Civil and Human Rights Coalition Says Obama Deficit Plan Is the 'Right Approach'

September 20, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights welcomed President's Obama deficit reduction proposal as a "balanced plan" that protects lower- and middle-income Americans and puts the focus on job creation.

"The plan acknowledges that we can’t – and shouldn’t – slash our way out of deficits that have been years in the making, and that such cuts would be counterproductive to boosting economic growth and protecting critical government programs that provide economic security to middle- and low-income families," said Wade Henderson, president & CEO of The Leadership Conference, and Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference.

Given these priorities, Henderson and Zirkin urged Congress to resist making harmful cuts to the Medicaid insurance program that provides health care for low-income families and children.

"... we have serious concerns about the burden the proposed Medicaid cuts to states would place on vulnerable individuals and families, and would ask that Congress and the administration can work together to find additional revenue or less harmful cuts in other areas."