Ahead of McCarthy’s 100th Day As Speaker, Advocates Demand MAGA Lawmakers “Back Of Our Benefits” In Default Fight
As McCarthy Heads to Wall Street, Advocates and Constituents to Blast Him in D.C. for Selling Out Families While Protecting Tax Breaks for Wealthy
New Report Details First 100 Days of Extreme MAGA House Majority
Photos, Videos from “Back Off Our Benefits” Bus Tour Available Here
This Sunday marks the 100th day of the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives under Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Ahead of the anniversary, the House Accountability War Room released a new report showing that MAGA lawmakers are playing dangerous political games with people’s lives and livelihoods by pushing the country toward a reckless default crisis, advocating for dangerous policies, and prioritizing baseless political stunts over helping the American people.
On Monday, to mark McCarthy’s 100th day as House Speaker and in response to him heading to Wall Street to discuss the looming default deadline, advocates and his own constituents will be speaking at the U.S. Capitol to call out MAGA politicians for threatening to cut benefits unless their outrageous demands are met.
Here’s what you need to know:
“Back Off Our Benefits” Bus Tour Calls Out MAGA Lawmakers in NY, PA, OH, and WI:
The “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour joined local advocates in several congressional districts this week to urge MAGA lawmakers — many of whom did not respond to invites from their constituents to meet — to sign a pledge to protect the life-saving benefits that they rely on.
In Harrisburg, alongside The 99% Pennsylvania and Keystone Research Center, constituents of Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) including veterans and retirees demanded that he stop playing games with the country’s economy and people’s livelihoods.
Speakers in Albany and Saugerties, NY — including local elected officials and veterans with Common Defense — highlighted how MAGA lawmakers like Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Marc Molinaro (NY-19) are pushing the country towards a default crisis at the expense of American seniors, veterans, and children.
“If Congress defaults on America’s debts, the results will be catastrophic. […] We are asking Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and other House members to pledge to protect our hard-earned benefits and to not default on America’s debt obligations,” said Danielle Hindieh, a Courage for America council member from New York.
On Friday, advocates with Courage for America, Innovation Ohio, and the Ohio Alliance for Retired Americans blasted Congressman Jim Jordan (OH-04) for playing political games that will cost American seniors, veterans, and children.
“We must call out the threat that exists to our social safety nets,” said Hearcel Craig, an Ohio state senator. “Extreme members of our Congress are willing to limit the debt ceiling to ensure those programs are cut. This is unacceptable and would put millions of hard working Ohians into poverty. Our families cannot be pawns in these political games.”
Tomorrow, the bus will join Opportunity Wisconsin and other local advocates for a final stop in La Crosse, WI to demand that Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) stop threatening Wisconsinites’ benefits.
Videos for all events can be found here, high-quality audio is available here, and additional photos here.
While McCarthy Heads to Wall Street, Advocates and Constituents to Blast Him in D.C.
After 20 days on the road and events in 13 congressional districts, advocates and constituents will make their way to Washington, D.C. on Monday to demand House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and MAGA lawmakers stop using the default crisis as an excuse to threaten cuts to life-saving programs like Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, and veterans’ benefits.
While Speaker McCarthy delivers remarks on Wall Street about forcing our nation to default and protecting wealthy billionaires and bankers, Courage for America and some of McCarthy’s own constituents will host a press conference to demand MAGA lawmakers stop playing games with the country’s economy. Afterwards, they will hand-deliver a petition to his office in D.C. that is signed by Americans from across the country calling on him to make a promise to Americans that he will not cut their hard-earned benefits.
You can RSVP for the D.C. press conference on Monday, April 17, at 1:30 PM ET here.
War Room Releases Report on 100 Days of McCarthy’s MAGA House, Highlighting Efforts to Cut Benefits
Ahead of Kevin McCarthy’s 100th day as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Courage for America’s House Accountability War Room released a new report on the first 100 days of MAGA lawmakers controlling the chamber. The report shows that the Republican majority in Congress has been defined by dangerous policies, baseless political stunts, and a reckless forced march towards the brink of a national default.
“Kevin McCarthy’s House of Representatives is the most extreme House of Representatives in generations,” said Zac Petkanas, senior advisor to the House Accountability War Room. “They’ve launched political stunt investigations to undermine President Biden, passed legislation criminalizing abortion providers, and are threatening to force a devastating financial default if their demands to cut benefits like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid aren’t met. Every day, it seems they try to prove just how MAGA they are — and the American people are paying the price.”
The report also includes research spotlights from partner organizations Accountable.US, Media Matters, and Congressional Integrity Project that shed light on how the extreme MAGA House majority has conducted itself and the potential consequences.
Read the full report here.
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