The Gov Hub Newsletter: March 4, 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

Make change from the palm of your hand

ACTION 1 – IVF ACCESS

The Ask: Tell your [federal] reps to protect IVF & co-sponsor the Access to Family Building Act. 

The Action: Hit send on this note from Reproductive Freedom For All.

The Background: ICYMI a ruling of Alabama involving IVF changed the course for IVF in the state and teed up ripple effects across the country. Federally, Senator Duckworth brought a bill that would protect IVF access to the table [the Access to Family Building Act]. GOP Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked it. So, let’s try this again – by getting your reps to co-sponsor the bill. 

ACTION 2 – RAILWAY SAFETY

The Ask: Tell you [federal] reps to support the Railway Safety Act.

The Action: Hit send on this note.

The Background: It’s been over a year since a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio causing a health and environmental disaster for the town and the surrounding areas. Since, changes have not been made to prevent another incident from occurring despite a bill – the Railway Safety Act – being a viable bipartisan step in the right direction. The bill, if passed, would enhance safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, aim to prevent wheel bearing failures, require two-person crews, make rail carriers pay for their wrongdoing, support communities impacted by rail disasters, and make investments in safety improvements.

ACTION 3  – THE FILIBUSTER

The Ask: Tell the Senate to nix the filibuster.

The Action: Hit send on this note.

The Background: The filibuster is the Senate’s version of a cockblock, or rather a legislative rule that requires a 60-vote supermajority for passing legislation in the Senate, is preventing progress from being made. It also puts the power in the hands of a short list of senators that often do not represent the views of those in state’s that hold the majority of the US population – it’s giving Trump trying to guess how much his properties are worth math vibes. If you want sh*t to get done, tell your senators to ax the filibuster.

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

• The first bar dedicated to women’s sports in the Midwest opened and the buzz is contagious AF. Obsessed. 

• Two Queens – VP Harris and RHOBH’s Garcelle Beauvais sat down to talk about the current attacks on IVF and the ability for people to choose when and how they want to start or expand their families.

• This map outlining what states Christian nationalist views are most prevalent and accepted is a must-save. For the quick data deats - two thirds of Americans reject or are skeptical of Christian nationalist views despite its current rise in influence, but in these five states, at least 45% of those polled are totes d with Christian nationalism.

• This organization is flying people to access the reproductive healthcare and gender affirming care that they need, and this is a look into their journeys.

• This 2024 race for governor is popping off, putting a Southern Democrat up against a conspiracy theory wielding MAGA man in what will be a pivotal contest in a purple state.

• Monica Lewinsky is the face of a new voter registration campaign backed by the ever-popular brand, Reformation, and she absolutely ate. PS check your registration status here.

GOOD NEWS BEARS

Positive political wins [yes, those do exist]

DOT PROPOSES NEW RULE TO ENSURE SAFE & DIGNIFIED FLIGHT TRAVEL FOR THOSE THAT USE WHEELCHAIRS: A new rule has been proposed by the Department of Transportation [DOT] that would set new standards for airlines to ensure that airline passengers that use wheelchairs or are in need of physical assistance can travel safely and with dignity. The new rule would:

• Mandate enhanced training for airline employees who physically assist passengers with disabilities

• Mandate enhanced training for airline employees who handle passenger’s wheelchairs

• Make the damage or delay in return of a passenger’s wheelchair an automatic violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), making it easier to penalize airlines for violations

• Establishes new penalties and remedies for airlines that mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair, with ‘mishandle’ defined as the wheelchair being lost, delayed, damaged, or stolen [ex: $100,000 fine per incident]

• Require prompt assistance at all points in airport travel experience

• Require airlines to repair or replace damaged wheelchairs via two options, and mandate loaner wheelchair accommodations in event that a wheelchair is mishandled

Currently, the public can drop comments on the proposed rule here. 

CVS & WALGREENS TO SELL ABORTION PILLS IN SELECT STATES: Starting this month, pharmacy giants, CVS and Walgreens will begin making the abortion pill [mifepristone] available to purchase in select states. The news is paired with the fact that both pharmacies have become certified to dispense the pills in keeping with FDA’s regulatory changes that gave pharmacies the go-ahead to sell the pills IRL in retail locations. The pills will only be available for purchase at physical locations, with Walgreens making the pills available in some stores in NY, PA, MA, CA, and IL. CVS is first making the pills available in MA and RI, and plans to roll out availability in other states where permissible by state law on ‘a rolling basis.’ The timing of this announcement comes in parallel to SCOTUS hearing oral arguments on March 26, 2024 on a case related to access to mifepristone, with a decision looming on the horizon in June.

VOTER PREP x BOOKMARK IT

Resources for a wild & wacky (but v important) 2024

• LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tomorrow, Super Tuesday is voting day, and that ballot is about to be longer than the Mississippi river. Cue, the LAist’s comprehensive and extensive list of voter guides. It provides a little somethin’ for just about every type of voter. Bookmark it here.

