E-News: No Summer Vacation for Cutting Pentagon Budget
E-News: No Summer Vacation for Cutting Pentagon Budget
July 5, 2012
Action Center: Keep Working to Cut Pentagon; Fighter Jets or School Lunches; What's New: Report from the Hill; Thank You; Senators Oppose Talks with Iran; Question for Candidates; Farewell to Bridget; Recent Statements; War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Washington, DC.
No Summer Vacation for Cutting Pentagon Budget
It may be summertime, but FCNL lobbyists and constituents around the country are still hard at work advocating for $1 trillion in cuts to the Pentagon budget. If lobbyists for Pentagon contractors succeed in convincing Congress to undo these cuts, Congress could instead turn to cuts in programs for the elderly, children, and people with disabilities, including veterans in your state, as a way to cut the budget deficit.
Here's what's been happening so far this summer:
- Richard Tillotson of Hawaii followed up his recent meeting with Senator Inouye in Washington with an op-ed in his local paper, arguing that Hawaii need not fear military cuts.
- Quakers gathered at Illinois Yearly Meeting approved a minute about how this is a critical time to cut the Pentagon budget, and more Quaker gatherings will be considering it this summer.
- People are making plans to visit their members of Congress in August, when Congress is home for a recess, and to come to Washington in November for the first ever Quaker Public Policy Institute and Lobby Day. Find out more about the Institute, and let us know if you want more information about the event.
- Share this image on Facebook and help us get 5,000 likes on our Facebook page before Labor Day!
What's New
Report from the Hill: Perspective on the Affordable Health Care Act and Immigration Decisions. Two big decisions from the Supreme Court during the last half of June will affect your community. Read FCNL's take on the health care and immigration decisions.
Thank You! Thanks to you, we've met our fundraising goals for the fiscal year that ended June 30, including our matching challenge!
Do Your Senators Oppose U.S. Talk with Iran? Find out if your senators were among the 44 who signed a counterproductive letter urging the president to escalate sanctions and stop talks unless Iran immediately agrees to all U.S. demands.
This Week's Question for the Candidates: With campaign season in high gear, ask candidates running for office in your area whether they support direct talks with Iran. See some suggestions for how to ask this question and email your candidates directly from our website.
Farewell to Foreign Policy Lobbyist Bridget Moix. Bridget is leaving to work towards her PhD after 16 years of work with FCNL. We are sad to see her go but excited for her new opportunities!
- 27 Faith Groups Support the Increase of Poverty-Focused Foreign Assistance (6/28/2012)
- Recommendations for the Atrocities Prevention Board (6/27/2012)
- Water for the World: 33 Faith-Based Organizations support H.R. 3658 (6/27/2012)
- 25 Groups Call on the Senate: End the Militarization of U.S.-Africa Policy (6/27/2012)
War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Washington, DC
FCNL staff help welcome home our colleagues at the Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK from their “Nuns on the Bus” tour to speak out against budget proposals that favor the wealthy over poor families.
Order your own War Is Not the Answer sign and see where this movement is showing up across the country. Find out how to submit your photo.
