http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/donald-trump-little-s5.jpgTrump’s past budgets included significant cuts to both Medicare and Social Security, the 2020 budget called its subsidies to farmers ‘overly generous’, and for three years in a row, his budgets have proposed cuts to environmental programs.

MADISON - As Trump prepares to release his 2021 budget, it’s a good time to look back at his previous budget proposals for insight into the groups of people he’s prioritizing and working to protect. Previous budget proposals indicate that year after year, Trump is willing to cut Social Security and Medicare — and other vital programs that help Wisconsin’s middle class, our environment and our rural communities.

Trump likes to claim he is prioritizing the middle class, but in his FY2018 Budget, he tried to cut a total of $2.5 trillion from programs that aid low- and moderate-income families.

Then, “less than two months after signing massive tax cuts that largely benefit those at the top of the economic ladder, President Trump put forward a 2019 budget that cuts basic assistance that millions of families struggling to get by need to help pay the rent, put food on the table, and get health care.”

Trump’s past budgets included significant cuts to both Medicare and Social Security, and recent remarks he gave in an interview show he’s as willing as ever to slash them. As we review his FY 2021 budget, keep in mind:

• 1,178,275 Wisconsin residents had Medicare coverage as of October 2019. That’s nearly 20 percent of the state’s population.
• 934,831 Wisconsin seniors receive Social Security benefits.

For the past two years, the Trump administration has proposed a 15 percent cut to the Department of Agriculture, despite the fact that at least 1,900 dairy farms in Wisconsin have closed since Trump took office.

Trump’s 2020 budget called “its subsidies to farmers ‘overly generous’ at a time when they are going through the worst crisis in decades because of depressed commodity prices and Trump’s trade tariffs.”

For three years in a row, Trump’s budgets have proposed cuts to environmental programs that greatly benefit Wisconsin.

Perhaps most notably, Trump has proposed massive cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a program that has not only improved environmental conditions in the region, but helped generate additional economic activity. Governor Tony Evers said Trump’s proposed cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative would cost jobs, hurt tourism and jeopardize public health in the state.

The Trump administrations repeated budget cuts to the EPA “would hinder the state’s ability to monitor and clean up contaminants, such as the elevated lead levels found in Wisconsin’s drinking water 96 times since 2012.” Trump has also proposed a 17% cut to the NOAA, which funded more than 150 weather and environment researchers providing “crucial” data to Wisconsin businesses and local governments.

If you’re looking to hear from folks who may be impacted by Trump’s new budget proposal, or have dealt with the consequences of his previous plans, please let me know.

Best,

Cassidy