General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Make me do it." President Obama wants you to demand the Progressive Caucus Budget
FDR and Barack have both asked us to demand the policies we want. Well, let's get started ...
This is a White House petition to "consider and promote the Progressive Caucus Budget".
http://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/please-consider-and-promote-progressive-caucus-budget-plan-we-feel-it-most-equitable/10078lWf
If ever there was an issue the White House should be promoting, this is it.
Here's the 2013 Progressive Caucus Budget release from Reps. Keith Ellison and Raúl M. Grijalva ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/05/Editorial-Opinion/Graphics/Balancing%20Act%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
more coverage ...
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/27/1647221/progressive-sequester-plan-most-popular/
There are several plans floating around to replace the so-called sequester spending cuts scheduled to kick in on Friday. Senate Democrats and the Congressional Progressive Caucus have both released their own plans, while House Republicans have not released a new plan, but point to one passed in the last Congress.
According to a new poll commissioned by the Business Insider, the Progressive Caucus plan is the most popular of the three:
Surprisingly, the plan that polled the strongest was the House Progressive Caucus plan. More than half of respondents supported it compared to sequestration and just a fifth of respondents were opposed.
A plurality of people 28 percent believed the House Progressive Caucus Plan would have the least financial impact on them personally. This makes the most sense, as only 14 percent of respondents reported having income over $150,000.
http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70
Budget of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Fiscal Year 2012
The Peoples Budget eliminates the deficit in 10 years, puts Americans back to work and restores our economic competitiveness. The Peoples Budget recognizes that in order to compete, our nation needs every American to be productive, and in order to be productive we need to raise our skills to meet modern needs.
Our Budget Eliminates the Deficit and Raises a $31 Billion Surplus In Ten Years
Our budget protects Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and responsibly eliminates the deficit by targeting its main drivers: the Bush Tax Cuts, the wars overseas, and the causes and effects of the recent recession.
Our Budget Puts America Back to Work & Restores Americas Competitiveness
Trains teachers and restores schools; rebuilds roads and bridges and ensures that users help pay for them
Invests in job creation, clean energy and broadband infrastructure, housing and R&D programs
Our Budget Creates a Fairer Tax System
Ends the recently passed upper-income tax cuts and lets Bush-era tax cuts expire at the end of 2012
Extends tax credits for the middle class, families, and students
Creates new tax brackets that range from 45% starting at $1 million to 49% for $1 billion or more
Implements a progressive estate tax
Eliminates corporate welfare for oil, gas, and coal companies; closes loopholes for multinational corporations
Enacts a financial crisis responsibility fee and a financial speculation tax on derivatives and foreign exchange
Our Budget Protects Health
Enacts a health care public option and negotiates prescription payments with pharmaceutical companies
Prevents any cuts to Medicare physician payments for a decade
Our Budget Safeguards Social Security for the Next 75 Years
Eliminates the individual Social Security payroll cap to make sure upper income earners pay their fair share
Increases benefits based on higher contributions on the employee side
Our Budget Brings Our Troops Home
Responsibly ends our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to leave America more secure both home and abroad
Cuts defense spending by reducing conventional forces, procurement, and costly R&D programs
Our Budgets Bottom Line
Deficit reduction of $5.6 trillion
Spending cuts of $1.7 trillion
Revenue increase of $3.9 trillion
Public investment $1.7 trillion
xchrom
(108,903 posts)Cirque du So-What
(25,934 posts)but don't stop at signing the WH petition. Get on the phone and call your congresscritter - repug or not - and let them know you support this budget.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Obama has told us to "make him do it", time and again, and while there is a massive response, he, and Congress, go ahead and do whatever the fuck their corporate masters tell them to do, not us. I'm tired of this charade.
Does this mean that I won't sign the petition, or write my Congress folks, no, it is already done. But I have done so knowing full well that no matter how many people respond, Obama and Congress aren't going to pay attention. This is all done for show and PR, and CYA. This way, Obama can say, "Hey, the people didn't make me, so it's not my fault."
It's all a goddamn dog and pony show.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)we are to feel grateful we dont have the Bad Politician.
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)there is no difference between the good politician and the bad politician.
They are on the same team.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)Hell, we "made" him president twice...Why won't he just do his damn job?
truth2power
(8,219 posts)Every time I read that phrase, "Make me do it", I think about getting hired for a job, and whenever the boss gives me a task to do, I say, 'Make me do it'. What juvenile claptrap!
Dog and pony show, indeed.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)It is OUR fault because WE didn't clap loud enough.
This is WORSE than a "Dog & Pony Show".
At a Dog & Pony Show, at least there is some entertainment value,
and you don't get blamed when the Pony dies.
You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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Flying Squirrel
(3,041 posts)Skittles
(153,160 posts)demainding us to tell him to do his job? THAT'S WHY WE VOTED FOR HIM. It's like he's telling us he is center-right but if we scream loud enough perhaps he will CONSIDER tossing us a bone.
magellan
(13,257 posts)It's the worst kind of BS.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)nenagh
(1,925 posts)Last link...
