Jackson County Democrats

As a Oregon resident, you're in a unique position this week to help pass major progressive reforms. Here's why:

President Obama's budget (the critical bill that decides how the government will spend trillions of dollars) is being debated right now in Congress. And Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as a member of the budget committee, is one of just a few make-or-break votes.

The budget is the change we voted for: health care reform, a plan to make polluters pay for clean energy investment, tax breaks for 95% of Americans, even a firm timeline for the end of the war in Iraq. As Paul Krugman said, it will set America on a "fundamentally new course."¹ But the budget faces mounting opposition from special interests and conservative Democrats who want to take out key parts of the bill.

Senators on the committee are already making up their minds about whether they'll pass Obama's progressive budget or water it down—and they're hearing from the opposition every day. So it's really important that your senator hears from MoveOn members in Oregon right away.

Can you call Senator Merkley and Wyden? Tell them to pass Obama's budget without stripping the crucial provisions that make sure polluters and other special interests pay their fair share.

Here's where to call:

Senator Jeff Merkley
Phone: 202-224-3753

Senator Ron Wyden
Phone: 202-224-5244

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?tg=FSOR_2.FSOR_1&cp_id=865&id=15755-1449156-Xage3Yx&t=3

Obama's plan is boldly progressive—which makes the special interest lobbyists dead-set against it:

• Oil companies don't like a key provision that taxes polluters to help pay for a transition to a clean-energy economy.
• Insurance companies are fighting the health care funding that will help create a more efficient system and pave the way for universal coverage.
• Highly paid executives are against the elimination of tax loopholes that they've gotten rich off of for years.

Let's be honest. "Passing a budget" doesn't sound particularly compelling. But few people realize that if we lose this budget fight, our other goals like transitioning to a green economy and health care reform will become difficult or impossible to achieve. So there's a real risk that millions of progressives who helped elect this president will sit on the sidelines during this fight.

We can't let that happen—especially in Oregon, where our voices can have a huge impact on the outcome. Please call today.

Thanks for all you do.

–-Daniel, Laura, Ilyse, Patrick S. and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Climate of Change," The New York Times, February 27, 2009
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/opinion/27krugman.html?em

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