[Peace-discuss] Fwd: FCNL: Shift Federal Budget Priorities (4/8/04)

Fri Apr 9 15:20:33 CDT 2004

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>From: Kathy Guthrie <KathyGuthrie at fcnl.org>
>Subject: FCNL: Shift Federal Budget Priorities (4/8/04)
>To: fconl_list at mailmanager.net
>Date: Thu,  8 Apr 2004 14:32:32 -0400 (EDT)
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>Legislative Action Message
>
>FCNL: Shift Federal Budget Priorities (4/8/04)
>
>HAVE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE? Have your friends? It is easy to register to 
>vote through FCNL's Legislative Action Center! Just click on the link 
>below, then select your state. Here is the link: 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/HWQBDEJFRR/>https://ssl.capwiz.com/fconl/e4/nvra/?action=form&state=.
>
>SHIFT FEDERAL BUDGET PRIORITIES: Tax day is fast approaching, the proposed 
>fiscal year 2005 federal budget is still pending before a House/Senate 
>conference committee, and Congress will be at home on recess next week 
>(April 9-19). The pending budget resolution would once again sharply 
>increase military spending, allow previously enacted tax cuts for the 
>wealthiest households to be made permanent sometime at a future date, and 
>cut most other federal programs by tens of billions over the next several 
>years. The runaway military spending, mounting costs of the wars in 
>Afghanistan and Iraq, and permanent extension of the tax cuts will drive 
>the federal government further into debt, undermining its capacity to 
>address unmet needs today, to fulfill its obligations in the future, or to 
>address new challenges.
>
>If you think the U.S. government should be cooperatively and peacefully 
>preventing deadly conflict instead of seeking global military domination 
>and waging war, now is the time to speak out to shift budget priorities 
>away from the military toward efforts that promote diplomacy, human 
>development, international law and cooperation, humanitarian assistance, 
>and cross-cultural understanding.
>
>ACTION: Please contact your members of Congress at their local offices. To 
>find the phone number and address of your elected official's district 
>office, go to 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/IGJPDEJFRS/>http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/. 
>Let them know that you think the pending budget resolution is unwise and 
>unjust. Urge them to vote against it. This war budget is not the answer to 
>the challenges facing our society and world.
>
>Also, please let your community know how you feel. Write a letter to the 
>editor of your local paper.
>
>CONTACTING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IS EASY: To send a letter to your 
>elected official's Washington, DC office, start with the sample letter 
>posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then 
>email or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it 
>out and mail it. To view the sample letter, click here 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/GXSVDEJFRT/>http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=5529241&type=CO, 
>then enter your zip code and click Go in the Take Action Now box.
>
>WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR IS EASY: Start with the sample letter 
>posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then 
>email or fax your message directly from our site. You can also print it 
>out and mail it. To view a sample letter to the media, click here 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/ONGLDEJFRU/>http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=5529331&type=ME, 
>then enter your zip code and click Go in the Take Action Now box.
>
>BACKGROUND: On March 12, the Senate approved its version of the 
>congressional budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 95) by a vote of 51-45. During 
>debate, the Senate approved 95-4 an amendment to restore $6.9 billion for 
>the military which had been cut from the President's request, thus giving 
>the President his full request for a 7 percent increase for the military. 
>Sens. Byrd (WV), Carper (DE), Gregg (NH), and Jeffords (VT) voted against 
>restoring these funds and they should be thanked for this courageous vote.
>
>On March 25, the House approved its version of the congressional budget 
>resolution (H.Con.Res. 393) by a vote of 215-212. It would provide for 
>another $152.6 billion in tax cuts over the next five years while cutting 
>the deficit in half at the same time. The deficit would be reduced by 
>cutting nonmilitary, nonhomeland security spending over the next five 
>years. Like the Senate version, the House would increase military spending 
>for FY05 by 7 percent and homeland security spending by 12 percent.
>
>A House/Senate conference committee must now reconcile differences between 
>the two budget plans and then bring the reconciled measure back to each 
>chamber for a final vote. The biggest point of controversy is over whether 
>any future tax cuts must be offset with other tax increases or spending 
>cuts so as to be budget neutral. At present, the House leadership says no, 
>the Senate says yes.
>
>HOW ARE YOUR TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT? In 2003, approximately 42 percent of 
>our federal income taxes paid for past and present military expenditures. 
>For more information from FCNL, click here: 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/DYCXDEJFRV/>http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=720&issue_id=19.
>
>To find out how your 2003 tax dollars were distributed among all federal 
>funds programs, see the National Priorities Project's latest release: 
>"Where do your tax dollars go?"  For a breakdown for each state and 190 
>cities of how the federal government spends the average household's tax 
>payment, go to the National Priorities Project web site at: 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/GGIMDEJFRW/>http://www.nationalpriorities.org/taxday2004/taxday04.html?em. 
>
>
>Use it as a flier for distribution, as a resource for letters to the 
>editor or local press releases. If your local group would like a sample 
>press release, please feel free to adapt NPP's national press release, 
>which will be available on our web site on Thursday, April 8.
>
>Also available from National Priorities Project is an updated income tax 
>pie chart, which allows you to find out how your 2003 income tax payment 
>is being spent by the federal government. To get your breakdown, go to: 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/CDORDEJFRX/>http://www.nationalpriorities.org/taxes/IncomeTaxChart04.html?em. 
>
>
>
>----------
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>----------
>CONTACTING LEGISLATORS
>Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>
>Sen. ________
>U.S. Senate
>Washington, DC 20510
>
>Rep. ________
>U.S. House of Representatives
>Washington, DC 20515
>
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/ABNDDEJFSB/>Information on your 
>members is available on FCNL's web site.
>
>CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION
>White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1111
>Fax: 202-456-2461
>Email: <mailto:president at whitehouse.gov>president at whitehouse.gov
>Web Page: 
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/utr/1/OXBPDEJFOW/HAGSDEJFSC/>http://www.whitehouse.gov/
>
>President George W. Bush
>The White House
>Washington, DC 20500
>
>----------
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>----------
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>----------
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