On March 11th, President Trump released his FY 2020 budget proposal. It slashes funding for health services and human needs, cuts funding for mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, expands pentagon spending and makes permanent $1.1 trillion in tax cuts for the wealthy approved in November 2017. Congress, not President Trump, ultimately decides federal spending priorities. However, reviewing the Trump budget proposals gives us an important glimpse at his budget priorities.
On a regular basis, we need to let our members of Congress know how we think about our country’s spending priorities. Remember to speak with your members of Congress this week and during the April 15 – 26th recess.
Decisions will be made first through Congress’ appropriations committees. Michigan does not have representation on the Senate Appropriations Committee, however, it has two members on the House Appropriations Committee. Review this action alert and express your views to these two key members of Congress:
Rep. Brenda Lawrence: (D-Southfield) 1-202-225-5802 & Rep. John Moolenar (R-Midland): 1-202-225-3561
Also Call Senator Debbie Stabenow: 1-202-224-4822 and Senator Gary Peters: 1-202-224-6221 & Your U.S. Representative: 1- 202-224-3121
(Capitol Switchboard)
TELL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS: Oppose These Cuts:
MANDATORY PROGRAM CUTS (over 10 years): Medicaid: $ 1.4 trillion; (health care for low income persons)Medicare: $845 billion; (health care for elderly & persons with disabilities)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): $220 billion; (food for poor)Supplemental Security Income (SSI): $70 billion; (for low income persons)Social Security: $25 billion; Temporary Assistance to Needy Families – $21 billion. (for low income families)
(Sources: Congressional Budget Office, Coalition on Human Needs, Vox, 3/12/19)
DOMESTIC PROGRAM CUTS (over 10 years):Environmental Protection Agency: 31%;Department of Transportation: 19%;Department of Housing & Urban Development: 18%;Department of Agriculture: 13%;Department of Health & Human Services: 12%;Department of Education: 12%.Department of Labor: 10%.Department of Homeland Security – a 15% INCREASE. (This includes an additional $8.6 billion for building a border wall and $2.7 billion to continue jailing immigrant families and children.)
(Source: Congressional Budget Office, Office of Management and Budget 2020 Request)
These cuts include: elimination of loan forgiveness programs and subsidized loans for low-income students; elimination of home heating and cooling programs for low income families; and food packages for low income senior citizens.
Trump’s 2020 Pentagon Budget:The Trump Administration proposed $750 billion for its FY 2020 “Defense” budget. This budget is $20 billion more than defense officials requested and was above the $746 billion figure that Trump himself called “crazy” as recently as of last December. Most disturbing is the proposed $170 billion “Overseas Contingency Operations” fund that, according to former OMB Director, Mick Mulvaney, has been used as “slush fund” used to avoid budget caps. This fund was dramatically increased more than 150% from last year’s appropriation of $67.9 billion!
A coalition of 17 organizations, from across the idealogical spectrum, this month sent a letter to Congress (click HERE for a copy) urging our elected officials to set defense spending at or below $576 billion, the amount Congress agreed in the Bi-partisan Budget Act of 2018 should be the cap for pentagon spending for FY 2020. This coalition further agreed that Congress should put an end to OCO slush fund.
Tell Your Members of Congress: Keep the 2020 pentagon budget at or below $576 billion agreed by Congress; ELIMINATE the Overseas Contingency Operations slush fund. It will just lead to more waste, fraud and wars!
TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS MUUSJN strongly opposed the Trump administration $2 trillion tax giveaway over 10 years that was adopted on a partisan basis in December 2017. These tax cuts mostly went to the wealthy and corporations. Trump claimed that these tax cuts would result in mind-blowing economic growth. Tragically, the most mind blowing results of these tax cuts has been President Trump’s proposed massive cuts in mandatory programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. These proposals all violate his campaign promises to the American people. Some say that the Trump budget is dead on arrival. However, it is important that our members of Congress hear how we think our tax dollars should be spent.
For more background on the proposed Trump 2020 budget, click HERE.
On February 15th, President Donald Trump declared a “national emergency” to allow himself to grab billions of dollars already appropriated by Congress to build his unpopular wall between the U.S. and Mexico. More than two-thirds of Americans don’t think the wall should be a priority. On February 26th the House passed a joint resolution to terminate the national emergency by a vote of 245 to 182. On March 14th, the Senate also passed it (59- 41) with 12 Republicans voting with Democrats. Trump vetoed this resolution on March 15th.
The House is scheduled to hold a veto override vote on Tuesday March 26th; a two thirds majority is needed for it to pass. While courts will likely determine the ultimate decision about checking President Trump’s power grab, how much Congress resists can play a part in restoring democracy.
