Letter from 200 groups demands action against cynical budget rescissions loophole

New York – With a looming September 30 deadline for a new federal fiscal spending bill, more than 100 New Yorkers rallied outside Sen. Schumer’s Manhattan office today to demand that he reject proposed Republican budget cuts and protect policies that ensure clean water, safe food and affordable healthcare, among other crucial priorities. Specifically, constituents called for Schumer to demand a ban on “rescissions,” an obscure and cynical budget maneuver that would let President Trump and Congressional Republicans unilaterally claw back funding approved in a bipartisan law with simple House and Senate majorities later on.

In a letter sent to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this month, more than 200 organizations from around the country demanded that Senate Democrats reject any federal appropriations bill that does not explicitly prohibit the subsequent use of the rescission process. Hundreds of letters from constituents were hand-delivered to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand during the rally, demanding Senate Democrats use their leverage to end the military occupation of U.S. cities and stop the secret police from terrorizing residents, as well.

Advocacy groups represented at the rally included Food & Water Watch, Indivisible Brooklyn, Target Majority NYC, Rise And Resist, NY Communities for Change, Upper Westside Action Group, Jackson Heights Indivisible, and others.

“A bipartisan federal spending law isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on if Congressional Republicans can unilaterally cut it up days later through an obscure legislative loophole,” said Eric Weltman, senior New York organizer at Food & Water Watch. “With fundamental issues of public health, safe food and clean water on the line, Senator Schumer must stand firm and reject any appropriations bill that does not include a prohibition on sneaky, cynical rescissions later on.”

With the federal fiscal year ending September 30, Republicans are pushing steep cuts tied to a proposed spending bill. Because any deal requires 60 votes in the Senate, Schumer and his Democratic caucus have the leverage to block further cuts — but earlier this year, Democrats allowed massive concessions to move forward under Trump and Congressional pressure. New Yorkers are demanding that Schumer use his leadership to stand firm this time and to protect critical federal priorities that safeguard food, water and climate.

“Back in March, Senator Schumer divided Democrats by voting for Republicans’ attacks on our communities and cuts to the services we rely on. After facing calls for his resignation, Schumer seems to have learned from his costly mistakes. He’s promising that Democrats won’t vote for the MAGA cuts this time. We support Schumer’s demand for bipartisan negotiations to keep the government funded and we call on Democrats to remain united in protecting our communities against MAGA cuts and lawlessness. But we need to make sure Schumer holds the line he’s drawn, because we cannot afford another Schumer surrender,” said Adam Ring, Coordinator, Indivisible Brooklyn.

“People in New York are paying the price because Senator Schumer caved to Republicans, last March, giving MAGA a slush fund to terrorize our communities. The regime has been tearing up the Constitution ever since, disappearing our neighbors to gulags and camps, abducting civilians in unmarked cars, illegally clawing back the appropriated funds people can not do without, and so much more. We are glad that our Senate Minority Leader has set red line requirements Republicans must meet before Democrats will vote to approve their funding bills. We look forward to seeing Chuck live up to his words, and we urge him to be bolder still, to rein in this regime’s chaos,” said Ann S., on the leadership team of Target Majority NYC, an Indivisible Group.

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