Advocates Say Election Shows that Americans Want a Federal Budget that Protects the Middle Class

November 8, 2012 - Posted by Ron Bigler

In an open letter to President Obama and Congress that ran in today's Washington Post, a broad range of civil rights, labor, and progressive leaders urged them to "focus on rebuilding the middle class and strengthening our economy by investing in jobs, not cuts."

"Voters rejected cutting Social Security, health care and education to pay for tax breaks for the rich," the ad said.

As elected officials in Washington, D.C. turn to tackling the nation's budget crisis during the lame duck session of Congress, the letter calls on leaders from both parties to demand a budget agreement that:

Asks all Americans to pay their fair share of taxes. The Bush tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year must not be extended. We need to grow the economy from the middle out, not the top down.

Prioritizes job creation first. It’s time to grow—not slow—the economy. Any budget agreement must include investments in good jobs, education and infrastructure improvements.

Does not cut Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits and does not shift costs to beneficiaries or the states. Millions of seniors, children, people with disabilities and others depend on these vital programs, and they must not be cut. Voters loudly and clearly spoke up for these programs.

Protects the safety net and vital services for low-income people. We should not allow the fiscal burden to be shifted to the poor and working families who have borne a disproportionate share of the nation’s economic pain in recent years.

Stops the sequester. The scheduled automatic budget cuts threaten our fragile recovery and put huge numbers of people out of work while cutting education, child care, job training and dozens of vital services people and communities need.

The full text of the ad is below.