A message from the Hancock Country Democrats (1/16):
Background: Even though the “big ugly bill” passed, the (somewhat tortured) process calls for subsequent votes on certain types of appropriations. It just so happens that a huge flood of new ICE money is up for a vote this month. “An appropriations package moving through Congress – which Democrats have helped negotiate – would give ICE money to expand its detention beds, even above the levels provided in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which gave the president tens of billions of dollars to supercharge his militarized mass-deportation campaign. Appropriations bills are subject to the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass most legislation. That means Trump is counting on a number of Senate Democrats, at least seven, to help pass this bill and give ICE extra cash to further ramp up its immigration raids, which are being carried out by masked secret police. The deadline to pass the appropriations package and avoid a government shutdown is January 30.(1). ICE is heading for Maine, for reasons you understand (2). Governor Mills is resisting (3), while Golden is telling us to “avoid spreading unsubstantiated gossip or fear.” (4) What would constitute “substantiated” in his mind – a letter to him from Ice Barbie saying when and where they plan to raid? Was he one of the Democrats who “helped negotiate”? One hopes not!
Action: Ask Senator King to filibuster the ICE appropriation. Collins doesn’t have what it takes. Does he? Would Mills if she was in the Senate? Would Graham Platner? Others?
Contact:
Senator Angus King
DC: (202) 224-5344
Augusta: (207) 622-8292
Urgency: today preferred
Extra Credit:
(1) https://zeteo.com/p/will-democrats-vote-to-give-trump
(3) see her radio address on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2478691905862021
(4) Golden’s Weekly Update, received in in-box January 17.
Action 198–Addendum.
A reader writes:
“You might want to add this:
Committee Members: United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
[NOTE: Susan Collins is the Chair]
.https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/about/members.
Committee Members: Homeland Security Subcommittee | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
.https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittees/homeland-security.
From Jess Craven, Chop Wood, Carry Water. [sample script]
I’m calling to urge the Senator to filibuster the upcoming Homeland Security appropriations bill unless [choose one or more from the following]
There are significant changes to how ICE operates, so they aren’t behaving like lawless thugs
ICE’s funding bump from the One Big Beautiful Bill is erased and returned to last year’s levels of $10B annually (down from the larger $37.5B)
ICE is completely defunded and operations are paused until the agency can be vetted/reformed
ICE is shut down entirely
I’m sick of watching lawful citizens and noncitizens being arrested at their jobs, assaulted at peaceful protests, pulled out of their vehicles, blinded by munitions, and getting shot and killed. It’s un-American. We need qualified, well-trained officers to enforce only immigration law — not rogue, unidentified agents detaining, assaulting, shooting, and murdering people. Congress needs to step up and use its power in the Constitution to rein in ICE.
Thanks for listening and please do the right thing. Your voters are watching, I promise.”
