As Tax Day Nears, Budget Proposals Way Out of Balance
The House will vote in the next two days on a budget that would continue massive military spending – with extra war spending for U.S. actions in Iraq and Afghanistan – and cut deeply into programs that assist low income people in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world.
The House fiscal year 2007 (FY07) budget resolution would continue to spend more than 40 cents out of every tax dollar on military responses to world problems.
How much to prevent international conflict? About 2 cents. Those two pennies out of every dollar must cover all U.N. dues and obligations, all diplomatic efforts, the entire State Department, and all non-military foreign aid.
Programs that offer assistance to poor families in the U.S. – including “entitlement” programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, student aid, and veterans’ benefits – would be slashed by billions of dollars over the next few years.
This spending plan is way out of balance with the FCNL’s priorities. Passage of this budget is not assured. Your action now can make a difference.
What can you do to help shift the balance in federal spending?
- Call your representative today, if possible, because votes on the budget may be happening before Congress adjourns for the Easter recess. Ask your representative to support amendments to the House budget resolution that would:
- shift spending from weaponry to human needs (the Common Sense Alternative Budget proposal); or
- add funding for important domestic and international non-military programs (the Johnson-Reichert substitute
Use FCNL’s web site to find your representative’s phone number and talking points to help you make your call. You can also call the Captiol Switchboard directly at 202-224-3121 and ask for your representative by name.
The Coalition on Human Needs has prepared a list of moderate members of the House who might support such alternative plans. See if your representative is on this high priority list. 
- Download FCNL’s “Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go” flyer and share it with friends and strangers at vigils, tax day events, at work, and in your neighborhood. These coins represent spending in fiscal year 2005 – the one that relates most closely to the tax returns we’re preparing now. Congress disdn’t shift spending priorities in the 2006 budget and might not make that shift in the 2007 budget (the one now under consideration in the House.)
More resources: Check out how much taxpayers in your community are spending on the Iraq war by visiting the National Priorities Project’s website. Share the results you find with your friends and neighbors and talk with your representative about how these skewed spending priorities affect people in your county and state.
Contacting Legislators
Contact your members of Congress through FCNL's web site.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Sen. ________
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Contacting the Administration
Contact the President through FCNL's web site.
White House Comment Desk:
202 456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2461
White House web site
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
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