Call to Action: October 24, 2017

STOP TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH AND BUDGET CUTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE

#NotOnePenny
#TrumpTaxScam
#ProtectOurCare

Last week the Senate passed a budget that hurts ordinary people and enriches the wealthy. The House’s budget was similar, and, after approving the Senate version, Republicans will move quickly to hand out tax breaks.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/20/what-to-watch-on-the-gop-budget-and-tax-reform-243989

The Senate instructed committees to create a budget and tax plan that:
• cuts revenue by $1.5 trillion
• slashes programs, including Medicaid by $1 trillion and Medicare by $473 billion, to partially pay for a ballooning deficit
• gives Trump’s cabinet an estimated $3.5 billion in tax cuts, including $23 million to Trump himself.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/us/politics/budget-vote-senate.html?_r=0

This plan gives 37% of Oregon’s tax cuts to millionaires – an average of $130,000/millionaire – who make up 0.4% of the population. The 44.6% of Oregonians making less than $45,000 would get, on average, $240/person.

Senator Wyden calls this bill a “con job”. By giving reconciliation instructions to the committees, Republicans can pass a tax bill without Democratic votes.

Republicans are trying to bypass normal order to jam through tax reform, just like with the ACA. Oregon’s Democratic MoCs already voted against these budget bills. They need our support to keep up these votes.

Make it clear America deserves better!

**ACTION: CALL BOTH OUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN WALDEN**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am outraged that the GOP is using the tax and budget process to give the wealthy tax breaks, while cutting public programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Thank you for voting ‘no’ on this budget. Please use all Senate procedural tools to make sure these cuts don’t happen. You helped save the ACA. We are counting on you to save health care again. Thanks for all you do.”

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am outraged that the GOP tax and budget plan gives the wealthy tax breaks, while cutting public programs like Medicaid and Medicare.It should not be railroaded through with 51 votes. Please put country before party, stand for ordinary working people in District 2, and don’t give the super-rich tax cuts they don’t need. We MUSTNOT cut public programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Thank you.”

SENATOR MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

SENATOR WYDEN 
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

CONGRESSMAN WALDEN 
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me