How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts. CONGRESSMAN DAVID CICILLINE.

Dear David, 

Republicans just pulled off one of the biggest cons in the history of American politics. Their job-killing tax bill gives companies even more incentive to ship American jobs overseas. It lays the groundwork for devastating cuts to Medicare and Social Security. It robs working people in order to give even more money to the biggest multi-national corporations and the wealthiest Americans. And it will burden the next generation with more than $1 trillion in debt. 

The American people are going to see through this scam. Rhode Island families deserve real tax reform that permanently cuts taxes on middle class families, ends tax breaks that incentivize shipping American jobs overseas, and promotes the creation of good-paying jobs. 



How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts 

With a little help from Dr. Seuss, earlier this week I shared the story of How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts on the House floor. Unfortunately, unlike the Grinch, Republicans never found their heart and passed a massive tax bill that jeopardizes the future of Medicare, Medicaid and other critical investments in our communities. Republicans may be celebrating this tax scam, but the reality is the American people overwhelmingly oppose this giveaway to billionaires and the biggest corporations. A video of my remarks can be viewed by clicking here . 

Children’s Health Insurance 

More than 36,000 Rhode Island children and pregnant women rely on the Children’s Health Insurance Program to access high-quality affordable health care. Nationally, nine million children receive health care coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. But due to Republicans’ failure to enact a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization of the program, states are running out of money right now and putting the health of millions of children at risk. 

Along with my Democratic colleagues in the House, I'll continue to fight for a full reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program. I was proud to stand with my colleagues - Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse and Congressman Langevin - at Meeting Street School last week to demand an immediate vote on reauthorizing this critical investment. 

There is no more important responsibility that we have than to protect the health and well-being of America's children. Access to affordable health care is critical if children are to thrive and succeed academically and, ultimately, join the workforce as productive adults. 

Government Funding 

Yesterday, Republicans passed a short-term spending bill that failed to address any of the urgent needs facing working people. Their bill failed to include a long-term, bipartisan extension of children’s health insurance and makes harmful cuts to critical preventative health care for kids. It failed to ensure that veterans can get the care they need through the VA. Their bill abandons millions of American families who are struggling as a result of the ongoing opiate epidemic.

Republicans sent the American people a clear message this week: If you're wealthy and well-off, they have your back. But if you’re a working person, you’re on your own.

It doesn't have to be that way. Along with my Democratic colleagues, I'm going to keep fighting on behalf of America's working people. 
                                
Warm Regards,
 
David Cicilline
Member of Congress                                 

What did you think of my vote last night? U.S. SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY.

David -

Last night, I voted against something called a "Continuing Resolution" (CR) -- a short term spending bill to fund the government. I want to tell you why, and then ask if you agree with my decision.

Normally I vote for these CRs, but I had to make a different choice last night. I just could not, in good conscience, vote to send Congress home for vacation while leaving so many Dreamers and families who rely on the Children's Health Insurance Program filled with anxiety about their futures over the holiday.

Here's the truth: Republicans in Congress have known about this deadline for months, but they were too busy working toward passing a disastrous tax bill for the ultra-rich and powerful to spend any serious time preparing to take care of the other 99 percent. 

So, that's why I voted no. What do you think about my choice?

I also want to be upfront with you about future votes. I will not vote for any long-term deal that betrays Connecticut's values and ignores our priorities. I will never stop fighting for these Dreamers and for families who need our help.

Thanks for letting me know how you feel about my vote.

Chris Murphy.

NORMALLY, SENATOR, I WOULD NOT COMMENT.  HOWEVER, I WILL MAKE AN EXCEPTION IN THIS CASE: 

YOUR DECISION EXEMPLIFIES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ACTING LIKE A SELF-INTERESTED POLITICIAN, AND MAKING A DECISION AS A SELFLESS PUBLIC SERVANT, WHO WORKS FOR THE INTERESTS OF ALL,

DAVID.

Dreamers deserve better. U.S. SENATOR COREY BOOKER.

David, Despite publicly saying they want to protect “Dreamers,” Republican leaders are ready to end the year without fixing the mess that President Trump created when he unilaterally repealed President Obama’s DACA program. Republicans are content to go home and enjoy the holiday with their families, while their inaction will mean 800,000 young people, who are American in every way except they lacked proper documentation when they were brought to the US as kids, will spend their holidays in fear. Join me in demanding that GOP leadership act NOW to permanently protect Dreamers from deportation. It’s unconscionable that we would let 800,000 young people live each day wondering if they will be forced from their homes, their jobs, and the lives they’ve built here in the United States and be sent to a country they don’t know. That’s why nearly 80% of Americans agree that protecting the legal status of Dreamers is the right thing to do. But, still, Republicans refuse to act. Tell GOP leadership that the price of inaction is too high. We MUST act before the end of the year to protect Dreamers from deportation. Thank you for your support, Cory.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD, MASS, Inc. 2017, Looking Back.

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, Inc.

SEARCHINGFORREASON.NET, Let’s be honest: 2017 has been an incredibly challenging year. At this time last year, we were feeling great uncertainty for Planned Parenthood. But here we are, one year later, and I couldn’t be prouder of what the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts has accomplished in partnership with you. In 2017, not only did we resist, but we actually made significant progress in Massachusetts. Click here to read about the five ways we resisted the Trump administration in 2017 here in Massachusetts. We advocated for state policies to protect access to care – and ultimately state lawmakers passed the Contraceptive ACCESS law, safeguarding affordable birth control for 1.4 million women across the state. We helped elect local champions, including a record-breaking number of women of color to the Boston City Council. Time and time again, we rallied, marched, and organized to protect Planned Parenthood patients from “defunding” efforts and to show solidarity with our allies leading the fights for racial justice, LGBTQ equality, and immigrant rights.  This year reminded us, that in the grand scheme of our movement, we must always play the long game. We must always push forward at every level of government, with every tool at our disposal, to protect and expand the health and rights of everyone. We refuse to let our state – and our country – go backwards. We made real progress in Massachusetts. Take a few minutes to read about what we were able to accomplish. Thank you for being a part of this movement – and thank you for standing with us in the fights ahead.   Sincerely, Jennifer Childs-Roshak, MD, MBA President Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts @DrJenCR P.S. SEARCHINGFORREASON.NET, will you help us spread the word? Share these achievements on Facebook as a reminder—we’ve accomplished so much, and we will continue to rely on your support in 2018.