MEMORANDUM<\/p>\n
TO: Interested Parties<\/p>\n
FROM: DNC Trump War Room<\/p>\n
DATE: January 20, 2019<\/p>\n
RE: Two Years of Trump, One Failed Presidency<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, we are officially halfway through Trump\u2019s presidency, and things are only getting worse. Any way you look at it, Trump\u2019s first two years have been marked by failure:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The government is currently going through its longest shutdown in history, with no end in sight. And Trump\u2019s to blame. He said it himself, \u201cI will be the one to shut it down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s only significant legislative accomplishment gave massive tax breaks to rich and big corporations, while doing nothing to benefit workers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump vowed to protect Medicare and Social Security, but has proposed drastic cuts to both programs. He repeatedly promised that he would lower the costs of prescription drugs within weeks, but that hasn\u2019t happened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s ongoing campaign to sabotage the Affordable Care Act has made health care less accessible and less affordable for millions of Americans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump has demonized and attacked immigrants while doing nothing to actually solve the issue of illegal immigration. He separated families, attacked asylum rights, and played politics with the lives of Dreamers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump has faced serious investigations throughout his presidency that are examining his campaign\u2019s relationship with Russia, whether he committed obstruction of justice and whether he, himself – the President of the United States – has acted as a Russian agent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After two years, it\u2019s already clear that Trump won\u2019t deliver on his campaign promises, he has completely abandoned workers and families, and his presidency is a failure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump Shutdown: Abandoned Workers And Failed Leadership<\/p>\n Trump is responsible for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. He said it himself, \u201cI will be the one to shut it down.\u201d Trump has abandoned hundreds of thousands of workers who do not know when their next paycheck will come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Trump Shutdown is the longest in our history, and the third<\/a> of Trump\u2019s presidency. Before Trump, no shutdown had occurred when one party controlled the House, Senate and White House since the 1970s<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Americans increasingly blame<\/a> Trump for the government shutdown, and his approval rating<\/a> has slid dramatically since the shutdown began.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump Shutdown is pushing the economy closer to a recession<\/a>. It has eroded<\/a> Americans optimism in the economy and support for Trump\u2019s economic policies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Hundreds of thousands of workers missed<\/a> their paychecks. The Trump Shutdown has so far cost workers more than $5,ooo<\/a> in wages on average.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Nearly one million government contractors are out of work<\/a> because of the shutdown.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Coast Guard members missed their paychecks. This is the first time in our history<\/a> active-duty service members have not been paid during a lapse in government funding.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Failed Economic Policies<\/p>\n Trump repeatedly touts the economy as one of his biggest accomplishments, but under Trump\u2019s watch wages remained largely stagnant, the stock market Trump once touted has plummeted, and the economic outlook of our country has worsened. While his administration has given wealthy corporations a short-term boost, they\u2019ve rolled back crucial protections for consumers, student borrowers, retirees, and working Americans across the country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The gap<\/a> between the richest Americans and everyone else has grown under Trump\u2019s watch.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The economic indicators Trump has frequently pointed to as evidence of his policies\u2019 success have all begun to falter:<\/p>\n Last year, the stock market had its worst year<\/a> since the 2008 financial crisis.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Last month, a key manufacturing index tumbuled by the largest amount in a decade<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Manufacturers\u2019 confidence plunged to the lowest levels in two years<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Consumer confidence fell to its lowest levels<\/a> in over two years.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Americans are more pessimistic about the future of the economy than they\u2019ve been in nearly two decades<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration has systematically rolled back crucial protections for workers and consumers to benefit corporate interests and donors.<\/p>\n Trump eliminated protections for student borrowers<\/a>, gutted enforcement of payday lenders<\/a>, and let corporate wrongdoers<\/a> off the hook.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump Tax Law Did Not Benefit Workers<\/p>\n Trump promised workers that his massive tax cuts for the rich and big corporations would benefit workers, create economic growth, and pay for itself. None of that happened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Corporate profit growth hit a 6-year high<\/a>, and corporations used their massive tax breaks for a record-high $1 trillion<\/a> of stock buybacks.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Workers did not benefit. 60 percent <\/a>of voters said they had not seen an increase in their paychecks as a result of the Trump tax law.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump tax law has not created jobs. In fact, the 1,000 largest public companies actually eliminated nearly 140,000 jobs<\/a> since the tax law was passed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The federal deficit swelled by more than 40 percent<\/a> compared to a year ago largely because of a sharp decline in corporate tax revenues, and the CBO said the Trump tax law would add $1.9 trillion<\/a> to the debt over the next decade.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n While workers were left behind, Trump and his family benefit greatly from the Trump tax law.<\/p>\n Ivanka and Jared stand to benefit<\/a> from a tax break they pushed, which offers massive tax breaks to real estate developers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Kushner\u2019s family business bought $13 million<\/a> in additional properties after they were designated part of an \u201copportunity zone\u201d by Trump\u2019s tax law.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Trump and his family benefit substantially<\/a> from massive tax cuts given to the richest Americans, and from tax breaks<\/a> given to \u201cpass-through\u201d entities like the Trump Organization.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump Did Nothing To Lower Prescription Drug Costs<\/p>\n Trump promised to bring down prescriptions drug costs. Instead, he gave massive tax breaks to pharmaceutical companies and did nothing to actually lower costs, which continue to skyrocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite Trump\u2019s promises, pharmaceutical companies have already raised prices on more than one thousand drugs<\/a> so far this year, including increases of nearly 10%.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The biggest drug companies announced more than $50 billion<\/a> in stock buybacks after the Trump tax law, but made no plans to lower drug prices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s drug pricing plan did nothing to lower costs, and could actually increase out-of-pocket costs<\/a> for millions of patients.