Progressive Caucus Announces the Budget for All

March 21, 2012

Washington, D.C.

Reps. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Keith Ellison (D-
Minn.), the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive
Caucus (CPC), and Rep. Michael Honda, the CPC Budget
Taskforce Chairman and principal author of the CPC 2013
Budget, today announced the CPC's alternative budget,
the Budget for All. The CPC budget calls for a no cuts
policy for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
benefits, in stark contrast to the House Republican
cuts-only scheme that fails to balance our budget. The
Budget for All invests in proven job creation
initiatives and includes popular reforms such as public
financing of Congressional and presidential elections,
progressive taxation and a public health care option.

You can watch the introductory video below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u4kC_73JNrE

"Our budgets mean schools, firehouses and hospitals
stay open and people get the education and job training
they need to find good jobs when they're ready," Rep.
Grijalva said. "Cutting billions from public education,
low income health care, school nutrition and public
services and giving the money to big corporations isn't
making a tough choice. It's a choice that's going to
make it tougher for a lot of working Americans, but
that's not the same thing. Republicans say we're headed
off a cliff because of spending. Well, our budget
increases funding for job training, for education, for
infrastructure, for low-income and veterans housing,
and we chart a much more fiscally responsible path than
the Republican scheme. It's about more than numbers on
a page to us - it's about people."

"Paul Ryan was right about only one thing when he
introduced the GOP's budget," Ellison said. "America
has a choice between two futures. In the Republican
vision for America, the Medicare guarantee is stripped
from our parents and grandparents, Wall Street greed is
rewardedwhile the middle class continues to shrink and
more of our tax dollars are handed over to
millionaires, billionaires and the corporate special
interests who can afford an army of lobbyists.

"In the CPC's vision for America, we all do better when
we all do better. We reward work, not just wealth. We
invest in our people and rebuild America, and we begin
to show Washington what a government of, by, and for
the people looks like. I think I know which future the
American people will choose," Rep.Ellison concluded.

"As architects of America's future, Republicans
absolutely offer no progress, protection or
prosperity," Rep. Honda said.  "The Republican budget
is irresponsible and will decimate the American
economy.  In contrast, the CPC Budget For All puts
Americans back to work, re-ignites the economy through
historic investments and allows American business to
dream big, innovate and win.  The Budget For All
rejects the radical Republican notion that every
indispensible social program must be gutted to pay for
more tax cuts for the rich.  The Budget For All forges
a fair tax code and protects and expands the social
safety net.  Some frame this decisive moment for
America as a choice between two futures.  I agree.  The
Republican scheme offers the great majority of
Americans no future at all.  The Budget For All
protects and grows the future for all Americans."

The Budget for All increases funding for a variety of
successful job creation programs, restores high
earner's marginal tax rates to Clinton-era levels, and
preserves Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid
without making benefit cuts. The plan builds on the
successes of the CPC 2012 proposal, The People's
Budget, which garnered praise from notable economists
such as Paul Krugman and Jeffrey Sachs and outlets such
as The Economist.

Complete information on the Budget4All is here:

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=81&sectiontree=5,81

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