From The Congressional Progressive Caucus

[WillyT]

May 12, 2011

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

There is bipartisan consensus that we must correct our country’s fiscal trajectory in order to build
an economy that works for all Americans. It is time for lawmakers to take action on the deficit
and exhibit the political courage necessary to accomplish this tremendous task. As part of the
Congressional Progressive Caucus’ (CPC) larger effort to construct a practical economic platform
for America, we write to request that CPC leaders be included in the current bipartisan talks to
negotiate a comprehensive deficit reduction package, as well as future discussions regarding our
nations’ fiscal solvency.

We believe that outlining clear policy objectives is the only way to frame a serious debate about
these issues. “Triggers,” “caps,” and other process-related budgetary gimmicks serve only to
distract attention from the concrete policy ideas needed to solve the problems we face.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has put forth the People’s Budget, a plan rooted in
principles shared by the majority of the Americans: Invest in education, infrastructure and
transportation, protect the social safety net and create a fair tax system. The People’s Budget
eliminates our deficit and gets our national debt under control by putting America back to work
and ensuring that everyone pays their fair share. The CPC budget cuts $5.6 trillion from the
deficit over ten years, produces a budget surplus, and reduces debt to below 65% of GDP.
Compare this with the Republican budget proposal, which increases the deficit by $6 trillion over
the next decade, hardly a serious commitment to fiscal responsibility.

<snip>

More (.pdf file): http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/CPC%20Letter%20to%20Obama%20May%2012%20on%20Deficit%20Negotiations1.pdf

:patriot:

:kick:

[socialist_n_TN]

1. HURRAH for the CPC budget! It's the ONLY one

that actually balances the budget in a reasonable period of time. And guess what? It doesn't balance it on the backs of the working class and poor.

[WillyT]

2. Kick !!!

:kick: