Weekly dispatch- Monday, May 19, 2025
Good morning Activists!
In the proposed budget, Republicans are extending the 2017 tax breaks for the wealthy. They want to offset the corresponding tax loss by cutting Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs that benefit Americans. On 18 May 2025, the House Budget Committee voted to advance the proposed budget to the House Rules Committee. After the House Rules Committee, the bill moves to the House floor for a vote (Republicans are aiming for a full House vote this week), then the Senate for their deliberation and input. Republicans want the bill on the President’s desk before July 4. When the proposed budget reaches the House floor for a full House vote, a handful of Republican votes will determine whether the budget bill moves on to the Senate. Please call our House Representatives and/or use the 5 calls app. Also call the 12 moderate Republicans listed below who previously expressed their opposition to Medicaid cuts.
For these 12 Moderate Republicans who previously opposed cuts to Medicaid, and the next 3 who are in the most “flippable” congressional districts:
David Valadao (R – CA): (202) 225-4695
Don Bacon (R – NE): (202) 225-4155
Jefferson Van Drew (R – NJ): (202) 225-6572
Juan Ciscomani (R – AZ) : (202) 225-2542
Young Kim (R -CA): (202) 225-4111
Rob Bresnahan (R – PA): (202) 225-5546
Jen Kiggans (R – VA): (202) 225-4215
Robert Wittman (R – VA): (202) 225-4261
Nicole Malliotakis (R – NY): (202) 225-3371
Andrew Garbarino (R – NY): (202) 225-7896
Nick LaLota (R – NY): (202) 225-3826
Jeff Hurd (R – CO): (202) 225-4676
Gabe Evans (R – CO): (202) 225-5625
Ryan Mackenzie (R – PA): (202) 225-6411
Monica De La Cruz (R – TX): (202) 225-9901
Planning ahead locally for what we will collectively do to fight tyranny in our beloved country and state, from 5:30 – 6:30pm on June 6, the Lower Keys Dems will be in front of the VFW on N Roosevelt Blvd. mostly on the seawall side of the street. We are encouraging our folks to wear red, white, and blue or camo. We will be SILENT out of respect for those who have served our nation… Honoring our veterans and supporting the protection of their benefits. We are asking that there be NO TRUMP/NO MUSK signs. There will be no chanting. A sign making party is scheduled for June 1st with great ideas and materials to make signs that support our VETERANS! Stay tuned for more details!
The League of Women Voters of Florida filed another Motion to Intervene in another federal lawsuit to protect the voting rights of Florida citizens. Asking the courts to stop the implementation of HB 1205 which placed numerous criminal penalties, fines, and requirements to become a formal petition circulator if a person collects more than 25 petitions outside of their family. Early Wednesday morning, the judge agreed to let the League of Women Voters join in a lawsuit that was filed against HB 1205 a few days ago. A hearing is set for next Thursday in Tallahassee. The citizen initiative process is guaranteed by our Florida Constitution, but state legislators pass laws to make the citizen initiative process more difficult every year. The citizen process must be protected because it is one of the only ways that citizens can ban together to make law that the legislators have refused to pass.
This week the U.S. House of Representatives’ Ways & Means Committee approved a bill that includes a wasteful and dangerous private school voucher scheme for the entire nation, even in states where voters have soundly rejected them and elected officials have rightly deemed them a threat to their public schools and students. The legislation containing the voucher program is currently making its way through the House, and the Senate will consider similar legislation as part of the budget reconciliation process. A national private school voucher program would never pass Congress on its own, and that’s why its proponents have so aggressively pushed it in the reconciliation bill.
May Keys Dems Meetings
Upper Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wed - May 21 - The Catch, Key Largo
Middle Keys Dems will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thurs - May 22 – The Marathon Public Library
Local Govt. meetings this week (May 19 - May 25)
KEY WEST http://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Thursday, 5-22
Development Review Committee Meeting at 10:00 am in City Hall
1300 White StTuesday, May 20 Commissioner, Monica Haskell will be holding a District 1 community meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Historic Old City Hall, 510 Greene Street
MONROE COUNTY https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/
Tuesday, 5 - 20
Monroe County Flood Inspection and Compliance Program Community Meeting @ 5:05 p.m. via Zoom
Wednesday, 5-21
Board of County Commissioners and Land Authority Regularly Scheduled Meeting
@ 9 :00 a.m. in the Harvey Government Center 1200 Truman Avenue, Key West
Village of Islamorada Council https://www.islamorada.fl.us/Calendar.aspx
Thursday, 5-22
RFP 25-03 LOW PRESSURE EXTENSION FOR MADERIA DR. ISLAMORADA BID OPENING @ 3:00 pm in the Islamorada Administrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 86800 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Friday, 5-23
Bid Opening RFQ 25-01 Professional General Engineering, Architectural, Environmental & Surveying Services @ 3:00 pm in the Islamorada Adminstrative Center and Public Safety Headquarters, 8688 Overseas Hwy, 3rd Floor Conference Room
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District https://keysmosquito.org/board-meetings/
Tuesday, 5-20
Regular Meeting in their Marathon Office 503 107TH Street, Marathon, FL May 20, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
Utility Board of Key West (Keys Energy) https://www.keysenergy.com/utility-board/
Wednesday, 5-21 Regular Meeting 1001 James Street beginning at 5:00 pm
We are determined to create a just society…as long as it takes!
Holly Hummell-Gorman, Chair
chair@keysdems.com
FB – Florida Keys Democrats or Upper Keys Young Democrats or Upper Keys Democrats
WEBSITE – wwww.keysdems.com
INSTAGRAM - @keysdems
TWITTER/X - @DemsKeys
BlueSky - Keys for Liberty
@demskeys.bsky.social