Contact your elected reps to oppose cuts to vital programs

This Thursday there's going to be votes held to potentially cut 35 billion from necessary social programs and to implement a $70 billion dollar tax cut to the rich. This is just criminal, especially with all the tragedy affecting so many of us non-rich citizens. (Katrina anyone?!)

From TrueMajority.org:

Hundreds of thousands of Katrina survivors are homeless, jobless, without health
coverage—added to the millions already poor in America.

The right wing's
response? Cut Medicaid, food stamps, housing and other vital services still
deeper.

Hard to believe—but this Thursday the House of Representatives
is expected to vote on increasing the cuts in vital programs (such as Medicaid,
food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), child welfare
services, SSI, unemployment insurance, child support, etc.) from $35 billion to
$50 billion. Forces in the Senate would also like to cut more. 1 In addition,
House right-wing members are calling for across-the-board cuts of all the other
programs—including housing, education, public health, nutrition, child care,
etc.

A coalition of groups is mobilizing a massive outcry against this
inexcusable legislation—a national call-in is scheduled until Thursday's
vote—and TrueMajority members can play a crucial role in this action. 2 Using
the guidelines below, call your congressperson toll-free today and tell him or her to oppose the planned tax cuts and the cuts in spending on essential social services.

Right-wing operative Grover Norquist once infamously said he
wanted to see our government shrink until he could “drown it in a bathtub.” 3
Hurricane Katrina, though, showed us the real consequences of starving our
infrastructure. It's past time to make our country strong again with functional
emergency services, first-rate universities, healthy communities and all the
other things that come from working together in an effective government.

With $35 billion dollars planned to be cut from Medicaid and other
important programs and $70 billion in planned tax cuts for the rich, this
legislation is too important for us to remain silent. Join activists around the
country in this opportunity to tell Congress that a strong domestic
infrastructure is essential for an effective government—one that can meet the
needs of ALL of its citizens.

Thanks for all that you do,

Matt
Holland
TrueMajority Coordinator

[1] The Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities' statement on the challenges facing Congress in the aftermath of
Katrina

[2] The American Friends Service
Committee is sponsoring the toll-free number for the U.S. Capitol
Switchboard. Members of the coalition include USAction and The American Federation of State,
County, and Municipal Employees.

[3] Link to an article
with Norquist’s statement

Here's how to take action, (again from TrueMajority.org).

Call 1-800-426-8073 to be connected toll-free to the U.S. Capitol
Switchboard. Ask to speak to one of the senators from your
state.

When the senator’s phone is answered, say: "My name is
[your name] and I live in [your town/city]. I would like Senator [name] to
oppose the $35 billion or more in cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and other
important programs and to oppose $70 billion in planned tax cuts. Congress
needs to adopt a fair and moral budget that benefits everyone. Thanks.”

If the lines are busy, be patient and try again. Or look up your
senators’ direct office number at http://www.senate.gov

Repeat steps 1-3 to call your state’s second senator.

Repeat steps 1-3 to call your representative in the House of
Representatives.

Give this message: “I urge the Representative to vote NO on
Thursday’s budget resolution that would increase cuts in domestic programs from
$35 billion to $50 billion, and may make other deep cuts as well.”
To find your representative’s name and direct office phone number, visit http://www.house.gov.