Call Congress and Tell Lawmakers to Support the Budget
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.
Budget Resolution—First Shot in Health Care Reform Fight
The first major congressional battle over comprehensive health care reform will take place during the next few weeks—even before the details of the blueprint to fix our broken health care system are in place.
The U.S. House and Senate are expected to vote before the upcoming Easter recess on President Obama’s budget proposal that includes a $634 billion down payment on health care reform. But if forces opposed to real health care reform and to Obama’s push to set aside funds for reform are able to significantly reduce or derail the request during the budget process, the outlook may dim for action this year.
But as Obama said during his recent address to Congress:
Let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.
