In the Budget Debate, Your Voice Matters Most

Dear Friend,

One of our lobbyists just reported to me that some members of the supercommittee are telling us they are open to cutting Pentagon spending. "We need to hear what the folks back home in our state have to say about this," we heard.

The most important voice in this budget debate is your voice as constituents. As they make their decision, your members of Congress need to hear your side of this story. They need to hear about the consequences in your communities when money isn't invested in schools, roads, jobs, and other local priorities.

Today, will you write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper? Refer to your members of Congress by name and point out the needs in your local community.

Communities around the country are being squeezed. More people are relying on food banks; local governments are coping with both the neighborhood and family stress of foreclosure; schools are increasing class sizes and shortening the school year; and critical maintenance on bridges and roadways is being postponed. Police and firefighters are losing their jobs.  Yet, the Pentagon budget continues to grow.

Congress will take action to reduce the deficit, which means budget cuts. But if Congress doesn't act to cut Pentagon spending by a significant amount -- FCNL and others believe that number is $1 trillion over the next ten years -- then the cuts to other programs will be much deeper. Cutting the Pentagon budget will potentially make more funds available to meet the needs of state and local communities.  There is an opportunity to make this change.

Thank you for your action.

Sincerely,

Diane Randall
Executive Secretary

 

 

P.S.  If you want to know more about how much Pentagon spending is slated to rise, or more on FCNL's views on the debt, deficit and supercommittee, visit our website.