The Gov Hub Newsletter: July 29, 2024

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Gov Hub
July 29, 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 – CORPORATE GREED & REGULATION

The Ask: Tell Congress to pass the Stop Corporate Capture Act [SCCA].

The Background: SCOTUS said toodles to the Chevron Doctrine this past sesh, undermining 40 years worth of precedent and laws that have protected people via federal agencies. The SCCA would turn the electric car around if passed by codifying the Chevron deference.

ACTION 2 – THE FUTURE

The Ask: Share what you’d like to see accomplished over the course of the next 20 years and what your vision for America’s future looks like.

The Background: The Center for American Progress has eyes on the future and making it brighter for everyone. Currently, they’re looking to hear from people on what they’d like to see in that future. Share your vision, two cents, your POVs, etc with their team as they build out plans for the next 20.

ACTION 3 – VOTING

The Ask: Make a voter plan and get prepped ahead of November.

The Background: Take the guesswork out of election day and head in prepared – like well ahead of time – by making a voter plan.

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

  • At the Olympics, Flavor Flav and FLOTUS hanging out and supporting women’s water polo is a full on vibe meets national treasures getting to meet moment.

  • ICYMI over the weekend, Trump told on himself again, sharing his dictatorial fantasies he’s trying to make a reality with an audience of Christian Conservatives at a Turning Point Action conference. Specifically, he encouraged people to vote just this one time and they’ll never have to again…. 

GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, those do exist]

MICHIGAN BECOMES 20TH STATE TO BAN GAY & TRANS PANIC DEFENSE: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed HB 4718, banning the use of the “gay and trans panic defense.” In other words, criminals and their legal teams can no longer use a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity as a defense for their crimes like murder or assault. The law puts Michigan as the 20th state to ban the practice.

MASSACHUSETTS GUN REFORM PACKAGE SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR: A package of gun reform measures made their way to Massachusetts Governor Healey’s desk for a please sign on the dotted line moment. A part of the package with an ironically old school name – An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws [H. 4885] – are the means for addressing untraceable ghost guns, enhancing red flag laws, and bolstering violence prevention programs. The law, the most significant gun reform law in the state in ten years, came together as a result and reaction to the SCOTUS decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which made it harder for states to use legislation as a means for protecting residents from gun violence.

BIPARTISAN RULE WILL REQUIRE AMERICAN FLAGS PURCHASED BY FED BE AMERICAN-MADE: A new rule that gives a symbolic and monetary nod to U.S. based American flag manufacturers is headed to President Biden’s desk for likely signature into law. The bipartisan proposal updates an existing rule that requires any American flags purchased by the federal government to be made of 50% U.S.-made materials to 100% U.S.-made materials AND requires that the flags be manufactured in the U S of A.

MINNEAPOLIS INITIATIVE TO BOLSTER LOCAL ARTISTS AND ORGS GETS THUMBS UP: A new initiative passed by the Minneapolis, Minnesota City Council in the 2024 budget will allow local artists and organizations to rent vacant spaces in the city at a discounted rated. $250,000 was allocated in the budget for the initiative, which enables artists and orgs to apply for up $50K each for a two-year time period. The goal of the initiative is to foster and grow community, economic stimulation, and filling vacant spaces.

HGW LISTENS

Hit play on these pods

  • It’s giving hope, it’s giving action, it’s giving coconuts, it’s giving must-listen i.e. this episode of Girl and the Gov, The Podcast, which is also giving must-send to the group chat to get everyone on team coconut.

  • Face the Nation but in podcast form equals a variety pack of opinions and POVs from top dogs in politics, and this episode, which includes a chit chat with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is an add to playlist sitch.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

Bills, bills, bills 

FEDERAL: Remember how the Inflation Reduction Act capped prescription drug sharing costs for Medicare Part D? Well, Senator Tammy Baldwin has just introduced a bill that would cap prescription drug sharing costs for those that get their health insurance through the commercial market, whether that be an employer plan or individually sought out. The Capping Prescription Costs Act would put a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for individuals and a $4,000 cap for families.

FEDERAL: The investigative journalism to legislation is apparently still alive and well, as proven by the OCTOPUS Act. The bill, a proactive bipartisan measure introduced in reaction to reporting by NPR on commercial octopus farming in Spain, would ban the practice in the US. It would also mandate that any imported octopus would need certification to prove it did not come from a commercial operation. While an up to $100,000 fine would be imposed on violators [should it pass], there are built-in exceptions for research institutes, programs, etc. 

BOOKMARK IT

Save it, send it

LGBTQ+ PANIC DEFENSE LEGISLATION MAP: What states have banned the LGBTQ+ panic defense? What about states that have introduced legislation to get the party started? This map literally does what a map does, and maps it out. Bookmark it here.

ELECTIONDENIERS.ORG: It’s four years later and we not only still have people denying the results of the 2020 election, but we have people with that stance running for elected office. Le sigh. A helpful tool for seeing the ‘who is who,’ is electiondeniers.org, which shares exactly who has taken a wrong turn down conspiracy theory lane that’s on the ballot this year. Bookmark it here.

ELECTION SZN 2024

Guides, chatter, who’s who

  • Presidential election years are notoriously tough years [esp six months or less out from e-day] to get shit done in Congress. What does come to the table are messaging bills that put electeds on the record on an issue for use in campaign ads. But does that seep through? Roll Call dives in.

  • In Arizona, there’s a war of words over literally words when it comes to the state’s abortion ballot measure. This is the 411 on the battle royale.

  • Wisconsin’s August 13, 2024 primary ballot will include two ballot measures related to the governor’s ability to use federal funding in the state, both of which are products of the GOP-controlled state legislature.

  • 47 states offer a variation of early voting for the general election. This guide has all the need-to-know dates per state.

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

  • AP: Jon Stewart pushes VA to cover troops sickened by uranium after 9/11. Again, they are told to wait

  • USA Today: What to know about President Biden’s election-year proposal to overhaul Supreme Court

  • NPR: JD Vance went for ‘cat lady’ comments. The centuries-old trope has a long tail.

  • The Hill: Barbara Lee: Musk sharing fake Harris video shows need for AI guardrails

CUTIE MERCH

Welcome to the club, The Gov Club

Unlike your friend that picked the one color you look terrible in for the bridesmaids dresses, this merch launch has shades that look great on everyone. Grab a sweatshirt for the beach, a long sleeve for an early coffee morning coffee run, a crop for funsies, and oversized t-shirt for hanging, and whatever else is on your radar, here.

BEFORE YOU GO…

..say hello

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