Senator Bernie Sanders got all Democrats voting today to support a budget amendment that would fix our crumbling infrastructure by cutting absurd tax breaks for the wealthy.
As Congress votes on the federal budget this week, the Senate
nixed a measure on Tuesday by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges and support millions of good-paying construction jobs—by eliminating absurd tax loopholes for the wealthy.
The tax loopholes targeted by Sanders' amendment let corporations and wealthy Americans shift jobs and profits overseas, often to offshore tax havens like the Cayman Islands. Nearly $100 billion is lost annually to offshore tax dodging, according to the U.S. Treasury.
But here’s the good news: every Senate Democrat present voted in favor, making it a
45-52 party-line vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. This is important, because way too many Democrats vote with Republicans on awful bills like
gutting Wall Street reform—or kill good legislation like
restoring food stamp cuts—that it gives cover to Republicans who can claim with a straight face that they are being “bipartisan.”
It will be a very long two years in Congress with Republicans in control of both chambers, and it’s our job at Daily Kos to hold Democrats accountable to keep up the public pressure. More votes like today’s in the Senate is good, because it proves that ideas like eliminating tax loopholes to rebuild our infrastructure are popular. But roll-call votes where many Democrats defect and join Republicans only make it harder for us to build progressive political power.
On Wednesday, the House is expected to vote on the People’s Budget—an alternative budget proposed by co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. It would create 8 million new jobs, raise the minimum wage and protect vital services like Social Security.
Daily Kos worked with allied organizations last week to collect over 140,000 signatures for an online petition in support of the People’s Budget. But with the vote this week, we need to target House Democrats with phone calls from their constituents.
Every year, the Progressive Caucus submits a budget like the People’s Budget—and every year, too many House Democrats vote against it. We need you to call your Democratic congressmember today, and then report back to us how the call went.
Keep in mind: Congress will be voting on several budget alternatives, and it’s not like your member of Congress can only choose to vote for one and not another. A House Democrat can still vote for the People’s Budget, and then vote for the Blue Dog budget (for example).
This Republican Congress will not likely pass the People’s Budget, but as many Democrats voting “yes” will send a powerful message for the budget priorities that must be on the table.