First Contact
Action Overview
Welcome to the landing page for our team's legislation campaigns!
Our goals are to Educate, Activate, Recruit, Repeat.
Every action in an ER legislation allows the Electeds in state government - Governors, Attorneys General, Legislators, and others - to take another step towards the defense and furthering of democracy. States have the legal power vested in them to enforce and to enact laws to protect citizens' rights that are guaranteed in our Constitution from federal overreach. Because the federal government is defying laws and the Constitution, it is imperative for states to act. Our Toolkits enable us to educate and activate our Democratic state legislators, so they are aware of tactics and reasons to protect state residents and their democratic freedom.
So as Chris Armitage says at his Substack,
Let's get after it!
We will contact Dem legislators with the "Four Laws." The model legislation is a vital introduction to the Existentialist Republic tactics for states governments.
This toolkit page provides the audience, the resources, and the plan.
- TIME FRAME: Thurs 12 March to Thurs 2 April
- AUDIENCE: State Representatives
- PLAN: Send emails, send legislation files, followup phone calls
- RESOURCES: Email template, phone script, legislation summaries
- RESULTS: Report the Representatives' responses that we receive!
Setting The Stage
Review Chris's Four Laws Post
Time Frame
Our start date, Thurs 12 March, is chosen to give our legislative team a chance to prepare one-page summaries of the legislation for this, our kick-off canvassing event.
Our finish date, Thurs 2 April, is chosen to reflect that most state legislatures will be in session through the first week of April; whereas by mid May, many of the sessions are concluded.
Let's make the greatest impact by doing as much outreach as possible during these few weeks!
Audience
Your chosen mode of outreach, which may be any or all of:
Your own state representatives.
It's fantastic when we can develop a relationship with our Electeds over time. They truly appreciate hearing from us. Find the state senate and house/ assembly members for your district online, then reach out! (Having trouble finding your district reps? Just ask: Elaine.)
All of your state's Dem legislators.
The ER Legislative Team has prepared a database where you can download phone, email, contact form url, with party affiliation and roles indicated. GO HERE to query for your state and download the tables you'll use. (Need help finding something? Post on Discord.)
Dem state legislators nationwide.
Whether you have your own mail merge tool, and want to download and blast to them all; or whether you'd like to "ask for 20" addresses at a time, then come back for more; the database is ready with thousands of Dem legislators to contact. GO HERE to query for your state and download the tables you'll use.
Note! The "ask for 20" is not automated yet, so please contact Elaine
The Plan
Start by sending emails:
We've provided a template to customize.
If you can, attach the supplied 1-page legislation summaries to the emails.
If that's not possible (no direct email, only contact form), add the paragraph that allows the legislators to access the files on the internet.
In addition, follow up with phone calls as your capacity allows. This is especially good to do with your own reps! Some team members also like to let their city and/or county representatives know about our work.
Finally, report back! Our campaign team wants to know what outreach was done and follow up on any responses that we receive! Our preferred way to report back is within the Discord server. If this is an obstacle, Contact Elaine for alternatives.
Scripts
Email Subject
State government can defend against federal overreach
Possible variations:
1: States have the right to protect democracy from federal overreach
2: States have the right to protect democratic freedoms from federal overreach
3: States have the right to enforce the rule of law
Email Body
NOTE!This script is a suggestion! Please, feel free to personalize this message.
As your constituent, I urge you to help protect our state's citizens from our federal government's current and destructive policies.
Daily we see violations of federal law systematically ignored. We see evidence of sexual predators and child trafficking overlooked. We see blatant grift among our executive branch with no accountability. We see corporations spending millions to influence government at the expense of our health, our environment, and our economy. Campaign finances have become quid pro quo enterprises with no culpability.
State governments have the power to act in the vacuum left by our federal government. I urge you to consider four model acts drafted by Christopher Armitage that can protect us against our own federal government. Only action and accountability can protect us, your constituents.
