JOBS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
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Merkel and Macron Make Last Ditch Effort to Prevent US Steel Tariffs
On May 1st, 2018, the US tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from the EU are set to take affect. The above-mentioned tariffs are an appeasement to the US Steel industry, which has been affected by increased globalization throughout the second half of the 20th century.
DHS Ends TPS for 9,000 Nepalis
Brief #52 Immigration April 24, 2018 Policy Summary On Tuesday, April 24, The Washington Post reported that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is once again ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 9,000 Nepalis living in the United States legally under the...
Conservative SCOTUS Justices Appear to Be in Favor of Trump Travel Ban
Brief #51 Immigration April 25, 2018 Policy Summary On Wednesday, April 25, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard arguments over the Trump Travel ban in the case of Trump v. Hawaii. This case is going to decide if the third iteration of Trump’s travel...
Third Federal Judge Upholds DACA
Brief #50 Immigration Policy Summary On Wednesday, April 25, Judge John D. Bates became the third federal judge to uphold the DACA program, dealing a blow to Trump’s hard-lined anti-immigration policies, calling the administration’s decision to terminate the program...
US, UK, and France Attack Syrian Chemical Sites
Just before dawn on April 14th, The United States, United Kingdom, and France launched a joint missile attack against two Syrian chemical weapon storage facilities and one research center. The strike was described by the western governments as a retaliation for a chemical attack against a rebel held Damascus suburb, Douma, on April 7th.
UPDATED:Scott Pruitt Under Investigation by Congress for Excess Spending, Secret Emails and Ethics Controversy
In letters sent to President Trump and the EPA Secretary Pruitt, the Oversight Committee of U.S. Congress requested documents from Secretary Pruitt as they investigate the myriad of controversies that have arisen around the EPA’s lead administrator. Pruitt is currently past the given deadline to produce the documents, and the deadline has been extended to April 25, 2018.
Bipartisan Strategy to Attack Opioid Crisis Mirrors Federal HIV/AIDS Policies
Senators Marco Rubio, Elizabeth Warren, Susan Collins, and Maggie Hassan have released a bipartisan bill, Hospice Safe Drug Disposal Act, to encourage the disposal of unused opioids by home hospice care providers. This would ultimately aim to reduce the amount of opioids in circulation.
Facebook & Cambridge Analytica Scandals, New Russia Sanctions, Mueller & Manafort Updates
With each week seeming to bring ever more drama to the White House and Russia investigations, recent news has brought no respite.
Trump Announces Quotas for Immigration Judges
On Monday, April 2, the Justice Department announced that it will be instating quotas for immigration judges to fill in order to process cases faster. Immigration judges will be expected to clear a minimum of 700 cases per year in order to keep their jobs.
Medicaid in the Revised AHCA
Proposed Legislation
Passed House on May 4, 2017
Policy Summary
Despite Donald Trump’s promise in his candidacy announcement speech to not cut Medicaid, the health care bill that passed the House on Thursday includes massive cuts to Medicaid. Although the bill went through the House before a CBO report was produced to assess the amendments, the report released in March estimated Trump’s original plan would cut Medicaid spending by $880 billion over 10 years. The new bill rolls back Medicaid expansion starting in 2019 by cutting federal funding to states. It will also convert Medicaid from an entitlement program, in which the government pays for those who qualify, into a grant program, in which the government gives states either a set amount of money per enrollee or a fixed block grant. These changes will likely leave 14 million fewer people covered by Medicaid after 10 years. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Although the repeal and replace bill still has a ways to go before becoming law, passing the House is a key step that could be devastating for millions of Americans. Health care coverage would depend on where you live under the new bill, as funding would be granted to the states. Because so many people will lose their coverage, $38 billion of federal funds will be added to high-risk pools and maternity and childbirth care. The Bill was pushed through before a CBO report was released so it is unclear how block grants would affect the budget and number of people covered. However, the original CBO report estimated 24 million fewer Americans would have health insurance after 10 years. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Contact your Senator – the bill has to pass the senate before becoming law so contact your senator and tell them the changes you want to see.
- What you can do right now if you Oppose Trumpcare – Learn more about Trumpcare and ways to oppose it.
