Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus
I am aware that you do not represent my state. However, this is a matter of national, not state, importance. As well, I have contributed to the campaign funds of several of you.
The Republican tax bill has disastrous immediate and delayed consequences. I don’t believe that most of the American people understand the gravity of the situation. Their lack of understanding makes your position difficult.
The Republicans in Congress have demonstrated a mean-spirited disregard for the processes of government and for their constituents. This applies particularly to the Senate Republicans who have demonstrated disdain for the decorum that should be expected of Senators.
The Republican party has maneuvered the Democratic party, and particularly the Senate Democrats, into a corner. It appears that the only alternative to stopping the passage of the tax bill is to be as ruthless as the Republicans have been.
The only bargaining chip that appears to remain is the spending resolution. If that is not passed, the government will shut down. Under normal conditions, that would not be acceptable. However, these are far from normal conditions.
Although the DREAM Act is important, the far-reaching consequences of the tax bill are grave.
The situation appears to be that the Democrats will be blamed for the government shutdown and its consequences if they prevent the spending bill from passing. If the tax bill passes, it will be easy to blame the Republican party for the disastrous consequences. Were the ability to use blame in campaigns all that mattered, that strategy would be acceptable. However, the immediate and long-term consequences of the tax bill do not warrant that passive strategy. Allowing the dreadful to occur so blame can be affixed later is not acceptable.
Beyond the corporate tax breaks and the temporary advantages for middle class individuals, the matter of the deficit of more than one trillion dollars that the tax bill creates is beyond unacceptable. The American people will pay immediately, particularly the 13 million people who will lose health insurance. They will then pay again when domestic programs including social security and Medicare are cut to rectify the deficit caused by this bill.
Unless you can see another way to prevent passage of the tax bill, I urge you to make clear to the Senate Republicans that if it is passed, the Senate Democrats are prepared to vote no on the spending bill and shut down the government, making clear to the American people why they have done so including the explanation of the immediate and long-term consequences. I don’t believe that given a choice between a cut finger and dying a slow horrific death, that people would choose the latter.
| SENATE DEMOCRATS | |||
| Last | First | State | Fax |
| Baldwin | Tammy | WI | ~~ |
| Bennett | Michael | CO | 202-228-5097 |
| Blumenthal | Richard | CT | (202) 224-9673 |
| Booker | Cory | NJ | (202) 224-8378 |
| Brown | Sherrod | OH | (202) 228-6321 |
| Cantwell | Maria | WA | (202) 228-0514 |
| Cardin | Ben | MD | (202) 224-1651 |
| Carper | Tom | DE | (202) 228-2190 |
| Casey | Bob | PA | (202) 228-0604 |
| Chris | Coons | DE | ~~ |
| Cortez Masto | Catherine | NV | (775) 686-5757 |
| Donnelly | Joe | IN | (202) 224-5011 |
| Duckworth | Tammy | IL | ~~ |
| Durbin | Dick | IL | 202.228.0400 |
| Feinstein | Dianne | CA | (202) 228-3954 |
| Franken | Al | MN | ~~ |
| Gillibrand | Kirsten | NY | (202) 228-0282 |
| Harris | Kamala | CA | (202) 224 – 2200 |
| Hassan | Maggie | NH | ~~ |
| Heinrich | Martin | NM | (202) 228-2841 |
| Heitkamp | Heidi | ND | (202) 224-7776 |
| Hirono | Mazie | HI | (202) 224-2126 |
| Kaine | Tim | VA | (202) 228-6363 |
| King | Angus | ME | ~~ |
| Klobuchar | Amy | MN | 202-228-2186 |
| Leahy | Patrick | VT | ~~ |
| McCaskill | Claire | MO | (202) 228-6326 |
| Manchin | Joe | VA | 202-228-0002 |
| Markey | Ed | MA | ~~ |
| Menendez | Bob | NJ | 202.228.2197 |
| Merkley | Jeff | OR | (202) 228-3997 |
| Murphy | Chris | CT | (202) 224-9750 |
| Murray | Patty | WA | (202) 224-0238 |
| Nelson | Bill | FL | 202-228-2183 |
| Peters | Gary | MI | ~~ |
| Reed | Jack | RI | (202) 224-4680 |
| Sanders | Bernie | VT | (202) 228-0776 |
| Schatz | Brian | HI | (202) 228-1153 |
| Schumer | Chick | NY | (202) 228-3027 |
| Saheen | Jeanne | NH | ~~ |
| Stebanow | Debbie | MI | ~~ |
| Tester | Jon | MT | (202) 224-8594 |
| Udall | Tom | NM | ~~ |
| Van Hollen | Chris | MD | (202) 228-0629 |
| Warner | Mark | VA | ~~ |
| Warren | Elizabeth | MA | ~~ |
| Whitehouse | Sheldon | RI | (202) 228-6362 |
| Wyden | Ron | OR | (202) 228-2717 |