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STOP THE CRUEL FARM BILL AND THE ASSAULT ON AMERICA’S POOR

The Trump Administration’s assault on the poor continues. While celebrating a $1.5-trillion-dollar tax cut for the wealthiest, it cynically justifies slashing programs benefitting the poor as fiscal conservatism.

The GOP’s Farm Bill is the latest effort by the GOP which:

  • Imposes mean-spirited work requirements on food stamp (SNAP) recipients – who are elderly, disabled, children, or temporarily unemployed – potentially making 1 million ineligible.
  • Undermines the ACA by funding non-ACA compliant “agricultural association health plans.”

The Farm Bill also provides welfare for the wealthiest, at everyone else’s expense, by:

  • Increasing subsidies for Big Ag while eliminating funding for farmers markets and conservation programs
  • Promoting increased use of pesticides, threatening bees and butterflies
  • Cutting funding for beginning/disadvantaged farmers, renewable energy, and organic farming
  • Weakening protections of wetlands and forests

This bill joins GOP proposals—fully supported by Complicit Greg Walden—that cruelly afflict the poor, such as HUD’s plan that triples the rent and proposes work requirements for renters in federally-subsidized housing; the imposition of work requirements on Medicaid enrollees; and a bill to “rescind” $8 billion for CHIP and ACA.

On this fiftieth anniversary Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s Poor People’s Campaign, let’s finally . . .

Stop Systemic Injustices Causing Poverty in America!


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR MERKLEY AND WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because the House will soon vote on the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). This bill continues the GOP’s assault on America’s poor by attacking anti-poverty programs with “work requirements” that are expensive to administer and are not cost-effective while affording exorbitant benefits to Big Ag interests. Please tell the Senator to vote against this cruel measure if it reaches the Senate and instead push to address the systemic injustices causing poverty in America. Thank you.”


**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent and voter from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because the House will soon vote on the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). This bill continues the GOP’s assault on America’s poor by attacking anti-poverty programs with humiliating “work requirements” that are expensive to administer and are not cost-effective while affording exorbitant benefits to Big Ag interests. Please tell Mr. Walden to put people before party and vote against this cruel measure, and instead push to address the systemic injustices causing poverty in America. November is right around the corner.  Thank you.”


**ACTION THREE: GREG WALDEN HAS SOLD US OUT—GOTV!**

It has become clear that we need a different Congress to put America back on the social and economic justice track!

That means replacing Greg Walden with someone who will put

People Before Party!

VOTE in the Primary for the progressive candidates of your choice. Be sure you and all of your progressive friends return their ballots by May 15people who vote in the primary are EIGHT TIMES more likely to vote in the general election!

Don’t forget to VOTE the ENTIRE BALLOT! In Jackson County, we have two progressive women running for County Commissioner—Lanita Witt and Amy Thuren. Let’s get progressive voices into ALL LEVELS of Government!

Help us Get Out the Vote—GOTV!

If you are not already working with the Neighborhood Leader Program to GOTV, sign up by visiting:

http://www.jcdemocrats.org/get-involved/neighborhood-leaders-program/

It really is that simple. And guess what? By doing that simple thing you will help increase voter turnout significantly. In the Oregon January 2018 Measure 101 Election progressive voter turnout was increased by 34 points! That’s how elections are won!

If you are already participating, recruit five of your friends to join the program!

The 2018 elections will be the most important of our lives!  To save democracy and protect our commitment to a just society, no one can afford to sit on the sidelines. You can make a difference. Every vote counts!


TRUMP ENABLER GREG 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

SENATOR JEFF 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 RON 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/