The Western Front: June 2019

Friday, June 14, 2019

Shall We Dump Trump?

To impeach or not to impeach, that is the question. OR that certainly is a thought that is in many people's minds, and is bandied about by political pundits.

Indivisible just did a survey among the more than 5,000 local grassroots groups of which it is comprised. The results were striking.

Yes! That's 80% of our Indivisible fellow activists that say YES.

There are arguments to made on both sides. On the one hand, can we in good conscience stand by and let this president and his administration get away with criminal activity? Can we let Trump get away with obstruction of justice.

Let us remember an important thing that Robert Mueller said is his nine minutes of on camera report to the nation.

So, in this convoluted way, Mueller, who was laboring under an edict that he could not indict a sitting president, was letting us know he thought that Trump probably did obstruct justice.

So what are to do? Let him get away with it? Let his brush the rule of law off the table with no consequence?

On the other hand, some folks are just scared about what that might mean for the 2020 election. (Put Speaker Nancy Pelosi in that camp.) Maybe impeachment would actually give him more strength in the upcoming contest, some say.

The Indivisible survey dealt with that as well:

But, again, our fellow activist believe that it will at least help the prospects for a Democrat in the White House in 2021.

Personally, I believe we cannot do anything but move for his impeachment. So we must demand that the House of Representatives open an Impeachment inquiry.

Just the week before last when my representative was in my home town for a town hall, I asked him if he supported House Resolution 257 that was introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, calling for an impeachment inquiry. He said yes, and that he had just that day announced his support of the resolution. I asked if he would co-sponsor. He said yes. Yet every day I did not notice his name on the list of co-sponsors, so I called and talked to one of his staff in Washington. He followed up on it and found that someone Danny Davis' name had not gotten on the list. And just today it has appeared. Thank you, Representative Davis.

On Saturday, June 15, we are participating in a day of action around impeachment. Are you interested? You can join us at the Oak Park Library from noon to 2 pm in the Third floor Conference room. More details here.

Can you join us for this Dump Trump Social Media Blitz? You can join us virtually, if you can't make it in person.

You can follow us on Twitter

https://twitter.com/WFIndivisible

You can follow us on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/wfindivisible/

You can follow us on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/westernfrontindivisible/

Repost things that we are posting about impeachment. Post things of your own. Maybe we should all go to Nancy Pelosi's Twitter account and demand that she not impede an impeachment inquiry any longer.

Let's let her know what we are thinking. Please join us online if not in person. And remember, the hashtag for tomorrow is #ImpeachTrump

Monday, June 10, 2019

What a Cookout!

Were you there? If not, you missed some important moments. And here are some photos as evidence.

Rory Hoskins, new mayor of Forest Park came to greet activists--and then to stay and eat and talk.

There was quite a crowd. Probably 150 folks from all over the state.

Some Music by our own Buzz.

Proof that Etta can drive a van.

New friends

And the obligatory pinata.

Oh, and let's not forget food.

The stats:

16 Indivisible chapters from across the state were came together, from Springfield, to Dixon to the Northwest suburbs, they made the trek!
Shout out to candidates, elected’s and Democratic Party reps in attendance, including, the newly elected mayor of Forest Park, two candidates for Congress, a village board trustee, school board trustee, library board trustee and Cook County Young Dems Vice-Chair/Precinct Capt/Brookfield Dems Chair.
We also had 3 coalition partners represented

We exchanged ideas, we laughed, we celebrated our recent statewide victories. We also recharged and talked about 2020. We smashed a Trump piñata, we played some games, we toasted each other’s hard work. Most importantly we reconnected with each other, and put faces with familiar voices.

Thanks to Mitzi Norton who co-led this event with me (Etta) , and for the support of the group that co-hosted this: Indivisible Brookfield.

Thanks to the Planning Committee which included Mitzi and Etta plus Ashley Simone, Chris Meier, Chris Martin, Meaghan McAteer, Lisa Janunas, Scott Cross, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Abby McEntee, Bill Davis, Rose Colacino, Sarah Bingaman, Maryann Quinlan, Rose Busky, Holly Fingerle, Bob Best, and Beth Fisher.

Thanks to the volunteers who showed up and quickly transformed a forest preserve shelter into an activists’ celebration.

Thanks to Holly and Mike Fingerle, Leighton Whitacker, Meaghan McAteer, Chris Martin, Beth Fisher, Sandy Rosen, Janet Ferguson, Michelle Thomas, Jeanne McTeague, Ruth Rest, Riching Durning, Karen Goldman, Abby McAntee, Lisa Janunas, Sarah Bingaman. Rosemary Busky, Rose Colacino, Mary Ann Quinlan, Dave Kozar, Darilynn Dinsmoor, Diane Leamy, and I am certain there were more that helped who didn’t sign up to do so.

info from Mitzi Norton and Etta Worthington for this post. Plus photos from many including Illinois Indivisible

Monday, June 3, 2019

Doesn't It Feel Good to Win?

Admit it.You love to win. I love to win. We all love to win. And when it comes to state politics, we'd had some major wins.

Maybe you've been filling out witness slips furiously for the last couple of weeks. Maybe you've been checking Facebook regularly this last week to see the status of some important bills. Maybe you stayed u late Friday night, just to see if the Senate would finally pass the Reproductive Health Act.

Even if you have been glued to news feeds, you are going to want to celebrate. We have a lot to celebrate.

Thanks to Indivisible Illinois for this list:

2019 Spring Illinois Legislative Session

Passed

Adult Cannabis Legislation (SB 7)

This bill would be the nation’s most equitable adult use cannabis bill. A large portion of revenue would go to the war on drugs most impacted communities to ensure their participation in new economic opportunities as well as investments in mental health.

Live press conference http://bit.ly/legalizeillinois

Civic Education Act (HB 2265)

Requires all Illinois middle schools serving grades 6th, 7th, and 8th to provide a civics class, allowing youth to participate in civics, gain confidence to make informed political decisions, increase knowledge about history, develop ethical awareness, and understand that their vote matters.

Press release here: http://bit.ly/civics-class

Coal Ash Pollution Prevention Act (SB 09)

The Coal Ash Prevention Act protects Illinois communities and the environment from companies that would leave coal ash in unlined coal ash ponds -- a threat to our clean water supply.

More info: http://bit.ly/310Fl3s

Corporate Board Diversity Bill (HB 3394)

This corporate board diversity bill will require one woman, one African-American, & one Latino on these boards by the end of 2020.

More info: http://bit.ly/2QG7nfQ

Fair Tax Amendment (SJRCA 1)

Lets Illinois voters decide whether to adopt progressive tax rates requiring taxpayers making at least $250,000 a year to pay higher rates than the current 4.95 percent flat tax. The Fair Tax amendment to Illinois’ Constitution will make its way to the ballot in November 2020.

Press Release: http://bit.ly/2IbqPxt

Medicaid Omnibus Bill (SB1323) (SB665- formerly the Freedom from Aggressive Insurance Increases (FAIIR) Act)

This legislation will protect Illinoisans from discrimination in their health care rates. SB665 is a crucial safeguard from relentless harmful measures by the Trump Administration to roll back health care protections for women, LGBTQ+ people, and non-English speakers.