Category: What You Can Do Now - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Racial Equality Now! Rally - What You Can Do Now

6/20/2020

Racial Equality Now! Rally
Saturdays at 11:30 am, beginning June 20th

The Slumberland/Party City Corner of
John Deere RD & 16th ST
Moline, IL (across from South Park Mall) (map)

Civil Rights Forum

Please join us from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm every Saturday to stand up for the rights of Black People, specifically, and all People of Color in the United States of America! The purpose of this local Racial Equality Now! Rally is to support the current movement for racial equality and justice that has spread across this country and to ensure that it keeps going for as long as it takes to see real and meaningful progress toward racial equality in America.

Our first rally was this past Saturday, June 13th, and we got lots of positive feedback from people passing by. If you come on Saturday, please wear a mask and expect to participate in social distancing (6 to 10 feet from others).

Although I made a few extra signs, please bring some of your own if you can. Ideas for signs can include things like “Honk for Justice,” Honk for Equality,” “Black Lives Matter,” “I Can’t Breathe!,” “Let’s Talk!,” “No Hate in Our State,” or “No More Deaths,” and many others.

There is lots of parking in the adjoining Slumberland/Party City/Enterprise parking lot, so please bring a friend and join us to help promote racial justice and equality for all People of Color! If you can’t make it this Saturday, join us on Saturdays as often as you can. Together we can make a difference!

Caryn Unsicker

ACA Deadline for Laid-Off Workers

6/2/2020

ACA Deadlines Near For Laid-Off Workers

Health Care Reform Forum

Workers who were laid off due to the coronavirus shutdown, and who lost their employer health insurance, have a 60-day window of opportunity to seek replacement insurance on the Affordable Care Marketplace.

Low-income or unemployed workers may be eligible for subsidized insurance on the ACA. If you know anyone who might qualify for this benefit, encourage them to go to www.healthcare.gov/ to see if they qualify. They must apply within 60 days of becoming unemployed.

Frank Samuelson

What You Can Do Now - Iowa Absentee Ballot Request Form in the Mail

4/21/2020

Look for Your Iowa Absentee Ballot Request Form

Civil Rights Forum

Absentee Ballot Voting in Iowa for June Primary Election

On March 31st, the Des Moines Register reported that, due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office will mail every registered voter in Iowa an absentee ballot request form before the state’s June 2nd primary. The State is encouraging voters to consider voting by mail so that the virus will not be spread among polling site workers and residents. In addition, the early voting period for mail-in ballots has been extended.

If you haven't received your request form in the US Mail by May 5th, contact your County Auditor's Office. Read much more in our Blog Post.

Contact the PACG Webmaster with questions.

What You Can Do Now - Earth Day Action Steps

4/21/2020

Earth Day Action Steps - Wednesday, April 22nd

Environmental Forum

This year we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22nd.

You can celebrate Earth Day in many ways:

Sing “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet” or another earth-based song.
Go for a walk and notice what you see, hear, smell, and feel.
Clean out your old toxic household supplies and stock up on non-toxic cleaners.
Cook a plant-based dinner.
Make cloth grocery bags from some old t-shirts. Patterns can be found online.
Write a letter or postcard to your local, state and federal political leaders about an environmental issue.
Pick a national or state park you plan to visit this summer.
Teach your kids about an endangered species or learn more yourself.
Make a pledge to reduce single-use plastics.
Check your voter registration status: http://www.nass.org/can-I-vote

What You Can Do Now - Celebrate Earth Week Virtually

4/21/2020

Virtual Earth Week Celebration - Wednesday, April 22nd

Environmental Forum

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PACG-sponsored celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day has been postponed to July. As we’re waiting for the pandemic crisis to pass, the climate crisis continues and we need to continue to help the earth heal. There are virtual Earth Day events that are happening you can participate in at your convenience.

“The Story of Plastic” will be televised globally on Discovery Channel on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd, at 1 pm CDT (check your local listings). Additional virtual showings are being arranged, and will be announced on our Environmental Forum Facebook pag e. Join us for a virtual Happy Hour on Friday, April 24th at 5 pm to discuss actions we can take locally to reduce/eliminate the use of single-use plastic. Click here to RSVP.
PACG is sponsoring the April 22nd Earth Day Rally hosted by Environment Iowa. Visit IowaVirtualEarthDay to register now.
The Team Sierra is bringing their Earth Day celebration from outdoors to indoors. To register for their events go to: teamsierra.org/everycorner

For additional virtual Earth Week events, visit our blog at pacgqc.org/blog/online-earth-week-activities.

