September 20, 2019
We cannot not lose focus!

We want to beat Mitch McConnell. With the Presidential candidates getting all the attention and money it is too easy to lose sight of that goal. While we have to beat this President, we also have to change the obstructionist Senate. We can't do that without winning Arizona. We have a great candidate to pick up that seat with Captain Mark Kelly. Help JAC support his race to the Senate today.

So let's focus and win back the Senate from Mitch McConnell.
Mark Kelly for Senate (D-AZ)
Mark Kelly for U.S. Senate
(D-AZ)

Former astronaut, U.S. Navy captain, co-founder of the gun violence prevention group Americans for Responsible Solutions, and husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Mark Kelly is running for U.S. Senate against current Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ).
 
Mark is a staunch supporter of JAC's issues, is a steadfast supporter of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, believes women should control their own bodies and medical decisions, and is a tireless advocate for gun violence prevention in this country. He will bring valuable life experience and passion to the Senate, and a belief in the validity of science. We support Mark's race for the Senate and look forward to seeing him in Washington, D.C.
 
Mark is running against the current GOP Senator from AZ, Martha McSally who was appointed to fill the seat of retiring Senator John Kyl, following an unsuccessful bid for Senator Jeff Flake's open seat. McSally lost to Senator Kyrsten Sinema by less than 3 points in a state that Trump won in 2016. 
 
This will be a tight race and will be critical in retaking the U.S. Senate. Please join JAC in supporting Mark Kelly for Congress. Read more about Mark Kelly here.
 
Join us for a special afternoon with Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords on October 17 in Chicago. Click here for details. 
JAC AROUND TOWN
JAC met with Cal Cunningham, candidate for U.S. Senate (D-NC) at our office in Highland Park. (l to r: Marcia Balonick, Hollis Wein, Cal Cunningham, Carol Harrison)
ISRAEL
'Almost Final' Results, Gantz Leads by Two Seats    
    
The Central Election Committee (CEC) announced around 1:30 a.m. Friday the "almost final" results of the elections. The results confirmed the latest results reported, giving Benny Gantz's Blue and White 33 seats and Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud 31 seats. The committee explained that the results cannot be considered official, since official results will only be presented to President Reuven Rivlin and published on September 25.
Continued Reading

ANTI-SEMITISM & BDS
Three Founding Women's March Leaders Leaving Board After Anti-Semitism Accusations

Three founding members of the Women's March who faced accusations of anti-Semitism will leave the organization's board. Bob Bland, Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour will transition off the Women's March Board "onto other projects focused on advocacy within their respective organizations," the organization said in a statement.
Continued Reading

CHOICE
Faith-Based Hospitals Are Not Adequately Training Residents in Abortion Procedures
 
OB-GYN residents in programs dominated by faith-based hospitals are not receiving full reproductive health-care training, especially when it comes to abortion and postpartum sterilization, a new study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found.  
Continued Reading


SEPARATION
Stripping Church-State Separation to the Bone? The Supreme Court Considers Mandatory Government Funding of Religious Education

In Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Supreme Court will address a question that would have been unthinkable even to ask until quite recently: Can a state be forced to underwrite religious education with taxpayer dollars?  
Continued Reading

BEYOND THE CORE
Colt Ends Production of AR-15s for Civilians

Colt announced that it is ending the production and sale of AR-15 rifles for civilians. Colt cites excess market capacity as its reason for shutting down the line, stating, "Given this level of manufacturing capacity, we believe there is adequate supply for modern sporting rifles for the foreseeable future."       
Continued Reading


POLITICAL BYTE
Trump's War on Blue America
 
Across a growing number of issues, from immigration to taxes to health care, President Donald Trump is harnessing federal power to constrain--and even punish--the blue states outside of his political coalition. Through both legislation and executive action, Trump and congressional Republicans have pushed a series of policies that target blue states, starting with the tax bill passed in late 2017.
Continued Reading

 

FYI
Disney's First Jewish Princess Debuts in Time for Hanukkah   
 
This Hanukkah season, the Disney universe will finally gain a princess who's a member of the Tribe. On September 17, the entertainment giant announced its inaugural Hanukkah special, which will air on Disney Junior series "Elena of Avalor" and feature a princess from a "Latino Jewish kingdom."
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
"I just don't understand as a parent how you can look your kid in the eye and say that there was this impending crisis, everything was at stake, but I stood back and I didn't really do anything." 
 
-- 17-year-old climate change activist Jamie Margolin, before a Congressional hearing on climate change. 
   
Tuesday, September 24
Reception in support of
Kristine Schanbacher
Candidate for IL-7
6-8 pm
Highland Park, IL
Call JAC office for details
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Thursday, September 26
Conference Call with Ira Forman
A Discussion on Anti-Semitism
This is a special opportunity for current JAC members.
2:00 pm CT
Call the JAC office for details and to confirm your membership status
847.433.5999
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Thursday, October 10
Michigan Membership Meeting
featuring
Senators Debbie Stabenow & Gary Peters (D-MI)
11:00 am
Franklin, MI
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Thursday, October 17
Senate Candidate Mark Kelly (D-AZ) &
Former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ)
Chicago, IL
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SAVE THE DATE
April 21-23, 2020
JAC's 2020 Annual Meeting
Celebrating 40 years of JAC
Washington, DC
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Want to host a JAC event? Contact the office and we will help organize it.
info@jacpac.org or 847.433.5999
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.
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.