holliswein's blog

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends and an opportunity to reflect. This year has been an incredibly tumultuous time in our country and Congress. Nevertheless, JACPAC candidates are working in Congress to help pass meaningful legislation to improve the lives of everyone in this country. This week we want to highlight some of our candidates and their achievements. Throughout the year we will continue to keep you updated on their work and the work of our other candidates.

This was an historic week on Capitol Hill. The hearings showed the best and the worst of our country. With dignity and respect for our democracy, House Intelligence Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) lead the impeachment hearings. The Democrats refrained from partisan politics and sought to peel away at the many layers in the case. 

Many of the witnesses that were called to testify are dedicated, extremely knowledgeable public servants. Every day these people, along with their colleagues, work to protect our country. 

Sometimes the cases the Supreme Court chooses not to hear are as important as the cases they decide to hear. This week the high court decided not hear a case against gun manufacturer Remington Arms.

This is a legal victory for the Sandy Hook families, who originally brought the lawsuit. These families will now have their day in court. Gun manufacturers will no longer be shielded from legal action. 

The Democrats' successes in Kentucky and Virginia this week gives us some hope for protecting Roe v Wade and standing up to the NRA. But that hope is tempered with concern and caution following Jeff Session's decision to challenge Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL).

The courts this week took an important step toward protecting women's reproductive rights with two key rulings. 

Judge Myron Thompson, who was appointed by President Jimmy Carter, blocked Alabama's extreme abortion ban saying it "defies the United States Constitution." Alabama's law is the strictest in the nation. It contains no exception for rape and incest. 

What did the Democrats do this week?

On Tuesday, the House passed the Corporate Transparency Act, which will shine a light on dark money in our democracy. The bill will require companies to disclose their true owners. It will prevent Russian oligarchs and foreign dictators from using shell companies in the U.S. to launder their illicit wealth. 

Democracy lost a friend with the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD). He was a passionate protector of JAC's issues throughout his time in Congress and we were proud to support him over the years.

JAC member June Rogul, who met with Cummings during the 2018 campaign cycle, recalled how impressed she was with him.

The House of Representatives is doing its job. Members passed more than 560 bills so far this year ranging from gun safety to raising the minimum wage, and from protecting women to domestic violence. These were then sent to the Senate where the Majority Leader decides when and if they get a floor vote.

Donald Trump is waging a war on our country with words, not just deeds.
 

His constant overuse of certain words has become cemented into voters' minds. These phrases, for example, "crooked Hillary," "fake news," and "invasion" to describe undocumented immigrants, and calling the Ukraine investigation a "sham," have helped shape the political debate and bolster his supporters.
 

There will be much to discuss at our Rosh Hashanah tables Sunday night. The High Holidays are time of reflection. We reflect as individuals and as a community. 

The Jewish community has certainly faced its sets of challenges this year. Anti-Semitism is on the rise. We saw another shooting at a synagogue in California which killed one and wounded three. The President has questioned the Jewish community's loyalty and anti-Semitic tropes are a theme he and others use regularly.