Daily Yopp! 2.8.17 - Respond to DeVos Confirmation

As you probably know, Betsy DeVos was confirmed by the Senate in a 50-50 vote with the vice president as the tie-breaker. I know this may feel disheartening, but do your best to brush it off and get back up. We ARE making progress.It's just hard to see change when it's this deep.

As far a education goes, remember that most education policy and funding comes at the state and local level. Along those lines, we have some good news out of New Mexico! In the first post-Trump elections, progressives have swept school elections helped by record voter turnout!

Our next national election in 2018 will be the first big test of this movement. All members of the House will be up for reelection as will about a third of the Senate. We need to let our MoCs that we are paying close attention to how they vote.

So, today instead of getting on the phone and listening to a busy signal calling, your CTA (Call To Action) is to WRITE LETTERS to your MoCs. Your handwritten letter will be read eventually.

Key talking points:

1. (Senators only) You are thankful for/disappointed with how they voted on the DeVos confirmation. As an easy guide, unless your senator is Susan Collins (Maine) or Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), all GOP senators voted in favor of DeVos and all Democrats and Independents voted against her.

2. Going forward, you expect them to promote legislation that supports public education and resists any attempts by DeVos to privatize our public schools. In short, you want them to be a champion for our children, teachers, and parents.

3. You will be reviewing their voting record as it pertains to education when their re-election comes up in 2018/2020/2022. The following GOP senators will be on the ballot in 2018: Flake- AZ, Wicker- MS, Fischer- NE, Heller- NV, Corker- TN, Cruz- TX, Hatch- UT, Barrasso- WY.


If you don't have it on hand, be sure to jot down your MoC's mailing addresses. While you are looking that up, find out when your senators are up for re-election.