On Eve of Trump Rally, Democrats Call Out the Harm He's Inflicted on Florida

The Florida Democratic Party held a press call with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman Lois Frankel, and Joseph Pennisi, who was the founding executive director of the Florida Policy Institute, to discuss the damage Trump’s policies have done to Florida.

The call included discussions on Trump’s attempts to have the Affordable Care Act (ACA) overturned in the courts and Trump’s proposal to cut the SNAP program, also known as food stamps.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz discussed on the call Trump’s attempts to roll back the Affordable Care Act and reminded reporters ahead of Thanksgiving that no one should be thankful for Trump’s cuts to food stamps:

“We are here to discuss Trump’s so-called homecoming rally tomorrow, but before he settles into his fake permanent home in our state he really needs to do a neighborhood apology tour here first.

Because there is no one in Florida that Trump hasn’t betrayed or abandoned. As we speak Trump lawyers are trying to destroy the Affordable Care Act in court, despite the fact that the ACA helps millions of Floridians, especially cancer survivors like me who have a pre-existing condition, who now no longer fear being denied coverage, he is trying to yank away from us and leave us in health peril. Make no mistake, thousands of Floridians will die or needlessly suffer because both Trump and Governor DeSantis still refuse to expand Medicaid here.

And as we all sit at tables to break bread with friends and families this week let’s remember that Trump consistently proposes cuts to food stamps and energy assistance and that is something that no one should be thankful for.”

Congresswoman Lois Frankel stated:

“What I would like to emphasize is the devastation that Floridians — if Mr. Trump’s efforts to have the ACA overturned. Florida still leads the nation in affordable care signups in the whole country. Almost approaching 2 million people.

Florida’s bracing for really a big impact if in fact the Affordable Care Act is overturned, as Mr. Trump has said he would like that to happen. And I think what’s most disappointing is that neither he or the Republicans have bothered to even propose a substitute.”

Joseph Pennisi provided context for reporters:

“At the national level, President Trump’s policies work for the benefit of those at the highest income levels while forgetting the middle class. Now that is a particularly bad formula in a state like Florida. Here because of our economy’s reliance on industries like tourism and agriculture –– too many families are struggling to get by, despite working two or more jobs.

The United Way in it’s ALICE report, that’s Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, estimates that 46 percent of Florida’s working families can’t afford basic necessities in their communities. President Trump’s policies do nothing to help them, in many cases, actively works to harm them.

Now while the Trump policies, particularly the tax cuts, greatly benefitted the richest, the resulting deficits have increased the calls for cuts in the safety net that protects the most vulnerable among us. And this administration has been right there to answer the call proposing cuts in SNAP and federal housing support, to name a few.

The SNAP program alone is credited with bringing over half a million Floridians out of poverty, between 2009 and 2012, and included in that number 230,000 children. And Trump proposes to cut that program by over 20 billion dollars annually by 2022.”

Florida Politics reported on the call this morning.

The call was in advance of a rally Trump is holding tomorrow. Democrats have also planned to welcome Trump to Florida with a Deat Trump rally at the BB&T Center — details below — and thanks to a grassroots fundraising campaign, the rally will have a special visitor: the Baby Trump Balloon.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo will lead the rally with South Florida Democratic Leaders and Activists.

Rizzo stated: “We plan to send a message to Trump – Florida is tired of being hurt by his broken promises.” Rizzo added that “This isn’t a homecoming rally, this is a retirement party.”

FDP is partnering with the Broward County DEC, Democratic Women’s Club of West Broward, Broward Hispanic Caucus, South Florida Chapter Indivisible, United +, Move On and 350 South Florida.