“$3.5 TRILLION” FIGHT IS A CLASH OVER WHOM THE GOV’T SERVES

Daily Action

Sep 21

While the fight appears to be over the reconciliation bill’s price tag, it’s actually a struggle to have the rich pay their fair share to revitalize life in America.

QUICK READ: Today, large portions of our government serve the rich and big corporations. (See Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader’s fight to protect pharmaceutical riches.) Fundamentally, the reconciliation bill attempts to shift the government’s emphasis from abetting the rich to remaking the government so it works for all of us.

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Action One: Call the Senate
Action Two: Call the House
Action Three

BACKGROUND

We are enormously proud of our progressive Members of Congress who face tremendous pressure as they fight for the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better bill.

Representative Blumenauer held the line on the reconciliation package, and Senator Wyden is developing options to ensure the package is financed equitably.

The bill’s programs are investments in children, education, climate change responses, affordable housing, racial equity, and more.

Opponents misleadingly argue that the price tag for this bill is “fiscal insanity.” Factoring in revenues from tax increases and savings in other areas, the net cost could be $800 billion to $1.75 trillion over ten years.

And those billions will be recycled back into local economies.

Significantly, this bill aids a generation of Americans who have never known a government that cares about us and our priorities. The leaders they’ve experienced

sacrificed lives in wars waged with lies;
turned a blind eye to a pharmaceutical industry that killed 500,000 people for profit;
haven’t offered a plausible future unravaged by climate change.

Fundamentally, Build Back Better is an investment in hope for the future and a government that works for everyone. If successful, even $3.5 trillion would be a bargain.

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].

I support the Progressives like you and want the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better package kept intact, not whittled down. Unless we can prove that government makes the lives of ordinary people better, they will run away from democracy and to the strongman who falsely claims he has the answers.

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 support the Progressives like yourself and want the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better reconciliation package kept intact, and not whittled down. Unless we can prove that government makes the lives of ordinary people better, they will turn their backs on democracy and run to the strongman who falsely claims he has the answers. I’d also like to see a carbon tax which is the fastest way to reduce greenhouse gases.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

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

Voting against the reconciliation bill will withhold support from millions of Americans. The “fiscally insane” argument is a sham. Save lives and the planet. Support reconciliation.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Look up your rep.

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 so much for holding the line on the Build Back Better bill. I’m proud you are my representative. Now we must fight to ensure that it is not reduced during negotiations. People need $3.5 trillion and more.

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].

Voting against the reconciliation bill will withhold support from millions of Americans. The “fiscally insane” argument is a sham. Save lives and the planet. Support reconciliation.

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].

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].

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].

You’ve made it clear that you will fight for the profits of pharmaceutical companies, some of which have knowingly killed 500,000 Americans for profit. You are a corporate Democrat. Next November, we will fight to replace you with a representative who will care about his constituents’ needs and work to benefit ordinary Americans.