Organized campaigns for IRA defense in blue states
David Goodman
David Goodman
30th Chapter Meeting 30th Congressional Contact 10th Forum Post
11 Posts

Hi all, Is there currently an organized campaign those of us in blue states can participate in for contacting constituents in red states to tell them to contact their MoCs? I recall a CCL-hosted phone banking event a few years ago where we called people in relevant districts to the current campaign, and was hoping there is something similar happening now that I can use as an activity at an in-person event.

I guess more broadly I'm hoping there's something we can do in CA that's more impactful than contacting our IRA-supportive MoCs?

21day(s)
4 Replies
Laurel Eastman
Laurel Eastman
State Coordinator Group Leader Action Team Leader
286 Posts

Hi David and Team California! @David Goodman

Yes, in Montana we have a project underway to call CCL volunteers asking them to contact our Republican MOCs about the clean energy tax credits.

Please email me and I can put your crew to work… 😎📞

laurel.eastman@citizensclimate.org

19day(s)
Michael Holland
Michael Holland
10th Forum Post 1st Chapter Meeting
11 Posts

@Laurel Eastman

Hi, Laurel,

David raised an important question which has, frankly, frustrated me for some time. As you know, our congressional representatives are not really interested in hearing from us unless we reside in their district. Where I live in CA49, our local representative, Mike Levin, is a progressive and our two senators are also, which typically means that I and others end up just preaching to choir.

What we need here, and all other states, is the ability to effectively communicate with and, hopefully, influence decisions on important national issues. This, I believe, can only be accomplished by the constituents their congressional representatives. There are many conservative congresspeople here in CA but I am unaware of how we can effectively influence them.

I recently joined Braver Angels and the Conservative Outreach CCL groups and hope that they have some of the answers.

Your thoughts?

Michael Holland

North County Coastal San Diego Club

17day(s)
Ricky Bradley
Ricky Bradley
Staff Regional Director State Coordinator
933 Posts

@Michael Holland Thanks for your thoughtful comments. What I'm hearing you say is this: no matter who represents volunteers, we need all volunteers to be able to engage on climate policies at all times.

Is that accurate?

15day(s)
Michael Holland
Michael Holland
10th Forum Post 1st Chapter Meeting
11 Posts

@Ricky Bradley

Ricky, thank you for your response. Here is what I am trying to convey:

  1. Our congress is so polarized that they almost always vote as a block. At the present time, the Republicans are supporting many issues that most of us in the CCL do not agree with (too much deregulation, sale of public wilderness lands, focus on supporting carbon-based fuels over renewables, etc). Since the Republicans hold the majority in both houses, we can only hope to make an impact if we can convince some (a few) of them to vote for programs and laws that support clean air, water, conservation, retention and support of public lands, national parks and monuments and other important environmental issues. It would be a big win if we could some of them to admit that global warming is a serious issue that must be addressed now.
  2. My experience is that congresspeople are only interested in the opinions of their constituents. In most cases, it is not even possible to contact them on their websites if one is not from their district. For those of us who have representatives who tend to be progressive, their voice and ours just won't matter.
  3. We at CCL need to do whatever we can to make certain that Republican representatives hear directly from their constituents. If we are not in their district, then we need to have effective ways to work through others who are.
  4. We also need to be sufficiently well organized that we can respond in a timely manner. The budget bill being negotiated among Republicans (the Democrats are being left out completely) is a good example. We need to have a loud, effective voice with Republicans in states that are directly affected to hope to influence that outcome.
15day(s)

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