[Libs-Or] Civics for Adults

Mon Apr 1 10:21:23 PDT 2019

Civics for Adults Update March 31, 2019

Coming up in the next couple of weeks!

THE INFLUENCE OF THE CONSTITUTION ON POLITICAL CONVERSATION

THURS. APRIL 4 6:00-7:30 HILLSBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY 2850 NE BROOKWOOD PKWY,
HILLSBORO

CITIZEN ACTIVISM — MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
Includes “Tracking” state and federal legislation. State legislature has
begun! 

TUES. APRIL 16  6:00-7:30 BELMONT BRANCH, MCL, 1038 SE César E. Chávez Blvd

Please note: Librarians, library staff, Friends of Libraries - anyone who
may attend the joint Oregon Library Association / Washington Library
Association Conference in April... 

I will be giving a three-hour pre-conference session on Wednesday on
Advocacy. it's a workshop for yourself as well as for helping your patrons!
We'll cover a lot of material, including learning about the legislative and
campaign finance tools for both Oregon and Washington. There will be a
hands-on component. 

RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS ON MY CIVICS FOR ADULTS PAGE:

Great groups at Hillsboro PL in February and March for Misinformation and
Citizen Activism! 
***

Interesting "left-right" conference last weekend in Tennessee, bringing
together leaders from all sides to discuss strategies to improve our
government. Check out the programs and the speakers [long list].

https://unrigsummit.com/ They livestreamed the group events [openings,
etc.]. During the Opening Session they had people who had been instrumental
in various democracy campaigns [gerrymandering, ranked-choice voting, etc.]
all over the country sharing their experience and advice!
<https://unrigsummit.com/videos/> https://unrigsummit.com/videos/ 

***

Isn't it nice that the Brennan Center for Justice has created "Cliff Notes"
for the amicus briefs filed for the two gerrymandering cases just heard by
the Supreme Court? 

<https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/annotated-guide-rucho-and-benisek-am
icus-briefs?fbclid=IwAR2TU5oHT8BjT-9P74J3guUpc7XmC6mBY4-flgIKz7FTnpiEQbqfSas
8qMk>
https://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/annotated-guide-rucho-and-benisek-ami
cus-briefs?fbclid=IwAR2TU5oHT8BjT-9P74J3guUpc7XmC6mBY4-flgIKz7FTnpiEQbqfSas8
qMk

***

Here is an interesting Twitter thread from someone who heard the arguments: 

 <https://twitter.com/tomTMwolf/status/1110640339952590849>
https://twitter.com/tomTMwolf/status/1110640339952590849

***

On the National Popular Vote, currently in the Oregon legislature:

"The campaign to pass the Compact began in 2006...Since then, 14 states
(Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, Vermont,
California, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, Colorado, New Mexico,
Delaware) and Washington, D.C. have signed on. The addition of these three
new states brings the number of pledged electoral votes to 189, 70 percent
of the needed total.

Note: The current bill in the Oregon leg that has to move forward is SB 870,
if this interests you.

<https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/national-popular-vote-explained?fbclid=I
wAR1X6HLYoK8_7ObCauORMRYHByeZQEtaOJrEJQo59PhXuiONwrcwWMhO224>
https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/national-popular-vote-explained?fbclid=Iw
AR1X6HLYoK8_7ObCauORMRYHByeZQEtaOJrEJQo59PhXuiONwrcwWMhO224 

***

Be careful! California con man set up bogus websites for Bernie Sanders,
Beto O'Rourke to defraud donors, prosecutors say

<https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/california-man-set-bogu
s-websites-bernie-beto-defraud-donors-prosecutors-n985036?fbclid=IwAR0q2Yxnt
QHm2j68thFVnK5TlJGBsupCTYTnYZEPdVTlraTNyn061a2ypwU>
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/california-man-set-bogus
-websites-bernie-beto-defraud-donors-prosecutors-n985036?fbclid=IwAR0q2YxntQ
Hm2j68thFVnK5TlJGBsupCTYTnYZEPdVTlraTNyn061a2ypwU 

***

I provided testimony on HB3349 on in the House Human Services and Housing
Committee.

<https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Committees/HHS/2019-03-11-13-00/Age
nda?fbclid=IwAR2MMPuapMcBA6G2KnmNHuvm87UciNAIVNxjdjeYSfy24lm2u8qlegl3Ow4>
https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Committees/HHS/2019-03-11-13-00/Agen
da?fbclid=IwAR2MMPuapMcBA6G2KnmNHuvm87UciNAIVNxjdjeYSfy24lm2u8qlegl3Ow4

***

Speaking of advocacy, in terms of government structural reforms, this is the
House report on HR1 - the For the People Act. It addresses campaign finance,
voting, congressional ethics. 

https://www.congress.gov/116/crpt/hrpt15/CRPT-116hrpt15.pdf

An article summarizing the bill, from the Brennan Center for Justice:

<https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/historic-bill-strengthen-democracy-intro
duced-congress?fbclid=IwAR39ZCoz1F80MoXsQYgYjE63IYIQfoGnKQfvflhJ0Bo-l9rLG0Lr
U--qkJA>
https://www.brennancenter.org/blog/historic-bill-strengthen-democracy-introd
uced-congress?fbclid=IwAR39ZCoz1F80MoXsQYgYjE63IYIQfoGnKQfvflhJ0Bo-l9rLG0LrU
--qkJA 

Here is a summary from USA Today:

<https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/08/voting-rights-and-c
ongressional-reform-bill-house/3072333002/?fbclid=IwAR36z0q8sjsiwmTT-BYfZSue
71GOISAI8G3xxnYXsv0A97PLPtxMOuhXKKg>
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/08/voting-rights-and-co
ngressional-reform-bill-house/3072333002/?fbclid=IwAR36z0q8sjsiwmTT-BYfZSue7
1GOISAI8G3xxnYXsv0A97PLPtxMOuhXKKg 

***

You can access resource lists for my workshops at 

<http://www.civicthinker.net/?fbclid=IwAR1u0BrK5DvxJ7rfCdm4oa2EP1MuOYCpYEuXu
SoM22lOWWcDbRRx8ofTxA4> www.civicthinker.net

Hoping ya’ll have been watching some state bill hearings – and sending in
some testimonies and/or contacting your legislators to tell them how you
feel about a bill or two!

Here are a handful of the topics bills are focused on in both Oregon and
Washington this session:

Animal Rights

Guaranteeing rape kit availability at hospitals

Carbon emission controls

Providing more monies for affordable housing

Vaccination exceptions for school children

Campaign finance limits

Campaign finance disclosure

Gun control

Prescription drugs

Employer accommodations for pregnant women

Taxes

Whether 16-year-olds can vote

National popular vote

Criminal justice

Requiring a candidate from President to provide tax returns to be on the
ballot

Changing the date for the Presidential primary

Expand Civics education

Donna

Donna L Cohen, MLIS, MEd

Portland, Oregon

503-737-1425

dcohen at hevanet.com <mailto:dcohen at hevanet.com> 

Civics for Adults – and Others – Workshops: To Enhance Civic Knowledge and
Inspire Politcal Engagement

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036/

“My philosophy is very simple. When you see something that is not fair, not
right, not just – stand up, say something, speak up!” Rep. John Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6lzPpqc2WY 

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