Democrats set records that should scare GOP, how to help Kill The Bill, and President Obama

Welcome to a new daily series at Shareblue Media, providing you with links to important news, interesting stories, useful information about actions of resistance — and a picture of President Barack Obama to help get you through the day. While the Republican Party is in total disarray, and the odds are increasingly against them keeping […]

By Kaili Joy Gray - September 19, 2017

While the Republican Party is in total disarray, and the odds are increasingly against them keeping control of the House of Representatives, House Democrats are breaking records that should have House Republicans very, very nervous about 2018:

The campaign arm of House Democrats has posted its highest off-year August fundraising haul ever, the group told NBC News. […]

The DCCC raised $6.26 million in August, compared to $4.15 million for August 2015, the last comparable year before a midterm election. Overall, the DCCC has raised $72.46 million in 2017. And the committee touted its online fundraising, which it says has totaled $31.26 million for the year so far, including $2.4 million last month.
Here’s another record-breaker that should have Republicans scared: EMILY’s List has seen an unprecedented number of women look into running for office. In June, the group dedicated to electing pro-choice Democratic women reported that 13,000 women had reached out since Election Day about running for office. That was a huge number compared with past years. But the number has only gotten bigger. As EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock said in a statement to Shareblue Media:

We’ve heard from over 18,000 women since Election Day looking to run for office. This is unprecedented. We can’t wait to help this wave of women run — and win — in 2018, 2020, and elections to come.
In response to the massive data breach at Equifax, one of the nation’s largest credit reporting companies, Democratic senators are fighting back with legislation to protect consumers and their private information:

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren introduced legislation aimed at giving control over credit and personal information to consumers and preventing credit reporting agencies from profiting off of consumers’ information during a freeze. […]

Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey joined with Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse to introduce a bill giving consumers the right to stop data brokers from selling personal information for marketing purposes.
Gina Raimondo, the Democratic governor of Rhode Island, announced that her state is looking out for DACA recipients — undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, who currently have work or student visas to remain in their homes. Despite the Trump administration’s announcement that it is terminating the program, while potentially allowing current recipients to renew their visas, Rhode Island is stepping up for them in a big way:

“A couple of weeks ago, when the Trump administration announced its plan to end the DACA program, we gathered in Central Falls and pledged to do everything in our power to stand up for Rhode Island’s DREAMers,” Raimondo said. “We’re not going to allow $495 to stand in the way of our neighbors’ dreams. Now is the time to fight for our values and take action against hatred and bigotry.”

A group of individuals and organizations has raised enough money to pay the $495 renewal fee for every DREAMer in the state to renew their visas. Bravo, Rhode Island, bravo.

The latest Republican plot to repeal Obamacare, the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill, is the worst bill yet. And it’s close to having enough votes in the Senate to pass. If you don’t know why this bill is worse than the others before it, watch California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris explain why “this bill is even more radical than the last Republican bill that we fought against”:

Let’s talk about what the Graham-Cassidy bill (aka Repeal the Affordable Care Act, Take II) really means for people (it isn’t good). pic.twitter.com/jfWydsr5I6

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) September 18, 2017

It means that states can let insurance companies get out of providing basic health benefits. It means that insurance companies can go back to denying emergency room visits and prenatal care and mental health care. It means that insurance companies can go back to charging seniors an “age tax” and charging more to anyone who has a preexisting condition. It means gutting Medicaid, the largest health care program in our country. Which means the benefits for millions of people are at stake. People with disabilities, seniors, and sick children. And it defunds Planned Parenthood. Put all of this together, and this bill will raise costs for millions of families. And 32 million Americans could lose their insurance. So let’s be clear: There are real human beings who are at risk.
To fight back against the Republican repeal plan, Indivisible is organizing events around the country so voters can let their members of Congress know that they don’t want the GOP to destroy health care. Just plug in your zip code and find the nearest event so you can tell your senator to #KillTheBill.

And if you’re in Washington, D.C., join the protest at the Capitol on Tuesday to get the message through to Congress:

Tomorrow at 1 pm we’re gathering at the Capitol to protest yet another failed-Trumpcare bill being brought up. https://t.co/N71WhGLS7S pic.twitter.com/ThAmBOAIjA

— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) September 18, 2017