For Peace and Prosperity, Support the People's Budget
On Tuesday, the Republicans introduced a draconian budget proposal that would gut Medicare, defund the Affordable Care Act, and make deep cuts to domestic programs such as food stamps, housing, education, and the environment. They’ve made these proposals before — but since they now control both Houses of Congress, it might really pass. Their budget would increase the Pentagon’s slush fund that pays for the Afghanistan war and the war on ISIS.
But the Congressional Progressive Caucus has an alternative. They call it the People’s Budget: A Raise For America, and it is the polar opposite of the Republicans’ budget proposal.
Congress will vote on budget proposals as early as next week – so contact your Representative TODAY and ask him or her to vote for the People’s Budget.
While working families face smaller paychecks, corporations and the super rich are amassing record wealth. American families know the system is rigged in favor of the corporations. The People’s Budget makes the economy work for everyone. It creates high quality jobs and reduces family expenses, restoring the buying power of working Americans to drive a full economic recovery.
The People’s Budget creates 8.4 million good paying jobs by 2018; invests $1.9 trillion in America’s future; and puts $820 billion towards infrastructure and transportation improvements. Ask your Representative to support the People’s Budget!
The People’s Budget cuts waste from the base military budget, eliminates the Pentagon’s “Overseas Contingency Operations” slush fund, ends the US military presence in Afghanistan after 2016, cuts unnecessary spending on destabilizing nuclear weapons, requires that the Pentagon be audited, and invests in diplomacy. It also provides a new framework to transition workers in military industries to good jobs in the civilian sector.
The People’s Budget would bring in revenue and redress extreme inequality by closing corporate tax loopholes and by a progressive tax on incomes over $1 million a year. It takes on the climate crisis by imposing a carbon tax as well as by funding transportation improvements.
The People’s Budget is a package that brings together the big issues – taxes, jobs, government services, and militarism – and asks our Members of Congress to take a stand for peace and justice and against austerity and war. Support of the Progressive Caucus budget in Congress has grown over the years. Let’s keep up the momentum by adding more support this year! Will your Representative vote for the People’s Budget?
Write Congress now to support the People’s Budget.
For Peace and Justice,
Cole Harrison
Executive Director, Massachusetts Peace Action
National Peace Action Move the Money Working Group Convener
P.S. Please click now to ask your Representative to support the People’s Budget!
Besides auditing the Pentagon, a thorough independent audit of the Federal Reserve – in particular to determine its major private owners – is long, long overdue, despite Janet Yellen’s weak assertion in opposition to such an independent audit being “harmful politicization”.