With the Epstein Files top of mind for many Americans, the "Child Sex Trafficking Investigation and Accountability Act" would give states the clear authority to investigate and prosecute crimes connected to the Epstein Files.
The "Fiscal Sovereignty and Election Protection Act" gives states control over something the federal government cannot ignore: our tax money.
The "Corporate Welfare Integrity Act" would clarify that if a corporation spends its own money on political campaigns or PACs, it does not qualify for tax breaks, subsidies, or government contracts.
The "Bribe is a Bribe Act" gives state attorneys general authority to prosecute any public official whose corruption affects state residents, from a city council member to a Supreme Court justice to an FBI director.
These model acts are researched and carefully vetted. I have attached one-page summaries of the acts and a short article that provides more context.
You can find these model act documents at the ER Support Campaign Legislation Portal, or call me at [your phone here] for more information. I'm also happy to mail you hard copies of the documents for consideration.
Thank you.
Alternative email finish, if you cannot add the attachments:
These model acts are researched and carefully vetted. We have available, one-page summaries of the acts and a short article that provides more context.
You can find these summaries at the ER Support Campaign Legislation Portal at: https://apps.togetherfdn.us/html/er/legislation/portal.html, or call me at [phone here] for more information. I'm also happy to mail you hard copies of the documents for consideration.
Thank you.
Phone Script
Follow up with your own reps, and others, if your capacity allows.
Too shy to call this time? That's ok, but remember it does help tell the Electeds our message is worth their time. They know it's more effort to phone, too. Even an evening voicemail!
This script is a suggestion, please customize!
Hello, I'm [name], in [location], with the Existentialist Republic organization. [phone number].
We're reaching out to state legislators all over the country.
State legislatures have considerable power to protect constituents and fight fascist overreach, but we have to act now.
I've just sent an email, including summaries of 4 pieces of model legislation, to your office.
These bills show how states have the ability to protect us, and have the power to act in the vacuum left by our federal government.
Will the Senator | Delegate | Representative | Assemblyperson please read our documents?
Our organization's point of contact for followup on the legislation is: Camus@theexistentialistrepublic.com
As a team working together we can improve lives in our state districts.
Could they please read right away. Our rights are under attack.
This is [name], at [location], [phone number], and I'm happy to provide more information.
Sharable Materials
Our sharable materials are all available in the PDF file format. Your Elected officials can review these in any web browser or word processing application.
Note! We suggest sharing the summary documents along with your initial email. When your Elected responds with interest, please share the model legislation.
Note! If you cannot email these as attachments, please direct your legislator to The ER Legislation Portal, (apps.togetherfdn.us/html/er/legislation/portal.html).
Pitch | One Page Summaries | Model Legislation |
|---|---|---|
| Send with your inital email! | Send if your Elected indicates interest. | |
| States Can Withhold Federal Taxes Payments if the Federal Government Violates Election Laws | Fiscal Sovereignty | Fiscal Sovereignty Act |
| States Can Investigate and Prosecute Child Sex Trafficking Suspects Referenced within the Epstein Files | Child Sex Trafficking | Child Sex Trafficking Act |
| Bribes Pervert Our Government and are Rarely Prosecuted. States Can Change That | A Bribe is a Bribe | Bribe Act |
| States Can Prevent Corporate Political Donations from Influencing Grants and Tax Incentives | Corporate Welfare Integrity | Corporate Welfare Integrity Act |
Tools
Database
We have compiled a database with state representative contact information.
The emphasis has been on Dem party Electeds and majority-Dem states, however, it will be completed with the remaining R electeds and majority-R states soon.
Please explore this database to download tables of contact information, and reach out Elaine with any feedback.
Discord
This toolkit is replicated in the Legislative Campaign Forum Info post
You are welcome to post your questions on that thread!
Legislative Campaign Forum Link
Results
Please report results using the Legislative Campaign Forum Results post:
Legislative Campaign Results Forum Link
Troubles?
If reporting on this forum thread is an obstacle, you can: