Action of the Week! In the 1980's refugees from El Salvador were not allowed to seek legal asylum in the United States. Faith groups all over the country started giving them sanctuary in their church buildings. Immigrant communities are under pressure again. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is being pushed by our fearful president to be more aggressive in finding and deporting undocumented people. A new Sanctuary Movement is rising up and taking on the challenge of supporting immigrants. This week, there are three action you can take to support the Sanctuary Movement.
Action of the Week No.1, sign this petition to ask for family visitation for immigrant detainees at NORCOR. To find out more about NORCOR Click here. Action of the Week No. 2 is Love Resists Training on April 27, from 1-5pm. The training, Readying Ourselves for Solidarity with Sanctuary is the Friday before the UUA Western Regional Assembly begins at the Double Tree Hotel in Portland. Find out about the modern sanctuary movement and connect with UU activists from all over the Western Region. There will be time at the end of the training for issue groups other than sanctuary to caucus. This training is supported by the UUA, UUSC, the Oregon, Washington and California State Action Networks and UURise a UU sanctuary/immigration rights group. It is free and open to the public. Click the link above to sign up. Action of the Week No.3 The Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) is having a vigil/action at NORCOR in the Dalles on Saturday April 28th from 10:30am to 3pm. Join this coalition group as they bring people of faith from all over the region to stand in solidarity with the immigrants held at NORCOR. For more on this organization and this particular action click here. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell
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A very important bill awaits Governor Kate Brown’s signature, but it is sitting on her desk. She has just a couple of weeks left to make her decision. Business interests are pushing her hard to veto this bill. For the good of Oregon’s teachers, students, and working families, she needs to sign it immediately. Senate Bill 1528 preserves over $1 billion in revenue over the next five years for Oregon to invest in our schools and essential services — rather than handing that money over to well-off business owners in the form of yet another tax break. Senate Bill 1528 says “no” to a costly and unjust part of the Trump tax plan, a new tax deduction for what’s called “pass-through” income. This kind of income mainly flows to those at the top. ( I asked you to support this bill in February. It passed, and now we need your help again. It needs to 'pass' off of the governor's desk) Business owners already enjoy a special Oregon tax break and will still get the deduction on their federal taxes. Senate Bill 1528 stops them from getting yet another state tax benefit. Businesses are better off when local schools are strong and their customers are more economically secure with affordable housing and health care. If Gov. Brown vetoes this bill, our schools will suffer as will the social services programs that we all depend on. Those that would benefit would by-and-large be many of the same people who will also benefit from the Trump Tax Cut. Action of the Week: Tell the Governor that it is time for her to take a stand for kids (the biggest chunk of Oregon's budget goes to education and human services). Its time for her to sign Senate Bill 1528. Click here to send a message to the Governor. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell PS. Today is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death. I didn't think I would take it so hard. Love and care to all of you who have been listening to this news and finding yourself heavy-hearted. Action of the Week!
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is uniting people across the country to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation and the nation’s distorted morality. This National Campaign is getting rolling in Oregon. The Action of the Week this week is all about the Poor People's Campaign. Check out their website if want to know the history of this campaign. Its roots are in Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1960's campaign updated for today. Our own Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) are both endorsers of the Poor People’s Campaign. In support of the campaign, UUs are invited to a webinar, tomorrow! A Webinar on the Moral/Theological Basis for Nonviolent Moral Fusion Direct Action featuring Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis - Thursday, March 22, 1-2pm Pacific time. Here is the link to RSVP for the Webinar. – Please share and invite your lay leaders to attend this multi-faith webinar as well. In addition the campaign is doing the following local trainings:
Rev. Katie Larsell The Oregon legislature just had an historic opportunity to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Bill and create a cap and trade system for reducing carbon pollution. Did they do it! NO. The Clean Energy Jobs Bill was the one bill that Oregon Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice focused on for this recent short legislative session. The news wasn't all bad though.
All that sounds like a great consolation price -- but isn't the same as passing the actual legislation. The Action of the Week is to send a message to your legislators. Let them know you are disappointed, and more important, YOU ARE WATCHING. Send a message here. As Unitarian Universalists we are not necessarily more wise or more patient than anyone else. We are all subject to fits of gloom. Yet our faith calls us to protect the earth. The work means that we are constantly countering big powerful companies. We aren't always going to win. We need to stay constant and stay focused. When we don't succeed, we need to maintain hope. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell Calendar
March 24 - Student led march inspired by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings , March for our Lives, many locations around the country. Good things come in the form of very strange packages sometimes.
The legislature has a bill, HB 4007, that will raise the document recording fee from $20 to $60. Wow, that sounds eye-crossingly boring doesn't it! However, it will raise a fair amount of money, 60 million dollars over two years! The money will go to finance affordable housing. It will create housing opportunity across Oregon - providing thousands more with the stability of a home. HB 4007 also creates the First Time Home Buyer Savings Account, which will provide a small tax subtraction for first time home buyers with moderate incomes who are saving for a home. This is a good little bill that needs support. The lack of affordable housing in this state goes against our Unitarian Universalist values. When people cannot afford decent housing their worth and dignity is forfeited to those who can afford it. A just society takes care of people and provides them with opportunities to live in dignity. This week's Action of the Week is a phone call or email in support of this legislation. Click here to connect to your legislators and ask for their vote. Last week HB 4007 moved out of the House Revenue Committee. The bill now is in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Its next step is the House and Senate floor for a full vote. Partner organization, the Oregon Housing Alliance, says now is the time to let legislators know that this a bill that has support. Let's get this done! In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell It's hard as an activist to watch the legislation you support go through the Oregon Legislature. The Clean Energy Jobs bill should have sailed through the legislature last year! Instead it is going through the sausage making process once again.
Right now the bill is being amended. House Speaker Tina Kotek has proposed sawing the bill in half. The first half, putting a Cap on greenhouse gas emission, would pass this year. Next year, the legislature (or the Oregon DEQ) would pass the rest of it. For a great description see this PortlandTribune article. Our partners RENEW OREGON and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) are asking us to step back and take a breath. Don't engage around this idea of splitting the bill, instead, let your legislator know the depth of your engagement. Let them know the importance Oregonians feel about Oregon being a part of the climate change solution. The Action of the Week is to work with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon partner as they put together Capitol actions: Over the next two weeks EMO wants people to come to Salem to talk with legislators about their commitment to the Green Energy Jobs Bill. They believe this bill needs a continuous presence of Interfaith partners. EMO will coach and provide support. Can you go to Salem? Click here. They are also looking for faith leaders to do walk-throughs in the Capitol, stopping by key legislative offices to let them know that people of faith are behind the Clean Energy Jobs bill. Faith leaders could come any time between now and Friday, March 2nd. Can you go to Salem? Click here.In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell Action of the Week!
Climate Change is a big, terrifying problem. Don't you want to DO something about it? Sometimes I want to run away from a problem if it seems too big. But with climate change, I want to run toward it and make a difference. Our President withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, saying that climate change is not our problem. When he did that many states including California, Washington and Oregon, signed on to theUnited States Climate Alliance. They were saying - President Trump - you are not going to stop us. This effort will go on without you. Oregon has the opportunity to live up to that commitment and pass historic climate legislation. The Clean Energy Jobs Bill, coming before the legislature in this session, will cap and price climate pollution from the largest emitters in the state, and reinvest the proceeds in our communities. However, the Clean Energy Jobs Bill has been received with mixed signals from various legislators. The general message seems to be, "this is a short session, what's the hurry, let's wait until next year!" I don't know about you, I DONT WANT TO WAIT. Climate change is happening now. I feel it this month when I walk out the door. It just doesn't feel like winter. The Action of the Week is to sign up for the Rally and Lobby Day for the Clean Energy Jobs Bill on Monday, February 12. We need everyone to sign up NOW. The deadline for signing up, is this Wednesday, February 7th (tomorrow). Signing up gets you a meeting with your legislators -- and lunch. This is the one rally and lobby day you should come to -- even if you have to travel across the state. We need to tell the legislature that we don't want to wait. The time is now. If you have a legislator who is on the fence, we need you. If your legislator is a Republican, wonderful, we need you. If your legislator is an unenthusiastic Democrat, then of course, we need you. EVEN if your legislator is an enthusiastic Democrat, come, get some training, march and attend the hearing. We need everyone there to show the strength of support! Unitarian Universalists who attend -- Let's do a meet-up at lunch and all march together to the capital. The schedule and location are below. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell Clean Energy Jobs Lobby Day Information: When: February 12th, check in – 9:00 am - 9:45 am Program starts at 9:45 am with our kickoff speaker House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson. Where: Salem, OR –Micah Building at 680 State Street, 680 State St, Salem, OR 97301, (2nd Floor) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. Then, we will march over to the Oregon Capitol Building for a rally on Capitol steps and meetings with our legislators and other activities, which will last until about 4:00 pm. Lunch included! We will have a Clean Energy Jobs shirts and buttons for you to put on! Here's a little more of a detailed schedule of the day. • 9:00 - 9:40 AM Check-In at MICAH Building, 680 State St, Salem, OR 97301, (2nd Floor) Continental Breakfast, Coffee, and Tea will be served. • 9:45 - 9:55 AM Program begins • 10:00 - 11:30 AM Program • 11:30 - 11:50 AM Grab Lunch and Eat in the Micah building - (Lunch Provided to all RSVPs) • 12:00 - 12:30 PM March on the Capitol and Rally • 12:45 PM Meetings Begin • 12:45 – 4:00 PM Legislator Meetings and More • 1:30 - 4:00 PM Art & Advocacy projects at the Montag Den at Willamette University Action of the Week!
