FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30th, 2025
Contact: eme@stateinnovation.org
The Trump administration’s attempt to cut programs people depend on is a calculated maneuver straight out of the authoritarian playbook. If we fail to name it as such, we risk enabling the very outcomes history has already made predictable. This is not simply about budgetary constraints or bureaucratic red tape—it is an intentional act of harm designed to destabilize communities and consolidate power in the hands of the elite few.
In the past, this administration has sought to weaponize government, not as a means of building a just and equitable society but as a tool of political retribution. The goal is to force us into a perpetual defensive posture, exhausting our capacity to engage in the broader, more transformative efforts that real justice requires. If our only response is to scramble to stop each immediate crisis, we lose the ability to push forward the long-term, systemic changes that our communities need and deserve.
SiX and our network of over 3,000 state legislators refuse to play into the administration’s hands. Our work has never been limited to mitigating harm—it has always been about building the future. While the federal government lurches toward authoritarian control, the states remain the most viable path for immediate, tangible, and lasting progress.
This is not a moment for reactionary fixes; it is a moment to double down on the long-arc interventions we have been developing for years. SiX is already working with state legislators and partners on tax policies that fund programs for working families and ensure the ultra-wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. Legislators are laying the groundwork for fair taxation, economic security, and reinvestment in public goods people depend on. From fighting unfair tax structures to developing innovative approaches to funding healthcare, housing, and education, state leaders are proving that our economies can center people, not corporate and billionaire profits.
History has shown us that state legislatures are not just battlegrounds—they are launchpads. We refuse to let defensive fights be our only strategy. Resistance alone won’t win the future. We are here to turn bold, progressive visions into policy realities. When communities and state legislators work in true partnership, we don’t just react to crises—we lead the way forward.
In all 50 states, we are investing in governance that is shaped by and accountable to the people. We are securing the resources necessary for a thriving future. We are building a democracy that actively works for everyone. And no matter how this administration tries to obstruct progress, we will not be deterred. The work continues.
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