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What is Project 2025?

By Holden Vail

July 24th, 2024

This blog-style piece aims to highlight some pressing issues detailed in The Heritage Foundation's latest project, Project 2025. If you haven't heard already, Project 2025 is an ultra-conservative playbook for policy changes and actions they suggest we make should conservative leadership take office in 2024. If we allow this to happen, it is likely that many of these changes will take place. As The Heritage Foundation so proudly boasts, Trump seen 64 percent of their recommendations singed into law. Finally, here are some of the most important issues being challenged by project 2025

1. Repealing Numerous Climate Protections

    Project 2025 proposes that we gut and restructure both the Department of Energy (DoE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [363] [413] [..]. They support the repeal important bills like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) primarily because they provided more subsidies and support for renewable energy developers. They propose we eliminate all green subsidies for electric vehicles. Additionally, they want to eliminate energy efficiency standards for home appliances. This is just a small glimpse of the massive gutting and restructuring they would like to see. 

    Meanwhile... the Kansas Democratic Party Platform states " As Kansas Democrats, we believe the scientists. The window for unprecedented and necessary action is closing and closing fast. We have the power to make immediate, important changes that will secure a safer future. Kansas Democrats reject the false choice between growing our economy and combating climate change; we can and must do both at the same time. We assign a high priority to cleaning up our rivers and streams, reducing the pollutants in the air, protecting groundwater from depletion and pollutants, preserving biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and addressing climate change".

2. Abolishing Reproductive Rights And Stripping Healthcare

Image by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography

    Project 2025 also promotes a complete and definite outlawing of all forms of abortion. It claims the gender-affirming care is dangerous and should be outlawed. It also criticizes many healthcare industry regulations as being too burdensome. It would like to see healthcare privatized and transitioned to a for-profit model.

    Meanwhile... the Kansas Democratic Part platform asserts, "Healthcare is a basic human right. Kansas Democrats believe all Kansans should have access to affordable healthcare. We support the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and believe the Medicaid-expansion component of the ACA should be enacted in Kansas. We oppose for-profit “junk” limited coverage insurance policies. We support insurance policies that are comprehensive and ACA compliant". 

3. Outlawing LGBTQ+ Media and Promoting Judeo-Christian Values

    It's difficult to summarize the many ways Project 2025 mentions "reforming" LGBTQ+ policy but they essentially suggest we repeal all diversity and inclusion related policies. They suggest we abolish gay marriage, repeal the Equal Employment Opportunity Acts, etc. They promote teaching the Bible in schools and, strangely, they even suggest requiring employers to pay overtime on the Sabbath. 

Meanwhile... The Kansas Democratic Party platform states, "Kansas Democrats believe in equal treatment under the law for every Kansan regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, physical, intellectual, and/or developmental disability, economic status, religion, creed, sex, veteran or military status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression. Kansas Democrats support adding “sexual orientation and gender identity” to the non-discrimination laws and policies in our state and the passage of hate crime legislation to protect equal rights".

4. The Creation Of An Authoritarian State

    While this is a more broad and bold claim, the expansion of presidential powers, combined with the comprehensive changes in social policy, would certainly lead any reasonable person to question the state of the government. This is especially true when you consider that democrats have won the popular vote in the last four elections. 

    Meanwhile... The Kansas Democratic Party platform states, "Kansas Democrats are committed to putting the people of Kansas first by promoting the values and policies that advance the common good for all Kansans, through:

  • honest, ethical leadership and sound, pragmatic decision-making;

  • fairness and equity in our policies;

  • a strong economy that does not leave anyone behind;

  • investments in our children, families, and communities;

  • forward vision regarding the social, economic, and environmental needs of tomorrow.

"

5. Slashing Benefits for Veterans and Civil Service Workers

Veteran Memorial Service

    In the sections of Project 2025 that concern both civil service workers and the Department of Veteran Affairs there is a general theme of staff cuts, budget cuts, and privatization. Who could have guessed? They suggest issuing an immediate hiring freeze for all government positions as well as restructuring government aided retirement plans in a way that is ultimately worse for the workers of these positions. Similar cuts have also been suggested for the benefits plans of Veterans. Among other benefit reductions and staff cuts, they suggest eliminating many veteran-specific services and turning them over to the private sector.

    Meanwhile... Kansas Democrats support the servicemembers of our Kansas National Guard and armed forces as they defend our state and nation. Kansas Democrats led the way in the creation of a Military Bill of Rights to help ease the financial burden of military service. We pledge to always stand with military personnel, veterans, and their families as they serve as well as when they return home. We support additional help for Kansas veterans to honor their service to our nation.

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