ICYMI: Democratic Women’s Caucus Leadership Calls Out Trump’s Attacks on Women and Families; Republicans’ Disastrous Budget on Morning Joe
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, March 11, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández’s (NM-03) and Vice Chairs Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03) joined Mika Brzezinski and Ali Vitali on Morning Joe to discuss Trump, Republicans’ and Elon Musk’s attacks on women and families, including Trump’s tariffs, Elon Musk’s firing of federal workers, and Republicans’ disastrous government funding package.
Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) on how Republicans’ funding bill will harm communities:
“Trump and Musk don't have the authority to shut down agencies or to fire people. But what Republicans want to do with their funding bill is give that authority to Musk. That's what we need to remember. They are giving Musk the authority to shut down whatever aspect of the government he wants, and that is something that we should not forget… every Republican who votes for this funding bill is giving up their own responsibility to decide what their constituents want and need. They are giving up the ability to decide how to fund community projects. They are taking away important dollars for their communities. And that's why I think you see Democrats speaking against this bill, because it will be disastrous for our communities.”
Vice Chair Emilia Sykes (OH-13) on how Trump’s tariffs will harm families:
“These tariffs are not strategic. They're not thoughtful. And it is causing a lot of chaos. The stock market has been dropping. And we're looking at an additional $2,000 per family. Everyone is concerned about how much everything costs: gas, groceries, housing, health care. And these tariffs will almost guarantee that prices will go up. Families will continue to suffer economically because of this very reckless and chaotic behavior. We just don't understand why the president wants to harm midwestern families like ours.”
Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03) on constituents’ anger about Trump and Musk’s attacks on Social Security:
“People are so upset about what is happening. Trump does not have a mandate. It was a close election, and he certainly doesn’t have a mandate to cut essential service programs–let alone Elon Musk talking last night on how he wants to cut entitlement programs. Think about that, the richest man in the world saying he wants to take away people’s hard-earned Social Security dollars that they paid into. They’re called entitlement programs for a reason–you're entitled to it because it’s your money. You paid into Social Security programs. So when people ask us what women’s issues are, it’s the economy. Women and mothers are concerned about the bottom line. They’re concerned about the rising cost of goods.”