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By now we know that the Russians
infiltrated our voting booths in 2018. The intrusion began as early as 2014. It occurred at the state and local level across the country.
This was a
direct attack on our democracy. There is no doubt the Russians are attempting the same in 2020 - unless we act swiftly and boldly now.
According to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence's report on Russia election meddling, "Russia may have been probing vulnerabilities in voting systems to exploit later. Alternatively, Moscow may have sought to undermine confidence in the 2016 elections" once their activities were discovered. This could have a
direct impact on our electoral process by suppressing the vote. There would be no reason for voters to caste their ballots if they weren't going to be legitimate.
The House, understanding the grave danger this poses for our country, passed a sweeping election security bill that would require election systems to use voter-verified paper ballots. There are seven other bills pending in Congress to address the vulnerabilities in our voting process. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who received donations from voting machine lobbyists,
is blocking all election security bills.
The GOP-controlled Judiciary Committee agrees that the
integrity of our electoral process is a top priority. They urged that states should replace outdated and vulnerable voting systems with "at minimum... a voter-verified paper trail," and "adopt statistically sound audits."
Trump will only agree to increased ballot security if he gets voter ID laws. Voter suppression is the only goal of voter ID laws.
Our democratic right to vote should not be traded for a secure election system free from Russian and other tampering.
A group of election security experts have found many states' voting systems are connected to the internet and thereby
could be easily hacked. It is no coincidence that some of these areas are in swing counties in Wisconsin, Michigan and Florida.
CALL MITCH MCCONNELL AND URGE HIM TO BRING ELECTION SECURITY BILLS TO THE FLOOR FOR VOTES.
Every vote counts. But only if it is protected.
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Congress is on recess - now is the time to take action. Go to a town hall. Set up a meeting. Talk with your elected officials about our issues.
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JAC members met with Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) in Chicago.
(l to r: Lisa Lavin, Hollis Wein, Mark Warner, Barbara Koch)
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Former JAC President Betsy Sheerr (l) met with Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) on Martha's Vineyard.
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JAC's Executive Director Marcia Balonick (l) and her family delivered JACPAC
support to Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1).
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JAC STATEMENT
JAC has worked for 40 years to strengthen the bipartisan relationship between U.S. and Israel. In keeping with this, we do not believe that the U.S. should get involved with Israeli policy. Trump's decision to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bar entry to elected U.S. officials sets a dangerous precedent.
While we strongly condemn past anti-Israel remarks of Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, we also strongly condemn Netanyahu's decision. His actions will only serve to negatively impact the U.S.-Israeli relationship and Congress's bipartisan support for the country.
Members of Congress have the right to travel and to be welcomed anywhere in the world where we have diplomatic relations. For the President of the United States to urge its ally to deny entry to U.S. officials is a precarious move that can embolden other countries to do the same, thereby unraveling diplomatic relationships that the U.S. has striven for years to build and maintain.
We have crossed a dangerous line.
Besides creating a diplomatic crisis, Trump is also using Israel as a wedge issue to divide the Jewish community. We must fight back against this tactic and ensure that support for Israel in Congress remains strong, while continuing to stand up against efforts to de-legitimize Israel.
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Could Arab Israelis Swing the Next Election?
The dominant feature in the current Israeli election-set for Sept. 17
, a short five months after the last one-was initially its combative infighting on all sides: both within and among the Israeli Jewish parties of right and left, and within and among the Israeli Arab parties. Those divisions have, however, given way to a series of marriages of convenience, indicating that even in Israel pragmatism may trump ideology or principle.
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UN Asks Palestinians to Explain Hate Speech, Antisemitism
The Palestinian Authority was called to task for hate speech and antisemitism in its official statements and in its textbooks during the UN's first ever review by the its Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination held in Geneva.
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Planned Parenthood to Exit Federal Family Planning Program Aug. 19 over Abortion 'Gag Rule' If Court Does Not Act
In a letter to United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Planned Parenthood attorneys said its affiliates had planned to refuse federal funds - but not drop out of the program - while its challenge of new Trump administration prohibitions on abortion referrals or 'directed counseling' made its way through the courts. Planned Parenthood leaders have said it is morally and medically wrong to not be able to offer their clients complete medical information.
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Labor Department Proposes Religious Bias Exemption in Hiring Practices for Federal Contracts
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a rule proposal that will grant religious organizations contracted by the federal government the right to hire people based on religious values and not be hindered by any accusations of discrimination when hiring. The rule proposal would help companies "make employment decisions consistent with their sincerely held religious tenets and beliefs without fear of sanction by the federal government."
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Coverage of Mass Shootings Threatens Public Safety. Let's Fix It.
America has entered a new age of mass shootings. Every time it happens, news media are there to relentlessly cover the aftermath. Our approach also stems from the fact that the news industry hasn't seriously reckoned with its responsibility to cover mass shootings with the discretion they require. If we don't change that soon, we risk further contributing to the uniquely American crisis of mass killings.
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Women Candidates Are Constantly Asked About Their Electability. Here Are 5 Reasons That's Misguided.
U.S. Senators Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Kirsten Gillibrand all share a leg up over the leading male candidates: They've won every political race they've ever run. If the concern is that a woman can't win, well, maybe that same question is better posed to the men.
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He Costumed the Great Jewish Films of the 20th Century - Including Some That Were Never Made
Piero Tosi's designs for films made him a legendary costumier, among the most expressive of film history. Devotees of Kubrick and Streisand may still feel that his achievement could have reached new levels had his projects with those luminaries worked out, but as it is, his legacy is unsurpassed.
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Introducing JACII, a JAC group for young professionals, advocates, and those young at heart who are looking to get involved. Groups have started in Detroit, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Events will feature elected officials and speakers in lively settings. JACII is by and for young people. Now is the perfect time to get involved.
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Know someone who would be interested in joining or hosting a meeting? Let us know at info@jacpac.org. We will be happy to help organize a JACII in your city.
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"It's the election security equivalent of putting our military out there to go up against superpowers with a peashooter."
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) regarding the quickly outdated election systems used across the country.
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Monday August 27
Reception with
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
7 pm
Highland Park, IL
Call the JAC office for details
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Sunday, September 15
Talking Points LA
with
Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-38)
3-5 pm
Encino, CA
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Thursday, October 10
Michigan Membership Meeting
Franklin, MI
Details to follow
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SAVE THE DATE
Thursday, October 17
Senate Candidate Mark Kelly (D-AZ) &
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ)
Chicago, IL
Details to follow
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SAVE THE DATE
April 21-23, 2020
JAC's 2019 Annual Meeting
Washington, DC
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Want to host a JAC event? Contact the office and we will help organize it.
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Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.
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Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.
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