UPCOMING EVENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Today is a dark day in politics. The passage of the SAVE Act in the US House is a direct attack on the fundamental right to vote and a dangerous step backward for our democracy. Full Statement

ADVOCACY

As we witness a barrage of assaults on our democratic processes, institutions, and values, it’s not surprising that many people feel overwhelmed and even frightened. Common reactions to these feelings are fight, flight, freeze, or fawn: 

• Flight: Some people will avoid or minimize any political engagement; 
• Freeze: Others feel so overwhelmed and powerless they will shut down, unable to do anything; 
• Fawn: Fear may drive others to appease or give in to those in power; or  
• Fight: We must fight back! Anti-democratic actors want us to feel defeated in order to make us compliant and/or immobile. Instead, everyone must commit to doing their part in defense of our democracy.

When we collectively rise up and challenge those in power, we make a difference. That includes you — because you have a voice. You have power.  

Actions for the week of 5.5.2025

Our Challenge: Take at least one action per week to Defend Democracy!

These are suggestions of actions you could take as an individual. Always remember to express your personal views, and not to speak on behalf of the League. Only League Presidents or designees can speak on behalf of the League. 

NATIONAL LEVEL ACTIONS

ACTION 1. JOIN Unite and Rise 8.5

“On April 16, 2025, a US District Court Judge, James Boasberg, ruled that there is “probable cause” to find the Trump Administration in criminal contempt of court for violating his order to immediately pause deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.    The executive branch’s blatant disregard for an order by the judicial branch constitutes an attack on our democratic system. Therefore, we consider our country to be in a Constitutional Crisis.”     LWVUS website 

Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. Launching in May 2025 and running until the 2026 midterm elections, this initiative is part of our Women Defend Democracy campaign. 

How Can You Make Change? 

Unite and Rise 8.5 will fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets. More actions will be outlined in the future, but as of today, here are a few you can take: 

• Protect democracy: Tell your Senators to oppose the anti-voter SAVE Act;

• Raise your voice about illegal deportations: join mobilizations around immigrant rights and due process with organizations like the National Partnership for New Americans, United We Dream, and others;

• “Turn Up the Heat” on elected officials: Connect directly with your representatives on the issues that matter via Town Halls and other opportunities

• Act locally: Join local organizations like your state or local League to act on the issues that matter in your community. 

Your U.S. Senator’s name and contact information:
Senator Tim Scott, 104 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510 
(202) 224-6121

Senator Lindsey Graham, 211 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5972

Find your U.S. Representative’s name and contact information here: https://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep_house

STATE LEVEL ACTIONS 

ACTION 2. For LWV members only: ATTEND the Legislative Update May 5 at 5pm. Zoom invitation is in your League email. 

Here’s a preview of topics we will cover:

This update falls immediately before the last week of the regular 2025 session.

The active issues before the General Assembly include a major energy bill. Senate and House versions provisions of great importance for energy regulation must be reconciled.

The House is pushing a major income tax revision. That bill is back to the drawing board after a first draft was quickly identified as a giveaway to the rich at the expense of middle class and even low income taxpayers.

Some culture war bills are stalled, like the extreme abortion ban taken up earlier in the session, while others remain active. 

The Senate has amended the school voucher bill and returned it to the  House. We are expecting the House to fast track it.

ACTION 3. CALL your Representative about H. 3309: Energy Regulation Bill

H.3309 is a major revision of energy regulation and as such is of great importance for good government — or its failure. In the House H.3309 reflected nothing but the wishes of utilities. It has been returned to the House from the Senate in greatly improved form. The Senate made many positive changes including:

• Restoring regulatory accountability

• Requiring that the cost of providing energy to power-hog data centers be covered by those data centers, 

• Preserving clean energy competition 

• Holding utilities accountable on energy efficiency 

However, a major negative change was introduced by the Senate:

• Another bill, the Electric Rate Stabilization Act (referred to as an RSA) was incorporated into H.3309, and would allow utilities to raise customer rates every year without presenting a traditional rate case before the Public Service Commission, reducing public input and regulatory review.
  
  It is now up to the House to either accept the Senate version through concurrence or send the bill to a conference committee to resolve the major differences between the two versions.

Read the League positions on Energy Regulation here. 

Call your Representative to request that regardless of the path forward that is chosen, the improvements introduced by the Senate must be retained. If the bill goes to conference committee, the Rate Stabilization Act provision should be deleted. 

LOCAL LEVEL ACTIONS 

ACTION 4. CELEBRATE your actions! 

Columbia League members volunteer at Benedict College’s 36th annual Harambee Festival held at the Charlie W. Johnson Stadium on Saturday, April 26, 2025.  (Not shown are Elizabeth and Philip Jones.)

David Eckerman and Sara Phillips talk with a representative from SC For All (scforall.org).

ACTION 5. The Candle Signal

Put a candle or LED lights in your window every night, as a signal to others that you are aware and they are not alone.

ACTION 6: SHARE a post on Facebook with your friends or public. This simple action can reach many people, and takes only minutes to do.

Some posts you might want to share are available on the League of Women Voters of South Carolina and League of Women Voters of the US pages. 

If you don’t know how to share a post, here is a link to a YouTube video to learn more: How to Share a Facebook Post

ACTION 7. Take care of yourself (and others)! 

With so much going on in the world, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Take some time to do something you enjoy. Here’s a little cartoon to remind us to smile and be kind to others.. Courtesy of FunnyTimes.com

SUPPORT

Order a shirt and show your support for the League of Women Voters Beaufort!

lwvb_t-shirt_order_form.pdf

You may mail the form with a $20 check (payable to LWVB) to PO Box 13, St Helena Island, SC 29920.

Or pay $20 using PayPal and email your size and address to BeaufortVotes [at] gmail.com.

Thank you for your support!