Susan Leuthauser

What You Can Do Now - Look for Your Absentee Ballot Request Form

4/18/2020

Look for Your Iowa Absentee Ballot Request Form

Civil Rights Forum

Absentee Ballot Voting in Iowa for June Primary Election

On March 31st, the Des Moines Register reported that, due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office will mail every registered voter in Iowa an absentee ballot request form before the state’s June 2nd primary. The State is encouraging voters to consider voting by mail so that the virus will not be spread among polling site workers and residents. In addition, the early voting period for mail-in ballots has been extended.

To further clarify this information, I spoke to Roxanna Moritz, the Scott County Iowa Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, this week. She emphasizes that every active voter in the state will receive an absentee ballot request. If you have not received your form by May 5th, contact your county auditor’s office to request one (see phone numbers below).

Iowa's June 2 primary is scheduled to go forward as planned, but Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans to vote by mail to reduce the spread of the virus. Last week, Pate extended the early voting period for mailed ballots to 40 days, up from 29. That means Iowans will be able to cast mailed ballots beginning on April 23.

"The safety of voters while casting their ballots is our top priority," Pate said in a news release. "The June 2 primary election will go on as scheduled because it’s important for Iowans to make their voices heard by voting. The safest way to vote will be by mail."

Iowans who receive the request forms will need to return them to their county auditor in order to receive an actual absentee ballot. When the time comes, voters will have to fill out and mail back their ballots.

The ballot request form requires Iowans to fill out information like their name, date of birth and address, an ID number, and whether they want to vote in a Democratic or Republican primary.

"We don’t just blindly mail out ballots to people who don’t request them. That’s like mailing out blank checks. There have to be security provisions in place to ensure the integrity of the vote," said Kevin Hall, a spokesperson for the secretary of state's office.

Iowa's primary will feature competitive races for federal and state legislative offices. At the federal level, Democrats will choose a nominee to face off against Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Republican U.S. Rep. Steve King also faces several challengers in the 4th Congressional District primary. – Des Moines Register, March 31st

Moritz expressed her concerns regarding moving to all mail-in voting by November to the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

As much as she prefers an all-mail primary, Scott County Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz doesn’t think there is time to pull it off correctly. “We want to move to a vote-by-mail state, but do it right,” Moritz said. “There are so many things to address and doing it in a hurried fashion and making any mistakes could give cause as to why not do vote-by-mail.”

She’s not sure it would even be possible to make the changes needed to conduct the Nov. 3 general election by mail.

Another challenge may be staffing those polling places. Many poll workers come from the ranks of older Iowans, so Pate has made a poll worker recruitment push to encourage people not in COVID-19 high-risk categories to step up.

So far, auditors report that only a few poll working stalwarts have bowed out of the primary…

Eligible Iowans who have not registered to vote or updated their registration have until May 22 to preregister to ensure the absentee ballot request form goes to the correct address. For information on Election Day registration, visit the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

Ms. Moritz is readily available to answer questions for her constituents at rmoritz@scottcountyiowa.com. She also keeps her Facebook page current with pertinent voting information and is available through her personal cell phone at 563-370-3915. She expressed her concern about making sure that residents get correct information about voting during this unusual time.

Iowa County Auditors' Offices:
Clinton County - 563-244-0568
Muscatine County - 563-263-5821
Scott County - 563-326-VOTE

Request an absentee ballot here and mail it to your county auditor.

Iowans can check to see if they are registered to vote here.

Download and print off a State of Iowa Official Voter Registration form. Mail your registration to your County Auditor’s office. Use this link to find the address of your County Auditor. You may also register to vote online.

Contact the PACG Webmaster with questions.

What You Can Do Now - ACA Enrollment After Job Loss Due to the Pandemic

4/16/2020

Letter to the Editor - Important Update
Regarding ACA Enrollment After Job Loss

Health Care Reform Forum

On behalf of, and with the approval of, the PACG Health Care Reform Forum, I submitted the letter that follows to the local QC newspapers, and it was published on Saturday, April 11. My involvement with PACG was duly noted. If you know of anyone who has lost his/her job and associated health insurance, please bring the potential assistance that might be available at healthcare.gov to his/her attention.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of Americans are losing their jobs. Those with employer-provided health insurance may also be losing that coverage at the worst possible time: leaving them with potentially no income and, if they become ill, no insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) offers them valuable resources.

Iowa and Illinois residents in that situation may be able to get insurance on the federal ACA Marketplace. They may also qualify for a premium subsidy or for coverage under Medicaid. The website healthcare.gov allows them to explore their options. It is important to note that they have a 60-day window after losing their employment in which to apply.

