Call to Action: Help Senate Democrats defeat the Betsy DeVos confirmation!

We need to support Senate Democrats who are taking part in a late-night, if not all-night, attempt at a filibuster to prevent confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. The vote on this confirmation is scheduled for Tuesday at noon (2/7/2017.) We MUST join a nationwide calling effort; call, call, call, until you get through! You can also call after hours, some voicemail accounts do fill, but keep trying. Calls count. Records are kept about calls, for and against an issue.
Tonight and tomorrow we need to call senators who may not be our representatives. Why? Several GOP senators have been identified as possible flips on the DeVos vote. These senators are vulnerable in upcoming re-elections, have received pressure from their home constituencies or are actually concerned about DeVos. Scroll down to read more about the latest news (including ethics issues that should matter) at the bottom of this post.
Sage advice from Slate: “[It is not] in vain to continue calling or writing them urging them to change their minds. If the heat is turned up to an extreme following a senator’s announcement of support, one of those senators could rethink. The idea is for a senator to feel that the trouble he or she would get in with constituents for supporting DeVos would be greater than the trouble with Trump for voting against her.”
This is the contact information for all senators who others have identified as “possible” or “most likely” to change positions and vote “no” on DeVos’s confirmation. Note the most vulnerable are those who are up for re-election (yes in the column next to their name).
Leave a message (with a person or machine) that says something simple like, “The future of our country, our children, is at stake. Please vote no on the Betsy DeVos confirmation.” Some have added thoughts like “I will donate and work on campaigns for whomever opposes you in 2018” ( Jeff Flake and others up for reelection in 2018,) “the whole country is watching,” “This vote impacts ALL of us” “please do the right thing” “Stand up to Trump for our children’s education.”
Example from twitter (calling is more effective):
RT to let @SenToomey that PA res. against DeVos have pledged over $5 million to his next opponent if he votes yes. Follow for updates.
— The Resistance (@ActualEPAFacts) February 6, 2017
If you can’t get through to their Washington office phone, call another one of their offices, and again, you can call off-hours and leave a message.
(late night add to list of those who might be moveable “Call NC Senator Tillis. Word is he’s undecided and you can leave a message at 202-224-2342.”)
Senator | 2018 | party | state | office | phone | fax | |
Pat Toomey | R | PA | Allentown | (610) 434-1444 | (610) 434-1844 | @SenToomey | |
Erie | (814) 453-3010 | (814) 455-9925 | |||||
Harrisburg | (717) 782-3951 | (717) 782-4920 | |||||
Philadelphia | (215) 241-1090 | (215) 241-1095 | |||||
Pittsburgh | (412) 803-3501 | (412) 803-3504 | |||||
Scranton | (570) 941-3540 | (570) 941-3544 | |||||
Johnstown | (814) 266-5970 | (814) 266-5973 | |||||
Washington DC | (202) 224-4254 | (202) 228-0284 | |||||
Rob Portman | R | OH | Cincinnati | 513-684-3265 | @senrobportman | ||
Cleveland | 216-522-7095 | ||||||
Columbus | 614-469-6774 | ||||||
Toledo | 419-259-3895 | ||||||
Washington DC | 202-224-3353 | 2022249075 | |||||
Jerry Moran | R | KS | Hays | (785) 628-6401 | (785) 628-3791 | @JerryMoran | |
Manhattan | (785) 539-8973 | (785) 587-0789 | |||||
Pittsburg | (620) 232-2286 | (620) 232-2284 | |||||
Wichita | (316) 631-1410 | (316) 631-1297 | |||||
Olathe | (913) 393-0711 | (913) 768-1366 | |||||
Washington DC | (202) 224-6521 | (202) 228-6966 | |||||
Jeff Flake | yes | R | AZ | Phoenix | 602-840-1891 | 602-840-4092 | @JeffFlake |
Tucson | 520-575-8633 | 520-797-3232 | |||||
Washington DC | 202-224-4521 | 202-228-0515 | |||||
Deb Fischer | yes | R | NE | Scottsbluff | 308 630 2329 | 3086302321 | @SenatorFischer |
Kearney | 308 234 2361 | 3082343684 | |||||
Lincoln | 402 441 4600 | 4024768753 | |||||
Norfolk | 402 200 8816 | ||||||
Omaha | 402 391 3411 | 4023914725 | |||||
Washington DC | 202 224 6551 | 2022281325 | |||||
Thad Cochran | R | MS | Jackson | 601 965 4459 | @SenThadCochran | ||
Oxford | 662 236 1018 | ||||||
Gulf Coast | 228 867 9710 | ||||||
Washington DC | 202 224 5054 | ||||||
Shelley Capito | R | WV | Charleston | 304-347-5372 | @SenCapito | ||
