April 6, 2006

Bad Budget Ignores Needs of Millions

Issue: The U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee is at work on its budget resolution now, which is a blueprint for how lawmakers will develop the 2007 federal budget. The resolution doesn’t specify amounts for specific programs, but it does set overall spending and revenue goals, and establishes the framework within which Congress will develop a more detailed budget later. The resolution passed by the House budget committee — which the full House will vote on very soon — puts health care, education, nutrition support and other essential services at risk.

Background: Over the past couple of weeks, more than two dozen moderate House members who can prevent a bad budget from passing have said NO to cuts in services. But late last Wednesday, the House Budget Committee approved a budget that ignores the growing opposition to cuts — and ignores the needs of millions of Americans.

It will force cuts in human needs programs. Its funding for annual appropriations is $9 billion short of the cost just to keep up the current level of services next year — for education, food packages for the poor, housing, child care, meals on wheels, and many other services. It forces $4 billion in cuts over five years from a category of funding that includes basic entitlements such as unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and income support for poor senior citizens or people with disabilities.

If members who voted against the last round of painful reductions are joined by those who have gone on record against cuts now, such a harsh version cannot pass.

The House budget’s funding for annually appropriated programs is close to the amount proposed by the President. That means cuts! Just a few examples of harmful cuts in the President’s budget:

• Food aid eliminated for 420,000 seniors and 50,000 young children and moms: the President would eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

• Education for the disadvantaged would be cut by $2.4 billion.

• 650,000 fewer children will receive subsidized childcare in 2011 than in 2000.

Action: Please call your representative today, using the toll-free number established by American Friends Service Committee (800)459-1887, and deliver the following message to your Representative:

“ I am calling to urge Rep. __________ to vote against the Budget Committee’s budget resolution. It forces cuts in nutrition aid, health care, education/training, housing, and other essential services. Its funding is so low that vulnerable people — infants, struggling workers, the elderly — will lose needed services. Please support efforts to restore funding for domestic programs. This budget sacrifices essential priorities for tax breaks that favor the rich.”

For more information or to take action online, visit www.chn.org. Please encourage people you know outside of Seattle to take action too.