Clear Creek Meeting's Statement on the Budget

Nov 2, 2011

Minute on the Federal Budget
Clear Creek Monthly Meeting
Richmond, IN

As the United States considers the proper role of government revenue and expenses, members of Clear Creek Monthly Meeting, a meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Richmond, IN, came together to discuss the need to speak out to ensure that changes to the federal budget are prioritized and done with concern for those with the fewest resources.

As a result of these conversations, we came to consensus on the need to call on our federal, elected officials to:

1. End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as significantly reduce military spending. Doing so is estimated to save about $1 trillion over the next decade. The bi-partisan Defense Task Force has identified an additional $1 trillion in military spending cuts that could be adopted over the coming years without affecting the security of the United States. While our religious convictions have been against destroying life for centuries, spending money that we cannot afford in order to destroy life is unconscionable.
2. Increase revenue through the tax code. Although many cite a top federal tax rate on corporations of 35%, there are very few corporations that pay anything near that rate. In fact, twelve of America’s largest corporations (including General Electric, Dupont, Boeing, Exxon, Verizon and Yahoo) paid an average tax of negative 1.5% on combined earnings of $171 billion. Any attempts to lower corporate tax rates should include the elimination of credits and deductions, which significantly lower the actual tax rate.
3. Invest in job creation. Small businesses indicate that they will not increase employment until demand for their products and services increases. Unemployed people need jobs before they can become customers.
4. Protect the most vulnerable. The recent economic downturn has affected low-income communities disproportionately. Cutting the services and benefits for the poorest families and individuals is fundamentally unfair and is short-sighted for a country that needs to strengthen its future economy. Programs such as Head Start and job training have been shown to have a significant return on investment. This investment would be lost, and the lives of millions harmed, by shortsighted cuts.

Adopted, October 9, 2011