Group begins ‘Nuns on the Bus’ tour to protest Trump tax law ahead of midterms

A progressive group founded by Catholic sisters began its “Nuns on the Bus” tour on Monday to make the case against President Trump’s tax law ahead of the midterm elections.

The bus tour began at an event in Santa Monica, Calif., that featured House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.). During the event, Pelosi called the tax law a “scam” that largely helps the rich and said it points to the importance of elections.

“We have to make sure who we elect because who we elect matters,” she said.

{mosads}Democrats and Republicans have been sparring over the tax law signed by President Trump at the end of 2017 heading into November’s midterms.

Democrats argue that the law primarily helps wealthy individuals and corporations and will lead to cuts to the social safety net, while Republicans say the law is helping the economy and the middle class.

There are signs that Democrats’ message on the tax law is resonating with voters. A poll last month commissioned by the Republican National Committee found that most voters think the measure helps the wealthy and corporations more than the middle class.

The bus tour, organized by Network lobby for Catholic Social Justice, is scheduled to make stops in a number of states and districts across the country with competitive House and Senate races — including the districts of GOP Reps. Mike Coffman (Colo.), Peter Roskam (Ill.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.). It will end on Nov. 2 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

The tour is slated to include lobby visits and rallies at the offices of vulnerable GOP lawmakers as well as town halls and visits to social services organizations.

“We’re on the road to work for tax justice,” said Sister Simone Campbell, leader of Nuns on the Bus.

This is Network’s sixth Nuns on the Bus tour. The first was held in 2012 to protest a budget proposal from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who is now House Speaker.

Nancy Pelosi: “When the Nuns on the Bus hit the road, our hopes are riding on them.” pic.twitter.com/W9KhL7WoWJ

— The Hill (@thehill) October 8, 2018