Michiganders Head to Washington to Demand Congress Say NO to More Tax Breaks for Billionaires & Corporations
On Thursday April 10th, Michigan Families for Fair Care, brought a delegation of Michigan advocates, workers, and community members to Washington, DC, in partnership with Fair Share America and other organizations to send a clear message to Congress: no more tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, especially not at the expense of hardworking families.
Macomb County resident Rebecca Zainos
“My first time ever getting on a plane was to fly to Washington, D.C. to meet the Congressman for my district, whose office is just a few miles from where I live. Even then, Representative John James did not give us the time of day. As a Michigander on Medicaid, I am worried about the effect higher health care costs will have on my daily life. Congressman James will decide if billions of dollars of health care funding will go to billionaires’ pockets instead. Congressman James, do not support tax breaks for billionaires, the people of your district are counting on you.”
The Michiganders who traveled to the nation’s capital were part of a national effort led by Fair Share America (FSA), a grassroots organization fighting for tax justice. While in DC, the Michigan delegation met with some of their representatives in Congress and joined more than 30 states at a rally at the US Capitol. The FSA rally gave voice to the everyday Americans with gut-wrenching stories, as well as members of Congress speaking out against the current push to extend the Trump tax cuts for the rich on the backs of the working class.
PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE HERE
Ingham County resident Sheila Kniffin
“It is not every day that you have to fly hundreds of miles to meet with your congressman, but Tom Barrett gave us no other choice. When our health care is at risk back home, and hundreds of billions of dollars are at risk of being pulled away from Medicaid, you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work to find answers. The people of Michigan deserve respect, and we can only hope that Tom Barrett listens to what the people of his district are saying: do not support tax breaks for billionaires that put lives at risk.”
Congress is moving forward with a budget plan that would extend and deepen the failed 2017 tax breaks — and pay for them by implementing cost-raising tariffs and forcing deep cuts to vital programs that support working families like Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, and more.
In Michigan, the impacts of the cuts and tariffs needed to fund the billionaire tax breaks are severe:
Economists at the University of Michigan have predicted that steel and aluminum tariffs will cost the state over 2,000 jobs by 2026.
Stellantis has already started laying off workers in the Warren and Sterling Heights plants.
Tariffs on Canada will increase costs for farmers, and small business wonders.
Even beer drinkers will see a rise in costs.
Executive Director of Michigan Families for Fair Care Steve Lawson
“We are back in DC to remind our congressional elected officials that the voices of Michigan’s working class deserve to be heard. Congressmen John James and Tom Barrett continue to refuse us an opportunity to air our concerns about the catastrophic effect tariffs, cuts to vital programs, and tax breaks for the wealthy have on our country. The people of Michigan were well represented by our delegation and we will continue to organize and urge our so-called representatives that they were elected to represent our values, not those of a self-proclaimed king.”
