Dear Kent Streeters,

I am still trying to figure out how best to balance being a grandmother with being an activist. I had every intention of getting Happenings done over the weekend, especially because there is so much going on this week at the State House. But it turned out celebrating my little one’s 1st birthday took up pretty much all of my time – much to my delight, but not much to my productivity!

So, here I am on Tuesday morning trying to get something out to all of you before the big day on Thursday, when both the House and Senate are in session to vote on the last of bills that crossed over from one chamber to the other. They have saved many of the worst for the last, including the state budget in the Senate and a ban on teens’ confidential access to birth control – whether in the House or the Senate, what’s left is a veritable parade of horribles.

We are calling on folks to join us at the State House this Thursday June 5 between 8:15 and 1 pm for a Fight for Our Future: Day of Action:

• Visibility 8:15 to 10 am before the House begins its 10 am session. 
  Some key issues: Barriers to Absentee Voting, School Vouchers for Millionaires, Ban on Teen Confidential Access to Contraception, So-Called Parents Bill of Rights and Mandatory Disclosure
• Watch the House In Action (it’s quite something!) from the 3rd Floor Gallery 10 to Noon.  For those of you who have never been before, I will be available to walk folks through the process and answer questions at 12pm upstairs in the House Gallery and if anyone is interested, give a brief tour of the State House at 1pm. I’ll be the one proudly wearing my KSC lapel pin!
• Visibility 12:15 to 1 pm before the Senate begins its 1 pm session. Focus on the Budget (Medicaid monthly premiums), School Vouchers for Millionaires, Ban on Teen Confidential Access to Contraception, So-Called Parents Bill of Rights, No Cause Evictions – the list is long.

We hope many of you will join us to show the GOP majority that they are failing to represent the best interests of their constituents and the state – and to support our Democratic champions who have been fighting the good fight.

Legislators need to see many of us on Thursday and they need to hear from everyone right now! 

Look below for the actions to take ahead of Thursday.

I am relying on the Alerts in State House Watch this week (more than usual), referring folks there for this week’s priority actions, as well as alerts from Planned Parenthood, and others.

After Thursday, we will enter into a new legislative phase. Those bills that passed both houses unchanged will head to the Governor’s desk (though there is no specific timeline for this). Those that failed to pass both chambers, are dead. Those bills that passed each chamber but were amended after crossover may have 1) either a vote of concurrence or 2) be sent to a committee of conference to see if a compromise bill can be agreed upon. If no concurrence or compromise is reached, the bills die. Otherwise, if agreed upon by both chambers, the bills will head to the Governor’s desk (though, again, there is no specific timeline for this). What this means for our advocacy is that we will be focusing on the Governor’s Office and moving forward with legislative accountability.

I know it is a busy time of year for everyone, with graduations, weddings, Pride events and so much more. I know that all of us are trying to find the right balance in our lives during these dark political times. I hope everyone can take time for self-care and to savor the moments of joy whenever and wherever we find them.

With eyes on the prize,

Louise