Rally Connects the Dots Between Program cuts for Working People & Tax Cuts for the Rich

PHOTO: President Phinney and members of Mainers for Tax Fairness demonstrate in Augusta on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney joined members of the Mainers for Tax Fairness coalition, advocates, and impacted Mainers in a rally at the State House to urge Congress to build a fair tax system that funds schools, health care, veteran's services and Social Security rather than kickbacks for the super wealthy.

Mainers from across the state displayed signs connecting the dots between the devastating cuts to vital programs and the massive tax breaks being handed to billionaires like Elon Musk. The group, of which the Maine AFL-CIO is a member, is demanding a fairer tax system—one that puts working people first and stops balancing the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it.

"People in November voted with hopes for better lives for themselves and their families. I don’t believe that the people of Maine thought they were voting for a program that cut things like Veteran’s and Social Security services in order to pay for tax cuts that mostly go to people who are already very rich," said Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney. "But this is what the totality of the actions coming from Washington right now add up to. Connect the dots! Cutting support for visually impaired people at our libraries does not make Maine or our country better. Eliminating funding that has ensured that all Maine school children can get lunch won’t build a good future."

172,000 Mainers rely on food assistance and over 70,000 need help paying for heating fuel while Congress seeks to give millionaires a $43,000 tax cut.