I forgot to add the actual letter!
Gads!
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Fellow Washingtonians,
The first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency has proven we must remain
vigilant and stay informed.
His policies and proposals, including irresponsible executive orders and
proposed budget are poised to wreak havoc on Washington families and have
serious consequences for hard working Americans.
We cannot roll back the clock to a darker time and accept actions by this
Administration contrary to our core values.
So here's a helpful rundown of the last 100 days in which President Trump has
either proposed or succeeded in:
Energy and Environment Ripping
off taxpayers to prop up coal companies: President Trump ended a moratorium on
leasing taxpayer-owned federal lands for coal mining and lowered the royalties
coal companies paid.
Taking
public lands from public hands: The Trump Administration ordered a review of
national monument designations from the last 21 years, implying that he may
attempt to rescind monuments like Hanford Reach. He also proposed cutting
federal land acquisition under the Land and Water Conservation Fund by over 50%.
Paving
the way for the next Deepwater Horizon: President Trump rolled out a proposal
that could open all offshore areas to oil and gas drilling, including along the
West Coast.
Stifling
American innovation on renewable energy: The administration proposed cutting
over half the budget of the Energy Department offices that fund research and
development of renewable energy, smart grid, and energy storage, including major
investments in Washington state.
Transportation Cutting
Eastern Washington off from train service: Amtraks long-distance passenger rail
routes, which provide service to over 100,000 people in 6 difference communities
in Eastern Washington, would be entirely eliminated under President Trumps
proposed budget.
Breaking
promises on infrastructure: Despite insisting on the campaign trail that
infrastructure was a priority, the administrations proposed budget would
eliminate or make substantial cuts to important infrastructure programs that
fund 18 current projects in Washington state.
Making
airports less safe and more of a pain: The President suggests cutting the budget
for the Transportation Security Administration, putting added stress on the
agency charged with protecting travelers and resulting in longer lines at
Sea-Tac and Spokane. This from a candidate who made safety his signature appeal
to voters.
Healthcare Throwing
hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians off their health insurance, including
Medicaid: The Presidents proposed healthcare plan would result in inaccessible
health insurance for hundreds of thousands of people in Washington. It would
also cut a portion of Medicaid funding and shift costs to the states, taking
coverage away from many low-income patients in the state.
Threatening
womens health and privacy: President Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch, whose
history suggests he will oppose a womans right to choose, to the Supreme Court.
The president has also put forward a healthcare plan that would jeopardize care
for 1.6 million Washington women by defunding Planned Parenthood.
Thwarting
advances in life-saving research at UW, WSU, and Fred Hutch: The administration
has suggested slashing the National Institutes of Health budget by some $6
billion. NIH is the key driver of biomedical research and economic activity in
Washington state at universities and research organizations.
Banking and Finance Making
it harder for Seattle workers to retire: President Trump overturned a rule that
would have allowed the City of Seattle to tackle the growing retirement crisis
by setting up a private workplace retirement savings system. This decision will
deny 200,000 Seattle workers access to the retirement savings tools they need.
Driving
up the costs of buying a home in Washington State: The Trump administration
rolled back a planned cut in Federal Housing Authority mortgage rates, costing
the average Washington state borrower an average of $500 per year over the life
of their mortgage.
Proposing
tax cuts for billionaires, corporations, and himself that will raise taxes
millions of Americans: President Trump recently released a tax reform plan
that would deliver over 50% of its benefits to the top 1% and drive up the
deficit by over $5 billion, while at the same time raising taxes on over 25
million hard working lower and middle class families.
Immigration Sowing
confusion and fear with an attempted travel ban: Chaos ensued at airports as
innocent families were separated and travelers were wrongly denied entry for
days before the courts overturned the administrations misguided travel ban. Had
the courts not stepped in, we would be feeling the loss of important and
valuable members of our universities, companies and communities.
Threatening
local communities ability to determine how to keep their people safe: President
Trump signed an Executive Order withholding federal funding from so-called
sanctuary cities, jurisdictions who use their local knowledge to set law
enforcement priorities that best serve their communities. 11 counties in
Washington state fell under the Executive Order.
Education Imperiling
low-income college students access to educational opportunities: A proposed
$200 million reduction to the federal TRIO program would endanger the chance for
15,000 students in Washington to become the first in their families to earn
college degrees.
Taking
education and nutrition away from low-income children: Services to the 4,699
low-income children and their families who depend on the Head Start program for
preschool, family support, and health and nutrition coordination will be damaged
by the 18% cut in the presidents proposed budget for HHS, the agency that
administers Head Start.
I hope your will join me in fighting against the harmful policies of this
Administration, as I continue to fight for the equal protection & prosperity of
Washingtonians.
As always, you can contact me with your questions and concerns through my
website. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated on the issues. Let's
stay in touch!
Sincerely,
Maria
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very
wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
We gave the Goblin King control of our nation!
