May 8, 2020 
WEEK IN REVIEW
This week we want to highlight several important developments that are too important to get lost in the Coronavirus news of the week.
 
Title IX and Sexual Assault
 
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released new regulations for schools dealing with sexual misconduct under Title IX, the law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational settings. These new regulations offer more protections for the accusers than the victims.
 
Under these new rules, coaches and other university employees would no longer be required to report allegations of sexual abuse. Schools will now have a choice in what standard of proof they'd like to follow. Cross examinations of the victims would also be allowed by the accuser's family or friends in live hearings
 
Judicial Nominee
 
The Senate Judiciary committee approved and sent to the full Senate the confirmation of Justin Walker to the DC circuit court.  He is a protege of Brett Kavanaugh and staunchly defended him during Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing.
 
Walker said that Kavanaugh would be "a fighter for conservative legal principles who will not go wobbly."  He also praised Kavanaugh for a dissent arguing that the Obama Administration's contraceptive-coverage policy was unconstitutional.
 
The American Bar Association rated Walker "Not Qualified." He lacks experience to serve a life-time appointment to one of most important courts in the land after the Supreme Court. The DC Circuit has sole responsibility for deciding cases having to do with the balance of powers of the branches of government. 
 
Post Office
 
This week Trump appointed Louis DeJoy to serve as Postmaster General. DeJoy is a  large contributor to the president and other Republicans. Since January, DeJoy has donated over $360,000 to the president's re-election campaign.
 
DeJoy will be beholden to his benefactor, Trump, and not the American voter who needs a stable post office to handle the expansion of vote by mail.
 
Trump and the Republicans have been trying to defund the post office for years. To cripple and ruin the post office, one of the few government agencies authorized by the Constitution, would derail vote by mail and disenfranchise voters - both part of Trump's goal to circumvent November's election.
 
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We need to pay attention. Stay informed. Elections have consequences. 
 
 
UPCOMING VIRTUAL EVENTS

Tuesday, May 12
Virtual Update with
Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)
2:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm ET
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Thursday, May 14
Virtual JAC Fundraiser for
Gov. Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Candidate for U.S. Senate
6:00 pm CT | 7:00 ET
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Monday, May 18
Virtual Update with
Rep. Val Demings (D-FL)
2:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm ET
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Thursday, May 21
Virtual JAC Fundraiser for
Cal Cunningham
Candidate for U.S. Senate from NC
2:00 pm CT | 3:00 pm ET
Details to follow
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Virtual Events to Support Joe Biden for President
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Wednesday, May 13
Northwest Virtual Reception with VP Joe Biden
Time TBA
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Tuesday, May 19
Virtual Fireside Chat with Vice President Joe Biden &
the American Jewish Community
Time TBA
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Please note: Login links for Biden for President events are sent out directly by the campaign. 
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Watch your inbox for more online events.
ISRAEL
U.S. Ambassador Says Washington 'Ready to Recognize Annexation' Within Weeks

In the latest show of American support for Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank, US Ambassador David Friedman said in an interview that Washington is ready to recognize Israeli sovereignty in the disputed areas should it be declared in the coming weeks.
Continued Reading

ANTI-SEMITISM & BDS
UK Plans Anti-BDS Law After Court Rules Against Gov't Ban on Boycotts 

The UK plans to pass a law banning local councils from boycotting countries in their pension funds, after the Supreme Court overturned a government order to that effect. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We are committed to ensuring public bodies take a consistent approach to investments and to stop local boycotts. We will therefore bring back new legislation that addresses the technical points raised by the Supreme Court."
Continued Reading

CHOICE
The Women of the Supreme Court Are Sick of These Nonsense Objections to Birth Control
 
Conservatives have been trying to unwind the birth control benefit in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for nearly a decade now, and the women justices on the U.S Supreme Court are over it.  That much was apparent during oral arguments  in Trump v. Pennsylvania and its companion case, Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. Pennsylvania.
Continued Reading

SEPARATION
 
Thousands of Churches Have Received Millions of Dollars in Stimulus Cash

Because non-profits were also eligible for the money, many religious institutions also applied for the cash. And they're scooping up millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars in order to further their proselytizing. But when churches don't pay taxes in the first place, and don't have to disclose how they use their money or where it comes from (unlike other non-profits), they're just mooching off of taxpayers in order to further their religious beliefs.  
Continued Reading

BEYOND THE CORE
What's Holding up Voting by Mail?

"Two-thirds of Americans support voting by mail as an alternative to voting in person on Election Day during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new poll from USA TODAY and Suffolk University." There is even more support for absentee voting (74 percent) and early voting (also 74 percent). Following President Trump's unfounded assertion that voting by mail is not secure and favors Democrats, Republicans are far less supportive of voting by mail (43 percent) and absentee voting than are Democrats.
Continued Reading

POLITICAL BYTE
Knock, Knock, Who's There? No Political Canvassers, for the First Time Maybe Ever

For decades, showing up on a voter's doorstep has been one of the most reliable ways to get people to the polls. Now political parties and candidates that put tens of millions of dollars into training and deploying door knockers are grappling with costly, consequential and imminent decisions about whether they should even invest in traditional brick-and-mortar infrastructure that powers such operations.
Continued Reading

BIDEN ROUNDUP
Interview with Joe Biden 
 
"Presidents stand for science and the notion that we have a thing called global warming, seas are rising. A whole range of things are happening, so there's a lot of things to compete on, including education, including the whole notion of global warming, and dealing with this pandemic. So we're going to be in the midst of that campaign and that discussion, and making our case of why we think we'd be better in the country than with Trump."
Continued Reading


CORONAVIRUS
America's Meat Shortage Is More Serious Than Your Missing Hamburgers
 
If you go to Wendy's this week, there's a good chance you won't be able to get a hamburger. Go to the supermarket, and you'll probably see some empty shelves in the meat section. You may also be restricted to buying one or two packs of whatever's available. Try not to look at the prices. They're almost definitely higher than what you're used to. This is the new reality: an America where beef, chicken, and pork are not quite as abundant or affordable as they were even a month ago. 
Continued Reading

FYI
Barack Obama to Deliver Commencement Address During Star-Studded Virtual Graduation Special     
 
Former President Barack Obama will deliver a televised prime-time commencement address for the Class of 2020 during an hour-long event that will also feature LeBron James, Malala Yousafzai and Ben Platt, among others.  ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC will simultaneously air the special May 16 at 8 p.m. Eastern along with more than 20 other broadcast and digital streaming partners, according to the announcement Tuesday from organizers .
Continued Reading

JAC II
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.

The Last Word
"You have just tossed entirely to the wind what Congress thought was essential, that women be provided these services with no hassle, no cost to them. "


- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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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