Oppose TN gun bill, CA gun insurance, Alaska rank voting, Navajo and solar power

Ruth Holloway, Maryville Huddle

Women’s March Coalition of East TN

ETEnlightener/politics/local/state

Actions for Week of February 13, 2022

Oppose TN Gun Bill – HB1735

Seeks to lower the age requirement to obtain an enhanced or concealed handgun carry permit or lawfully carry a handgun in public from 21 to 18 years of age. Yes, that’s right. TN legislators claim they need to ban books from schools to protect kids but it is OK for an 18-year-old to carry a concealed weapon without a permit or training. This bill has been assigned to the Civil Justice Committee. You can email members of the committee here this link. Click on the committee member’s photo to be directed to their email page.

Support HR 5723 

The Social Security 2100 Act expands the payroll tax cap on high-income workers in order to keep Social Security solvent. It would increase the minimum benefit for low-income retirees; increase benefits for all beneficiaries by 2%; factor health care costs into the cost-of-living adjustment; offer credits to leave the work force for those who become care givers for family members; and eliminate the 5-month waiting period to draw disability benefits. Hearings on the bill began just before the holiday break. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support and cosponsor this bill. It already has 196 cosponsors. See contact information below.

Good News!

1. 1. A federal judge revoked oil and gas leases for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico stating that the Interior Department must consider their effects on climate change.

   2. San Jose CA passed an ordinance requiring gun owners to pay a fee and carry liability insurance. They were sued the next day by gun rights groups, and this suit will be a good test case to follow.

   3. Alaska is moving to end party primaries and to use rank voting for their general elections.

   4. Read how Native American women are bringing solar power to Navajo Nation.

   5. A federal court restored endangered species protections for the gray wolf that were rolled back during the Trump administration.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

1. 1. Learn about the cost of racial and ethnic discrimination in the labor market.

   2. Read how gerrymandering in TX reduced the number of competitive Congressional House districts from 12 to 1.

   3. Now that federal stimulus funding is running out, rural hospitals are in financial trouble again.

   4. Learn more about how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act helps persistent poverty counties.

CALENDAR

• Feb 14^th, Mon 12-3PM: Celebrate Frederick Douglass birthday and Black literary history. Zoom link. Rev. Estell will be one of the honored guests at the gathering.
• Feb 19^th, Sat 9AM-1PM: Invasive Plant Clean-up at Maryville College Woods. Rain dates are a week later. Meet at McArthur Pavilion, 825 Morningside Lane, Maryville, on the Maryville College campus. For more information visit https://www.maryvillecollege.edu/about/inside/woods/
• Feb 22^nd, 11:30AM-1PM: BCEAC Luncheon Meeting. For agenda and Zoom link contact bcecumenicalactioncouncil@gmail.com or visit https://bceac.org/. Dues are $20 per year and can be paid online via the website.
• Feb 24^th, Thur 7PM: Monthly Huddle Meeting. Speaker: Mr. Dennis Clark, the Regional Organizing Director of East TN for The Equity Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in TN that advocates for equitable opportunities and systems that improve the quality of life for Black people. Zoom link to be provided soon.
• Feb 26^th, Sat 11:45AM: Blount County NAACP Meeting. To obtain Zoom link contact ramaloha@hotmail.com. This meeting is followed by the BC United Meeting at 1PM. To obtain Zoom link contact we41602@aol.com.

ABOUT WOMEN’S MARCH COALITION OF EAST TENNESSEE: