The Gov Hub Newsletter: August 19, 2024

Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov®. This weekly pop of politics is designed to share action items, resources, & quick links to civic engagement tools & topics. Find a typo? Congrats, today is your lucky day!

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THE ACTION ITEMS

Get ‘em done from your phone

ACTION 1 – DIVORCE

The Ask: Tell Congress to pass a law protecting no-fault divorce.

The Background: The GOP has taken it upon themselves to attack no-fault divorce… because that seems like a worthy cause? Yea, exactly i.e. it really has these potential dangerous consequences, not to mention brings us back in time in a bad way. A federal law could protect the practice and ensure those that wish to divorce can. 

ACTION 2 – ENERGY POVERTY brought to readers by We Stand for Energy

The Ask: Tell Congress to fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP]

The Background: As deadly extreme heat waves continue across the United States, low-income families need support for their energy bills now more than ever. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, plays a crucial role in addressing energy poverty and helping struggling communities get access to the energy resources they need. But to support millions of vulnerable Americans each year, the program requires adequate funding levels.

ACTION 3 – FREE SCHOOL LUNCH

The Ask: Tell your state gov to pass a universal free lunch program in your state.

The Background: As Governor of MN, Tim Walz signed into law a universal free lunch program, ensuring kids have full bellies and are able to learn without falling into school lunch debt. Being able to concentrate on learning and reducing childhood hunger is critical and solvable with programs like this.

Looking for more action items? Check our library of past Gov Hub’s.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Just about guaranteed to make it to the group chat

• It’s Christmas in…August? Okay, not exactly, but the applications to volunteer at the White House as a holiday season decorator are offish open until Sept. 8. Apply here.

• TBH we kind of blocked George Santos out of our collective brains – but he’s back and pleading guilty today ~apparently~ related to charges of fraudulent activity involving his 2022 campaign for Congress.

• Could Dems go extinct like the dinos in Wyoming? This look into the political version of a Land Before Time takes a look at the possibility.

• The DNC swapped out Friday Night Lights for Convention Lights, projecting “Project 2025” on the Chicago Trump Tower.

• The far right likes flags more than a mouse likes cheese… or something like that, and this field guide from The Atlantic provides the background on all of the flags and their meanings.

• Harris x 2 and Walz found Doritos in a Sheetz as they took their campaign tour across swing-state, PA.

• Speaking of team Harris-Walz, the campaign’s new designer merch collection just dropped with some pretty cutie options, like this we are not going back tank.

• For NJTransit riders, some good news amongst many woes that tbh never seem to go away – there will be a fare holiday from August 26-September 2, 2024.

GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, those do exist]

10 DRUGS SELECTED FOR MEDICARE PRICE NEGOTIATIONS MADE POSSIBLE BY INFLATION REDUCTION ACT: ICYMI when the Inflation Reduction Act was passed under the Biden Admin, one of the BFD accomplishments of the legislation was [and is] the new ability for Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices. As a result, ten common drugs – ones that Big Pharma has raised prices on since they’ve come to market – are now a part of a round of price negotiations that will impact Medicare beneficiaries. The meds up at bat are: Eliquis (blood clot prevention & treatment), Jardiance (Diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease), Xarelto (blood clot prevention & treatment, reduction of risk for those with coronary or peripheral artery disease), Januvia (diabetes), Farxiga (Diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease), Entresto (heart failure), Enbrel (RA, Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis), Imbruvia (blood cancers), Stelara (Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis), Fiasp (Diabetes). The negotiated prices will go into effect in 2026. The White House estimated that Medicare Part D will save over $1.5 billion in out of pocket costs for these particular meds. Next year, an additional round of 15 meds will be selected for negotiation for Medicare.   

HUD ANNOUNCES $100 IN NEW PRO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING: As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] announced the availability of $100 million in grant funding that can be applied for to fund projects that lower housing costs for renters and buyers. The grants are made possible through a new HUD program dubbed simply “PRO Housing,” and aims to cut down on red tape that slows housing production. Specific to this program and identified barriers are high costs of land and related development, underuse of vacant land, high energy costs, and more. Relevant institutions and organizations can apply for this round of funding through October 15, 2024.

HGW LISTENS

Hit play on these pods

• Gerrymandering gives us the ick and so does its long term impacts, which Senator Tammy Baldwin [Wisconsin] goes into in this convo with Democracy Docket. 

• How do you build the bench in an aging state?  Vermont State Rep. Mary-Katherine Stone lets us in on the tea – and the fashion deats on this episode of Girl and the Gov, The Podcast.

• Possibly the least popular player in politics, the Electoral College, is put under the microscope on this episode of Stacey Abrams new podcast, Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.

ELECTION SZN 2024

Guides, chatter, who’s who

• The Harris-Walz Campaign has said WhatsUp App, launching a campaign-specific channel on the app with the goal of mobilizing Latino voters.

• What does the BTS look like at the DNC? A little bit of chaos, a lot a bit of herding cats, and speech writers working their magic.

• A caretaker for convicted Senator Menesdez [New Jersey]’s seat once he vacates next week has been selected by NJ Gov. Murphy – picking his former chief of staff, George Helmy. And if you’re wondering why he didn’t pick the Dem candidate for the November race to fill the seat – Rep. Andy Kim – this is the dramaaaaaaa!

• What celebs will be at this week’s DNC making some noise in favor of Harris-Walz? These big names of fame.

• To tune into the DNC this week, bookmark this online locale – and as a back-up, tap into USA Today’s YouTube coverage, available in English and Spanish.

• Beep, beep coming through with the 411 on the Harris-Walz economic plan led by these five key policies to know about.

• It’s truly insane in the membrane as to how many positions across the country are on the ballot – and Ballot Ready is tracking them here.

CAN I GET A MERCH PLEASE?

Closet upgrades

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

• Semafor: The 2025 tax war starts early as Harris and Trump vie over child credit

• AP: DC councilmember known for pushing antisemitic conspiracy theories is arrested on bribery charge

• The Hill: McCarthy-Gaetz feud reaches apex in Florida primary

• Politico: DeSantis is on the cusp of reshaping Florida’s school boards – again

BEFORE YOU GO…

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