As you may have been seeing in the news, the Trump Administration and its billionaire allies are moving forward with their plan to cut taxes for the rich at the expense of working people. Your pushback, however, is making a difference, as federal lawmakers have delayed most of their committee mark ups that were originally scheduled for this week; they are increasingly anxious about the trillions of dollars in cuts they’re considering to healthcare (Medicaid), food assistance (SNAP) and more. You can take action using our Families Over Billionaires toolkit; and you can follow the ins and outs of budget reconciliation by subscribing to the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center’s Unrig the Rules newsletter.
đź“ť Share Your Story: How is the Trump Administration Impacting Your Community?Â
Local Progress is rolling out a new tool to measure how the Trump Administration is impacting our communities. Our new storybank form is collecting on-the-ground accounts from local officials across the country to accurately map the impact of the federal government’s actions on local communities. These stories will help our network illustrate our people’s stories and strategize how to fight back against the Trump administration’s divisive agenda, as well as assist our press work in telling the story of our collective resistance. We’re interested in everything from how teachers may have been shut out from Head Start programs to proactive actions your legislative body has taken to affirm the rights of immigrants in your community. Check out the form here and don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!
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đź’» Important Partner Briefing: ICE’s Use of Administrative Subpoenas to Circumvent State and Local Sanctuary Laws
The Trump Administration has been increasingly using “administrative subpoenas” to force state and local government entities to provide information about their constituents—including sensitive personal details protected by state and local law—to enable more immigration enforcement. These subpoenas undermine local sanctuary policies.Â
On Thursday, May 8 from 4-5 PM ET, learn more about administrative subpoenas and what can be done from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic. Register here.
đź“š Calls to Action for Public Education
The federal government is poised to pass a billionaire-backed national voucher program that would defund our public schools and harm our students. It’s key that federal officials hear from folks on the ground about the harmful impact this defunding mechanism would have on students and the public education system. This toolkit from our friends at the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and NYU Metro Center will help you join the ranks of fellow LP members reaching out to their representatives in Washington — it’s powerful for elected officials in D.C. to hear from local electeds!Â
Do you want to pass a resolution in your district about protecting public education? Do you want to connect with organizers who could work with you to advocate for this? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch to support with a draft resolution and an organizing toolkit from our partners at Public School Strong.
🏡 Housing Day of Action
On Tuesday, May 20, Popular Democracy in Action, People’s Action Institute, PowerSwitch Action and the Right to the City Alliance will take part in a series of coordinated actions across the country to publicly launch the Homes for All Campaign and uplift national campaign demands for rent control and social housing! While most of these actions will be happening in respective cities or towns, RTTC will also be joining national housing front allies on May 20th to defend HUD against the relentless attacks from the far right. More information here! Please contact Chris (chris@righttothecity.org) if you want any more information about the DC action or if you wish to be connected to any of the local actions.
♻️ Direct Pay
Upcoming deadline for federal tax credits for green energy and infrastructure projects: May 15!
If your jurisdiction (1) put into service green energy or infrastructure projects eligible for tax credits through Direct Pay in calendar year 2024 and (2) had a fiscal year that ended on December 31, 2024, then May 15 is the deadline to file for Direct Pay. Don’t leave money on the table; Direct Pay can cover up to 70% of the cost of your green energy and infrastructure projects!
Can’t file everything by May 15? File for an extension by May 15 to receive an additional 6 months (until Nov. 15, 2025).
For questions and support: Our partners at Lawyers for Good Government and the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center are hosting Direct Pay office hours this Thursday, May 8 at 1PM ET. Register here. You can also check out Direct Pay 101 by CPCC here.
Photo retrieved from Families Over BillionairesÂ