Michigan United has gotten confirmation from at least 26 lawmakers who have agreed to talk with you about issues such as: the environment, helping people integrate after they’ve been released from prison and treatment of immigrants. Transportation being provided from Detroit, Flint, Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is offering a webinar with information on “Expanded Sanctuary & Solidarity with Asylum Seekers”. Expanded sanctuary can involve sponsorship and accompaniment.
Register HERE The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor has taken steps to offer on-site residency for an asylum seeker. For more information, click HERE.
We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Muslim faith. At least 50 people were killed and 50 wounded in a hate-filled terror attack targeting two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch. We recall that a year ago 11 people were massacred at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. In both cases, violence was committed against people while in their places of worship. Unitarian Universalists believe we are called to affirm the worth of every human being. We must understand how prejudice can lead to violence. We must take next steps to collaborate with other people of faith to create change.
You are invited to stand in solidarity with your Muslim neighbors by participating in a vigil at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 17th at the Muslim Unity Center located at 1830 W. Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills.
You are also invited to participate in a special dinner on Thursday, April 11th from 6-8 p.m. at the Muslim Unity Center. The cost of the dinner is $20. Register HERE. The dinner is part of a “Faith Over Fear” conference being held at the Center on April 11th and 12th.
The purpose of the conference: explore ways to dismantle anti-Muslim bias and Islamophobia. Leadership from the Unitarian Universalist Association urged MUUSJN to let people in Michigan know about this conference. Not able to attend this conference? Get more information and action ideas by going to: http://www.takeonhate.org/
Meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 510 W. Ottawa Street, Lansing for introduction to new water justice bills, press conference, visit legislators. Click HERE for flyer.
World Water Day Celebration: Friday, March 22nd, 4 – 9 p.m. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
For more information and to register for events go to: www.miworldwaterday.org
What is valuable in the Catholic tradition? What needs to be reformed?Saturday, April 13th, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Christ Church, Cranbrook, 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills
This FREE conference, co-sponsored by Inclusive Justice, MUUSJN and many others, includes lunch and workshops for current and ex-Catholics. Opportunity to speak with a courageous Catholic spiritual leader on Friday, 7- 9 p.m. in Guild Hall of Christ Church Cranbrook. Click HERE for more information and to register. MUUSJN is pleased to have helped plan these two events.
According to the United Nations, a Saudi led coalition’s bombardment and blockade of food is the leading cause of civilian casualties. It’s a proxy war in Yemen with Sunni Saudi Arabia opposing Shiite Houthie rebels supported by Iran. Half the country’s population is on the brink of starvation. For an update on the cruel war in Yemen, click https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1032811
The U.S. has a vast amount of leverage to stop the killing, starting by cutting off military support for this unconscionable war.
In addition to supporting the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis, the Trump administration involvement in the Yemen war violates the War Powers Act. Congress has never authorized use of U.S. military force in Yemen, making this war unconstitutional. It appears the Trump administration values arms sales to the Saudi’s more than it values human life. Human life must come before profit.
The Resolution, which already was passed in the House, has bi-partisan support — but it could be a close vote.
CALL YOUR SENATORS — Tell Them: The Saudi led war in Yemen is making worse the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis with 22 million people in need of assistance; Congress has the power to end the illegal U.S. involvement in this civil war by enforcing the War Powers Act; Please vote for S. J. Resolution 7 to end U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen.
On Friday, February 21st, the Trump Administration issued a rule through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that cuts off Title X family planning funds to organizations that provide abortions or tell women where they could get one. The rule prohibits federally funded family planning clinics from being housed in the same locations as abortion providers and would require stricter financial separation. This rule could strip millions of dollars from Planned Parenthood and direct it toward religiously based, anti-abortion groups. The new rule removes a requirement that programs counsel women on “all reproductive options”, a change that could make anti-abortion providers eligible to get Title X funds. These religious groups are more likely to emphasize abstinence and discourage use of birth control. Planned Parenthood serves 41% of the 4 million people who benefit annually from the $286 million Title X family planning fund. As a progressive faith group, MUUSJN strongly opposes this gag rule. Women should be able get reproductive care they need without religious right dogma. WHAT OTHER GROUPS THINK 1. More than 500,000 Americans voiced their opposition to the new rule by submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;2. The American Medical Association, National Medical Association (African-American physicians), National Hispanic Medical Association, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, & American College of Physicians oppose this rule; 3. More than 200 members of Congress and 100 public health organizations have come out in opposition to the gag rule; and 4. Dr. Leana Wen, Planned Parenthood President, said “the gag rule is unconscionable and unethical. This rule compromises the oath I took to serve patients and help them make the best decision for their own health”.
