Dear Friend,
Congress is in the middle of debating a budget bill that would defeat
Mitch McConnell’s stranglehold on Congress and accomplish real progressive
priorities.
But Senator Joe Manchin is threatening to tank the entire thing.
Not only does the $3.5 trillion budget bill include Medicare expansion,
paid family leave, and investment in green energy, it also pays for the
package by implementing a wealth tax and making corporations pay their
fair share.^1,2
Manchin, however, wants to bow to corporate interests by taking the bill
off the table entirely in favor of a much smaller budget resolution that
wouldn’t include most of those pressing concerns.^3 And because of the
razor-thin majority in the Senate, Manchin alone could put a halt to this
bold plan. We have just a few weeks to rally an outpouring of grassroots
support so that Sen. Manchin doesn’t obstruct the key priorities that
Americans desperately need.
[ [link removed] ]Will you chip in $10 to Demand Progress and help support
progressive programs like Medicare and climate action?
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your
donation will go through immediately:
[ [link removed] ]Donate $10
[ [link removed] ]Donate $20
[ [link removed] ]Donate $40
[ [link removed] ]Or, donate another amount
Not long ago, Mitch McConnell said he is “100% focused on stopping"
President Biden and the Democrats' agenda.^4 He has forced the slavery-era
filibuster on every progressive priority bill, from voting rights to gun
safety, shutting them all down.
And as long as the filibuster remains in place, the only recourse that
progressives have is the budget reconciliation process. Federal funding
runs out at the end of September, meaning Congress must pass a budget or
the government will shut down.
This is our best opportunity in months to achieve progressive reform. Here
are just a few of the provisions in the bill:
* Universal pre-K and a childcare benefit for working families
* Tuition-free community college
* Paid and medical leave for 12 weeks
* Dental, vision, and hearing benefits in Medicare
* Consumer rebates for green energy and tax incentives for green
transportation
* Affordable housing and a public land conservation work program
But Manchin appears determined to stop this—unless we can rally support
against his obstruction.
We are reminding everyone in Congress that they cannot let a single
senator undermine their responsibility for making their constituents’
lives better. It’s time to speak out more loudly than the corporate donors
who are giving big to Manchin.^5 Demand Progress members have sent tens of
thousands of messages in support of Medicare expansion and the other
progressive elements of the budget plan. But time is running out, as the
key negotiations are now underway. Will you donate to help pass the
transformative goals in the $3.5 trillion budget bill?
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I’ll donate to Demand Progress today.
Thanks for standing with us.
Robert Cruickshank,
Demand Progress
PS: Your contributions are what keep us nimble and prepared to take on
important fights like these as they happen. [ [link removed] ]Will you become a monthly
donor to keep our work going?
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
Sources:
1. CNN, "What's in the Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending plan,"
[ [link removed] ]September 8, 2021
2. AP News, "Democrats seek corporate, wealthy tax hikes for $3.5T plan,"
[ [link removed] ]September 13, 2021
3. Ibid.
4. The Washington Post, "Biden dismisses McConnell’s pledge that he’s ‘100
percent’ focused on stopping the administration," [ [link removed] ]May 5, 2021
5. OpenSecrets, "Joe Manchin," [ [link removed] ]accessed September 16, 2021
----------
PAID FOR BY DEMAND PROGRESS (<a href="[link removed]">DemandProgress.org</a>) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Join our online community on <b><a href="[link removed]">Facebook</a></b> or <b><a href="[link removed]">Twitter</a>.</b>
You can unsubscribe from this list at any time: [link removed]
