Pass Wealth Taxes
We can only rid our government of the tyranny of the minority if we defang the filibuster.
Jump to today’s actions:
BACKGROUND
Recently, a bipartisan group of senators unveiled a skimpy infrastructure plan without new wealth taxes to pay for it. These Senators made clear they really work for the ultra-wealthy, not for us.
U.S. billionaires’ wealth increased by $1.3T -- 44% -- during the first eleven months of COVID alone. Enough for a $3,900 stimulus check to every person in America.
America added 50 billionaires while 76 million people lost their jobs; 28 million caught COVID; 500,000+ died from COVID.
America has 614 billionaires and 80,508 people worth at least $50 million.
The richest 25 Americans have sometimes paid $0 taxes.
To summarize:
400 richest Americans’ wealth in 1991 worth $288 billion
400 richest Americans’ wealth in 2021 worth $3.2 trillion
Tipped minimum wage in 1991 = $2.13 an hour
Tipped minimum wage in 2021 = $2.13 an hour
To get what we want, we must make our voices heard. Call your senators and representative. Tell them they need to pass Biden’s infrastructure plan, including wealth taxes. Tell your Senators that Democrats must use the 51-vote reconciliation process. Congress must stop caring only for corporations and the ultra-wealthy and start caring for people who live on paychecks.
1. 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 co-sponsoring progressive tax proposals targeting the extremely wealthy. I was outraged to learn that some senators are proposing a weak infrastructure plan with no new taxes on investments and assets, but a higher gas tax. We must start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck rather than continuing to help our richest citizens increase their obscene wealth from assets and investments. Use the reconciliation process to pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including taxes on the wealthy.
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].
I was outraged to learn that some senators are proposing a weak infrastructure plan with no new taxes on investments and assets, but a higher gas tax. We must start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck rather than continuing to help our richest citizens increase their obscene wealth from assets and investments. Use the reconciliation process to pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including taxes on the wealthy. I also ask you to co-sponsor the progressive tax proposals targeting the extremely wealthy that Senator Merkley is cosponsoring.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
I was outraged to learn that some senators are proposing a weak infrastructure plan with no new taxes on investments and assets, but a higher gas tax. Congress must stop enabling the wealthy few to become even richer and start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck. Pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
2. 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].
Congress must stop enabling the wealthy few to become even richer and start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck. Pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
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].
Congress must stop enabling the wealthy few to become even richer and start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck. Pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
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].
Congress must stop enabling the wealthy few to become even richer and start supporting people who live paycheck to paycheck. Pass all of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
Script for Peter DeFazio (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 your leadership on the portions of Biden’s infrastructure plan going through the Transportation Committee. To reverse the obscene concentration of wealth, which is antithetical to a thriving democracy, Congress must pass the rest of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
Script for Kurt Schrader (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].
The Problem Solvers infrastructure plan is skimpy, and it backs away from taxing the wealthy. This is outrageous. Stop working for corporations and remember what your constituents need. To reverse the obscene concentration of wealth, which is antithetical to a thriving democracy, Congress must pass the rest of Biden’s infrastructure plan, including its wealth taxes.
3. Take Action
Join us on Tuesday June 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT for Indivisible Tuesday - a district visit with Senator Merkley’s staff.
Join us again on Saturday, June 19th from 12-2 for our For the People phone bank: https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/phone-bank-ftpa-06-19-21
Further Reading
Brandeis quote: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/louis_d_brandeis_140392
A bipartisan infrastructure bill will add no new taxes: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/senate-republican-leader-mcconnell-new-infrastructure-plan-collins-2021-06-10/
Billionaires who don’t pay taxes: https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax
Growth of billionaires: https://americansfortaxfairness.org/billionaires/
Forbes 400 richest people in America:https://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/
Number of people in American with at least $50 million net worth: https://www.statista.com/statistics/204095/distribution-of-ultra-high-net-worth-individuals-for-selected-countries/
Change in wages vs billionaires wealth: https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/1403779224104628225?s=20
Biden’s infrastructure plan, overview: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/22/business/biden-infrastructure-spending.html
Part one: The American Jobs Plan
Part two: The American Families Plan: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-the-american-families-plan/
And if you’ve read this far, here’s one last insight:
It's not just that Jeff Bezos pays $0 in taxes despite being worth $194 billion.
He pays his workers so little that thousands are on food stamps and Medicaid.
So actually YOUR tax dollars are going to subsidize his workers' low pay, which makes him even richer.
https://twitter.com/DanPriceSeattle/status/1403551097873125376?s=20