Martinsburg | 304-262-9285 | ||||||
Morgantown | 304-292-2310 | ||||||
Beckley | 304-347-5372 | ||||||
Washington DC | 202-224-6472 | 202) 224-7665 | |||||
Dean Heller | yes | R | NV | Las Vegas | 702 388 6605 | 702 388 6501 | @SenDeanHeller |
Reno | 775 686 5770 | 775 686 5729 | |||||
Washington DC | 202 224 6244 | 202 228 6753 | |||||
John Cornyn | R | TX | Washington DC | 202 224 2934 | @JohnCornyn | ||
Austin | 512 469 6034 | 512 469 6020 | |||||
Tyler | 903 593 0902 | 903 593 0920 | |||||
Dallas | 972 239 1310 | 972 239 2110 | |||||
Harlingen | 956 423 0162 | 956 423 0193 | |||||
Houston | 713 572 3337 | 713 572 3777 | |||||
San Antonio | 210 224 7485 | 210 224 8569 | |||||
Lubbock | 806 472 7533 | 806 472 7536 | |||||
Mike Crapo | R | ID | Washington DC | 202 224 6142 | 202 228 1375 | @MikeCrapo | |
Idaho Falls | 208 522 9779 | 208 529 8367 | |||||
Boise | 208 334 1776 | 208 334 9044 | |||||
Lewiston | 208 743 1492 | 208 743 6484 | |||||
Twin Falls | 208 734 2515 | 208 733 0414 | |||||
Pocatello | 208 236 6775 | 208 236 6935 | |||||
Coeur d’Alene | 208 664 5490 | 208 664 0889 | |||||
Jim Risch | R | ID | Washington DC | 202 224 2752 | 202 224 2573 | @SenatorRisch | |
Boise | 208 342 7985 | 208 343 2458 | |||||
Coeur d’Alene | 208 667 6130 | 208 765 1743 | |||||
Idaho Falls | 208 523 5541 | 208 523 9373 | |||||
Lewiston | 208 743 0792 | 208 746 7275 | |||||
Pocatello | 208 236 6817 | 208 236 6820 | |||||
Twin Falls | 208 734 6780 | 208 734 3905 | |||||
Todd Young | R | IN | Washington DC | 202 224 5623 | @ToddYoungIN | ||
Indianapolis | 3127 226 6700 | ||||||
New Albany | 812 542 4820 | ||||||
Evansville | (no phone provided) | ||||||
Fort Wayne | (no phone provided) | ||||||
Mike Rounds | R | SD | Washington DC | (202) 224-5842 | (202) 224-7482 | @SenatorRounds | |
(DC toll-free) | (844) 875-5268 | ||||||
Pierre | (605) 224-1450 | (605) 224-1379 | |||||
Rapid City | (605) 343-5035 | (605) 343-5348 | |||||
Sioux Falls | (605) 336-0486 | (605) 336-6624 | |||||
Aberdeen | (605) 225-0366 | ||||||
Mike Lee | R | UT | Washington DC | 202 224 5444 | @SenMikeLee | ||
Salt Lake City | 801 524 5933 | 801 524 5730 | |||||
St. George | 435 628 5514 | ||||||
Ogden | 801 392 9633 | ||||||
John Barrasso | yes | R | WY | Casper | 307 261 6413 | @Barrassoforwyo | |
Cheyenne | 307 772 2451 | ||||||
Riverton | 307 856 6642 | ||||||
Sheridan | 307 672 6456 | ||||||
Rock Springs | 307 362 5012 | ||||||
Washington DC | 202 224 6441 | 202 224 1724 | |||||
(DC toll-free) | 866 235 9553 |
Latest news about DeVos
According to NPR:
Senate Democrats are planning an all-night session in a last-ditch effort to try to stop President Trump’s nominee for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, from being confirmed.
Right now, DeVos just barely has enough votes. Two Republican senators — Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine — both announced last week they won’t support her nomination. That means there’s a 50-50 split right now, with Vice President Pence expected to break the tie with a vote slated for Tuesday afternoon.
From an article in The Hill:
As former ethics counsels to Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, we’ve reviewed more than our share of ethics filings for cabinet nominees. Seldom have we seen a worse cabinet-level ethics mess than that presented by Betsy DeVos, President Trump’s choice for education secretary.
Her extensive financial holdings present significant—and unresolved—conflict of interest issues. She also failed to provide the Senate with accurate information about her involvement with outside organizations. We have regretfully come to the conclusion that these concerns disqualify DeVos for that cabinet position.
From an article in USA Today with a video that includes Elizabeth Warren
WASHINGTON — As she faces what promises to be the closest vote ever for a cabinet nominee, Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump’s choice for education secretary, is also the most well-known — and in some sense the most notorious.
Spoofed as clueless on Saturday Night Live last weekend, she has been the subject of Internet memes and angry teacher protests nationwide since her Jan. 17 Senate confirmation hearing. Observers say the Republican mega-donor and Michigan native has tapped into anxieties about the new Trump administration — and with two key Republicans last week vowing to vote against her, she is a ripe target: the first Trump nominee who could potentially be defeated.
CALL! CALL! CALL!!!!