AMERICANS NEED ECONOMIC RELIEF NOW
While Congress and the President cannot eliminate inflation, taking steps to soften the blow for American working families shows they care about us and is the only way to retain control of Congress.
QUICK READ: Some in Congress still hope portions of Biden’s domestic agenda, like the Child Tax Credit, student debt cancellation, childcare and universal pre-K, can be passed through reconciliation, but time is running out. In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help, and so do the Dems heading into the midterms. If Congress cannot quickly provide this relief, Biden must do so through executive action.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Americans voted for Democrats because they promised to make our democracy and economy work better for everyone.
The pandemic relief they enacted generated the strongest economic recovery in history, blunting inflation’s effects, but GOP obstruction and the 50-50 Senate prevented Dems from delivering on all their promises.
With the midterms approaching, and inflation—a complex, worldwide problem—eating into family incomes, Democrats must quickly convince voters they feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments, like lowering childcare, housing, energy, and prescription drug costs and forgiving student loans. While legislation’s better and more likely to survive court challenges, executive action is also effective.
Reconciliation is only available until September 30, the fiscal year’s end, but if Dems cannot agree on a package putting more money in American families’ hands by the end of May, when Congress takes its next recess, Biden must be ready to do so by executive action.
Unless Dems improve their margins in the House and Senate, our dream of making America work for us all—which propelled Dems to victory in 2020—will be lost.
Voters need a reason to give Dems more time. Biden and Congressional Democrats must start working immediately.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Inflation is eating into your constituents’ incomes, and they need your help. It is time for you to stop whining about inflation and to join with Democrats to relieve your constituents’ suffering.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
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].
Inflation is eating into your constituents’ incomes, and they need your help. It is time for you to stop whining about inflation and to join with Democrats to relieve your constituents’ suffering.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
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].
In this period of soaring inflation, struggling Americans need help and so do Democrats heading into the midterms. This is your last chance to convince voters that Dems feel their pain and are trying to soften inflation’s impact with safety-net investments. Congressional Dems must either agree on a package by the end of May to put money into American families’ hands or convince Biden to do so by executive action. Voters need a reason to give Dems more time to carry out their promises and more Democratic lawmakers to ensure that happens.
ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Find out more about Indivisible Oregon here.
TUESDAY 11:30am-12:30pm LETTER WRITING PARTY - INDIVISIBLE OREGON:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/442887/Fridays at 4 - Letter and Postcard Writing — Indivisible Oregon.
Learn about persuasive language and communication research at the Zoom ASO Movement Briefings every second Wednesday.
Join the campaign to hold the House and Senate at GiveNoGround.org
Work to protect democracy in the House by replacing retiring US Representative Peter DeFazio with another Democrat, replacing Democrat Kurt Schrader, the “Manchin of the House,” with a progressive, and electing a Democrat in Oregon’s new Congressional District 6.
Demand that your primary news source stop creating false equivalencies and just report the truth.
Check out the Poor People's Campaign Readies 'Massive, Nonviolent' Effort to Save Democracy
Outside of Portland? Check out COIN Oregon.
Rally inconsisent Democratic voters to vote in 2022 with Progressive Turnout Project | Feb, 2022 | Medium
FURTHER READING:
Elizabeth Warren: Democrats Can Avoid Disaster in November
Will rising prices sink Biden’s midterm hopes for Democrats?
Putting Biden’s Polling in Proper Context
How Should Democrats Respond to Rising Inflation and High Gas Prices?
Democrats divided over how to deal with rising inflation
What happened to Build Back Better?
Democrats Entering Crucial Period to Pass Reconciliation Bill Replacement for BBBA
Worried time is running out, Democrats hope to rein in prescription drug cost
GOP Makes “Price Gouge Diabetics on Insulin” Part of its Official Party Platform
The uphill battle to resurrect the US child tax credit that lifted millions from poverty
The Expanded Child Tax Credit Could Have Helped Protect Families Against Inflation
2022 Child Tax Credit: How Expansion Could Eliminate Poverty for Millions
The Political Case for Canceling Student Debt
‘Keep Fighting’: Schumer ‘Making Progress’ on Canceling Student Debt
Progressives Lay Out Plan to Save the Democratic Party From Itself
