Indivisibles,

Last week, House Republicans passed Kevin McCarthy’s horrific bill, the “Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023.”

This is a bad bill. A really, really bad bill. It’s full of extreme cuts to programs millions of families and communities rely on, not to mention huge tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations, including:

• Funding cuts to K-12 education, eliminating 108,000 teachers and impacting more than 32 million children
• Cuts to veterans’ services and medical care 
• Cuts to tax enforcement, making it easier for big corporations and the rich to cheat on their taxes
• Cuts to clean energy investments, potentially increasing our carbon pollution by as much as 40%
• A $6 billion cut in taxes and fees for oil companies
• $100 billion cut from the National Institutes of Health, removing funding from life-saving medical research like a cure for HIV, treatments for cancer, and vaccines like for COVID-19
• And so much more…

This bill isn’t going anywhere (neither the Senate nor President Biden will allow it to move forward). It’s being used as a tactic by extremist Republicans to attempt to force Democrats to give in to their extremist demands. We can’t let that happen. 

Just today, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the US could default as early as June 1st. 

This is why our upcoming Week of Action May 19-26 is so crucial.

We must organize to let our Representatives know that any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, or any other crucial programs cannot be the price paid by the people for an extremist Republican temper tantrum. 

Indivisibles are going to hold events all across the country calling on their Members of Congress (MoCs) to protect American families. For Democratic MoCs, we’ll be reminding them to hold strong in the face of MAGA hostage-taking -- the only people who win from Dem concessions are lobbyists for the wealthy and well-connected and the politicians they donate to. For Republican MoCs, we’re making sure they answer for the extremism in their party and letting them know that if the country defaults, we'll be holding them accountable. 

That can look like pep rallies, “thank you” visits to congressional offices, light brigades, birddogging, and all of the other creative ways Indivisibles have thought of in the past (and will think of in the future) to draw more attention to this pending crisis. But to get you started:

• Watch this video from Rep. Greg Casar and our very own Ezra Levin on our MAGA Default Crisis Week of Action. Hear directly from a Member of Congress about the inside-outside fight necessary to prevent a default. The potential ramifications of a default would be catastrophic for the American people. Watch Ezra and Rep. Casar put the crisis into context. 
• Check out our MAGA Default Crisis Week of Action homepage. This is your one-stop shop for all things Week of Action. Not sure where to start for an event? Check out the toolkit! Want to make sure other folks in your area can see your event? Register your event. Check out this page for everything you need to know about the upcoming week of action, our strategy, and potential tactics you can use. 

When Democrats concede to demands manufactured by the most extreme members of the Republican party, the people lose. We cannot allow our representatives to give in to the notion that the default is a partisan issue. Democrats must keep in line and remember that there is no need for negotiations on a default -- we need a clean increase. Republicans must be reminded that placing the American people in unnecessary danger for the benefit of their donors and friends will not go unaddressed by the people. 

Start planning your Week of Action events today and let’s end this MAGA Default Crisis before it becomes a national catastrophe. 

With that, here are your weekly to-dos:

 Your 5 weekly to-dos 

1. RSVP for our MAGA Week of Action Event Planning Training this Thursday, May 4 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Our week of action is less than a month away from May 19-26; now is the time to start planning. Learn the tips and tricks to ensure your event is a success. From recruitment to media protocols, Indivisible will be providing guidance on best practices to increase your event’s impact. 
2. If you have a Republican representative, call and tell them that their vote McCarthy’s bill was unacceptable. Though four Republicans voted against the bill, they voted against it because it wasn’t extreme enough. Every Republican vote was a vote against the needs of the American people and we are quickly running out of time to reverse course. Contact your Representative today and let them know that is unacceptable. Once you’ve called, write a letter to the editor demanding the House GOP stop pushing us towards a default.
3. If you have a chance to see your Republican representative in person, use this birddogging guide to get your Republican representative on record about Kevin McCarthy’s horrific debt bill. We must hold our Republican representatives accountable for their capitulation to the most extreme members of their party. Republicans know cuts to these programs are deeply unpopular. Get your rep on record today and make sure everyone knows just where your representative stands.
4. If your Democratic representative has stayed on the sidelines, call and tell them to join the fight in opposing MAGA’s cuts to programs our communities rely on. Republicans are threatening to hold the world economy hostage, and a handful of Democrats are still standing on the sidelines, refusing to take a stance against cuts. We cannot allow these conservative Dems to give in to Republican hostage-taking. Democrats need to stand strong and join President Biden in saying we’re not negotiating with hostage-takers. Every Democratic Member of Congress (MoC) needs to make it clear to Republicans that they won’t cave and that the Democratic Party can be counted on to protect Medicaid, Food Assistance, and other essential benefits. Once you’ve called, write a letter to the editor (LTE) encouraging your MoC not to negotiate with MAGA hostage-takers and then tweet at your MoC demanding they protect our crucial programs.
5. If your Democratic representative pledged their support, call your representative and thank them for publicly supporting no cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Our representatives need to know when we’re in support of their actions, there’s no better way to let them know than to call them directly. The stronger we show our support, the more likely they are to work for the people in the future. When you’re finished calling, write an LTE thanking your representative for committing to protect vital programs. Don’t just support your MoC in private, submit an LTE thanking your representative so that your community, and other MoCs paying attention, know that your representative is doing the right thing and supported by their constituents. Public praise helps put the pressure on the remaining MoCs to sign on too.

P.S. We rely on your support to keep call pages up and running, fund digital communications to get the word out, and continue all the work we’re doing this year. If you’re able, click here to donate to help fund our work.

Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington

Governor Jay Inslee of Washington signed into law last week a bill protecting reproductive health and gender-affirming care in Washington state. As stated in his tweet, “I stood with some of the other elected leaders here to put the anti-choice cabal on notice: Washington state will not go back.” Read Gov. Inslee’s full description of the new protections here.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, WA-10

Rep. Pramila Jayapal confronts Republicans using the hypocritical framing of trying to protect women in order to attack trans children. She points out that if Republicans really cared about women they would not be, “voting against equal pay, against paid sick leave, against universal child care.” To clarify their intent, she says Republicans should rename the bill the “Cancel Kids Trans Hate Bill.” Watch her entire speech here.

 IndivisiWin of the Week 

Indivisible Mohawk Valley (IMV) in New York held an incredibly creative “Move In or Move Out” event reminding their rep to keep his promise to move into the district he’s representing. Check out the great news coverage IMV got here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to keep up on the latest information, and text “INDIVISIBLE” to 59798 to opt-in to our text messaging program where we send rapid response actions a few times a month.

We are nearing the precipice of the MAGA Default Crisis fight. Republicans are growing bolder in their attempts to rip away programs relied upon by millions of Americans across the country. Our representatives are the last line of defense against these heinous cuts. Let’s make sure they have our support to hold the line.

In solidarity,
Indivisible Team