Let Them Hear the Rumble! Invest in People, Not War
Ralph Nader
Consumer advocate, lawyer and author
Earlier this month, a delegation of activists took to Capitol Hill to demand a decrease in the massive, out-of-control military budget. As millions of Americans struggle with inadequate health care, low wages, deteriorating public services and uncertainty about their futures as the wage gap between the wealthy elite and the working poor widens, billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars are pouring into the coffers of the Department of Defense every year. The Pentagon budget currently makes up half of the U.S. government’s entire operating budget. Estimated to be around $716 billion in 2013, the U.S. defense budget is greater than the defense budgets of the next ten highest spending nations combined. The gathering was, appropriately, scheduled on International Human Rights Day.
Some of the groups present were: Roots Action, the Hunger Action Network of New York State, Code Pink, Green Shadow Cabinet, Coalition Against Nukes, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, U.S. Labor Against the War and many more. See their open letter to members of Congress and President Obama here.
FAQ: The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
Dec. 11, 2013 http://nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2013/bipartisan-budget-act-2013/
Senate Budget Chair Patty Murray and her House counterpart Rep. Paul Ryan yesterday reached a deal determining the level of federal discretionary spending for the next two years. In particular, the deal reduces the impact of sequestration, the automatic, across-the-board budget cuts that went into effect in 2013.
Q: Why is this the “$85 billion deal?”
A: This deal totaled $85 billion in changes to projected federal spending. Around $65 billion of that total reduces the impact of sequestration in 2014 and 2015. The remainder is dedicated to reducing budget deficits.
Q: Does this deal close tax loopholes?
No. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 does not tackle tax loopholes, otherwise known as Tax Expenditures. It raises revenue largely from fees (such as air travel fees) and by small tweaks that aim to tackle waste within the budget.
Q: What happens to funding for domestic programs?
A: Domestic discretionary programs – like Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Federal Work Study, and the Women, Infants, Children (WIC) Nutrition Program – will see increased funding relative to fiscal 2013 when sequestration was more fully in effect. Overall, domestic discretionary spending will increase by around $23 billion in fiscal 2014 relative to the previous year. Without a deal, funding for these programs would have stayed roughly constant at 2013 funding levels. It’s important to note, however, that 2013 funding represented a significant cut relative to 2012, due to the impact of sequestration.
Bridenstine and Lamborn Introduce New Sequestration Legislation in the House
REPUBLICANS TO INTRODUCE NEW SEQUESTRATION LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE: Reps. Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma and Doug Lamborn of Colorado are introducing new legislation today that would pay for the next two years of the defense cuts that are part of sequestration with reforms to mandatory spending.
The savings would come from “using ‘Chained CPI’ to calculate cost-of-living adjustments, increasing federal employee retirement contributions, and means-testing Medicare premiums,” according to a statement from Bridenstine’s office.
The bill, titled the Provide for the Common Defense Act, “should unite all House Republicans – including the libertarian-minded newcomers – behind a common strategy for providing temporary relief to a military already deeply impacted by budget cuts,” the statement says.
Amanda Bowen
Director of Congress and Coalitions
National Security Network
1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 307
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202)-218-6889 (Direct)
Groups Call on Congress to Make Massive Cuts in Runaway Military Spending
A diverse array of organizations today launched a campaign to enact major cuts in wasteful military spending, as part of the December 13 federal budget resolution. The groups include peace, human service, economic and environmental justice organizations, food sovereignty and green energy groups, and grassroots community organizations. They are calling for long overdue reductions in military spending in order to meet dire needs at home and reinvest in our future.
The groups are launching a sign-on letter calling for cuts of 25-50% in the trillion dollar military budget that accounts for 53% of all discretionary federal spending. The groups will deliver the letter to Congress on December 10 – International Human Rights Day.
The groups want Congress to focus on:
- Adequately funding critical social needs, including food stamps, Social Security, improved and expanded Medicare for all, and public education including college,
- Creating a full employment public jobs program to jump start the green economy (a Green New Deal),
- Rebuilding vital infrastructure.
Read MoreSafety Net Programs On The Chopping Block
Published on Nov 15, 2013
This segment originally aired on the November 10th, 2013 episode of Ring of Fire on Free Speech TV. Millions of Americans depend on Social Security to be able to put food on their table, and to keep their heads above water after retirement. But more importantly, they earned this money by paying into the system for their entire working lives. Still, there is serious talk in Washington about cutting Social Security benefits. Ring of Fire guest host Farron Cousins joins with best-selling author Cliff Schecter to explain why this is even being considered.
Support Ring of Fire by subscribing to our Youtube channel:http://www.youtube.com/user/golefttv
You can also support us here:http://www.ringoffireradio.com/support/
Your continued support keeps Ring of Fire on the air!
Watch Ring of Fire every Sunday at 12pm Eastern/9am Pacific on Free Speech TV!
Follow more of our stories at http://www.RingofFireRadio.com