- Sign a Petition in support of the Affordable Care Act.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
Medicaid in Florida
Deal Between the Trump Administration and the State of Florida
In Progress
Policy Summary
President Donald Trump’s Administration is negotiating an agreement with the State of Florida to reinstate federal funding for the low-income pool to $1.5 billion annually. This pool helps reimburse hospitals for the costs accumulated by low-income, uninsured patients. The funds go to covering the hospital costs of emergency room visits for uninsured people, providing medical charity care, hospitals absorbing bad debt, and hospitals making up any additional differences between the costs incurred and the payments made. It is a temporary strategy and does not provide healthcare coverage. During the Obama administration, the pool was reduced to about $608 million. The Obama administration withheld these federal funds to encourage states to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. If the deal goes through and Florida receives federal funding for low-income pools, it is expected to cut state Medicaid spending by roughly $650 million. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Despite the 75% of Americans that think the President and his administration should do what they can to make the ACA work, this deal with Florida sabotages the ACA’s key tool in encouraging states to expand Medicaid. The agreement would essentially subsidize Florida for not expanding Medicaid and encourage other states to do the same or roll back expansion. Other states such as Kansas, Tennessee, and Texas could be a future target for this type of deal as they have also resisted Medicaid expansion and have low-income pools. The Obama administration defunded the low-income pools to encourage people to get insured under the ACA. Now, uninsured people have federal funding for their care through these low-income pools and have less incentive to get insurance. After his own failed healthcare act, Trump said the best thing to do is “let Obamacare explode.” Deals like the one in Florida undermine the ACA and facilitate a healthcare failure. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Contact Your State Officials – Voice your opinion on the matter to the people who make these important decisions! Learn more about what some GOP Governors are doing to keep Medicaid expansion and get in touch with them.
- Kaiser Family Foundation Tracking Poll – Learn more about the future direction of the ACA, Medicaid, and healthcare in America and see how Americans feel about these changes.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
Study of the Federal Role within the Education System
Executive Order
Issued on April 26, 2017
Policy Summary
In accordance with a new executive order, Betsy DeVos will be conducting a study into whether or not the federal government has “overstepped” its oversight of K-12 schools. The order was framed by Donald Trump as a part of a broader move to bring power over the education system back to the states and local communities. DeVos has 300 days to conduct the review into the lawfulness of guidance and regulations surrounding the school system. The order does not give DeVos any more authority than she previously possessed. LEARN MORE
Analysis
As the Obama era Department of Ed. allocated a large amount of resources towards civil rights in schools, the push for a lesser federal role in education presented within this executive order leaves many fearing that protections for vulnerable students will unravel. Calling Trump’s order “dangerous and wrongheaded,” Wade Henderson, president and chief executive of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, stated that schooling without federal oversight has never worked for all children and will not work now. A number of people also find the order to be silly and pointless; a purely symbolic gesture for Trump to appear to have made accomplished things to finish out his first 100 days. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Nation Education Association- The NEA with its 3 million members from every level of education, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. The NEA seeks to fulfill the promise of public education that prepares every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights – This is a coalition with a diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations aimed at promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States.
- ACLU – Learn more about the civil rights of students with the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU offers an online guide detailing the ins and outs of the educational equality rights of children in our nation’s schools.
This brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact, cindy@usresistnews.org.
Tax Reform
Proposed Legislation
Proposed on April 26, 2017
Policy Summary
The Trump Administration has issued a one-page plan to reform the tax system in America. The plan calls for the simplification of the tax code and the deepest cuts in tax rates paid by American families and businesses seen since the Reagan administration. More specifically, the plan calls for decreasing the number of tax brackets from seven to three (10%, 25%, and 35%). It calls for cutting the tax rate for all businesses to 15%. LEARN MORE
Analysis
By cutting taxes so drastically the Trump tax plan also reduces the amount of revenue the government is able to take in through taxation. To begin, it has called for doubling the standard deduction rate. The head of Trump’s National Economic Council, Gary Cohn, said, “We are going to double the standard deduction so a married couple wouldn’t pay any taxes on the first $24,000 income they earn.” In addition, Trump’s plan calls for an elimination of the alternative minimum tax (ATM). This tax was put in place by Congress as a way to get wealthy people to pay taxes rather than use tax loopholes to avoid paying them. Furthermore, to aid the rich the Trump plan also calls for the removal of the estate tax – a tax on assets being transferred through a will (often used by the wealthy elites). All these proposed tax cuts, many studies have found, will add nearly 5.5 trillion dollars to the debt which could potentially lead to a slower economy due to stagnant wages. It remains to be seen whether Trump can translate his one-page tax plan into meaningful legislation that Congress will pass.
Engagement Resources
- Make Tax Fair –Their objective is to contribute to fair taxation. Support fair taxation, make a change.
