Take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 6.30.2025
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Send your ideas for action items to: cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com
We rely on your input for these items!
These are just suggestions of actions you could take as an individual. If you are a League member, 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: CALL YOUR U.S. Representative about the proposed federal budget, that includes tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans, and massive Medicaid cuts. The Senate passed the bill.
The House and Senate versions will still have to be reconciled. “Senate and House Republicans are racing to pass the legislation before Trump’s self imposed deadline of July 4th.” Try 5calls.org for updates on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Write or call your Congressperson and tell them not to pass this dangerous bill. A suggested call script from LWVUS is available here.
Contact information
The Honorable Sheri Biggs (Dear Representative Biggs)
1530 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5301 (DC), Anderson: 864-224-7401
E-mail: https://sheribiggs.house.gov/contact/email-me
Action 2: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, July 7: Pickens County Council Meeting in the Council Auditorium at the Administration Facility, 222 McDaniel Ave., Pickens, SC 29671 at 6:30 pm. Here are links to their 2025 Council Meeting Calendar, Pickens County Calendar, and to the agenda and minutes and videos.
- Monday, July 7: City of Clemson Council meeting held at Council Chambers, Clemson City Hall, 1250 Tiger Blvd #1, Clemson, SC 29631 at 6:30 pm unless otherwise noted. Find the 2025 calendar.
- Wednesday, July 15: Oconee County Council will be meeting where the final vote will take place on the amendment to the Conservation Bank Ordinance. There will be a public comment period and a hearing before the vote. Learn more about this issue and read the online petition.
Action 3: SAVE the Date: July 17, John Lewis National Day of Action
Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
— Congressman John Lewis
“Good Trouble Lives On” is a day of action scheduled on July 17 to honor John Lewis’ legacy. The national office has signed on as a partner if Leagues are interested in planning actions that day. Learn more here: Good Trouble Lives On Messaging Guide: March in Peace. Act in Power.
State Of Play: What We’re Fighting For
“We are facing the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations. The same forces that used violence against John Lewis and civil rights leaders for marching for justice on the Edmund Pettus Bridge are back, with billionaires’ backers, extremist leaders, and authoritarian ambition.” — LWVUS
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators
Action 4: ADVOCATING in the Off Season: SC Tax Bill H. 4216
Courtesy of Holley Ulbrich, LWVOP
Update: After some sleuthing and a good catch by Carol Asalon, we solved the mystery of the two tax bills. At the very last minute the House killed their own bill and wrote a new one which is much more acceptable. There was no publicity about the switch--even our senator and Lynn Teague, our League expert, didn't know about the changes. So no need to lobby. This one is much fairer to low income households and less so to richer ones because the price tag for a higher standard deduction was to eliminate itemizing. You can still itemize deductions on your federal taxes, but not state. So let your senator rest in peace with his 150% salary increase. (Which is fine--they put in a lot of hours for what they were being paid.) If you still want to lobby, go after the "Big Beautiful (also known as ugly and greedy) tax bill now in the US Senate.
Action 5. Update on the Oral Arguments in the Partisan Gerrymandering case
June 24, 2025, 2 p,m., SC Supreme Court
Read the press release from the ACLU SC.
Published after the hearing:
- SC Daily Gazette
- Independent-Mail (Anderson)
- WSPA-TV (Greenville)
- WTOC-TV (Beaufort / Savannah)
- Spectrum News
- WLTX-TV (Columbia)
Read more about this issue on the LWVSC website.
Action 6: LEARN: Upcoming Unite and Rise Training LWVUS Democracy in Your Hands Series | July – October 2025
This virtual training series will include five key topics, outlining how Leagues can activate and mobilize their communities in this rapidly changing political environment and make a lasting impact. Members are welcome to attend any of the following sessions, occurring through the summer and early fall. Find the upcoming agenda and more information on each session.
- Jul. 23, 11am ET | Championing Issues That Matter Most to You
- Aug. 20, 12:30pm ET | Understand the Three Branches of Government
- Sept. 17, 11am ET | Working With Local Election Officials to Anchor Change
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
ACTION 8: Join the League (if you are not already a member!)
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
ACTION 9: Sign up for the mailing list.
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We would love to hear from you about this initiative. Feel free to forward this email to others who wish to find ways to participate. Whether it’s how this made you feel, results you saw, or suggestions for future topics, please let cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (subject: Defending%20Democracy, body: ) (Cherie Walker) know.
