Flint needs jobs, infrastructure. Trump budget offers more of the same.

Campaign promises to help city fall flat when it’s time to go to work.

Community leaders and stakeholders gathered in front of the Flint water treatment plant Thursday to respond to President Trump’s anti-people, anti-planet budget which would seek to privatize such services while providing tax breaks to his cronies. In contrast, the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is laying out principles for a federal infrastructure plan that would invest in people by creating good, living wage jobs repairing and replacing deteriorating infrastructure, that empowers communities to build a just economy that finally works for all Americans, not just the wealthy few.

Such a budget would benefit clients of Flint’s MADE Institute, which offers job training and certification. “In his visit to Flint, Mr. Trump mentioned how he would help fix Flint's failing infrastructure but his proposed budget reflects differently.” said Timothy Abdul-Matin, the MADE’s outreach director. “More jobs for Flint would mean an increase in tax base revenue, a stronger economy that will help working class citizens gain more stability, less impoverished children and re-establishing trust and pride within this community. No more starving the Sheppard while feeding the wolves!”

“The richest citizens who hold the majority of our resources have identified ways to accumulate wealth by placing tolls on our access to basic needs like education, health and even drinking water.” said Dr. Laura Sullivan of Kettering University. Indeed, the Trump budget would Give taxpayer dollars to corporations to build privately owned toll-roads and sell off our airports, public parks, water and energy utilities while loosening safety regulations.

The CPC resolution lays out principles that must be true of ANY jobs plan that passes into law -- including prioritizing public investment over corporate giveaways, no selling off public roads and bridges to investors and foreign companies, racial and gender equity in hiring, environmental and worker protections, investment in 21st century jobs like wind and solar and high-speed Internet, and requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share.”