Find your congress critters here: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)I have already written my freshman Congress-critter and chastised him for voting side by side with the repukes.
Help me out here. I looked but couldnt find the thread.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 23, 2013, 10:53 AM - Edit history (1)
corrected in post 20 below. Thanks Rhett o Rick.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)actually happens more and more.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)but it managed to pick up a few more votes compared to last year. Most Democrats voted against this bill, just as they did last year when it was rejected 78-346."
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/289325-house-rejects-dem-budget-plans-gop-slams-obamas-missing-budget
Was the CPC budget proposal the same as the "Back to Work" budget?
"http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-back-to-work-budget-didnt-pass.html"
If I am crazy, break it too me gently.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)ps: As I stated above, I have already chastised my Congress-Critter and I believe he is fairly progressive. But he is a freshman. Rep Kilmer from WA.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)When do we want it? In due course.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)bigtree
(85,996 posts). . . the president can only propose a budget and he'll be loath to submit something that his Democratic majority in the Senate will need to make a big public fuss about.
Anyway, the Senate already passed a budget document last night . . . it was a compromise bill with 4 Democrats voting against it.
Roll Call Politics @rollcallpols 4h
Senate passes budget by 50-49 vote. Dems Baucus, Begich, Hagan, Pryor vote against. #votearama
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)The HOR passed the Ryan budget
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022546279
And the Senate passed a budget. I dont think the CPC budget is a compromise between the two.
bigtree
(85,996 posts). . . not with the republican House.
That doesn't mean supporting their effort isn't worthwhile. There's going to be a need for reconciling the two different bills which will ultimately shape any actual budget law. In that process, many of these components might become relevant to someone's votes, but it's a pretty hostile environment as you can see by the 4 Democratic defections in the Senate which are definitely not progressive votes.
timdog44
(1,388 posts)are up for election next cycle (if in fact there is even a cycle anymore). A proof positive reason for term limits so representatives can vote in good conscience without fear of supposed repercussion. I know I am giving the benefit of the doubt as to voting in good conscience.
Indyfan53
(473 posts)It was shot down by a huge majority in the senate, including republicans like Ted Cruz.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)They will need to be reconciled. Reconciled between mediocre and horrible.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)"I thought this was what elections are for. Silly me."
...then the people who pressure members of Congress sometimes get what they want.
Senate budget plan to include Keystone XL approval: lawmaker
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022553362
WTF: Senate votes to "repeal or reduce the estate tax"?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022554062
Most Senate Dems Join GOP Push To Repeal Obamacare Tax
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022551863
I guess in an ideal world, voting would be enough. Take the issue of Keystone: Clearly, there are enough votes to pass the Senate bill. Should environmental activists simply sit around until it passes?
allan01
(1,950 posts)xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)everytime there is a bill we want passed. Times have changed - most of us cannot afford the trip and we cannot afford to leave our jobs that long.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)He can't reach a compromise if he doesn't have anything to concede.
We can really help him out, by getting behind this, by providing him an opportunity to show he's willing to deal.
redqueen
(115,103 posts)And then share it and then pass it around some more.
K&R
dhill926
(16,337 posts)can't hurt.....
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)That definitely limits the number of people willing to sign the petition. I'm not "signing up" and getting my name on yet another e-mail list. I am on too many of them already.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)1-Old-Man
(2,667 posts)xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)Indyfan53
(473 posts)Now, do your job, Mr. President!
Demo_Chris
(6,234 posts)Babel_17
(5,400 posts)I understand and agree with the reasons for feeling disillusioned but that doesn't me we give up. We just yell louder.
Seriously, let's K&R in as many threads as needed till every forum members sees the opportunity in this petition.
At a minimum, this gets us heard.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Babel_17
(5,400 posts)I don't favor pestering people or pleading with them but imo this petition reflects what we are as a party and there's nothing wrong with making people aware of it.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)Not just to a couple of senators, but to every one of your state's representatives and both senators. They give weight to those.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)But that's still too crazy Liberal for our elected Democrats.
How fucked is that?
Toss them out on their asses!
Blanks
(4,835 posts)MineralMan
(146,288 posts)However, it is not the President who passes budgets. It is Congress. After you sign this petition, sign a letter to your two Senators and your congressional representative. Then, call your local Democratic organization and ask what you can do to help get Democrats elected to Congress and your state legislature. Then do what they suggest.
We have an election in 2014. We can take control of Congress. Congress sets the budget and does many other things. It's how this country works. If we work, we can change the Congress.
What do you say?
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Do you have any idea of how many letters I (and no doubt countless others) have written and sent to, President Obama, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Franken, and even Rep Batshit Crazylady, only to be shined on and basically ignored?
Doesn't mean I'll stop, but damn, it really is an exercise in futility.