Certain Republicans are misusing their powers in the Senate to make more money; we can stop them

WHAT

The Budget Reconciliation Bill is a billionaire’s wish: money away from the people and setting it up to make the rich richer. As it stands, the Senate’s budget adds $18 billion in new oil and gas giveaways. If pushed through, the GOP tax-and-spending bill starts a Public Land fire sale for as much as 3 million acres of public lands. Republicans started this during Trump’s previous presidential term. We can’t let it happen again.

WHO

Senate Energy and Natural Resources: Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah)

HOW

So, how is Trump’s Administration planning to take our money and build more for him and his cronies? Through the federal budget, of course.

The Senate has the power to enact a process called the Budget Reconciliation. Previously a tool to help fast-track budget resolutions, Reconciliation has become a sneaky way for the Senate to try and change spending and revenue without requiring a 60-vote super-majority, overriding the Senate’s regular filibuster rules.

‘Mandatory spending,’ AKA our social safeguards like Medicaid and Social Security, are part of that group. When it comes to social support meant to take care of us, like Medicaid, the federal budget comes into play. The budget reconciliation process is an optional process, and in today’s world, it is used mainly to sidestep the rules in order to enact questionable and unpopular legislation against the will of the citizen majority.

WHY

Indigenous sacred sites and land are coming under fire as well. One of the tools used by tribes is the designation of National Parks and Monuments. Like Bears Ears or Kuwohi, these federally protected lands serve tribes in their ability to keep toxic industries out. When our sacred sites and cultural landmarks are desecrated for money, it is a direct violation of our tribal sovereignty.

While it says in the text that “National Parks and National Monuments are exempt”, that means nothing when the DOJ has already disavowed the 1938 Antiquities Act, allowing presidents to cancel monument designations. In fact, Trump already has his eyes on two such National Parks (Chuckwalla and Sattitla) that were hard fought for and won by tribes in California.

WHEN

President 47 has stated that this Big Beautiful BAD Bill will be finalized (his arbitrary deadline) by July 4th. While there is definitely a possibility that the final Congressional vote gets delayed again, we should be speeding up to pressure the Senate to remove any line item in this bill that would allow the sale of public land to corporations, for any reason.

TAKE ACTION

Call your senator to let them know that public lands are not for sale for any reason. That taking health care, food, and life-sustaining support away from the most vulnerable among us is wrong. If you are in one of the following states where public land sales are most likely to take place, this is even more important.