Thanks to everyone who made calls and sent emails. Our focus needs to turn to the Senate now!
The Kill Nonprofits Bill (HR 9495) passed the House floor vote. The fight moves to the Senate. But here are the three ways we won: 1. We changed Democratic votes from 52 Yeas to only 15 Yeas. This was a huge swing, and a major success. Our voices were heard. We cannot ever be silent again. 2. We helped to bring attention to this un-American bill, so that it can not pass without notice, since nonprofit people, the media and the American people are distracted by gloom of the presidential election results and the current clown show of crazy cabinet nominations. 3. We got united and activated quickly. Together, nonprofit workers and other Americans delivered calls, petitions, lobbying efforts, and opposition statements that successfully educated our representatives and made our perspective heard. We cannot go back to being silent victims of government policy and behavior. Let’s stay united and activated. Even as they try to attack our existence and livelihoods, our presence and power will grow. If those 15 Democrats who voted Yeah, and the 15 Democrats who didn’t vote at all, had all voted against, then the bill would have failed. They could have made the difference. The weak, cowardly lemmings of the Trump-Republicans should be held to account. They ALL voted Yea — with the exception of ONE apparently brave soul, Kentucky Representative Thomas Massey. In addition, those 15 Democrats who voted Yea and the 15 didn’t vote at all, must be held to account for helping to hand the executive branch unquantifiable power to gut the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Here’s the score: Needed: simple majority Total votes: 219 Yeas 194 Nays Republicans: 204 Yeas 1 Nay Democrats: 15 Yeas 183 Nays Did Not Vote: Dems: 15 Reps: 15 Thanks to the ACLU, Indivisible Project, Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, United Philanthropy Forum, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Vu Le, Beth Kanter, and so so so so so many of you for your passionate and effective organizing and advocacy. We are just getting started! Here’s my wish: May the next four years be the biggest overreach that American fascists can make, and that this opening shot against the Constitution it is the biggest mistake they’ve made. Because we who truly believe in the promise of America are more powerful when we unite than these power-hungry wannabes.