A Quaker Lobby in the Public Interest

FCNL

What's New on Federal Budget and Taxes

Jan 17, 2011

May 22, 2013

Who Still Wants to Protect Pentagon Spending?

A key House Committee protects the Pentagon by slashing domestic spending, but staffers acknowledge this is just the beginning of the budget debate.

May 16, 2013

What's Going On with the Budget?

We have reason to celebrate, as Congress has accepted that Pentagon spending will be cut at least $500 billion in the next decade. But the debate still rages over whether to keep, reduce or entirely eliminate the other $500 billion in cuts. Read on to find out exactly what is going on and how we got here.

May 15, 2013

Promoting Military Spending Hurts Economy-Building Programs

Fox News

In prioritizing military spending, Congress is cutting the very programs that can actually strengthen our economy: Cutting federal assistance to the states, forcing them to lay off teachers, firefighters, and social workers; cutting opportunities for job creation, training, and placement programs; and eviscerating funding for children’s programs and assistance for seniors.

May 13, 2013

Military Considers Nuclear Weapons Cuts

The Pentagon is looking at further reductions in deployed nuclear weapons and eliminating one leg of the triad.

May 8, 2013

A Faith Reflection on the 2014 Federal Budget

The federal budget is a moral document that reflects and shapes our country’s priorities. Congress must craft the federal budget as a moral document to ensure that all are able to live in dignity and participate in the nation’s economy.

May 8, 2013

Senators Question Pentagon Waste and Spending

This week, powerful senators from both major political parties suggested Pentagon cuts may stay in part because of the Pentagon's poor record of controlling spending.

May 6, 2013

Over 100 Groups Oppose Working Families Flexibility Act

As members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have acknowledged, people today are struggling to make ends meet. Americans urgently need lawmakers to take the next step on the road to a family friendly nation. But H.R. 1406 is not what the nation needs.

May 6, 2013

Authorization for Use of Military Force: Blank Check for Endless War

A handful of Democratic and Republican senators are considering a rewrite of 60 of the most consequential words to ever pass through Congress. The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed after the attacks of 11 September 2001, and provides the legal cornerstone for the so-called US "war on terror". Only one brave Congress member opposed it. It allows the US government to wage war at anytime, any place and on anyone deemed a threat to national security – with remarkably little evidence needed.

May 3, 2013

April 2013 Jobless Statement

In recent years, one of the groups most deeply affected by the recession and the trickling recovery is teenage and young adult workers aged 16-24. In April, the unemployment rate for 16-19 year-olds was 24.1% and 20-24 year olds was 13.1%. As we consider these monthly reflections of our economy’s health, we remind our elected officials that they must act now on legislation that aims to create jobs and strengthen our economy for those who are at greatest risk of impoverishment and hardship, especially young workers.

May 3, 2013

Appropriators: Please Fully Fund Transportation and Housing in 2014

Over two thousand national and local organizations urge the Appropriations Chairs, Vice Chair and Ranking Member to fund the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) to the highest level possible in fiscal year 2014.

May 3, 2013

Pregnant and Parenting Students Access to Education Act

The U.S. has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world, and pregnancy and parenting significantly increase a student's risk of dropping out of school. Senator Tom Udall and Representative Jared Polis introduced this legislation to help give pregnant and parenting students the support they need to succeed in school.

May 1, 2013

Summary of Framework for Defense Transition Assistance

As the U.S. winds down two wars, acknowledges changing national needs, and deals with federal spending constraints, the Pentagon and its contractors will definitely feel the effects. Many communities across the country whose economies have been shaped by the sharp increases in military spending of the post-9/11 period will need help adjusting to the coming defense downsizing. This white paper presents a framework of legislative actions that would help create new economic opportunities through strengthening existing programs, restoring programs that were effective in the past, and initiating new programs to fill critical gaps and respond to current conditions.

May 1, 2013

What's Being Cut: So Far Not Pentagon Contractors' Profits

Despite all the warnings, the press reports that profits at Pentagon contractors are still strong.

Apr 30, 2013

Framework for Defense Transition Assistance

As the U.S. winds down two wars, acknowledges changing national needs, and deals with federal spending constraints, the Pentagon and its contractors will definitely feel the effects. Many communities across the country whose economies have been shaped by the sharp increases in military spending of the post-9/11 period will need help adjusting to the coming defense downsizing. This white paper presents a framework of legislative actions that would help create new economic opportunities through strengthening existing programs, restoring programs that were effective in the past, and initiating new programs to fill critical gaps and respond to current conditions.

Apr 26, 2013

Help For Frequent Fliers - What About the Rest of Us?

Instead of focusing on relief for frequent fliers, Congress needs to pass legislation to help the people who are most hurt by budget cutbacks.

Apr 25, 2013

Preamble to the 2014 Faithful Budget

The faith-based advocacy community on Capitol Hill released a budget proposal dedicated to justice and economic opportunity for all. Read the preamble to “Fiscal Year 2014: Priorities for a Faithful Budget, Acting with Mercy and Justice as One Nation Under God.”

Apr 23, 2013

Building a Faithful Budget

The way the country invests its resources and prioritizes spending is a direct expression of the values of the nation. Last week, the faith-based advocacy community on Capitol Hill released a budget proposal dedicated to justice and economic opportunity for all. Read about the FCNL's involvement and what the Faithful Budget can do for you and your community.

Apr 23, 2013

Thank You Senators Brown and Durbin for Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2013

Millions of low and middle income people benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit each year. Senator Brown and Senator Durbin introduced the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2013 to improve these tax credits and make them permanent.

Apr 17, 2013

Tweeting the President's Budget

The President's Budget was 244 pages long. Didn't have time to read it? We've got you covered. Check out charts, tweets and short summaries of Pentagon spending in the budget proposal, and stay tuned for more reactions from our programs.

Apr 16, 2013

Obama Budget Lacks Detail on Base Closings, Afghanistan War

Uncertainty around U.S. military base closures has caught some attention, but uncertainty about the ongoing U.S. war in Afghanistan has gone largely unnoticed.

In fact, there is so much uncertainty around President Obama’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan that the government can’t even properly budget for it — unlike the base closures, which did have a budget request.

Apr 15, 2013

Wait, War IS the Answer?

Tax day provides a great opportunity for all of us to talk about what our nation could be spending that money on instead of war. What about investing in education to train a 21st century workforce, spending money on diplomacy to prevent future wars or providing adequate money to help the nearly 100 million people living in or near poverty?

Now help keep up the momentum for change. Please write a letter to the editor to let others in your community know where their tax dollars are going. Encourage them to contact their members of Congress to support cuts to Pentagon spending.

Apr 10, 2013

A Precarious Middle Ground: The President's FY2014 Budget

FCNL is evaluating the details and specifics of the President’s budget (released April 10 at 11:15). Will the concessions in President Obama’s budget finally bring Democrats and Republicans to the negotiating table?

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