NO MORE MAGA CHAOS; FUND THE GOVERNMENT NOW

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ: On September 30, Congress gave itself six more weeks to fund the government, but the House GOP spent almost all of October at war with itself. Now, with only 10 days to avoid another government shutdown, it’s time for MAGA Republicans to accept reality, agreeing to another short-term continuing resolution at 2023 funding levels and promising to draft legislation conforming to the budget framework enacted in June, as the Senate is doing.



CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

On October 25, after 3 rudderless weeks, “MAGA Mike” Johnson, a white Christian nationalist election-denier, was elected Speaker.

In his first week, he

Since 12 budget bills cannot pass both Houses in the 6 legislative days remaining before the CR runs out, another CR is needed to keep the government open through December. 

Unless the 2024 budget’s been enacted by then, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act enacted in May to end the artificial debt-ceiling crisis, 1% across-the-board funding cuts would begin in April 2024.

Unfortunately, the MAGA-led House still refuses to recognize that their budget bills, funded below the agreed-upon levels and containing numerous poison pills, only waste time, since they’re dead on arrival in the Senate.

“MAGA Mike’s” CR proposals have the same problems, inevitably leading to a government shutdown. While that might be the plan, our MoCs cannot allow American jobs and benefits to be disrupted.

Majorities in both chambers want the government to remain open and be funded at the voted-for level, so let’s get it done now.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thanks to MAGA House Republicans who have frittered away most of October trying to elect a Speaker, there are only 6 legislative days until the government runs out of money. To keep the government running, Congress must pass a “clean” CR by November 17 that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget, without MAGA “poison pills,” before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

*SEN. WYDEN:* Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thanks to MAGA House Republicans who have frittered away most of October trying to elect a Speaker, there are only 6 legislative days until the government runs out of money. To keep the government running, Congress must pass a “clean” CR by November 17 that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget, without MAGA “poison pills,” before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

Thanks to MAGA House Republicans who have frittered away most of October trying to elect a Speaker, there are only 6 legislative days until the government runs out of money. To keep the government running, Congress must pass a “clean” CR by November 17 that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget, without MAGA “poison pills,” before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Your job is to craft budget bills that can actually be passed and that Americans will support. The House spending packages being negotiated must stick to the previously-agreed-to spending levels, without “poison pill” provisions about abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate action. And, if they can’t be completed in the next ten days, you must pass a “clean” CR that maintains funding at 2023 levels through the end of the year, giving both Houses time to pass a 2024 budget before the automatic across-the-board spending cuts mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act go into effect.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
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