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John,
When millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes, we can afford to invest in programs that lower costs for working families. But with Republicans now in control of the U.S. House, instead of taxing the ultra-rich, they’re looking to make major cuts to critical programs―including Social Security and Medicare.
We’ve learned that in order for Republican Kevin McCarthy to receive the Speaker’s gavel, he’s agreed to far-right demands to cut Social Security and Medicare in exchange for something that used to be routine―increasing the debt ceiling so the federal government can continue to pay its bills.[1]
On an annual basis, Congress raises the “debt ceiling” to allow the U.S. Treasury to meet our fiscal obligations―to pay for expenses previously approved by Congress. Now, the fight over defending Social Security and Medicare from Republicans may be coming sooner than expected:
This week, the U.S. Treasury will begin using “extraordinary measures” to pay our country’s bills―which, according to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, we’ll be able to do until early June. We’re demanding a clean debt ceiling increase without concessions to right-wing Republicans.
Click here to sign the petition to President Biden: Do not negotiate with Republican hostage-takers. Urge the president to demand a clean debt ceiling increase and reject Republican demands to cut Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans’ threats won’t actually do anything to decrease federal spending. All they’ll do is create chaos in an improving U.S. economy.
We’ve seen this Republican playbook before, when in 2011 Republicans demanded concessions from President Obama in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. But this new batch of MAGA Republicans is even more extreme than the Tea Party from over a decade ago.
We must stay united in our fight to protect Social Security and Medicare!
Sign the petition to President Biden to not negotiate with Republican hostage-takers and to demand a clean debt ceiling increase that rejects cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
Together, we’re fighting back against Republican attacks on our earned benefits and on our fragile economic recovery. Thank you for being by my side.
Always serving you,
Rashida
1 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/us/politics/speaker-election-debt-limit-republicans.html
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