Today, a coalition of community, faith, labor, and advocacy organizations held a press conference to uplift The People’s Agenda and hold elected officials accountable for their votes in support of President Trump’s agenda and H.R. 1, the GOP Tax Scam, which makes historic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP to fund tax breaks for the rich.
The event took place before President Trump’s expected appearance at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and moments before Representatives Nunn, Miller-Meeks, Feenstra and Hinson supported and passed the GOP Tax Scam that would put over a hundred thousand Iowans at risk of losing their healthcare. Advocating against the bill for months and asking their legislators to vote ‘no,’ approximately 60 Iowans showed up, in the heat, to hear from the speakers.
SPEAKER REMARKS
Connie Ryan, the executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, called the GOP Tax Scam egregiously unsympathetic, callous and greedy.
“Sometimes at rallies, the crowd chants, ‘This is what democracy looks like’,” Ryan said. “Well, let’s be clear. This is not what democracy looks like. With this bill, the President who cares more about the wealthy than the least of these, and our elected officials who cater to his every desire, are strengthening his power and privilege as we come ever closer to an authoritarian theocracy.”
Mazie Stilwell, executive director of Progress Iowa spoke about the irony of this legislation moving so close to Independence day.
“We value freedom, liberty, and independence,” Stilwell said. “Freedom is not taking away healthcare for over 100,000 Iowans. Liberty is not taking food away from hardworking families. Independence certainly is not bankrolling billionaires. All of this to fund the largest transfer of wealth that this country has ever seen from those who have the least to billionaires and corporations.”
Gabriela Fuentes, advocacy manager for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, said that the GOP reconciliation package is undoing generations of progress made in our nation’s history.
“Republicans are attempting to defund Planned Parenthood by blocking patients who use Medicaid from going to these clinics,” Fuentes said. “Health care should not be a privilege reserved for those with the money and the means to access it. This will decimate Iowa’s already failing system for reproductive care.”
Matt Russell, the interim executive director of Iowa Farmers Union called attention to the fact that all of Iowa’s congressional delegation already know that this bill is bad for Iowans.
“The Budget Reconciliation Bill that Republicans in the House are trying to pass today has to be one of the worst pieces of legislation ever for rural America,” Russell said. “SNAP is a lifeline for rural Iowans and rural grocery stores. This bill doesn’t work for Iowa farmers and rural communities. Any benefits are far overshadowed by the cuts and costs that are going to devastate rural America.”
Marie Herring, the co-chair of Indivisible 515, said that budgets are moral documents that reveal our priorities and our values.
“This current budget bill doesn’t reflect the values of the people I know,” Herring said. “This Republican budget bill gives massive tax cuts to billionaires. How? By taking healthcare away from over 100,000 Iowans, by taking away SNAP and other programs that support working people, hungry kids, veterans, the disabled and elderly.”
Charlie Wishman, the president of the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, said that there is a lot to be upset about within the GOP Tax Scam.
“At some point, we’ve got to say no more,” Wishman said. “Calling, writing, and showing up to speak out and it is not futile, at all, it makes a difference. Just yesterday in Burlington, Iowa, union nurses fought back and won against a big money attempt to get rid of their union. They didn’t just win, they won by a lot. They’re proof that together we are powerful. Those nurses showed the hospital how strong and powerful they are. When they go into bargaining, those nurses who stood together have the power. Because when we fight, we win.”
Iowa State Representative Rob Johnson emphasized that this budget bill is not good for everyday Iowans.
“The people here today are not asking you to take a side, they are asking you to take a stand,” Johnson said. “It’s not about red or blue or political ideology, this is about protecting people. No child should go hungry in the richest country in the world, something is wrong when we let people take food away from babies and healthcare away from seniors. SNAP and Medicaid are lifelines for our most vulnerable.”
The event ended with calls to stay engaged, stay informed and continue to work together.
The event was moderated by former House Representative Ako Abdul-Samad, and sponsored by: Progress Iowa, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, Indivisible 515, IFL-CIO, One Iowa, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, Iowa Migrant, Movement for Justice, Indivisible Iowa, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Fairness for Iowa, and Protect our Care Iowa