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- US House of Representatives – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
Tariff on Canadian Lumber
Proposed Tariff
Proposed on April 25, 2017
Policy Summary
President Donald Trump announced on April 25th a new set of tariffs on Canadian lumber policies. Citing an unfair deal, President Trump has launched a new set of duties ranging from 3% to 24% on five Canadian lumber companies. Currently, most Canadian lumber firms pay a tariff of 20% on exports to the United States. This dispute over Canadian lumber is many decades old, and President Trump will not be the first to issue new tariffs. While this decision will not be finalized by the Commerce Department until September, they are effective immediately and 90 days retroactively. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Once again, President Trump did not consider all possible externalities with this new tariff. This duty would hurt American homebuilders and would raise the price for new homeowners across the country. Because the Canadian government owns many of the forests in Canada, they are able to offer better subsidies. Instead of negotiating, President Trump would rather start a trade war with our close ally and economic partner. This is dangerous for the United States politically, and a calmer and wiser approach may help the average American citizen more in the long run. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- National Association of Homebuilders — An association to keep a strong housing market and keep housing prices low.
- Atlas Free Trade — A network of research and collaboration between concerned international advocates who wish to remove trade barriers.
- World Trade Organization — A supranational institution that works to increase free trade and lower tariffs
This brief was compiled by Jacob Malinowski. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact jacob@usresistnews.org.
Senate Bill 823 Against Warrantless and Random Searches of American Citizens Digital Devices At U.S. Border Crossings
Proposed Congressional Legislation
Proposed April 4, 2017
Policy Summary
On April 4, 2017, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced in the U.S. Congress the “Protecting Data At The Border Act.” The bill is aimed at protecting the privacy rights of Americans as they exit or re – enter the United States with regard to their personal electronic devices and the personal information contained on those devices. The bill, if passed, would [1] require a warrant based on probable cause for a border agent to search a device and [2] prohibit law enforcement officials from delaying or denying entry to the U.S. by persons who refuse to hand over to border law enforcement officials their device PIN numbers, passwords and social media account information. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Analysis
Senate Bill 823 is a needed new law because of the potential for abuse and the protections it promises to provide to American citizens. In 2016, Department of Homeland Security data showed nearly 25,000 incidents of cell phone searches by border agents. This was an increase from the 5,000 incidents in 2015. The Fourth Amendment provides against “unreasonable searches or seizures” and yet searches at the border constituted nothing more than agents thumbing through photos, text messages, and apps containing highly sensitive personal information, such as banking and health information. The search of digital devices of foreign nationals can still occur but Senator Wyden’s bill is properly narrow in that it implements protections for Americans and requires a more substantial connection to criminal activity to search. This will ensure that Americans are not subject to random searches of their digital devices when crossing a United States border. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- White House Petition – petition to urge Congress and the White House to pass Senate Bill 823.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – foundation focused on defending your rights in the digital world.
- Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) – research center dedicated to online privacy and civil liberty issues.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
House Joint Resolution 43 (H.J. Res 43) [Update]
115th Congress
Passed on March 30, 2017
Update: April 13, 2017
This is an update on Health Policy Brief 5 that reported that H.J. Res 43 was passed through Congress on March 30, 2017. On April 13, President Trump signed the bill into law, allowing states to discriminate against certain healthcare providers, such as Planned Parenthood.
Policy Summary
Congress voted to overturn a rule put in place by the Obama administration in December 2016 that prevented states from denying Title X Family Planning funding to health care providers who offer abortion services. Title X funds are intended to provide access to “family planning and related preventative health services for millions of low-income or uninsured individuals”. H.J. Res 43 passed with a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President Pence, disapproving of the rule that stated states could not withhold Title X sub-grants from otherwise eligible family planning health care providers, solely because they offer abortions, in addition to other health services. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Title X funding helps more than four million clients, according to their 2015 annual report. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund warns that this “could embolden states to discriminate against family planning health care providers — both Planned Parenthood health centers and independent clinics”. According to the Guttmacher Institute, “72% of U.S. counties had at least one safety-net family planning center supported by Title X, and 94% of women in need of publicly funded family planning care lived in those counties” in 2010. Researchers estimate that healthcare provided by Title X-funded providers prevented 326,000 abortions in 2014 that would have been caused by a higher unintended pregnancy rate.
Engagement Resources
- Donate to Planned Parenthood – Planned Parenthood is asking for emergency contributions to help fight states who may try to defund the organization.
- Call your Senator – Call your U.S. Senator on behalf of Planned Parenthood and tell them not to defund Planned Parenthood.
- Become a fundraiser for Guttmacher Institute – create a page to share on social media to help raise funds to support Guttmacher Institute’s sexual and reproductive health policy work.
This brief was compiled by Elizabeth Kiefer. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact elizabeth@usresistnews.org.
