Newsflash:
IMF Sounds Warning on U.K. Austerity LONDON—The International Monetary Fund urged the U.K. government to counter the effects of its austerity program by raising spending on infrastructure projects to avoid long-term damage to the nation's growth prospects. Read the Full Story
Congresswoman Lee Introduces “No More Ghost Money Act” Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the No More Ghost Money Act of 2013. The bill would prohibit illegal payments to foreign officials and would require a report to Congress on payments made by the CIA to employees, officers, and elected officials to foreign entities. Read the Full Story
Reject pipeline's jobs pipe dreams President Barack Obama knows the dangers of not going far enough or fast enough to stop the climate crisis. History will celebrate his decision to lead us toward a clean energy economy that solves climate change and creates long-term, sustainable jobs for Americans. Read the Full Story
An Answer to Unemployment: A Jobs-for-All Bill | Commentary Act would boost employment now for the many who need it, eliminate residual joblessness even in times of prosperity It has been five years since the financial crisis struck, and progress in putting the unemployed back to work still lags, with no end in sight. Read the Full Story
How America Became a Third World Country The streets are so much darker now, since money for streetlights is rarely available to municipal governments. The national parks began closing down years ago. Some are already being subdivided and sold to the highest bidder. Reports on bridges crumbling or even collapsing are commonplace. Read the Full Story
Child poverty is the real scandal Washington is descending into another silly season. Let’s end this diversion of dust and smoke as partisans hype mock “scandals” for political profit. Read the Full Story
Inoculating Our Children Against Fear and Hatred "Ewww. Don't do it, Patrick. Don't do it. Dogs pee here." A woman was giving my husband a hard time because our 10-month-old son had dropped his banana on the ground. Patrick picked it up, licked it and was about to hand it back to our boy. Seamus grabbed for it eagerly and scarfed it down. A minute or two later, he was grunting for more. Read the Full Story
Pentagon officials ask Congress to shift $9.6B The Pentagon wants Congress to shift $9.6 billion of this year’s Defense Department budget toward expenses for the Afghanistan war, transportation and other items. Read the Full Story
Syria: the threats, costs, claims and lives What the civil war in Syria has exposed is that the massive political and social transformation, and real regime change under way is led by people themselves. US military involvement serves only to escalate the destruction. Read the Full Story
Pentagon Said to Seek $80 Billion for War Amid Withdrawal The Pentagon will ask Congress to approve about $79.5 billion for combat operations, the least since 2005, as U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan, according to administration officials. Read the Full Story
Jerry Brown: California’s Mystery Man One of California’s great mysteries is the state’s governor, Jerry Brown. In a time when America’s politicians strive to be everywoman and everyman, Brown goes his own way. While a nation frantically chases youth, the 75-year-old governor who glories in his age and experience, is at the top of his game. Read the Full Story
No Koch News: A Movement to Unsubscribe After years of mismanagement, the Tribune Company newspapers -- including the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times -- are up for sale.  And one of the potential buyers? The Koch brothers.  And wow are people outraged! Read the Full Story
image IMF Sounds Warning on U.K. Austerity
image Congresswoman Lee Introduces “No More Ghost Money Act”
image Reject pipeline's jobs pipe dreams
image An Answer to Unemployment: A Jobs-for-All Bill | Commentary
image How America Became a Third World Country
image Child poverty is the real scandal
image Inoculating Our Children Against Fear and Hatred
image Pentagon officials ask Congress to shift $9.6B
image Syria: the threats, costs, claims and lives
image Pentagon Said to Seek $80 Billion for War Amid Withdrawal
image Jerry Brown: California’s Mystery Man
image No Koch News: A Movement to Unsubscribe
Wednesday, 14 November 2012 01:48

Open Letter to Congress and the President

Written by  Norman Solomon
Open Letter to Congress and the President

The historic re-election of President Obama must not be followed by historic damage to the nation’s social safety net.

We call on the President and Congress to reject any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. Rather than undermining those vital social programs, elected officials must protect them.

We call on the President and Congress to take a crucial step toward tax fairness by allowing the expiration of tax cuts at the end of this year for those with annual incomes above $250,000.

We call on the President and Congress to proceed with major cuts in military spending, a move that would greatly enhance our fiscal strength and national security while helping to fund nation-building at home.

At this crucial moment, we must go out-all for these matters of principle. For a viable alternative fiscal approach, we can draw on the Budget for All that has been developed by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. During the last weeks of this year, and during 2013, we have an opportunity to put forward coherent and visionary options for this country.

Providing clear and viable alternatives to a downward spiral of destructive austerity measures, the Budget for All:

• Creates a Fairer America
• Ends tax cuts for the top 2% of Americans on schedule at year’s end

• Extends tax relief for middle class households and the vast  majority of Americans


• Creates new tax brackets for millionaires and billionaires
• Eliminates the tax code’s preferential treatment of capital gains and dividends


• Abolishes corporate welfare for oil, gas, and coal companies
• Eliminates loopholes that allow businesses to dodge their true tax liability


• Calls for the adoption of the “Buffett Rule”
• Creates a publicly funded federal election system that gets corporate money out of politics for good


• Brings Our Troops Home
• Responsibly and expeditiously ends our military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaving America more secure at home and abroad


• Modernizes our military to address 21st century threats and stop contributing to our deficit problems


• Protects American Families


• Provides a Making Work Pay tax credit for families struggling with high gas and food cost 2013-2015


• Extends Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit
• Invests in programs to stave off further foreclosures to keep families in their homes


• Invests in our children’s education by increasing Education, Training, and Social Services

Failure to take a stand for fundamental matters of principle would be unacceptable. No cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. Tax the wealthy at a fair rate. Implement major cuts in military spending. The future of our country is at stake.

Read 1360 times Last modified on Wednesday, 14 November 2012 02:37
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