|
|
The United States of Resistance is a weekly industry newsletter sharing the top news from across the resistance. Please share with others! Sign up | Archived Newsletters
Understanding and Resisting Trump's FY18 Budget
On Tuesday, Trump released his proposed full FY18 budget. This is a budget that hits hard at every demographic, including our nation's most disadvantaged populations - children, those with disabilities, and anyone in a lower income bracket. It takes a swing at major programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps), Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), social security disability benefits, public education, farm subsidies, the environment, the CDC and NIH, the arts and more. While the budget as a whole has little chance of passing through Congress, pieces of it do. On Wednesday, we hosted a webinar on exactly what the budget process looks like, highlighted major areas of concern, and gave suggestions on what you can do. The timing for resistance couldn't be more "perfect," given Congressional recess is kicking off. Here are a few resources from our partners at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, as well as the RISE Stronger Citizen's Guide to the Budget. These should get you briefed and prepared to ask questions of your members of Congress over the coming weeks.
- Overall statement from CBPP president
- Overview of tax plan
- Health cuts
- Non-defense cuts
- SNAP cuts
The Tide is Turning in Elections Around the Country
Democratic candidate Rob Quist missed a win in Montana's special election yesterday by just 7 percentage points. {Source}. The seat up for grabs, previously held by now-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, was thought to be an easy win for Republican candidate Gianforte given that Trump carried Montana by 20 percentage points in November over Hillary Clinton. Gianforte was charged with assault after 'body slamming' Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs the night before elections. By the time yesterday's election rolled around, it is estimated that well over 50% of all ballots had been cast in early elections. Despite this loss, seats are being flipped, starting at the municipal level and beyond. Just this week, two Democratic women won races in New Hampshire and New York that had long been Republican strongholds.
So What's Next?
We have Gubernatorial primaries in New Jersey on June 6 and Virginia on June 13 (and full elections in November) {Source}, Georgia's Congressional special election on June 20, as well as Washington Senate elections...and that's just 2017. (Flippable). Check out
Flippable,
Swing Left, and
Sister District to get involved in national and state elections. And if you know of someone looking to run in 2018 to unseat a Congressional Republican that stands for everything we do not (transparency, accountability, responsibility), then please take 30 seconds to fill out this form.
Keep the Pressure on the Russia Investigation
Yet another perfect topic to ask your MoCs about over recess. Investigators announced yesterday that they are focusing on Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, and potential collusions he had with Russia. Kushner is currently serving as a senior advisor to Trump. Democrats are calling for suspension of his security clearance while under FBI scrutiny.
Virginia Appeals Court Upholds Injunction Against Travel Ban. Next Stop Supreme Court
The Virginia appeals court upheld an earlier ruling blocking Trump's travel ban against six Muslim majority countries. The ruling cites Trump's comments on the campaign trail, using them as evidence that “the government's national security purpose was proffered in bad faith." Chief Judge Roger Gregory wrote in his opinion, [the ban] "drips with religious intolerance, animus, and discrimination," thereby violating “one of our most cherished founding principles—that government shall not establish any religious orthodoxy, or favor or disfavor one religion over another." {source}
The next step will be for Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice to seek Supreme Court review. Sessions has said they will ask the Supreme Court to hear the case, but has not said when he would do so. It is not likely the Court would hear arguments until the fall.
CBO Drops Score on House Healthcare Bill...and It's Deadly
The basics {source}:
- 14 million more uninsured next year than under the Affordable Care Act and 23 million more uninsured by 2026;
- 14 million fewer covered by Medicaid by 2026;
- States could opt out of certain provisions of the law, including one that requires insurers to provide a minimum set of health benefits (essential health benefits);
- Premiums skyrocket, costing thousands of dollars more per person, with variation by state and health status of the individual;
- Cut the deficit by $119 billion over ten years;
- $900 million tax break to the wealthiest.
Things are now in the hands of your Senators. Tell them to reject the American Health Care Act. Demand that we maintain full coverage of pre-existing conditions, that states be required to cover all essential health benefits, that children, seniors, and the disabled must be protected, and that the rich not profit off our our healthcare system. For resources on how to fight back, visit Protect Our Care.
Senate Takes on the Regulatory Fight
Months ago, the House passed its version of the Regulatory Accountability Act. Now it is the Senate's turn. In a nutshell, the Regulatory Accountability Act will require regulators to be accountable to lawmakers, give courts and the White House greater checks on rule making, classify regulations by economic impact, and lengthen rule making process. {Source}. Its impact will be detrimental to the sciences, environment, agriculture, and more, something the Union of Concerned Scientists outlines here.
Don't Forget to Take Action On:
- The National Forensic Science Commission - remember Trump wants to get rid of this in its entirety. You can submit comments through June 9. More info on what to say here, or to comment directly go here.
- Net neutrality - i.e. your freedom to access what you want, when you want, at the same speed and same price. If we get rid of net neutrality, internet service providers (AT&T, Comcast, etc.) will be able to charge you more for various sites, change the speed at which you can access content, and more. Tell the FCC to keep net neutrality. To learn more, click here, and to submit comments directly, click here.
RISE Stronger Policy Working Group Summaries
Join the Resistance by Volunteering with RISE Stronger
Want to get more involved in the amazing work of RISE Stronger, but wondering how? Here's a great place to start! We have incredible teams of volunteers working on bringing new tools and initiatives to the Resistance movement, and are specifically looking for help in the following areas. |