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n House Democrats have already gotten to work to lower costs and launched <\/a>an investigation into pharmaceutical companies raising prescription drug prices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \nTrump Made Health Care Less Accessible And Less Affordable <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s health care sabotage is forcing premium increases as high as double-digits \u00a0on millions of Americans this year, and millions more are priced out of the market and unable to afford coverage at all.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n For two years running, the open enrollment period saw a decline in health insurance sign-ups. 2019 saw a 4% drop<\/a> in health insurance sign ups compared to last year because of Trump\u2019s sabotage.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump immediately celebrated<\/a> a court ruling in favor of a lawsuit he backed to overturn the ACA. Here\u2019s what Trump was really celebrating:<\/p>\n Potentially taking health care coverage away from around 20 million<\/a> Americans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Putting as many as 130 million<\/a> Americans with pre-existing conditions at risk of losing key protections.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Confusing tens of thousands<\/a> of Americans who typically enroll in health care on the final days of open enrollment, making it harder for them to get the care they need.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump broke his promise to address the opioid crisis. He failed<\/a> to take the advice of his presidential commission to declare the opioid epidemic a national emergency, and tried to cut<\/a> Medicaid and ACA benefits — both of which have played a key role in expanding access to substance abuse treatment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Though Trump fortunately failed to push through repeal legislation, he has continued his endless campaign to sabotage the Affordable Care Act. Here are just a few examples:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n New rules proposed<\/a> by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would increase out-of-pocket costs, drive up premiums, and put health care out of reach for many Americans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration issued new guidance<\/a> encouraging states to skirt the ACA\u2019s current income and coverage standards for federal health insurance subsidies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n One day after the midterm elections, Trump finalized a new rule — which now faces <\/a>a legal challenge — to roll back<\/a> the ACA\u2019s requirement that employers provide birth control coverage.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s administration repeatedly<\/a> slashed funds for enrollment assistance and advertising programs intended to get Americans covered.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump Broke His Promises To Protect Social Security And Medicare<\/p>\n Trump vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare, but that was a lie. Trump tried to cut billions from these vital programs that millions of families and seniors rely on, and would have cut even more to pay for his massive tax cuts for the rich and big corporations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Medicare and Social Security both<\/a> weakened<\/a> under Trump.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump sought a $554 billion cut<\/a> to Medicare.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump sought a $72.5 billion cut<\/a> to Social Security disability insurance and supplemental security income.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump Has Abandoned Our Nation\u2019s Veterans<\/p>\n Trump constantly lies<\/a> about his accomplishments and has repeatedly shown disrespect<\/a> to veterans and military service members. Despite saying he supports our troops, Trump has not done enough to help our nation\u2019s veterans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s government shutdown disproportionately<\/a> hurts our nation\u2019s veterans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s VA is planning to betray millions of veterans by rerouting billions<\/a> of dollars from veterans\u2019 hospitals into the private sector.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s VA set aside $6.2 million last year alone to advertise its crisis hotline to reach vulnerable veterans and prevent suicides, but it spent less than 1%<\/a> of that budget.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s VA is being steered<\/a> by three of his Mar-a-Lago cronies with no relevant experience.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Veterans have not been able<\/a> to get the GI Bill payments they need and earned because of failures at Trump\u2019s VA.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s CFPB made it harder<\/a> for the the Military Lending Act to protect service members and their families from deceitful lending practices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Fearmongering And Anti-Immigrant Policies<\/p>\n Trump started his campaign by attacking immigrant communities, and that would come to define his presidency. Trump has continued to fearmonger and push his anti-immigrant agenda, tearing thousands of children<\/a> from their families, attacking immigrants rights<\/a>, and diminishing the U.S. as a beacon for the world<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration separated thousands more<\/a> children from their families than previously believed.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Multiple<\/a> immigrant children have died<\/a> while in the Trump administration\u2019s custody.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration fired tear gas<\/a> at children and their families seeking asylum at the border.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration sought to rescind the right to asylum<\/a> from victims of domestic violence and gang violence.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Americans overwhelmingly<\/a> oppose Trump\u2019s border wall.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly tried to manufacture a crisis at the border by lying <\/a>and demonizing immigrants<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n The Trump administration announced they would cap the number of refugees that can enter the country at the lowest level in the program\u2019s history<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump rescinded<\/a> the DACA program and then sabotaged<\/a> multiple<\/a> bipartisan<\/a> deals<\/a> to protect Dreamers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump has tried to end<\/a> temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Sudan.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump Has Made Us Less Safe<\/p>\n Trump has repeatedly embarrassed us on the global stage, and his leadership has made us less safe and caused the world to lose respect for the United States. Time and again, Trump has praised dictators, while alienating our allies, and chose to side with the likes of Vladimir Putin over our U.S. intelligence agencies.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Despite Trump\u2019s summit and claims that he neutralized North Korea\u2019s nuclear threat, North Korea secretly<\/a> continued to build new missile bases.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Global approval of the U.S. hit a new low<\/a> under Trump.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump damaged relationships<\/a> with key allies, and the decline of America\u2019s standing left openings for other countries to fill the leadership void<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Trump withdrew<\/a> the U.S. \u00a0from the U.N. human rights council.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n Donald Trump praised dictators like North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un<\/a> and he \u00a0extended a warm invitation<\/a> to Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte, who has openly defended<\/a> the murder of journalists and extrajudicial killings.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/p>\n
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\nVoters made their voices heard in the midterm elections: They overwhelmingly oppose Trump\u2019s sabotage. While the Trump administration has not learned its lesson, Democrats will never stop fighting to ensure that health care is a right for all.<\/p>\n\n
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