ACTION: STOP TRUMP TAX SCAM TO SAVE DOMESTIC PROGRAMS

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Thursday, December 7, 2017
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STOP TRUMP TAX SCAM TO SAVE DOMESTIC PROGRAMS
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#TrumpTaxScam

Senate and House conferees are negotiating a tax code overhaul that would add $1.5 trillion to deficit. Passage before year’s end would force $136 billion in automatic spending cuts due to “PAYGO” rules. This would devastate healthcare, strip $25 billion from Medicare, and eliminate domestic programs. However, Congress could waive PAYGO rules in a continuing resolution to keep government operating past tomorrow.

Democrats have real leverage in this negotiation. Sixty votes are needed to waive PAYGO rules and pass a Continuing Resolution. This means wooing at least 8 Democrats. 

Susan Collins claims she voted for tax bill because McConnell promised Congress would waive PAYGO cuts, probably in the end-of-the-year government funding package—an empty promise at best. 

Members of Congress (MoC) who oppose this extremely unpopular tax bill must promise NOT to bail out those who do. Further, if our MoCs vote to waive PAYGO, the tax deficit would greatly increase national debt – giving conservative MoCs ammunition to demand reforms of programs like Medicare. 

We must stand up for our safety net in the long run by rejecting a PAYGO waiver in the continuing budget resolution. If the GOP-led Congress can’t pass a continuing resolution, they will be responsible for possible government shutdown and destruction of domestic programs. 

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**ACTION 1: CALL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE**
(Leave a message if you can’t get through.)

SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I’m asking the [Senator / Representative] to keep the PAYGO waiver OUT of the Continuing Resolution. Although I support spending programs, those who vote for this unpopular, destructive tax bill must be held accountable – this bill would hurt America even more than PAYGO cuts. Thank you.”

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**ACTION 2: SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY**
Share this post with friends and family. Help them educate their Members of Congress about the devastating implications of the PAYGO Statute and why they should vote against waiver. 

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**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY 
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN 
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010

CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400

CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300

CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609

CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324