Report from Volunteer Engagement Coordinator Cecilia Garcia-Linz cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org
Last week House Republicans voted to advance the massive budget reconciliation package that would endanger our clean air and water, fast-track reckless oil and gas leasing and development, and raise costs on working families, all to give more tax cuts and handouts to billionaires and corporate polluters. The bill passed by a single vote, 215-214, and now heads to the Senate where it faces an uncertain fate.
Michigan Chapter members and supporters were heading to Medicaid Day of Action rallies across the state when we heard the news. Our plan to urge Congressman Tom Barrett and Congressman John James to vote no on this disastrous legislation shifted to expressing collective outrage at this egregious harm.
While addressing the crowd, Michigan Democratic Senior Caucus President Linda Michaels Gruber stated “[We], like other Michiganders, are not in the top 1%. Our taxes will go up while the top 1% get a high tax break. To pay for their tax breaks, we will have monumental cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. It is pure Greed Over People-GOP! And Tom Barrett has voted with them. He is not advocating for the people of Michigan.”
Speakers elevated how these life threatening cuts will impact the most vulnerable and protestors shared personal impact stories. Once again, constituents were unable to speak to the representatives or their staff. Instead, scrolls containing those stories were slid under or taped to the office doors. Watch the video here.
Participants then marched to Elissa Slotkin's office to hold her accountable for being the only Democrat to vote yes on the Congressional Review Act, rolling back environmental protections under the Clean Air Act and doing away with Michigan’s rights and abilities to set our own standards for cars and trucks and protect communities from dangerous air pollution.