This rule could put access to free or low cost basic health care, such as birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer screenings, out of reach for some under-served populations, including rural communities and people of color. Planned Parenthood provides care on a no or low cost basis for low income people. Several medical organizations predicted that the new rule would would ultimately leave large numbers of patients, especially low-income and minority women, without access to basic care.
The new rule is “almost certain to be challenged in federal court” according to an article in the February 22nd New York Times. Click HERE to read more. The AMA and 15 governor’s have threatened to take this rule to court to block it from taking effect. Most of the changes required by the new regulations will be phased in within 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Clinics will have 120 days to comply with the requirement that family planning and abortion services are kept financially separate and a year to comply with the physical separation requirement. Justice will be served if the gag rule is blocked!
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On February 4th, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2019-2 that would restructure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), renaming it the “Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy”. The newly organized Department would include new offices of Climate and Energy, Clean Water Public Advocate and Environmental Justice Advocate.
The part of the Order that reportedly most concerned conservatives was the abolition of industry dominated panels created last year by legislation (opposed by MUUSJN) that could make decisions on permits and rules. The panels, which have the power to overrule decisions by the Department Director, were described by environmental activists as “polluter panels”.
On February 6th, the Michigan House (on a party-line vote) passed HCR 1 that would reject the Governor’s order. Reportedly, their main concern about Executive Order 2019-2 was that it eliminated industry dominated regulatory panels, the classic “Fox Guarding the Hen House”.
MUUSJN joined the League of Conservation Voters and other environmental groups to urge its statewide justice leaders to make phone calls to Michigan Senators to oppose the rollback of Gov. Whitmer’s proposed reforms.
HCR 1 is now in the Government Oversight Committee where there was robust discussion about this attempt to undermine environmental reform. A vote on HCR-1 was postponed until next Wednesday, February 13th. A staff from the League of Conservation Voters indicated that this delay was due the pressure of phone calls, emails and media coverage. Our phone calls are making a difference! But we need to continue to make more phone calls!
If you’d like to quickly send a message to your State Senator, click HERE.
(This is an electronic service provided by the League of Conservation Voters.)
President Donald Trump is doubling down on his demand for a $5.7 billion barrier between the U.S. and Mexico. He’s willing to shut down our government a second time to fulfill his campaign promise to build a wall on our southern border. More than two-thirds of Americans don’t think the wall should be a priority, according to a poll by NPR, PBS News Hour and Marist. Trump seems to be quite willing to declare a fake “National Disaster” to get what he wants. He would shake the foundations of our democracy. We must fight back!
A team of 17 members of Congress (click HERE for list) has begun negotiating for a budget settlement. However, President Trump has expressed doubt this Congressional group would secure adequate funding for his border wall. In this case, he has sworn to declare a “National Emergency” (provided for in the Constitution for a genuine national emergency) allowing the president to have powers to override Congress to allocate funding for his wall from another part of government. (Examples: Reallocate disaster funds for Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, California for the wall.) Click HERE to read a disturbing essay from the Brennan Center for Justice on what a President can do if he declares a “National Emergency”. This dangerous precedent would surely be challenged in courts. Even Senator Mitch McConnell opposes taking this reckless step.
Call Senator Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822 and Senator Gary Peters (202) 224-6221 & at least one member of the Budget Committee (202) 224-3121 (Congressional Switchboard)
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Alabama); Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV); Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND); Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO); Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT); Sen. Dick Durban (D-Ill); and Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana).
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY); Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA); Rep. David Price (D-NC); Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA); Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX); Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA); Rep. Kaye Granger (R-TX); Rep. Chuck Fleischman (R-TN); Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA); Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-Mississippi).
I’m proud to say that our Justice Network was part of a massive effort to tell members of Congress that:
On Friday, January 25th, Congress and President Trump finally got the message. We bombarded Senator Mitch McConnell’s office with demands for a vote on a clean bill without anti-immigrant provisions. We urged our own Senators to put pressure on McConnell. I suspect that when elected officials and their wealthy benefactors experienced delays in flying due to east coast air traffic controllers not showing up for work that too may have had an affect. The government shutdown became intolerable.
The House and the Senate quickly adopted the House’s continuing resolution (HJ Resolution 28) that would keep the government open until February 15th while a team of eight members of Congress were charged with negotiating an agreement on border security as part of a new spending bill for the Homeland Security Department. Click HERE for information about the branches of the federal government that have been shut down and now are re-opening until February 15th.
However, this right wing induced budget crisis isn’t over. President Trump has threatened that if the negotiators don’t secure funds for his wall by the new deadline, he would be forced to shut down the government again or to declare a national “emergency” to attempt to grant the President power to reallocate funding for his wall from other sources. Disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California have been mentioned. It would be a dangerous precedent that would surely be challenged in courts. It would be outrageously immoral.
