Public Citizen & The Democratic National Committee & Seth Moulton for Congress & Kamala Harris / US Senate & The Washington Post – 2017-03-17 14:44:21
Special to Environmentalists Against War
Trump’s Cruel, Stupid Budget
Robert Weissman / Public Citizen
WASHINGTON (March 16, 2017) — “Budgets are moral documents. Federal funding should reflect the priorities and the values of the majority of the American people.” Mike Pence, of all people, said that in 2009 — long before he became Donald Trump’s vice president.
And we agree.
But Trump’s just-released proposal for next year’s federal budget would slash funding for the agencies that protect our health and safety, our workplaces and wallets, our environment and our economy.
It would decimate many of the programs designed to assist our nation’s poorest people, while simultaneously perpetuating tens of billions in corporate welfare and subsidies.
This is a cruel, stupid and un-American proposal.
Oppose Donald Trump’s Immoral
Budget Proposal and Poisonous Policy Riders
Here’s some of what the budget proposes to cut:
* Almost one third of the funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including all funding for the EPA’s environmental justice, international climate change and popular Energy Star programs.
* All spending for the Meals on Wheels senior nutrition program.
* $5 billion from the National Institutes of Health budget.
The list of horribles goes on and on.
The budget does include a few spending increases. Most notably, the budget outrageously proposes to raise military spending by more than $50 billion. The Trump proposal correctly notes: “This increase alone exceeds the entire defense budget of most countries.”
The administration seems to believe that fact is something to brag about, rather than a self-refutation. Meanwhile, Congress is trying to finish the process of funding the government for this year before the money runs out on April 28.
Once again, there is a serious threat of poisonous policy “riders” being snuck into the process. We need a federal budget that is not rigged for billionaires and big corporations.
ACTION: Tell Congress to reject Trump’s budget, which eliminates vital public protections and programs in favor of border walls and corporate boondoggles.
Tell Congress: Discard Trump’s 2018 budget and any ideological policy riders attached to the 2017 budget. Add your name now.
We have to ensure that the Trump proposal is not only opposed, but ignored even as a starting point for a serious debate about the federal budget. Mike Pence was right that budgets are moral documents. We’re a far, far better people than the Trump proposal would suggest.
Robert Weissman is president of Public Citizen
© 2017 Public Citizen
Stop Donald Trump’s Disastrous Budget
Democratic National Committee
Donald Trump released his first budget blueprint this morning. It shows exactly where his priorities lie — and it’s not with hardworking Americans.
The proposed cuts would negatively impact each and every one of us. Not only is Trump not making America “great again,” he’s moving us in the exact opposite direction by gutting things like medical research, education, and investments in our communities.
Trump campaigned on creating jobs and revitalizing manufacturing. This budget blueprint eliminates or drastically decreases funding for job training and support for smaller manufacturers and small businesses.
He talked about revitalizing urban communities and instead proposes to eliminate key programs that promote affordable housing, job creation, and services in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.
Trump and the rest of the GOP also like to claim that only they know how to keep us safe — but 121 retired generals and admirals have warned Congress that Trump’s proposed cuts to State Department funding would threaten our national security.
On every front, what Trump is proposing would take resources away from the communities and people who need them the most. Add your name to stand with Democrats who will fight against this budget:
ACTION:Democrats won’t let that stand. Add your name if you’re ready to fight back.
Trump’s Budget
Seth Moulton / Seth Moulton for Congress
(March 16, 2017) — A budget shows what we care about. It shows our values. As Americans, we care about creating good paying jobs so that everyone who works hard gets a shot at the American Dream. And we care about national security: our most solemn obligation is to keep Americans safe at home and abroad.
President Trump just proposed a budget that isn’t serious about about moving our economy forward or keeping Americans safe. How do I know?
Guess what word he never once mentions in his introduction: Jobs. Think that’s a fluke? Here are some other things he never mentions: The Economy. Opportunity. Innovation. Entrepreneurship. Infrastructure Investment. Research and Development. These are all critical components to reigniting the American Dream.
Trump talks a lot about American security. But cutting 28 percent of the State Department’s funding make us and our troops less safe. His own Defense Secretary, James Mattis, says that “if you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition.” He’ll need to buy more body bags as well. Less diplomacy means more wars.
But what do you think?
I want you to weigh in on Trump’s budget directly. Just follow the link, sign up, and share your comments or propose changes directly on the budget–just like my team and I are doing in the office this afternoon. We’ll use your input as we mark up the bill.
Not sure where to begin? The Washington Post story [look for it below] offers some key takeaways to get you started.
Stop Trump’s Cruel Medicaid Cuts
Kamala Harris / US Senate
WASHINGTON (March 16, 2017) — I want to talk to you today about a severe threat to our poor: imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients.
Earlier this week, the White House signaled they were open to allowing states to pursue mandating work in exchange for healthcare benefits. House Republicans are talking about adding it to their already catastrophic Obamacare repeal bill. Imposing a work requirement on Medicaid recipients isn’t just counter-productive, it’s cruel.
The vast majority of those on Medicaid work already — many of them work two or three jobs, just to make ends meet. Those who don’t may be struggling to find a job, have a disability, or are caretakers for a loved one at home.
Requiring work in exchange for healthcare is nothing more than an attempt to punish people for being poor. And that’s why I’m asking you to join me in a petition opposing work requirements for Medicaid recipients.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. An overwhelming majority of Americans believe we have a responsibility as a society to ensure all our neighbors have health coverage. In our battle to stop the Republicans from taking health insurance away from 24 million people under their ACA repeal bill, we must be mindful of the other assaults on our social contract that are happening right under our noses.
This administration has shown time and again that they will attack our most vulnerable to give handouts to corporations, special interests, and the super-rich.
The only way to stop them is coming together in this moment and taking action:
ACTION: Add your name right now to tell the White House and Congressional Republicans that it goes against our values to mandate work in exchange for critical healthcare.
Please sign our petition telling the White House and Congressional Republicans that you oppose mandating work requirements on Medicaid recipients.
I believe we can win this fight if we come together to stop these offensive attacks on our poor and vulnerable.
What Trump Cut in His Budget
Kim Soffen and Denise Lu / The Washington Post
(March 16, 2017) — On Thursday, the Trump administration released a preliminary 2018 budget proposal, which details many of the changes the president wants to make to the federal government’s spending. The proposal covers only discretionary, not mandatory, spending.
To pay for an increase in defense spending, a down payment on the border wall and school voucher programs, among other things, funding was cut from the discretionary budgets of other executive departments and agencies. The Environmental Protection Agency, the State Department and the Agriculture Department took the hardest hits. The proposal also eliminates funding for these 19 agencies.
Environmental Protection Agency: -31%
State Department: -29%
Agriculture Department: -21%
Labor Department: -21%
Department of Health and Human Services: -18%
Commerce Department: -16%
Education Department: -14%
Department of Housing and Urban Development: -13%
Transportation Department: -13%
Interior Department: -12%
Energy Department: -6%
Small Business Administration: -5%
Treasury Department: -4%
Justice Department: -4%
NASA: -1%
Department of Veterans Affairs: +6%
Department of Homeland Security: +7%
Department of Homeland Security: +9%
Discretionary spending limits, addressed by this proposal, are set by congressional budget resolutions. Congress typically makes changes to the president’s proposal — last year, lawmakers disregarded Obama’s budget altogether. Mandatory spending, by contrast, is set by other laws and is often determined by the size of the benefit and the eligible population.
More: To see how each agency’s discretionary funding would be affected in detail, see the full Washington Post article here.
Posted in accordance with Title 17, Section 107, US Code, for noncommercial, educational purposes.
