The dust barely settled after the victory party in Chicago when the number crunchers turned into worker bees with a mission. As announced in a conference call to Obama volunteers across the country this week, the election was just the beginning of the work we all have to do. Unlike the post-2008 victory, the Obama for America campaign has quickly morphed into an action alert rapid response message machine. And we have our first alert this week. As you know, President Obama has wasted no time challenging Congress to keep the Bush tax cuts for income under $250,000 a year and letting them expire for income over that. (Note: the first $250,000 of income will still be taxed at the lower rate. It is only income OVER $250,000 that will go back to the older, higher tax rate. There seems to be some misunderstanding about that.)
So our mission this week and next is to keep reminding our members of Congress that we need them to pass something during this lame duck session so the Bush tax cuts don’t expire for ALL income groups. The current members of Congress, not the new ones who will be seated in January, are the ones we have to contact, like it or not. I’ll be the first one to admit that calling Sen. Blunt and my Congressman, Blaine Leutkemeyer, is like sticking my head in the oven. But I’ll do it. And I hope you will too. Below is the first clarion call from The Action and the website where you can sign up to receive action alerts. I’ve heard several commentators say that the only way President Obama is going to get Congress to cooperate is if we, the people, demand it. Call your members of Congress and let them know we can make plans for the holidays and keep an eye on them at the same time just in case they think we’re not looking.
The election is over and it’s time to make it count. Grassroots power is not just for elections.
Congress has until December 31st to make a critical and historic choice. They can ask the richest 2% of Americans to pay their fair share, or they can put more money in wealthy pockets at the expense of the struggling middle class.The Action is a grassroots movement that demands we face this crisis. There is too much money and power in too few hands and the system is rigged to keep it that way. It’s time to level the playing field. It’s time to make things right.
The first step is telling Congress, loud and clear: Don’t give more tax breaks to the people who need them least. http://www.theaction.
org/