LWVAC is launching a "What You Can Do" (WYCD) campaign where we share a series of action plans. With so much happening on the national stage, these action plans are intended to encourage you to respond to the daily breach of the rule of law and the separation of powers. Read more about this campaign here. Skip to the current action by clicking here.

CURRENT TOPIC: Messaging About the Economy

1. Today, Tuesday, March 11, 2025, the House will be voting on a continuation of the existing budget. If it passes, it will go to the Senate before the Friday deadline to prevent another government shutdown. The budget includes the continuation of significant tax breaks for the wealthy. If the wealthy paid their fare share of taxes, we could spare programs that serve other people.
2. Tariffs have been placed on the three largest trading partners for the U. S. – Canada, Mexico and China. They have responded with tariffs of their own. Per numerous financial experts, tariffs will increase the costs of imported goods like lumber, food, dairy products, etc. The building sector and the food-on-the-table sector are likely to pay more.
3. Thousands of federal workers have been fired or have on-again-off-again job status. They may need Medicaid and/or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. Any budget should include funding for these programs for current and future needs.
4. Hurricane season is around the corner. 880 staff at NOAA were fired. We depend on NOAA for forecasts, warnings, storm preparation and evacuation. Florida needs NOAA.
5. The stock market has taken a nosedive. The market responds poorly to uncertainty. The tariffs, broken relationships with allies, and harried consumer confidence brings plenty of uncertainty to the market. Many people have retirement savings in the market. A “transition” caused by broken agreements is not a sound plan.

CURRENT ACTION: Call your legislators and let them know how you feel and why.

Here are suggested questions that parallel each topic above.  Feel free to devise your own questions and/or topics. 

1. The budget that is being discussed continues big tax breaks for the wealthy, while working people pay their fair share. What are you, (name of legislator), doing to make the wealthy pay their fair share so the unwealthy can continue to receive services?
2. Social security is not a “Ponzi Scheme”. It is a plan for workers to pay into the system so they can receive payments during retirement. What are you doing to develop a sensible plan to preserve social security for those who have paid into it?
3. Tariffs have been imposed on the most important trading partners for things we use every day. Now those partners have also imposed tariffs on the U.S. Tariffs hurt the building industry, farmers, and consumers. What are you doing for your constituents to ensure we can have affordable food on the table, roofs over our heads and products in the stores?
4. There are over 154,000 federal workers in Florida. Many have lost their jobs or are uncertain if they will keep their jobs. What are you doing to help the federal workers in Florida who have been suddenly fired and have limited means to pay their bills? (Source: Economic Policy Institute)
5. Last year Florida had three back-to-back hurricanes. Without the hurricane information and warnings of NOAA (National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration), damage to property and the suffering of Floridians would have been worse. 880 staff were fired from NOAA. Hurricane season will be here in less than three months. What are you doing to provide hurricane forecasts, storm preparation and evacuation orders for the coming season? What are you doing to reinstate NOAA staff?
6. The stock market has sharply declined. How do we know this is a “transition”? Especially since it is because of US-imposed tariffs that have started a tariff war. Many Floridians have money in the stock market. What are you doing to stabilize relationships with trading partners? What are you doing to protect Floridians from cost uncertainty because of national actions?

Be focused, be polite, use personal examples, call every day. Keep the phones jammed and voice message boxes full!