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Hello Democrats,

Welcome to days 41-49 of our 100 Days of Action series with updates and actions you can take around the first 100 days of the new administration and our 2025 state legislative session. Your elected leaders need to hear from you and we'll help you get loud by keeping you informed and empowered with the tools you need to make your voice heard.
FEDERAL BUDGET

Trump has endorsed ([link removed]) the Republicans’ continuing resolution ([link removed]) (CR) that further rigs the system against working families in favor of the rich and powerful. The CR gives a blank check to Elon Musk so he and DOGE can free up funding to pay for billionaire tax cuts by continuing to slash aviation safety personnel ([link removed]) , staff and grants doingcancer research ([link removed]) , FEMA resources to assist ([link removed]) with natural disasters, r ([link removed]) esources
([link removed]) for public schools and staff to send ([link removed]) out Social Security checks on time.

To be clear, Republicans control the White House, Senate, House and Supreme Court and they have total control of whether the government shuts down. If they want support from Democratic lawmakers, they could offer legislation that doesn’t allow Elon Musk to continue gutting aviation safety and our public schools in order to fund more billionaire tax cuts.

Why does this legislation gives Elon Musk a blank check?

WaPo ([link removed]) : “By bypassing the yearly appropriations process, Congress would cede some of its power to dictate how money is spent — which is exercised through that process with more specificity — and give the Trump administration more leeway over federal spending. Democrats argue that a continuing resolution would make it easier for Elon Musk, who oversees the U.S. DOGE Service, to drastically slash the size of government because it approves continued funding levels without as much specificity about how the money should be spent.”

On Sunday, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued the following statement:

"The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance and $23 billion in veterans benefits. Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year. We are voting No."

TAKE ACTION: Call Rep. Haridopolos' DC office at (202) 225-3671. Tell him the continuing resolution slashes aviation safety personnel ([link removed]) , staff and grants doingcancer research ([link removed]) , FEMA resources to assist ([link removed]) with natural disasters, r ([link removed]) esources ([link removed]) for public schools and staff to send ([link removed]) out Social Security checks on time. Tell him as his constituent you want him to VOTE
NO on the CR.
EDUCATION UPDATE


** Trump Has Drafted the Executive Order to Eliminate the Department of Education
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Project 2025 laid out the plan to defund public education, eliminate oversight, hand the system over to the highest bidder. Now, Trump has drafted his executive order to dismantle the entire U.S. Department of Education.

Book bans were just the beginning for Moms for Liberty, the right-wing operatives that spent years laying the groundwork for this moment. They convinced people that schools are “indoctrinating” kids—so they can replace public education with actual indoctrination. And without a Department of Education? There’s no one left to stop them.

Public schools are already overburdened. Now, eliminating the Department of Education means:
* No federal funding for schools, special education, or meal programs.
* No enforcement of Title IX protections for students.
* No accountability for states that cut education funding to the bone.

Families relying on school meal programs to feed their children are left struggling. (Remember when SNAP gave extra money to families with school-aged kids during COVID? That was because we know school meals are a lifeline.)
Listen as Mallory McMarrow explains what you can do to protect public education. TLDR: Call your legislators.
Watch HERE ([link removed])
House Republicans have introduced bill HR899 ([link removed]) to terminate the Departments of Education. Our Congressman, Mike Haridopolos has not yet joined the bill's 30 cosponsors.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your Congressman to withhold his support for HR899 "To terminate the Department of Education."

Call Rep. Haridopolos' DC office at (202) 225-3671 and read the following script:

"Hi my name is _______ and I am a constituent calling from zip code ________. I'm calling to urge my Congressman to withhold his support for bill HR899 to terminate the Department of Education. I also expect him to speak with President Trump to discourage him from signing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education.

Will my Congressman take these steps to protect public education?"

School District of Indian River County to Host Town Hall

Community members, parents, teachers, students, and faith leaders are invited to a town hall on March 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the School District headquarters, 6500 57th Street, Vero Beach. School officials will discuss the development of the district’s 2025-2030 strategic plan, share feedback from community focus groups, and outline key priorities for the future of education in Indian River County.

Superintendent Dr. David K. Moore and Chief of Staff Dr. Christina Jacobs will lead the discussion, emphasizing transparency and community engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input to help shape the district’s vision for student success.

