FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2025
Contact: Erica Freeman, freemane@pennpolicy.org
Pennsylvanians Together Campaign Heads to Washington to Demand Congress Say NO to More Tax Breaks for Billionaires and Corporations
250 Pennsylvanians Joined Fair Share America at the US Capitol to Meet with Their Representatives and Rally for Tax Fairness for Working Families
Statewide, PENNSYLVANIA — A delegation of over 250 advocates, workers, and community members from Pennsylvania traveled to Washington, DC, today to send a clear message to Congress: no more tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, especially not at the expense of hardworking families. The group was led by the Pennsylvania Policy Center and its campaign, Pennsylvanians Together, and organizational partners.
Congressman Brendan Boyle, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, spoke to the crowd, condemning Republicans’ dedication to giving the ultra-rich and wealthy corporations tax cuts at everyone else’s expense.
Congressman Brendan Boyle makes a speech to rally attendees at the Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires and Corporations rally at the US Capitol, April 10, 2025.
After the rally, 80 members of our delegation met with Senator John Fetterman to thank him for his opposition to the Republican budget plans. Just this week, Senator Fetterman joined many of his Democratic colleagues in endorsing two letters expressing opposition to taking away Medicaid and SNAP benefits to pay for tax cuts that overwhelmingly go to the wealthy.
Senator John Fetterman with constituents at the Say NO to Tax Breaks for Billionaires and Corporations rally at the US Capitol, April 10, 2025.
The group traveled to the nation’s capital as part of a national push led by Fair Share America (FSA), a grassroots organization fighting for tax justice. While in DC, the PA delegation will meet with their members of Congress and joined people from more than 30 states at a rally at the US Capitol on April 10th at 12:00 PM ET. The FSA rally gave a voice to everyday Americans with gut-wrenching stories, as well as members of Congress speaking out against the current push to extend the Trump tax cuts for the rich on the backs of the working class.
Members of the PA delegation are available for interviews by phone or video call while in transit or upon their return home. To coordinate an interview or get more information, contact Erica Freeman, freemane@pennpolicy.org.
QUOTES:
In his speech at the rally, Congressman Brendan Boyle said, “Just yesterday I took the lead with a number of my Democratic colleagues to introduce the “Hands Off the Medicaid and SNAP Act” to protect Medicaid and SNAP. But I have to say it is almost touching how committed my Republican colleagues are to delivering tax cuts for their billionaire donors. They are unbelievable employees for the billionaire class. They will do absolutely anything and everything to deliver these tax cuts for those who need it the least while taking away from those who need the help the most and who can afford to lose these programs the least.”
When asked why she trekked to DC, Cindy Malkemes of Dallas Township said, “I’m worried about what is happening in our country with the cuts to government programs that are happening. People are going to suffer and not get their needs met. I want to go to DC to help our representatives understand how important it is to represent ALL of us. Even those that don’t speak as loudly as some of us do.”
“The Pennsylvania Policy Center and Pennsylvanians Together are joining this fight because it’s time the rich and big corporations pay what they owe in taxes,” said executive director, Marc Stier. “We are tired of watching working people bear the brunt of taxes for the public goods like the roads and bridges, scientific research, and educated workers that enable billionaires and corporations to get rich while they pay next to nothing in taxes. We’re going to DC to remind our members of Congress who they work for — and that the people of PA oppose handouts for the rich especially when they come at the cost of taking away access to quality health care, and programs like SNAP that put food on the table.”
“Despite months of in-state protests and people standing up to fight against misplaced budget policies that put billionaires before families, Congress isn’t listening,” said Kristen Crowell, executive director of Fair Share America. “DC leadership is trying to jam through another round of tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of every working- and middle-class family nationwide –and they don’t want to face the consequences. So, we’re bringing the people to them to share their stories. Fair Share is proud to be leading this fight for tax justice with our partners in the states, because every single person deserves a fair shot to thrive in this country.”
The 2017 Trump tax law gave the vast majority of its benefits to the richest 10% and large corporations. More than 80% of the total benefit from the 2017 tax cuts went to the top 10% of earners, and 90% of workers did not see a pay raise at work. That’s because tax cuts for the rich and big corporations consistently fail to deliver on the economic benefits they promise.
Congress is moving forward with a budget plan that would extend and deepen the same failed 2017 tax cuts — and pay for them by forcing deep cuts to vital programs that support working families like Medicaid, SNAP, Head Start, and more.
In PA, the impacts of the cuts needed to fund the tax cuts for the rich are severe; in PA alone, Medicaid provides health care to:
· more than 2 million adults.
· more than 1.4 million children (including 200,000 served by CHIP).
· more than 1.4 million people who need mental or behavioral health care.
· more than 400,000 seniors who receive care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or, in some cases, at home.
· more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians with substance use disorder.
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