• MASSACHUSETTS: Voters on the look out for their polling location, a quick link to track their ballot, or to see who’s on the ballot, Western Mass News put it all in one zippy location. Bookmark it here.

• TEXAS: Voting in Texas is all about the details, like what you need when you get to the polls and what not to bring. For those questions and more, the Austin-American-Statesman has ya covered. Bookmark the guide here.

MARK THE CAL…

…for Thursday, March 7, 2024

STATE OF THE UNION 2024: We know Thursday’s are usually for Summer House, but this week it’s dedicated to the State of the Union address. To watch the President’s address, tune in on March 7, 2024 at 9pm EST via all of these locations. And to prep for the address, take a look-sie at this USAFacts by the numbers report.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

Bills, bills, bills

NEW JERSEY: Woof - this is a good one! No seriously, it’s pawfect. Bill S-1253, if passed, would get the ball rolling on a pilot program that would bring therapy dogs into NJ schools. The goal of the program would be to ease the mental health crisis impacting students, reduce stress, enhance motivation and attendance, and overall help the wellbeing of students. In its current form, six school districts in that state would apply to be a part of the three-year tester program – two per state region [yes, central Jerz is now a thing]. The Commissioner of Education would create guidelines for how the districts would train and use the dogs.

IOWA: A bill that would allow school districts, private schools, and colleges to arm staff passed the Iowa State House. HF2586 would require armed staff go through a one-time training, that would include details on its qualified immunity component. For the state’s 11 largest school districts, the bill, if turned into law, would require them to have armed security or school resource officers in their high school buildings - although school boards would be able to opt out. 

MISSOURI: How low will the Missouri GOP go? At this rate, and with this bill, they might hit the earth’s core in their quest to keep digging themselves a bigoted hole. The bill, HB2885, “would force teachers to register as sex offenders if they use the names and pronouns of transgender children or otherwise support them and their identity.” Most specifically, it would make it a Class E felony for teachers or school counselors to aid in the “social transition” of a student. Those found guilty of doing this, would be put on Tier 1 of the sex offender registry list and thus not able to be within 500 feet of a school or daycare, meaning it would be game over for a teacher’s career. And people wonder why there’s a teacher shortage… 

GEORGIA: This bill ain’t peaches, it’s a racial profiling bill known as HB 1105. The bill would allow police to arrest, with ‘probable cause’ who is suspected of being in the country illegally and detain them for deportation. In addition, jailers and sheriffs would be required to report when someone in custody has been ‘found to lack legal documentation’ to federal authorities; not complying would mean the loss of state funding or state-administered federal funding for local governments. The bill passed the state house so far.

NEW ON THE POD

Why YOU should run for school board with Amanda Litman

Have you heard about what’s been going down with school boards? If you haven’t, you’re about to, via our conversation with the Co-Founder of Run for Something’s Amanda Litman. She provides the 411 on how the far-right has long had their eyes on this educational and powerful prize, and where their efforts have led. And, importantly, she shares the plan in process to fight back...one that involves YOU running for school board -- yes, YOU. Get the details and tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, via YouTube.

WAIT, WAIT UPDATE ME

ICYMI, political ongoings of note

NIKKI HALEY WINS D.C. PRIMARY: GOP candidate for president, Nikki Haley notched her first primary win in Washington D.C. this weekend, pulling 63% of the vote. The win comes ahead of Super Tuesday. However, to note, D.C. isn’t your run of the mill electorate, and perhaps Politico’s diagnostics say it best on why this doesn’t represent a turn in the primary pathway for her.

SUPER TUESDAY IS THIS WEEK: It’s super-sized, and no, it’s not a candy bar from your fave house to go trick or treating at. It’s a super-sized amount of states voting in primaries, and it’s happening tomorrow - Tuesday, March 5, 2024. There are 15 states that will be voting, which include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.

MITCH MCCONNELL TO STEP DOWN FROM LEADERSHIP IN NOVEMBER: We admit, we never thought we’d see the day – but come November 2024, Mitch McConnell will step down as the GOP Senate Minority Leader. His 17-year tenure was a roller coaster that included playing a PIC role in helping Trump pack SCOTUS with ultra-conservative justices, occasionally working across the aisle in a way that made Senator Sinema cry at his farewell speech, and becoming the longest-serving party leader in Senate history. Via his announcement he also hinted at staying in office through the remainder of his term [2026]. It’s all tbd and toodle-loo!

KEY READS

Important stories from around the USA

• The Hill: Congress unveils long-awaited funding bills ahead of shutdown

• Politico: Haley says she’s no longer bound by RNC pledge to support party’s nominee

• Axios: How the GOP’s “three Johns” are cozying up with Senate contenders

• USA Today: ‘People are scared’: Hispanic community reacts to immigration debate after student’s killing

ATLAS

Stories from around the globe

• AP: Mexico is about to have its biggest election ever. Here’s what to know

• France24: French Senate votes to enshrine abortion access in the constitution after US rollback

• Semafor: Ghana’s parliament passes draconian anti-LGBTQ+ bill

• Reuters: South Korean doctors holds a mass rally against medical policy

BEFORE YOU GO….