The Poor People's Campaign was started by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King 50 years ago. Guess what! It's being revived for our time by the Rev. Samual Barber in a new Poor People's Campaign. This campaign began in North Carolina, Dr. Barber's home state, and it has grown to include 25 states, including Oregon. On February 5th, folks all across the country at state capitols, and in Washington, DC, will be highlighting the human impact of policies which promote systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, and environmental devastation. The Action of the Week is to join the Oregon Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival on Monday, February 5th at 10 am for a Unity News Conference in Salem on the Capitol Steps. This announcement launches the Poor People’s Campaign here in Oregon. The campaign will continue through the spring with a series of direct actions including civil disobedience. The campaign will gather at 8:45 am at St. Mark Lutheran Church (790 Marion St NE, Salem, OR 97301) for breakfast and a short program before moving to the capitol steps (900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301) for the 10:00 am press conference. There is an optional light lunch and evaluation afterward at St. Mark Lutheran Church. Join the Poor Peoples Campaign on February 5th! For more information, contact oregon@poorpeoplescampaign.org. Please share in your facebook network by clicking here. In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell Calendar Feb 7, Wed. - Health Care for All Lobby Day - Info and Sign-up Feb 8, Thurs. - Small Donor Elections (HB 4075) House Rules Committee Hearing, 3-5PM tentative, Contact Common Cause for details. (503) 283-1922. Feb 12, Mon. - Clean Energy Jobs Bill Lobby Day - Info and Sign-up When I hear about tax breaks for the wealthy, I feel it in my gut, not my head. It takes me a minute to figure out why they offend me so much. When I look at our seven principles, I realize every one of them is touched. They degrade our democracy, our communities, and value the rich over the poor.
Recently, Congress passed a Federal Tax Bill that favored wealthy individuals and corporations. One of the features of the Federal Tax Bill was something called a pass-through provision. The pass-through provision allows business owners to pass income through from a business to themselves as individual business owners. They then pay the lower personal rate on this income. The pass-through provides a huge tax cut for already wealthy people. There is lots of criticism of this new Federal Pass through -- but did you know Oregon has such a pass through already in our tax code! The pass through was enacted here in 2013 as kind of a 'dress rehearsal' for the Federal Tax Bill! We can't afford this. It's an expensive tax break for a not-so-wealthy state like Oregon. This one tax break costs us close to $300 million dollars per budget cycle in lost revenue. 69% of the recipients of Oregon's pass through tax break have incomes over $500,000. 23% of the tax cut go to those who make between $200,000 and $500,000. Come on, that is terrible! As Oregon UU Voices for Justice Action of the Week: Let your Oregon legislature know that you oppose pass-through tax breaks. Click here to let them know. When I see $150 million in taxes lost to Oregon every year, I think of low-income students trying to go to college. Others might see pre-school cuts, or low-income housing lost. What do you see? In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell It's partly in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that the Action of the Week is about DACA, the Defered Action for Childhood Arrivals Program started by President Obama.
If Dr. King were alive today he would be working for these young people. You know he would. The DACA program protects young people, called Dreamers, who were brought into the country as children illegally. They had to apply and meet certain conditions of good character to be admitted to DACA! 800,000 did just that trusting in the good will and intentions of the United States. However, President Trump ended the program and handed it to Congress to solve. Now these Dreamers, who have never lived anywhere else, are being threatened with deportation. 11,000 of the Dreamers live and work in Oregon! Congress is in a big fight to protect the Dreamers by passing the Dream Act. The Dream Act actually has bipartisan support. Unfortunately these young people are caught up in the bad mojo of partisan and ugly politics. Congress is trying to pass a continuing resolution to run the government, and the Dream Act has become a bargaining chip. Friday, January 19, 2018 is the appropriations deadline, so its a good time to let your representatives know what you think. Connect to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee HERE and join with UU's around the country. Even if your legislator is a supporter of the Dream Act -- the intensity of public interest keeps them strong. Send this today! In Love and Faith, Rev. Katie Larsell |
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