No more handouts for millionaires

Just a few hours from now, Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand will vote on whether to stand by the middle class and oppose more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Can you call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand and make sure they are voting for tax breaks for the middle class, not the wealthy? Senator Charles Schumer Phone: (202) 224-6542 Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Phone: (202) 224-4451 I called Congress

Dear MoveOn member,

In just a few hours, Republicans in Congress will continue to hold America's economy hostage, simply in order to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich.

What on earth is the GOP thinking?!?! Our economy is still struggling to recover, and the GOP's refusal to compromise one bit means that uncertainty over the end-of-the-year "jobs cliff" is growing.¹

Senate Democrats have called for a simple solution to the standoff: Everyone already agrees that the middle-class tax cuts should be extended, so why not vote to extend them now? They've called for a vote today. But Senate Republicans are saying they'll block passage of the sensible tax cut extension unless the super-rich get extra tax breaks as well.² If Democrats present a united front, and refuse to consider extending tax breaks for the wealthy, the tax cuts will automatically expire at the end of the year.

Most Senate Democrats are standing strong, but they're getting pressured from all sides. That's why it's so essential that they hear from MoveOn members today. Can you call Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and make sure they are voting to end the tax cuts for the rich?

We need to move quickly—this vote is just a few hours away. Democratic senators like Schumer and Gillibrand need to hear from hundreds of their constituents telling them to stand firm against tax breaks for the rich and thanking them for doing so.

Call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand today and ask them to vote for tax cuts for the middle class and not millionaires.

Here's where to call:

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1815&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=3

The GOP may call them "job creators," but we know better. The one-percenters who get this tax break hold over 84% of our country's wealth, and some make over 400 times what the average American worker earns.³ In fact, recent evidence shows that when the wealthy get tax breaks, it sends money out of the country.⁴ In short, the tax break is just more money in their pockets for no reason whatsoever.

The latest polls show that more than 60% of us want tax cuts limited to those making under $250,000.⁵ We've spent years giving tax breaks to the wealthy, with no evidence that it helps the economy. Now we have a chance to change that.

We need Democratic senators like Schumer and Gillibrand to resist Republican pressure, and insist on a middle-class tax break that doesn't include a millionaires' handout.

Please call Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand TODAY and ask them to vote in favor of tax cuts to the middle class, and not the wealthy.

Senator Charles Schumer
Phone: (202) 224-6542

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Phone: (202) 224-4451

Then, please report your call by clicking here:
http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSNY_1.FSNY_2&cp_id=1815&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=5

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Mark, Laura, Jen, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Everything You Need to Know About the Fiscal Cliff in One Post," The Washington Post, July 16, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277917&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=6

2. "Democrats Propose Plan to Sidestep Anti-Tax Pledge," The New York Times, July 17, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277918&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=7

3. "What Class Divide? Rich and Poor, Red and Blue Agree on Wealth Distribution," Time, April 3, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277915&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=8

"Pay is 380 Times Average Worker's—AFL-CIO," CNN Money, April 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277916&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=9

4. "Wealth Doesn't Trickle Down-It Just Floods Offshore, Research Reveals," The Guardian, July 21, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277919&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=10

5. "Poll: Don't Extend Bush Cuts for Wealthy," The National Journal, June 19, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277920&id=47127-10220574-KGS5eux&t=11

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