AFSCME/UDW Legislation Fact Sheet

Save America's Priorities
No More Tax Breaks for Millionaires

AFSCME LAUNCHES THE EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN FOR
AMERICA ’S PRIORITIES (ECAP)

Background

Congress is getting ready to approve a series of deep spending cuts in vital public services that fund our members’ jobs and provide support to millions of Americans, while at the same time continuing to push ahead with even more tax breaks for the wealthy. We know that cutting public programs will hurt home care workers.AFSCME is launching an emergency campaign to fight these budget and tax cuts.

Summary of Legislation

On Thursday, October 20th the House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether to increase the size of the budget cuts for new tax breaks for the wealthy. Congress has already called for $35 billion in proposed cuts to vital programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Housing and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Now they want to increase the size of the cuts to a minimum of $50 billion to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief. This is absurd, especially when the Republican leadership is pushing another $70 billion in new tax breaks for the wealthy, a plan a majority of Americans believe we cannot afford, and one that will affect home care workers negatively.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You can do something about this by calling upon Congress to oppose the budget cuts and new tax breaks for the wealthy. Call your House members now! Tell them to oppose budget and tax cuts. Urge them not to increase the budget cuts to $50 billion.

To find names and contact information for all your elected officials, including the president, members of Congress, governors, state legislators, and more, click the link below then scroll to bottom of page where it says "Look up Elected Officials" and enter your zip code: AFSCME's legislator search

The above page also has a "Congressional Scorecard" feature for looking up your elected representatives record on important issues, and "View Candidates for Office" so that you can research candidates before you vote.

The Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities (ECAP) will spearhead a number of grassroots activities including the first ever Virtual Online Protest, where thousands of constituents from across the country are logging on to demand a federal budget that puts working families first.

AFSCME Legislation Department