...
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Tell McMaster How SC Feels About His EO
(https://www.facebook.com/events/129157417648509)
Where: State House
Hosts: Progress South Carolina, WREN, Planned Parenthood

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 20
12:00 on - 2:00 pm Die-in at Lindsey Graham's Office
Where: 508 Hampton Street
Host: Indivisible Midlands

THURSDAY, SEPT 21
6:00 pm - 8:00 We The People
Where: State House
Host: Greater Columbia Action Together

Please try to attend one or all of these events - we all know that when progressives rest on our laurels because we think the fight is over, that's when they sneak around and pass things!