Elections Team
Upcoming Events
Team Meeting
August 12, 7-9pm at First Parish
Come to our August Activism Evening to learn to phone bank and text for Dan McCready (NC09). We'll be introducing a new app for texting - to prepare, you can download the “OutVote” app on your phone. We'll also hear an update on state legislation and have postcards for you to send to your legislators. We may also have a guest to speak briefly about helping Maine to vote out Susan Collins. Bring your laptop and phones and a headset for phone banking and texting.
Team Meeting
August 12, 7-9pm at First Parish
Come to our August Activism Evening to learn to phone bank and text for Dan McCready (NC09). We'll be introducing a new app for texting - to prepare, you can download the “OutVote” app on your phone. We'll also hear an update on state legislation and have postcards for you to send to your legislators. We may also have a guest to speak briefly about helping Maine to vote out Susan Collins. Bring your laptop and phones and a headset for phone banking and texting.
June 10 Meeting Summary
State Senator Michael Barrett attended the meeting to discuss the Presidential Tax Transparency bill (S383) and the Combat Climate Change bill (S1924). Under S383 a presidential candidate who does not submit tax returns or a Statement of Financial Interests will be ineligible to appear on the relevant Massachusetts primary or general election ballot. This bill is important because the current president has ignored the long standing, voluntary tradition of releasing her or hers tax returns. While some people felt that the bill could backfire in the sense that the current president might react negatively to the legislation, others recognized it as a way to codify a longstanding, popular practice of releasing one’s tax returns as a show of transparency.
Second, Senator Barrett explained the history and high level details of his Combating Climate Change bill (S1924) . S1924 is based on carbon pricing language that in June 2018 earned the unanimous approval of the Mass. State Senate. It gives the governor considerable flexibility in pricing carbon, from revenue-neutral to revenue-positive to cap and trade, but does ask him to make a choice. The governor may choose a “revenue-neutral” carbon fee, in which case the bill sets fairness rules for returning funds to citizens in an income-based way. But if he opts instead for a carbon tax or cap and trade, both of which are “revenue positive,” the bill gives the Legislature a role in how the resulting money is spent; examples include transportation, green energy technology, and public schools.
The Elections team then began deliberating how we should focus our efforts for 2020. Rina presented research that she and other team members have put together thus far. Do we focus on vulnerable Democratic House members, flippable Senate seats? The presentation is attached here.
State Senator Michael Barrett attended the meeting to discuss the Presidential Tax Transparency bill (S383) and the Combat Climate Change bill (S1924). Under S383 a presidential candidate who does not submit tax returns or a Statement of Financial Interests will be ineligible to appear on the relevant Massachusetts primary or general election ballot. This bill is important because the current president has ignored the long standing, voluntary tradition of releasing her or hers tax returns. While some people felt that the bill could backfire in the sense that the current president might react negatively to the legislation, others recognized it as a way to codify a longstanding, popular practice of releasing one’s tax returns as a show of transparency.
Second, Senator Barrett explained the history and high level details of his Combating Climate Change bill (S1924) . S1924 is based on carbon pricing language that in June 2018 earned the unanimous approval of the Mass. State Senate. It gives the governor considerable flexibility in pricing carbon, from revenue-neutral to revenue-positive to cap and trade, but does ask him to make a choice. The governor may choose a “revenue-neutral” carbon fee, in which case the bill sets fairness rules for returning funds to citizens in an income-based way. But if he opts instead for a carbon tax or cap and trade, both of which are “revenue positive,” the bill gives the Legislature a role in how the resulting money is spent; examples include transportation, green energy technology, and public schools.
The Elections team then began deliberating how we should focus our efforts for 2020. Rina presented research that she and other team members have put together thus far. Do we focus on vulnerable Democratic House members, flippable Senate seats? The presentation is attached here.
| 2020_here_we_come_061019.pdf |
Postcards for Dan McCready: Minuteman Indivisible has committed to 1000+ postcards for Dan's campaign. We did not write postcards at the meeting because they hadn't arrived yet. But people will be hosting post carding parties in June and July to meet our goal. Check here and the elections Slack channel for updates, and please attend as many as you can.
Mission
The Elections team of Minuteman Indivisible (MI) is dedicated to supporting candidates that would oppose the Trump agenda. Our efforts are generally focused on national level congressional seats. However, in some cases in which the balance of power is at stake, we will support state legislative seat elections. In most districts, MI will be supporting the Democratic candidate. However, in some Republican districts, MI would also dedicate effort to finding and supporting a moderate Republican, especially in opposition to extreme position holders. This would require looking at the primary races in these states.
The Elections team of Minuteman Indivisible (MI) is dedicated to supporting candidates that would oppose the Trump agenda. Our efforts are generally focused on national level congressional seats. However, in some cases in which the balance of power is at stake, we will support state legislative seat elections. In most districts, MI will be supporting the Democratic candidate. However, in some Republican districts, MI would also dedicate effort to finding and supporting a moderate Republican, especially in opposition to extreme position holders. This would require looking at the primary races in these states.
Congratulations MI members you helped flip the house!
In the past two years we got to know wonderful candidates. We also got to make friends as we worked together to flip the house. We wrote postcards to voters, phonebanking and texting. We are so proud of all the work you did and of the candidates we supported. They inspired us to keep working for a better future.
Change doesn't happen all at once and it will take time but together we can have a country that is respectful and welcoming to everyone.
In the past two years we got to know wonderful candidates. We also got to make friends as we worked together to flip the house. We wrote postcards to voters, phonebanking and texting. We are so proud of all the work you did and of the candidates we supported. They inspired us to keep working for a better future.
Change doesn't happen all at once and it will take time but together we can have a country that is respectful and welcoming to everyone.
