Trump’s budget sent to Congress is the largest in federal history. A five percent increase in military spending, more than the Pentagon asked for. $8.6 billion to build the wall on the Mexican border. $1.9 trillion in cuts from safety-net programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, the federal health care programs for the elderly and the poor.
Congress controls spending levels, but this budget proposed by Trump is considered a statement of Trump re-election priorities. Let’s tell our MOCs we won’t tolerate Trump’s grandstanding tactics.
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Senator Patty Murray: DC – 202-224-2621 Seattle – 206-553-5545
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Senator Maria Cantwell: DC – 202-224-3441 Seattle – 206-220-6400
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal: DC – 202-225-3106 Seattle – 206-674-0040
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Rep. Adam Smith: DC – 202-225-8901 Renton – 425-793-5180
SCRIPT:
“Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I am calling to protest the Trump budget. Even though Congress will set spending levels, it is dangerous to allow the President to threaten drastic cuts to important federal programs for the needy, including Medicare, Medicaid, and federal health care programs. These tactics seem to be intended to show off in preparation for the 2020 Presidential campaign. I am absolutely opposed to the Trump budget, and I urge [MOC] to continue to speak out against this and similar tactics.”
Background & more information:
“Record Budget is Trump’s Shot Across the Bow” – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/us/politics/trump-budget.html
“Trump 2020 Budget: Which Departments Would Be Cut” – https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/politics/trump-budget-2020/
GOOD NEWS
Science funding has been supported, and in some cases increased, by Congress over the past two years, despite Trump’s threats to cut science funding when he took office. Funding increases include two space-based telescopes, increased funding for NASA’s space science, and more funding for the National Science Foundation and the Geological Survey. We’ve called our MOCS about this – way to go!
“Cut the Science Budget? Not So Fast” – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/11/science/science-research-budget-astronomy.html
