Tell Ed Case to vote yes Monday on the Build Back Better budget package

Hawaii Congressman Ed Case is one of nine Democrats in the U.S. House threatening to vote against a $3.5 trillion spending plan Monday that would combat climate change and build more affordable housing while extending the child tax credit and expanding family medical leave, largely by raising taxes on the rich and corporations.

Case and eight other moderate and conservative Democrats are now demanding that a separate bill — the bipartisan infrastructure package that has already passed the Senate — be signed into law before they will vote for the budget resolution. Doing so would give tax-dodging corporations who stand to benefit from the taxpayer-funded projects in the infrastructure bill ample opportunity to kill any tax increases on themselves or their wealthy executives and shareholders. The U.S. House can only afford to have three Democrats vote against the proposal and still pass the budget, and eventually, a reconciliation bill that makes the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share in taxes to fund historic investments for working families.

By the morning of Monday, Aug. 23, the HSTA asks its members to take the following quick action, especially those who live in his congressional district (Oahu from Makapuu through Central Honolulu and Leeward to Mililani, Waipahu, Ewa, Kapolei and Ko Olina).

1. Call this toll-free number: 1-888-516-5820.
2. Enter your ZIP code.
3. Say that you want Congressman Case to vote YES on the Build Back Better budget package, to support $3.5 trillion in investments in healthcare, eldercare, childcare, education, clean energy, and more, funded by making big corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.

Here are some helpful talking points/messaging on the budget package.

Up to $3.5 trillion in new investments will:

• Make health insurance, childcare, housing, and college more affordable.
• Expand access to affordable home- or community-based care for seniors.
• Expand Medicare to include dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
• Lower prescription drug costs by letting Medicare negotiate drug prices.
• Make community college debt-free for those who qualify and increase the maximum Pell Grant award by almost $1,500.
• Make preschool available to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
• Ensure that all workers have 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.
• Make the expanded child tax credit for low- and middle-income families permanent.
• Greatly expand the use of clean energy through new standards and tax credits.

Much of the package will be paid for by:

• Raising taxes on corporations and those earning over $400,000 a year. The package does not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year.
• Reducing prescription drug costs.

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