IS NERO FIDDLING WHILE MAGA REPUBLICANS SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT? 

Daily Action
Written By Barbara Isaacman

QUICK READ:   MAGA Republicans are still threatening to shut down the government unless they get the deep spending cuts they sought during the debt-ceiling standoff. But now, they’re also seeking passage of a wish list of hot-button positions and put more energy into kowtowing to Trump’s demand that Biden be investigated than in actually governing. As all this clearly demonstrates, MAGA Republicans want chaos, while Democrats want to pass legislation that protects working Americans. 


CONTENTS:

BACKGROUND

When Republicans released the debt ceiling hostage in June, they agreed to basic spending levels designed to keep the government operating in 2023 and 2024. In return, to prevent default, Biden accepted some cuts and concessions to programs important to Democrats.

Nevertheless, we face the devastating consequences of a government shutdown in just 11 days unless Congress passes either the 12 budget bills or a short-term continuing resolution.

The Senate’s proposed bills follow the Biden-McCarthy agreement. By contrast, MAGA House Republicans’ bills contain the same previously sought deep cuts to programs essential to working Americans, like nutrition assistance, childcare, education, clean water, and climate funding, and a wish list of unpopular hot-button positions that neither House Democrats nor the Senate will accept—including an unsupported House impeachment inquiry. 

Since these bills are dead on arrival in the Senate, Congressional leaders are now focusing on a continuing resolution. Here, too, however, the House MAGA faction’s demands are completely unreasonable—defunding Ukraine and “woke” Biden policies, hardline immigration restrictions, decreased spending for all but defense, veterans, and Homeland Security, no money for disaster relief.

Our MoCs must work to keep the government open and protect us from the MAGA crazies’ attempts to shut it down. 

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 am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

*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 am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

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 calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open by: (1) Standing firm against the House's unpopular demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that that conforms to the Biden-McCarthy agreement which the Senate overwhelmingly approved, and (3) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial and a diversion from Congress' important work.

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 am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

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].

That your party appears more interested in an evidence-less impeachment inquiry than in keeping the government running suggests only that you can't govern. It's time to stop these foolish antics and attempts to cut programs your constituents love and need. Instead, you should devote your energy to passing a budget that benefits the people who sent you to Washington. Otherwise, you'll all be voted out.

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 am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

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].

I am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

Script for Lori Chavez-DeRemer (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].

That your party appears more interested in an evidence-less impeachment inquiry than in keeping the government running suggests only that you can't govern. It's time to stop these foolish antics and attempts to cut programs your constituents love and need. Instead, you should devote your energy to passing a budget that benefits the people who sent you to Washington. Otherwise, you'll all be voted out.

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].

I am calling on you to do everything in your power to keep the government open and to protect us from the chaos of these MAGA crazies by: (1) Standing firm against their demands, (2) Continuing to push for a budget that funds programs we care about, like climate funding, SNAP, WIC, Head Start, and public education, (3) Driving home that only Democrats know how to govern and will make our government work for all Americans, and (4) Exposing the impeachment inquiry for what it is—another extension of election denial to prevent Biden from governing as he was elected to do.

FURTHER READING

Barbara Isaacman
Previous

UKRAINE NEEDS U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE NOW
Next

IS A CLIMATE EMERGENCY IMMINENT?