Representative Danny Davis
Ford: “It’s about ending Obamacare.”
In a 217-215 vote, with all House Democrats voting against the continuing budget resolution, a government shutdown was averted. Still, Representative Danny Davis (D-7th) warned, “We are a nation in an ideological war, battling for the soul of America.”
Reached in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 11, Davis said the question is what America’s role will be and whether people are willing to continue on a path of inclusiveness, providing equal opportunity for all citizens. Will America pave the way for individuals to move from one level of socio-economic status to another?
Davis asked if the current administration’s changes and cutbacks would force people to choose sides: whether to provide for the poor or create a pathway for the rich to become wealthier, leaving thousands of workers behind.
Davis is concerned that people will be forced to choose which side to support based on the political agendas of a divided House, Congress, and Senate. Those government entities, led by a president driven by a slash-and-burn mentality, propose reductions to save $4.5 trillion in taxes for the wealthy, which includes $2 trillion in spending cuts.
Trump and his budget cuts, led by his advisor Elon Musk, coupled with on-and-off tariff wars, have negatively affected the U.S. stock market. According to AP News, the market tumbled on Monday, March 10, reportedly causing huge losses of $4 trillion in market value.
Trump said he is not worried about the stock market and that, for some people, it will be a “boom.” He asked that people have “patience” as he completes the government restructuring. We’re just getting started,” he told reporters.
Davis and Representative LaShawn Ford (D-8th) are worried about the clash of differing political agendas—one favoring the rich, the other leaving the poor behind.
“It’s got to be one or the other,” Davis told the Chicago Crusader because, right now, there are two very divided Americas.
“You are going to be one or the other. You’re going to have to move, or you get moved. You have to be engaged or you’ll get run over, and that’s where we are,” said Davis.
When reminded that Trump has the trump cards, Davis disagreed, saying, “The people have the trump card. Some of the decisions Trump is making have consequences, such as what happened to the stock market yesterday.”
Davis said advisors had warned Trump of the effects of his decisions, but he would not heed those warnings and went ahead.
Rushing to meet with officials from the State Treasury Associations and the Health Center Association, Davis said, “All of them are in a frenzy in terms of not wanting to change the quality of their lives, what they do, or their accomplishments. It’s battle royal.”
When asked what the poor can do to fight back, Davis said, “If the poor rise up, people will work with them, but people in need must be brought into this fight.”
The fight for equality and inclusion is far from over. The budget Continuation Resolution (CR) that narrowly passed, with all Democrats voting against it along with one Kentucky Republican, Representative Thomas Massie, neither includes the funding for federal programs nor changes tax laws. Davis said the fight for fairness continues.
It allows Trump to keep his campaign promise of extending tax breaks for the wealthy, which he had secured during his first term, which expires at the end of this year.
The burden of passing the CR in the Senate rests with at least seven Democrats and whether they will cave in and vote with Republican senators or take the blame for a government shutdown.
Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA) told reporters, “It would be a capitulation to the Trump style of democracy, which is the movement of democracy to dictatorship.”
Rep. Ford is concerned about any cuts to Medicaid that would affect 72 million people enrolled in the program, including those recovering from opioid addiction.
“These cuts are a rollback of Obamacare,” Ford told the Chicago Crusader, referring to the Affordable Care Act, which many call Obamacare. The program, he says, “is being rolled back by the Republicans. It is what they have tried to do from the beginning.”
Asked if Republicans don’t understand they would be hurting their own people by cutting Medicaid, Ford said, “I don’t understand why a person would vote for anyone who tells you they will take away your healthcare.”