State-Level Responses to Federal Action on Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Proposed and Approved State Legislation
Ongoing
Summary
In response to President Trump’s January executive action to crack down on sanctuary jurisdictions, states have responded in two opposite ways – either cracking down on sanctuary cities under their jurisdiction or moving for the entire state to become a sanctuary jurisdiction. Sanctuary cities or states are defined as jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with the federal government in order to help undocumented immigrants avoid deportation. While the state of Tennessee already had a law that prevents cities from making policies that hinder the enforcement of federal immigration law, Republican lawmakers have proposed a new policy that would cut off funding to cities that did such. With the support of Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas legislature passed a similar bill in February. On the other hand, the California State Senate has passed a bill this week that would prohibit local law enforcement agencies from using resources to pursue immigration violations. Similar bills have been introduced in Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, and New York. Vermont already has a similar law on the books.
Analysis
Sanctuary states would challenge a federal government that is decidedly unwelcoming and eager to deny undocumented immigrants their day in immigration court by deporting them for committing a crime as minor as a traffic violation. The stance that sanctuary states would take is an admirable one, but forcing local law enforcement officials to choose whether to obey their state government or the federal government is not an optimal policy outcome and could present problems that municipal sanctuary policy would not. Sanctuary states also would pose a massive challenge to the Trump administration’s threat to cut off funding to sanctuary jurisdictions, which on the city level would already be a legally questionable move.
Engagement Resources
- Local Options for Protecting Immigrants – This document hosted by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights notes what steps local governments can take to protect immigrants against federal government actions.
- Support a Local Solidarity Network in Your Area – Organizations are rapidly forming on a local level across the country to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants and to ensure that law enforcement agencies are acting legally and justly as they seek to enforce these new executive orders. Examples include the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network and Mi Casa es Su Casa (San Diego).
- Resistance Manual – Crisis Resources – If you know someone who is facing immigration troubles, please share this compendium of legal resources and relevant nonprofit organizations with them.
This brief was compiled by Oliver Bjornsson. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact oliver@usresistnews.org.
Rescinded Protections for Student Loan Borrowers
Rescinded Guidances
Issued on April 11, 2017
Policy Summary
Secretary of Education Betsy Devos has rescinded guidances aimed at making it easier for borrowers to pay back their student loans, citing a financial responsibility to not only borrowers but taxpayers. The series of Obama Administration policy memos, instituted in the face of a wave of student loan defaults, strengthened consumer protections for borrowers by instructing loan servicers to follow certain guidelines aimed at““simplifying the repayment process, better protecting borrowers, and facilitating our oversight of servicing contractors.” This decision to rescind the guidelines comes as the Department of Education is facing $9 billion in budget cuts. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Lawmakers and advocacy groups argue that since the government pays millions to the student loan servicers to manage about $1.2 trillion in loans, more regulations should be required of those contractors, not less.When left on their own, reports from the Government Accountability Office and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) show that loan servicers often do not look out for the best interest of their borrowers. Naivent, a well-known loan servicer has been sued by Washington State and the CFPB for allegedly cheating borrowers out of their repayment rights. It has been said that due to Devos’ action, it is likely that Navient will still receive a new contract. Former Deputy Treasury Secretary Sarah Bloom Raskin said that Devos’ decision, which does reverse policies that Raskin had worked on, made without a substitute or clear reason, shows that the administration is placing the welfare of loan servicers above those of student borrowers. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Americans for Financial Reform – The AFR is a nonprofit organization made up of 200 civil rights, consumer, labor, business, investor, faith-based, and civic and community groups who are working to lay the foundation for a strong, stable, and ethical financial system.
- Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project – A project of the National Consumer Law Center, the SLBAP is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – A U.S Government agency tasked with making sure that banks, lenders and others in the financial world, treat consumers fairly.
This brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact cindys@usresistnews.org.
Work Requirements for Medicaid
Proposed State Legislation
Ongoing
Policy Summary
After the failure of Trump’s American Health Care Act, some conservative Republicans are calling for work requirements for Medicaid Beneficiaries. The Kaiser Family Foundation update says least four states including Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have formally submitted waiver requests to require work as a condition for Medicaid eligibility. Each state’s proposal differs slightly but none have been approved. Florida, which is currently one of the toughest states to get Medicaid coverage, is eying new work requirements as well. Indiana, Montana, and New Hampshire offer voluntary work program referrals to adults covered by Medicaid, and some states are considering follow those models. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Supporters, like health and human services chairman Rep. Travis Cummings, argue that the requirements are “an effort to encourage people to work and take their health care more seriously” and that Medicaid is eating up too much of the budget. Others argue that requirements could increase program costs if individuals are denied coverage and then need emergency care. If the work requirements were implemented, monitoring and enforcing them would be difficult and costly. Overall, the impact of Medicaid work requirements is not expected to be very large as the majority of Medicaid recipients who are able to work already do. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Contact Your State Officials – Voice your opinion on the matter to the people who make these important decisions!
- Families USA – Learn more about Medicaid and how it affects families. Families USA supports the expansion of Medicaid to boost state economies and strengthen the health care system.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact ann@usresistnews.org.