FDP's Weekly Talkers
September 27, 2019
Here are the week's top stories, press releases, and talking points from the Florida Democratic Party. Alex Morash Press Secretary
Top Lines Of The Week Trump’s Gross Abuse of PowerTrump’s War On Seniors
Articles We Are Circulating These are articles we think are of interest to read or share. Palm Beach Post: Editorial: Impeachment inquiry is fully warranted Orlando Sentinel: Editorial: Rick Scott’s knee-jerk Trump defense is living down to our expectations Orlando Sentinel: Ron DeSantis launches ‘Presidential Protection Fund,’ as Florida Democrats play key role in Trump impeachment probe Florida Phoenix: FL Dems say Trump transcript provides basis for an impeachment inquiry, while FL Reps say the president did nothing wrong WJHG: Democrats condemn state for temporary online voter registration shutdown ABC 6: Florida Democrats Accuse Governor of Voter Suppression
Our Latest Press Releases September 23: How Florida Democrats Will Celebrate National Voter Registration Day: Registering 1,000 New Voters September 23: Florida Democrats Train Over 70 Democrats in Fort Walton Beach September 24: On National Voter Registration Day, Helpful Tips from FDP Voter Protection Team September 24: Democrats Registering Voters, Engaging with Floridians, for National Voter Registration Day September 24: Florida Democratic Party Chair Rizzo's Statement On Impeachment Inquiry September 25: Florida Democrats Statement on the Shocking Transcript of Trump's Call with Ukraine September 25: Rick Scott Voted Against Restoring Funds to Tyndall Air Force Base
Upcoming Events Next week: Donald Trump will be going to The Villages Thursday, October 3rd. We will be announcing counter event details next week.
Issues Of The Week: Trump’s Gross Abuse of Power Don’t get distracted by Republican lies and misinformation. Trump committed a gross abuse of power. Here’s a recap: Donald Trump used the power of the presidency, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and potentially the U.S. attorney general in an attempt to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election. As soon as Ukraine’s new president was elected, the White House made clear that Zelensky’s correspondence with Trump depended on his willingness to “play ball.” In mid-July, Trump ordered the U.S. to cut off critical security assistance to Ukraine -- an ally that was invaded by Russia a few years ago, and typically receives bipartisan support from our government. In late July, Trump talked with Ukraine’s president. Among other things, he asked Ukraine to investigate DNC servers in Ukraine (a debunked conspiracy theory) and brought up reopening an investigation that could influence the 2020 election in his favor. Coming out of the July phone call, Ukraine understood what they were supposed to do. Ukraine’s readout from the call showed they had gotten the message that Trump would help them if they helped him. White House officials knew at the time how disturbing Trump’s abuse of power was, and immediately worked to cover it up. Trump’s inner circle intervened to “lock down” all records of the phone call -- part of a larger pattern of the Trump administration abusing the systems used to store classified information to protect political sensitive issues. Contrary to Trump’s cries of “fake news,” the inspector general of the intelligence community has already stated clearly that this allegation “appears credible” and is supported by information outside of the whistleblower complaint. Trump’s War On Seniors From Social Security, to Medicare, to prescription drugs, Trump has put seniors at risk. Vox: “Trump Said He Wouldn’t Cut Medicaid, Social Security, And Medicare. His 2020 Budget Cuts All 3.” Trump’s FY20 budget proposed cutting $575 billion from Medicare. “Here’s what’s actually happening: This budget proposes finding $845 billion in savings over 10 years from Medicare as we know it. But $269 billion of that figure is reclassified under the Department of Health and Human Services, bringing the Medicare cuts to $575 billion. As Vox explained, the administration says it will achieve these cost reductions by targeting wasteful spending and provider payments and lowering prescription drug costs.” [Vox, 3/12/19] Vox: “Mick Mulvaney Brags That He Tricked Trump Into Proposing Social Security Cuts.” Trump’s FY20 budget proposed spending $26 billion less on Social Security programs. “And Mr. Trump proposed spending $26 billion less on Social Security programs, the federal retirement program, including a $10 billion cut to the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which provides benefits to disabled workers.” [Vox, 9/1/17; New York Times, 3/11/19] Trump Also Proposed $72.5 Billion In Cuts To SSDI And Supplemental Security Income In His FY19 Budget. “President Trump’s 2018 budget proposed $72.5 billion in cuts to SSDI and to Supplemental Security Income, another program for disabled people, over 10 years.” [Vox, 2/6/18] Many Seniors Would Likely Spend Around $2,000 Or More In Out-Of-Pocket Drug Costs Each Year If The Medicare Part D Coverage Gap Reopened. “Without Obamacare, many seniors would likely spend around $2,000 or more in out-of-pocket drug costs each year, said Juliette Cubanski, associate director of Medicare policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s because the ACA required drugmakers to provide big discounts to seniors in the coverage gap phase of their Medicare Part D benefit. In 2016, more than 5 million Medicare recipients reached the coverage gap, with drugmakers providing $5.7 billion in discounts to offset the costs of their medicines, Cubanski said.” [Politico, 12/17/18] The Medicaid Cuts Under Republicans’ BCRA Repeal Legislation Could Have Shut Down Nursing Homes Across The Country And Caused Widespread Layoffs. “The Better Care Reconciliation Act would reduce the country’s Medicaid spending by $772 billion over the next decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected in a report Monday. That could shut down nursing homes across the country, health-care leaders argue, and trigger widespread layoffs in one of the nation's fastest-growing fields of employment.” [Washington Post, 6/27/17] In Florida, Medicaid Covers Over 4 Of Every 7 Nursing Home Residents. [Medicaid In Florida, Kaiser Family Foundation, November 2018] Medicare Is A Major Issue In Florida: According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), 4.5 million people, or 21 percent of Florida’s population, are on Medicare, as of 2018. [KFF, date accessed 8/7/19, 8/7/19]
Social Media Worth Sharing Some of our picks for best social media from FDP's account, influencers, Democratic leaders, and party staff. @FlaDems: Trump has the power to grant TPS for Venezuelans immediately but has decided to continue deporting them back to the Maduro regime. Scott, who refuses to co-sponsor the #Venezuelan TPS Act in the Senate, only cares about pleasing Trump and advancing his anti-immigrant agenda. @RepValDemings: When I was a police officer, I would have never asked the SUSPECT how to conduct my investigation. But Director Maguire went to President Trump and Attorney General Barr for advice - even though the #WhistleblowerComplaint implicated both of them in criminal abuse of power. @JuanPenalosa: .@fladems #voterprotection team works.Online voter reg tool is back online from “maintenance” an hour after @fladems publicly called out @GovRonDeSantis admin for shutting site as Dems began launching #NationalVoterRegistrationDay efforts. We are you @FloridaGOP #FlaPol @AlexMorash: As @MattGertz reminds us, Nixon didn't have Fox News, Trump does. We can't let them explain away Trump's abuse of power. #ImpeachTrump
September 27, 2019
Contact: Alex Morash