Call Congress and Tell Lawmakers to Support the Budget

by Mike Hall, Apr 28, 2009

As President Obama nears the 100-day mark of his term (more on that tomorrow), the U.S. House and Senate are set for a final vote this week on Obama’s historic budget blueprint that sets the stage for rebuilding the economy, moves the nation toward comprehensive health care reform and makes major investments in education, clean energy and green jobs.

Both chambers passed budget resolutions in early April that closely mirrored Obama’s request. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says the budget resolution

lays the groundwork for historic health care reform and clean energy legislation. We will make health care more affordable and accessible, improve quality and focus on prevention and wellness. By sparking a clean energy revolution, we will create good-paying jobs, for American workers and protect our planet from climate change.

Continuing their “just-say-No” tactics to anything proposed by Obama or congressional Democrats, not a single Republican supported the resolutions, which also include $764 billion in middle-class tax cuts and will cut the nation’s deficit in half by 2013. So much for being the party of “tax cuts and fiscal responsibility.”

This week, a House/Senate conference committee is expected to iron out the minor differences in the two bills and present a final package for a vote. According to Capitol Hill observers, the conference report will include a 2.5 percent increase in non-defense, discretionary spending over last year’s budget on such programs as workplace safety, wage and hour protection, education, highway construction, transportation and other areas.

Call Congress today—202-225-3121—and tell your lawmakers to support the budget resolution conference report.

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