That is really how White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney tried to sell Trump’s budget, which proposes nearly $4 trillion in cuts to essential programs that millions of Americans rely on, all while giving the wealthiest an enormous tax break. Meanwhile, the budget breaks one of Trump’s most significant campaign promises by calling for billions in cuts to Social Security.
Trump’s budget, which is officially titled, “A new foundation for American Greatness,” does nothing to create good-paying jobs or raise wages. But that’s not all. The budget’s foundation is built on fraudulent claims and deceptive, concocted forecasts about economic growth. The Trump team has been touting a $5.5 trillion tax cut for weeks, but they completely left this massive cut out of the budget outline. The budget doesn’t mention those massive tax cuts, but it does claim that an additional $2 trillion in economic growth will come from those tax cuts. So the Trump Administration is claiming that its tax cuts, which will cost $5.5 trillion, will increase revenue by $2 trillion. That is, as CAP’s Seth Hanlon put it, a $7.5 trillion lie.
In addition to that massive tax cut, the budget slashes key programs that working families rely on. Here are just a few examples:
- Medicaid: Between the budget and Trumpcare, the Trump Administration is proposing nearly $1.5 trillion in cuts. By 2027, the last year of the Trump budget, Medicaid would be cut roughly by half. (Remember this?)
- Nutrition Assistance. Trump’s budget would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by $193 billion over 10 years—that’s nearly 29 percent of the entire program.
- Education. $143 billion will be cut from education programs, including eliminating subsidized student loans and public service loan forgiveness.
- Social Security. Under the Trump budget, disability programs—including Social Security Disability Insurance—would be cut by $72 billion.
- Veterans. Trump’s budget proposes $15 billion in cuts from VA programs.
ACTION OF THE DAY
#HandsOff. There isn’t a glimpse of “compassion” in Trump’s budget. It betrays the vast majority of Americans who work hard to support their families, and it’s critical that people see once and for all whose side this president is on. That’s where you come in. Join the #HandsOff campaign to show the Trump Administration that we won’t stand for this budget. Here’s how to plug in:
Take a photo like this today with your story of why Trump’s budget is wrong and share it using #HandsOff. Then to go HandsOff.org to share your story and get involved.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Manchester. The world is still reeling after last night’s attack in Manchester, England, which left at least 22 dead and another 50 injured. This attack shows there is no bound to terrorists’ desire to cause chaos and inflict great harm. Law enforcement officials are still investigating the attack. President Trump, for his part, called the attackers “evil losers.” “I won’t call them ‘monsters,’” he said, “because they would like that term. They would think that’s a great name. I will call them, from now on, ‘losers,” because that’s what they are. They’re losers, and we’ll have more of them. But they’re losers, just remember that.”
Polluters. Trump’s budget proposes cuts for nearly every single department, but some of the hardest hit agencies are those that protect our air and water, drive investments in our clean energy future, and support the outdoor economy. Just a few examples: Trump’s budget cuts EPA funding by more than 31 percent—that’s the equivalent of upgrading more than 24 drinking water systems for communities like Flint. It cuts Department of Energy energy efficiency and renewable energy research and development funding by 69 percent—the equivalent of buying more than 287 million LED light bulbs. And it cuts Department of Interior funding by $1.4 billion or 10.9 percent—the equivalent of 39 Yellowstone National Parks. Bottom line: Trump’s budget is another example of this administration prioritizing corporate polluters while sacrificing the health and well-being of American families.
Your Daily Russia Run-Down. Two developments today to be aware of: 1) More lies from Michael Flynn. According to Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Flynn lied to Pentagon investigators in February 2016 about Russia-related income while he was applying to renew his security clearance. This new revelation raises more legal questions about Flynn’s behavior during and before the Trump campaign. 2) Former CIA Director John Brennan acknowledged publicly for the first time today that he was “concerned” about ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the election.
Credentials. In the latest development in the Trump Administration’s warped relationship with the media, InfoWars, the organization that claimed Sandy Hook was a “hoax” and 9/11 was an “inside job” was granted press credentials.
UNDER THE RADAR
Bathroom Ban. After reviving their so-called bathroom ban late Sunday evening, the Texas House of Representatives passed S.B. 2078 yesterday, which bars transgender students from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. With this bill, the Texas legislature is directly targeting transgender students, 77 percent of whom already report being harassed or discriminated against at school. The bill still needs to pass the state senate and be signed by Gov. Abbott, which is expected to happen by the end of the legislature session on Friday.
GOOD NEWS
Right side of history. ICYMI: New Orleans has been in the process of removing Confederate statues. Before the statue of Robert E. Lee was removed, New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu spoke about New Orleans history and its progress, citing the reasons the statues needed to come down: “To literally put the confederacy on a pedestal in our most prominent places of honor is an inaccurate recitation of our full past, it is an affront to our present, and it is a bad prescription for our future.” Read his full speech here.