Although some insurers have waived some consumer costs of coronavirus treatment, such costs can still be very high, especially if hospitalization is required; moreover, other health care issues (broken leg, appendicitis) may still arise. Having good health insurance is essential.

The coronavirus pandemic has made us acutely aware of how important it is for all Americans to have access to good health care. The Affordable Care Act has already provided health insurance for millions of uninsured families, and it is there for many of us who need the coverage now. Our people need our government to uphold that law, not seek its overthrow in the courts.

One of the lessons we must learn from this terrible time is that good health care coverage needs to be strengthened and expanded to cover everyone, in good times as well as bad.

Karen Metcalf, Co-facilitator
Health Care Reform Forum
Progressive Action for the Common Good

What You Can Do Now - Start a Climate Victory Garden

4/7/2020

Celebrate the Beginning of Earth Month - Start a Climate Victory Garden

Your Own Home

Environmental Forum

Live celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the festivities are going to take place digitally to mark this milestone event. Through the month of April the Environmental Forum will post activities you can do as we’re staying at home and practicing social distancing.

Be a part of the climate solution, join the Green America Climate Victory Garden movement and start a Climate Victory Garden. Plants help sequester carbon in the soil. The Climate Victory Garden uses gardening methods that minimize soil disturbance and improves the ability of the soil to hold carbon. If you already have a garden, you can transform it into a Victory Garden by doing the following:

Know your garden, - test the soil to determine nutrient content and plant accordingly.
Grow edible plants and increase your vegetable consumption.
Cover the soil with mulch, leaves or cover plants. Mulching reduces water needs, soil erosion, protects soil microbes, and maintains topsoil.
Maintain a chemical-free garden by composting your food waste and using it as fertilizer.
Plant pollinator habitats to encourage biodiversity.
Plant perennials - they reduce soil disturbance.

Click on this link to get started on your Climate Victory Garden.

For additional information on Climate Victory Garden, visit the Green America Climate Victory Garden 101 website.

Susan Leuthauser

What You Can Do Now - Keep Up-to-Date With Our Earth Month Calendar

3/10/2020

Keep Up-to-Date on April Earth Week Activities in Our Area

Environmental Forum

PACG is partnering with many organizations in the Quad Cities Area to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, which was originally established as April 22, 1970. Various groups are offering a wide variety of ways to honor our connection to the principles of having clean waterways, protecting species, moving toward a commitment of clean transportation and rethinking urban land use.

Our PACG website will maintain a current calendar list of everything we know about that relates to Earth Week. You can view the PACG calendar here. We are proud that our website, calendar and Facebook pages are ways for our community to know what's happening. And, although we don't usually post Community Events on our PACG calendar, we are going to for the month of April so that people in the Quad Cities can readily find the events celebrating the day, week and month devoted to taking care of the Earth.

Contact Lori McCollum with questions or comments.

Call Your Senators About the Impeachment Vote - What You Can Do Now

2/3/2020

Call Your Senators About the Impeachment Vote - Update

Considering the turmoil facing our democracy at this confusing time, we encourage all PACG members to call the offices of their US Senators daily to voice their opinions about the impeachment of the President. Are you frustrated that witnesses and documents were blocked? Are you worried about the precident this sets for future administrations? Express your concern to your Senators.

The Senate votes on Wednesday, February 5th to decide on removal from office. A two-thirds majority of Senators is required for removal. Let your Senators know that the their vote to uphold our Constitution will be a deciding factor in your future support. If your Senator is working for you in the way that you desire, call to express your appreciation.

Tell your friends and voting-age family members to contact their Senators as well..

This is very simple but has enormous impact. Each call takes one or two minutes. You either speak to a staffer or leave a message. State your name, address and your message. Be brief, respectful and stay on point. It's also a good idea to thank the staffer - if you speak to one - for doing their job during this stressful time. If your Senator is pursuing this situation to your satisfaction, tell them you are grateful for their diligence and hard work. If they are not, give them input.

Iowa Senators
Chuck Grassley - Davenport Office: 563-322-4331
WA DC Office: 202-224-3744

Joni Ernst - Davenport Office: 563-322-0677
WA DC Office: 202-224-3254

Illinois Senators
Dick Durbin - Rock Island: 309-786-5173
WA DC Office: 202-224-2152

Tammy Duckworth - Rock Island: 309-606-7060
WA DC Office: 202-224-2854

Your voice matters between elections - make it heard. Take 4 minutes out of your day to help make the change that you want to see. Put these numbers in your phone's Contacts and call daily. You will feel empowered.

Allison Ambrose