Build Back Slimmer Better Late Than Never
Democrats preparing deliverables by resurrecting parts of Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.
QUICK READ: Amid uncertainty, vast uncertainty, Senate Democrats are frantically writing a national budget. It will be an anemic version of Biden’s 2021 Build Back Better wish list. That financial blueprint died when Sen. Manchin walked away from White House negotiations. He is now working with Schumer’s office, but even a “Manchin budget,” if there is one, will face an uncertain future.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Hold everything! Senate Democrats are about to produce a budget that will be approved by the House and signed by President Biden.
Well, that’s the plan.
In an effort to show that Democrats are cohesive enough to pass a budget, leaders of the party, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Sen. Joe Manchin (the person who killed December’s budget proposal), are working on a $1 trillion package.
It includes an agreement to reduce the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices directly. But many thorny issues remain. Climate fighters want hundreds of billions to combat climate change. Manchin also wants deficit-slashing tax increases on the wealthy.
The central reason for the progress, said OR Sen. Ron Wyden, is because “we’re focused on cutting costs and addressing these real pocketbook issues on the minds of Americans.”
To pass, this budget needs 51 votes in the Senate. That’s every single Democrat plus the Vice President.
Currently, Manchin seems to be endorsing the plan. Kyrsten Sinema, the other Democratic senator who killed the budget in December, hasn’t signaled if she supports the plan.
Our Members of Congress must work to pass this budget–which will help ordinary Americans in important ways and improve the prospects of Democratic candidates in the 2022 midterm election.
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 budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
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 budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
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 appalled that you would sacrifice our democracy to march in lockstep with Republicans who hate the system that encourages everyone to vote. I demand that you support the budget bill being written in the Senate.
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].
I support the budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
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].
I am appalled that you would sacrifice our democracy to march in lockstep with Republicans who hate the system that encourages everyone to vote. I demand that you support the budget bill being written in the Senate.
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].
I support the budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
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].
I support the budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
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].
I support the budget bill now being written in the Senate. It’s vital to pass this reconciliation package to show that the federal government, and especially Democrats, can actually improve the lives of all Americans.
ACTION 3: GOOD TROUBLE
GOOD TROUBLE: Below are opportunities to fight for our democracy. As John Lewis said, go make some “good trouble.”
Please watch the Jan. 6 Committee hearings this afternoon which will focus on domestic terrorism. See The GOP's Militia Problem: Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Lessons from Abroad
NEXT TUESDAY LETTER WRITING PARTY, 11:30am-12:30pm - 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.
further reading:
Democrats see hope for spending deal with Manchin as Congress returns - The Washington Post\
Democrats Offer Plan to Cut Drug Costs, Seeking Climate and Tax Deal - The New York Times
Manchin’s moves leave Democrats doubting their agenda will pass | The Hill
Back burner no more: Dems set Manchin talks on party-line bill to simmer - POLITICO
Dems propose raising taxes on high earners to extend Medicare solvency - CBS News
Democrats inch forward on reconciliation package - E&E News
SCOTUS ruling ups pressure on Schumer to strike climate deal with Manchin | The Hill
