Rep. Sewell expresses her concerns about the direction of the country

April 22, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) was in Montgomery to meet with legislators. While in the state capital she held a press conference where she addressed capital reporters about her concerns over the policies being implemented by the new Trump administration.

"We are facing troubling times in Washington," said Sewell. Republicans are, "More concerned with cutting taxes for millionaires and billionaires" than for serving the needs of the American people.

"This administration has a strange approach," said Rep. Sewell. "They were elected promising to lower costs and instead we have a trade war that will only increase costs," for American consumers.

Rep. Sewell questioned the administration's, "Cutting programs like Medicaid, snap, programs that help our farmers and veterans. It is shameful that we would give tax breaks to the most wealthy in our society on the backs of the most needy."

Sewell said that Alabama Medicaid insures 45% of the children in Alabama and 60% of the nursing home residents.

The Republicans are planning to renew the 2017 tax cuts (the present tax rates) and add additional tax cuts.

"The only way they can pay for those tax breaks is to make cuts," warned Sewell.

Sewell expressed fears that those cuts would negatively impact Medicaid beneficiaries.

"It is so important that we help Medicaid beneficiaries," said Sewell in her remarks to reporters. "Medicaid cannot sustain cuts like these. I look forward to pushing back on these cuts."

Sewell denounced DOGE head Elon Musk as "unelected and unconfirmed."

Musk "Has said that Social Security is a Ponzi game."

"They have laid off thousands of (government) workers," said Sewell. "Behind every laid off worker is a service not being done."

During Trump's first term he lowered tax rates on taxpayers in every tax bracket and cut corporate tax rates. Sewell opposed those tax cuts – cuts which are set to expire next year. The Trump administration is hoping that those cuts are instead made permanent.

"I am still waiting for the trickle down effect of the tax cuts of 2017," Sewell said.

Sewell was joined by State Senator Robert Stewart (D-Selma) and State Representative Prince Chestnutt (D-Selma). Sewell is a native of Selma in Dallas County.

"We are all from the great city of Selma Alabama," said Sewell.

Sewell said that she had previously met with the Alabama Democratic Caucus, "To share with them what is going on in Washington or what is not going on in Washington."

"I had a very productive meeting with the state Democratic Caucus," said Sewell. "I shared with them my concerns about what is going on in Washington."

Sewell claimed that the Trump administration has created "Chaos" in D.C. including, "Dismantling the Department of Education and creating a trade war with our allies."

Sewell said that she is "Committed to lowering prices" and will work to "Defend our democracy."

Sewell said that while she is in Montgomery that she, "Will also meet with several of our state agencies to understand their federal priorities."

When Trump was President the first time, he lowered tax rates effectively cutting potential future revenues for the federal government. Instead of continuing those policies, in 2020 the nation elected Joseph R. Biden as President of the United States. Without eliminating any of Trump's tax cuts – Biden then went on a massive spending spree adding size and powers to virtually every government agency, passing the $trillion CARES Act, and the $trillion plus infrastructure bill.

"More than $8 billion was authorized for the state of Alabama," said Sewell. "I was the only member of the Alabama delegation to vote for this funding. It is important to me that my district get its fair share."

The federal government has record federal income of over $5 trillion a year. Despite this, the U.S. government is spending over $7 trillion a year. Over $1 trillion of that spending is the cost of servicing the debt so can't really be cut without crashing the bond market.

Sewell is serving in her eighth term representing Alabama's Seventh Congressional District.