Hi, all!
First I wanted to give you an update on AB 1999, the bill we’ve been trying to pass to stop the $24/month utility price hike. It’s not a happy update, but it could lead to a win eventually if we don’t give up.
It’s from the Stop Utility Tax Coalition:
Last week, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas announced that he would not let lawmakers vote on AB 1999, effectively killing the bill. A few days earlier, the Senate version of AB 1999 was defeated in committee (see vote count).
But the window to stop the Utility Tax has not fully closed. The Legislature is in session until August. They have plenty of moves left on this chess board. In politics, where there's a will, there's a way. We've seen how public outrage can change the situation, often against the odds and to the surprise of everyone.
So let's keep fighting back. Please encourage your networks to call both their Assemblymember and Senator today and tell them they MUST find a way to stop the big Utility Tax before they adjourn in August.
Look up their phone number here. Here's a suggested message, feel free to modify:
“My name is _____. I live in ______. I am outraged that the AB 1999 was not even given a vote. You must find a way to stop the Big Utility Tax before August. Otherwise, bills will increase on four million households. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Please fight for ratepayers. Stop the Big Utility Tax! Thank you.”
While you’re at it, please share and post Tenants Together’s op-ed in the San Francisco Post: “PG&E’s new utility tax is unfair to renters and must be repealed.”
Finally, Activate America has launched postcarding into CA-45 for Derek Tran! They also have campaigns in CA-27 for George Whitesides and in CA-13 for Adam Grey. These are must-win seats if we want to take back the House, and Activate America has LOTS of addresses to assign. Can you sign up to write some cards? (You need to provide your own postcards. Reply to this email if you don’t know where to buy them—I get mine on Etsy.)
Thanks, all. Everything is a mess but we’re gonna get there.
More soon.
Jess