INDIVISIBLE CEDAR MILL OREGON
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Resistance Letter #35
November 26, 2017
Day 309 of 1461 days
Dear Co-defendants –
TAXSCAM SENATE OPPOSITION AND CALENDAR
All our opposition to taxscam is focused on the Senate. There is an excellent chance, increasing daily, of killing this bill before it gets to the Senate floor. McConnell needs 50 votes to pass it; he has a majority of only two senators. The loss of three senators will doom the bill.
Senator Ron Johnson (WI) still opposes the bill as written, and has vowed to not vote for it. Time will tell if his fellow senators will try to buy him off with more favorable pass-through rates for small businesses. They probably will try to buy him in, but they have to keep their eyes on the magic $1.5T maximum on the deficit. More breaks for small business means less money to pass to the top.
Senators Corker (TN), McCain (AZ) and Flake (AZ) have voiced opposition to the enormous deficit that taxscam carries. None of these senators has any concern about being reelected, and none will hesitate to oppose Trump if their principles are being violated.
Senator Lisa Murkowski has indicated that she is not offended by the elimination of mandates for ACA. She has still not said that she will vote for the bill, so we’ll keep her in the mix.
Senators Jerry Moran (KS) and Susan Collins (ME) are against the elimination of the mandate, so we will call them with that in mind.
Senator Strange of AL will age out of his seat, and be replaced by the victor in the Moore/Jones election somewhere in the last part of December. At this point, it looks like Doug Jones, a Democrat, will take that seat – maybe. The Alabama election is set for December 12, but will not be certified for up to two weeks.
The senate returns from its Thanksgiving recess this next Tuesday. They are scheduled for Christmas recess to run from Dec 15 through the end of the year. That calendar leaves all of 12 working days at the Senate’s leisurely work schedule. In that time, they have to raise the national debt limit; the Democrats have plenty of leverage here, and there is talk of trading agreement on a three-month CBR for action on DACA. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) has to be squeezed in there somewhere too, as states will run out of money by year end. This might be accomplished through including funding in the aforesaid CBR.
And then, McConnell has to get the taxscam measure passed. Right now, they need to have a vote called a ”Motion to Proceed.” This allows the proposed taxscam legislation to proceed to the Senate floor for debate. We don’t want that to happen, so maximum pressure by all hands is demanded of us this week.
You can see that McConnell has his hands full, and, in my opinion, will not even come close to getting this bill, in any finished form, to Trump before Christmas.
Make those calls and don’t be distracted by the rest of the carnival going on in DC. Our mission is to defeat Trump and Trumpism. Period. Exclamation point!
CALLS TO ACTION
The highest priority calls now and in the future are aimed at defeating taxscam. Start off with calling Schumer, asking him to hold the Democratic coalition together. Call the other two senators, asking them to not break ranks on the taxscam. They have all been a bit wobbly. Use the deficit, elimination of SALT and corporate give away as reason to stay the course!
Senator Charles Schumer(NY) – 202-224-6542
Senator Joe Manchin(WV) 202-224-3954
Senator Heidi Heitkamp(ND) – 202-224-2043
The taxscam promises to increase the deficit and the national debt by $150 billion dollars a year for the next ten years. Budget hawks should be encouraged to oppose this huge increase in debt. These three senators need to be reminded what the taxscam would do to the budget and the deficit. They are previously, on the record, as openly opposed to increasing deficits.
Senator Jeff Flake (AZ) – 202-224-4521
Senator Bob Corker(TN) – 202-224-3344
Senator John McCain (AZ) – 202-224-2235
The Senate version of taxscam calls for elimination of the mandate for ACA participation. Tell these senators that you and they are concerned with driving the needy out of medical care through ACA’s increased rates if the mandate is removed.
Senator Jerry Moran (KS) – 202-224-6521
Senator Susan Collins (ME) – 202-224-2523
Lisa Murkowski is an independent sort of character and she is not afraid of opposing the big powers in the establishment in Washington. She has indicated that she is not offended by the elimination of the mandate. But she does have an eye out for her constituents, many of whom depend on Medicaid for health care. Tell her that the $1.5T deficit will assure the minimization of health care in coming years.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) – 202-224–2665
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION
Monday next, the 27th November, is a national day of action by Indivisible. Sit-ins and protests of various kinds will be held across the nation in the home offices of congress members. We in OR1 have dependable congressional representation, so we are taking to the street vs the office. Join us at the corner of NW Murray and NW Cornell for an hour of protest on Monday from noon to 1:00PM.
MONTHLY MEETING
The meeting is set for Monday, December 11, at (email indivisiblecedarmill@gmail.com for location). Doors open at 6:30PM and the meeting starts promptly at 7:30 PM. Refreshments, both adult and juvenile will be provided along with a few tasty snacks. Ethan Krow of yesforhealth will explain tactics to support R101 and our opportunities to participate. Assemblyman Mitch Greenlick will be at the meeting to talk to us about the legislature’s healthcare concerns, and why R101 should be approved, and the consequences if it is not.
L’audace, encore l’audace, et toujours l’audace!
Thank you.
John Fox