April 12, 2025
Dear Friends,
Over the first 82 days of Donald Trump’s second term, chaos, confusion, and fear have been the defining features of his administration. With the help of his billionaire buddy Elon Musk, Trump has taken a chainsaw to the vital programs and services Americans depend on — illegally imposing sweeping cuts that have upended nearly every federal agency. Meanwhile, Trump is weaponizing the presidency to punish political opponents and deport legal residents to foreign prisons in defiance of court orders, while his Republican allies in Congress stand by in silence. These actions have inflicted real pain on families across the nation. But this week, Trump’s reckless economic moves triggered what may be the most turbulent stretch of his presidency so far.
Last week, President Trump announced drastic price hikes on imported goods from nearly every country on Earth, including tariffs on uninhabited islands. These so-called “reciprocal” tariffs amount to a massive sales tax of at least 10 percent on almost everything Americans buy, from clothing and cars to fruits and vegetables. In the days that followed, global markets plunged, putting millions of Americans’ hard-earned retirement savings at risk while sparking fear and instability for working families and small businesses nationwide.
Let’s be clear: there is no grand strategy here. It begs the questions: are these tariffs permanent or just part of a negotiation? Will they reduce the deficit or simply bankroll more tax breaks for billionaires? No one in Trump’s administration has a straight answer — because the fact is, the global economy and the livelihoods of American families are being held hostage to the whims of one man: Donald Trump.
On Wednesday, Trump suddenly announced a 90-day “pause” on his destructive tariff plans — blindsiding even his own U.S. Trade Representative, who apparently first learned of the policy change while testifying before Congress. But don’t be fooled. Even in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement, stocks remain significantly down since the start of the year, and families are still facing a 10 percent worldwide tariff and a staggering 145 percent tax on products from China.
The damage is already being done. These tariffs are raising prices on everyday essentials for you and your family, straining our global trading partnerships, and depriving businesses of the certainty they need to invest and create jobs in the United States. Trump’s so-called “pause” may have pulled us back from the brink of a second Great Depression, but it’s still left us staring down the barrel of a deep recession.
This kind of unchecked economic power should never rest in the hands of a single person. Congress, not the President, possesses the constitutional authority to set tariff policy. Yet my Republican colleagues have abandoned that responsibility by passing a rule this week to block the House from even taking a vote on Trump’s tariffs. That’s a dangerous abdication of duty, and I’ll be working with my Democratic colleagues to fight back, protect American families, and oppose these reckless policies.
President Trump and his Republican allies have shown open contempt for working Americans and the struggles they face, and few things make that attitude clearer than the extreme budget they’re now trying to force through Congress. This plan would impose the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance in American history, ripping health care away from millions and forcing children to go hungry — all to hand trillions in tax breaks to billionaires.
Nearly one in three Americans — including almost 200,000 children, seniors, and people with disabilities right here in our Capital Region — rely on Medicaid. Yet Republicans are pushing at least $880 billion in Medicaid cuts, ripping away coverage and raising health care costs for millions. More than 40 million Americans — including 93,000 people in our district — depend on food assistance to help feed their families. But the GOP’s budget slashes at least $230 billion from those programs, leaving countless families to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Make no mistake: these cruel, reckless policies are a betrayal of working people across this country.
Donald Trump secured a second term in part because of his promises to rein in inflation and lower costs for families. But, not even three months into this administration, his policies have done exactly the opposite. Trump’s chaotic, inflationary tariff schemes and his party’s callous budget plans prove what has long been clear: while Republicans side with big money, Democrats are on the side of the many.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Federal tax returns are due this coming Tuesday, April 15th!
- If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you may be eligible to file your federal taxes for free directly with the IRS, using IRS Direct File.
- Despite rumors to the contrary, Direct File is still live and available throughout this year’s tax season.
- Last year, 96% of New Yorkers who used Direct File reported a positive experience with the program.
- An estimated 3.4 million New Yorkers are eligible to use Direct File this year.
- Taxpayers who have certain types of income, such as gig, rental, or business income, or who earned wages above a certain threshold, are ineligible for Direct File at this time.
- You can check your eligibility for Direct File HERE.
- If you are not eligible for Direct File, the IRS has other free resources to help you file your taxes this season.
