[ [link removed] ][IMG]

Jacob, this government shutdown is bigger than just one budget or one politician.

This is a story about greed and corruption.

For years in this country, the wealthiest have rigged the system to line their pockets at the expense of regular Americans.

CEOs make 290 times more than the average worker. People work longer hours for lower wages. The top 1% has accumulated a third of all the wealth in America, while the bottom 50% owns practically nothing. Billionaires use means both legal and illegal to enjoy record-low taxes, with some even paying less than a regular working American.

And to make sure they can continue to hold onto their wealth and power, they use their fortunes to buy politicians to steer policymaking in Washington.

Nothing encapsulates this more in modern politics than Trump and the Republican party.

They get elected on the backs of millions and millions of dollars in election spending from billionaires like Elon Musk and corporate interests like Big Oil.

And as a result, their highest priority since taking full control of government in January was the Big Ugly Bill: an unprecedented scheme to cut healthcare and food assistance for the working class in order to pay for huge tax breaks for the billionaire class.

Now, they want to pass a budget that will slash even more funding for healthcare plans for working class Americans. They’re looking to offset the cost of even lower taxes for the 1%.

Jacob, Democrats aren’t holding out for a deal to play politics — we are holding out on behalf of the American people who will see their insurance premiums skyrocket and their care become unaffordable if this budget comes to pass without changes.

Donald Trump and the Republicans have a decision to make:

Will they dig in, protect their billionaire buddies, and force a budget on the American people that makes life less affordable and our country less healthy?

Or will they stop looking for excuses and negotiate to avoid a health care crisis?

I’m voting no on this budget until they do.

In solidarity,

Ed Markey
 


You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]