For more details, visit the School District of Indian River County website ([link removed]) .
TALLAHASSEE UPDATE
HB 1205 ([link removed]) / SB 7016 ([link removed]) - “Initiative Petitions for Constitutional Amendments” aka Pay to Have a Say Constitutional Amendment Attack
HB 1205 had its first hearing in the House Government Operations Subcommittee on Thursday, and the people showed UP.Hundreds of students and advocates ([link removed]) packed the room to testify against this blatant attack on our right to direct democracy. So many people signed up to speak that the committee cut off testimony, silencing hundreds who had traveled hours to be there. Here’s what the bill does:
* Million-dollar barrier to democracy: HB 1205 requires a $1 million bond just to begin collecting petition signatures, creating an impossible financial barrier for grassroots movements.
* Attacks volunteer petition gatherers: It bans entire classes of people from even handling petitions, including non-citizens, formerly incarcerated individuals, and anyone collecting signatures out of state.
* Criminalizes participation: The bill imposes felony charges for minor technical violations, like making photocopies of petitions, and slaps petition organizers with outrageous fines for missed deadlines.
* Speeds up the clock: Shrinks the signature collection window from two years to just 14 months.
* More ways to toss out petitions: This makes it easier for state officials to throw out valid signatures and requires voters to provide more personal information just to sign a petition.

Direct democracy emerged as a response to government corruption and corporate monopolies, driven by farmers and workers in the early 1900s. However, for over a decade, legislators have concentrated power among corporate interests. The support of the Florida Chamber, backed by major corporations, for this bill reflects a corporate power grab aimed at silencing working-class Floridians.The Senate version of the bill, which has some differences, will be heard today, March 10, in the Ethics and Elections Committee.

SEND YOUR EMAILS: Fill out this quick form to send a message directly to your legislators bit.ly/savedirectdemocracy ([link removed])

Share Your Story Congressional Democrats have created a portal website to field complaints from constituents who believe they have been hurt by the policies of newly elected President Trump and his administration.

Anyone interested in sharing their story with Democrats in Congress can visit the website — [link removed]. It is managed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Previously Shared Calls to Action
Republicans have introduced a state concealed carry reciprocity bill in both the House and the Senate. This bill would infringe on states' rights to set their own gun laws and override all state large capacity magazine bans. Our Congressman Mike Haridopolos has already cosponsored the bill in the House. In the Senate, Rick Scott has cosponsored the bill but Senator Ashley Moody has not. She needs to hear from you.

TAKE ACTION: Call Senator Moody's D.C. office at 202-224-3041 and use the following script:

Hi, I’m a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______. I’m deeply concerned by the bill S.65 which tramples on states' rights to set their own gun laws. Please let my Senator know that, as a Florida constituent, I'm urging her to withhold her support for this bill. Again, it is S.65.
(leave a message if you get a voicemail)
ALERT! Our Congressman is doing the bidding of the US arms industry by engaging in a full assault on public safety. Haridopolos has cosponsored bills to both abolish the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and to repeal the National Firearms Act ([link removed]) .

The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 imposed taxes, registration requirements, and restrictions on certain firearms, including short-barreled rifles and shotguns, machine guns, and silencers, with the primary goal of discouraging their circulation due to their association with violent crime.

His support of this bill does not reflect the will of his constituents.
* H.R. 221 ([link removed]) - Abolish the ATF Act
* H.R. 335 ([link removed]) - Repeal the NFA Act

TAKE ACTION: Call Rep. Haridopolos' DC office at (202) 225-3671 and urge him to rescind his support of both HR221 to abilish the ATF and HR335 to repeal the NFA.
The Farmworker Association of Florida spoke during the Indian River County delegation meeting about the plight of the American farmworker. One highlighted concern was the lack of water, shade and access to bathrooms and the desire for safer working standards for the people that feed our community and our children.

TAKE ACTION: Call Representative Brackett and urge him to cosponsor the bill to protect Florida's farmworks from heat illness. Call Brackett's Tallahassee office at (850) 717-5034 and read the following script:

Hello my name is __________ and I live in zip code __________. I am a constituent calling to urge Representative Brackett to respond to the concerned farmworkers that spoke during the Indian River Delegation meeting by cosponsoring HB 35. This is the Heat Illness Protection bill. Can I count on my Representative to support this bill?
House Republicans have introduced a bill ([link removed]) to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This Act saves older Americans billions in health care costs. As of now, our House Representative Mike Haridopolos ([link removed]) has not yet cosponsored this bill. He needs to hear from us!

TAKE ACTION: Call Rep. Haridopolos' DC office at (202) 225-3671 and read the following script:

My name is ______. I live in zip code ________ and I urge my Representative to withhold support for HR191. This bill would significantly increase costs for millions of Americans. HR191 would overturn the cap on insulin costs and the $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket precrription drug copayments for millions of older Americans. Floridians simply cannot afford for this bil to pass or for our Congressman to support this bill. Can I count on the Congressman to vote NO on HR191?

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Indian River Democrats Office Location
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Vero Beach 32960

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