SHUTDOWN DAY 35: DEMS MUST KEEP FIGHTING FOR MEANINGFUL HEALTHCARE RELIEF FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
QUICK READ: This shutdown is now tied with the one in Trump’s first term for the longest government shutdown in American history. MAGA Republicans who control the White House and both houses of Congress, want people to suffer and even starve, as they try to resurrect pre-New Deal America. That Trump threw a lavish Gatsby-themed party at his private Florida golf resort for his billionaire buddies just hours before SNAP benefits—he improperly claimed the government couldn’t cover—ceased shows us all which Americans he truly values.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Federal employees working without pay, 670,000 furloughed workers taking out loans to pay their bills, healthcare premiums skyrocketing (114% average ACA premium increase for 24 million; 4.8 million will lose coverage), and 42 million Americans’ SNAP benefits being withheld on Trump’s orders.
Just hours before the SNAP deadline, Trump, rather than permitting negotiating with Democrats to bring down healthcare costs by extending ACA tax credits and putting back the $1 trillion removed from Medicaid this summer, posted photos of the Lincoln Bathroom’s lavish renovation, made his 13th visit to Mar-a-Lago—costing taxpayers $3.4 million—to throw a Gatsby-themed Halloween party for his billionaire buddies. The optics couldn’t have been more telling.
Meanwhile, Mike Johnson, following Trump’s orders, has kept the House closed for 46 days, without losing pay.
--Giving him an excuse not to seat Adelita Grijalva, elected September 23, whose signature would force a vote on the Epstein files’ release Trump doesn’t want;
--Keeping GOP members from negotiating with Democrats to reinstate ACA subsidies and restore SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels
While there’s money to fund SNAP and healthcare, Trump’s spending it, instead, on ICE ($170 billion over 4 years), tax cuts for the super-wealthy 1% ($117 billion/year), Argentinian bailouts ($40 billion), war against Venezuela ($18+ million/day), National Guard invasion of our cities ($1+ million/day), and Trumps’s golf trips (already $60+ million).
Congressional Democrats are standing strong in their demands—for which they deserve our thanks—but time’s running out. They have only two weeks to get ACA credits reinstated, before the new rates are fixed.
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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
I am horrified by the Trump administration’s repeated military I am very concerned that millions of low-income families who rely on food assistance will go hungry because you and your colleagues refuse to fund it with SNAP’s contingency funds and that millions of Americans will be unable to afford health insurance unless Congress agrees to the ACA tax credits’ permanent extension. We are running out of time to avoid these crises. As your constituent, I demand that you work with Democrats so hungry Americans in your state don’t lose their food assistance and working Americans in your state don’t lose their healthcare.
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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
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].
It is long past time for you to force Speaker Johnson to reopen the House and seat Adelita Grijalva, who’s been waiting almost two months to take up her position, so that you, too, can begin representing your constituents—which means working with Democrats to ensure hungry Americans in your district don’t lose their food assistance and working Americans in your district don’t lose their healthcare.
Script for Maxine Dexter (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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
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].
Thank you for standing strong, demanding the permanent extension of the ACA tax credits and the restoration of SNAP and Medicaid benefits to their previous levels and for mechanisms to ensure this funding will not be later rescinded. To push them over the finish line within the limited time available before the new ACA premiums kick in, it will be necessary to embarrass Trump and his lackeys by repeatedly and continuously showing the American people how they’re prepared to let ordinary Americans starve and die while spending lavishly for their own benefit and that of their billionaire buddies.
FURTHER READING
87 days: The do-nothing Congress’s shutdown strategy
Office Hours: Why won’t Trump and the Republicans swear in the winner of Arizona’s special election?
The Trump Administration Is Purposefully Inflicting Unnecessary Pain During the Shutdown
The poor should starve, says Trump administration
The Trump regime is turning its back on more than 40 million hungry Americans
Why Trump Is Allowing Food Stamp Funding to Run Out
SNAP benefits will restart, but will be half the normal payment and delayed
Trump Gathers MAGA Pals for ‘Tone-Deaf’ Gatsby Theme Party
Trump Marks Full Month Of Government Shutdown With $3.4 Million Golf Trip To Florida
Keeping the House Absent, Johnson Marginalizes Congress and Himself
Trump administration will use SNAP contingency fund to pay partial food stamp benefits
