*** We can beat a bad House budget if you call *** 1-800-459-1887 ***

We can beat a bad House budget if you call.

Over the past couple of weeks, more than two dozen moderate House members who can prevent a bad budget from passing have been saying NO to cuts in services.
http://www.chn.org/issues/opportunityforall/housebudgetresolution.html

But late Wednesday, the House Budget Committee approved a budget that ignores the growing opposition to cuts - and ignores the needs of millions of Americans. It will force cuts in human needs programs. Its funding for annual appropriations is $9 billion short of the cost just to keep up the current level of services next year - for education, food packages for the poor, housing, child care, meals on wheels, and many other services. It forces $4 billion in cuts over 5 years from a category of funding that includes basic entitlements such as unemployment insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or income support for poor elderly or people with disabilities.

The budget is expected to reach the House floor sometime next week. If members who voted against the last round of painful reductions are joined by those who have gone on record against cuts now, it cannot pass in its current harsh form.

Please Call Your Representative – use the toll-free number: (800) 459-1887

"I am calling to urge Rep. __________ to vote against the Budget Committee's budget resolution. It forces cuts in nutrition aid, health care, education/training, housing, and other essential services. Its funding is so low that vulnerable people - infants, struggling workers, the elderly - will lose needed services. Please support efforts to restore funding for domestic programs. This budget sacrifices essential priorities for tax breaks that favor the rich."

Please hold your Representative accountable - from Thursday, March 30 until the House vote is taken.

The House budget's funding for annually appropriated programs is close to the amount proposed by the President. That means cuts! Just a few examples of harmful cuts in the President's budget:

Food aid eliminated for 420,000 seniors and 50,000 young children and moms: the President would eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Education for the disadvantaged would be cut by $2.4 billion.

650,000 fewer children will receive subsidized child care in 2011 than in 2000.

For more details about what the President proposed: http://www.chn.org/pdf/FY07BudgetAnalysis.pdf

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a budget campaign, http://www.afsc.org/economic-justice/sos/ AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan budget goals and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.

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The following Republican Representatives are considered possible swing-votes -- they could buck their leaders and stop the budget cuts from passing:

Don Young + (AK)

Rick Renzi * (AZ)

Bob Beauprez (CO)
Marilyn Musgrave (CO)

Nancy Johnson * (CT)
Chris Shays * (CT)
Rob Simmons * (CT)

Mike Castle * (DE)

Mark Foley (FL)
E. Clay Shaw (FL)

Jim Leach * + (IA)

Timothy Johnson (IL)
Ray LaHood * (IL)

Edward Whitfield * (KY)

Wayne Gilchrest * (MD)

Vernon Ehlers (MI)
Joe Schwarz * (MI)
Fred Upton * (MI)

Jim Ramstad * (MN)

JoAnn Emerson * (MO)

Walter Jones (NC)

Tom Osborne + (NE)

Jeb Bradley + (NH)

Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
Christopher Smith (NJ)

Heather Wilson * + (NM)

Jon Porter * (NV)

Sherwood Boehlert * (NY)
Sue Kelly (NY)
John R. Kuhl * + (NY)
John McHugh * (NY)
John Sweeney (NY)
James Walsh (NY)

Steve LaTourette * (OH)
Bob Ney * (OH)

Philip English + (PA)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA)
Jim Gerlach * + (PA)
Melissa Hart + (PA)
Timothy Murphy + (PA)
Todd Platts * (PA)
Curt Weldon * (PA)

Ron Paul + (TX)

Members marked with an * signed a letter to House leaders asking for a 2 percent increase in domestic spending for the programs that are funded annually. To see this letter, click here: http://www.chn.org/images/FinalLettertoHastert.pdf

Members marked with + signed a letter to House leaders asking that the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) be preserved. To see this letter, click here: http://www.chn.org/images/csfpletter.pdf

http://www.chn.org/issues/opportunityforall/housebudgetresolution.html

Act Now to Stop the House Budget Resolution

Last year, we came within two votes of defeating the Republican leadership's immoral plan to slash funding for essential public services that are vital to America's families.

The House votes next week on a new budget resolution -- and if they give President Bush what he wants, vulnerable people across the country -- from infants to the elderly -- will lose needed services. But if we derail this legislation, the agenda of the President and Republican leadership in Congress will be stopped dead in its tracks.

Tell your U.S. Representative to vote "NO" on the House budget resolution by sending the letter below. Our future depends on it.

TAKE ACTION @ http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/house_budget

Tell Your Representative to Oppose Budget Proposals that Hurt People in Need!*

Starting Thursday, March 30 , use this toll-free number to be connected to your Representative: (800) 459-1887 Thanks, American Friends Service Committee and other generous donors! Please forward this to everyone you know!

Suggested Message:

I am calling to urge Rep. __________ to vote against the budget resolution if it forces cuts in nutrition aid, health care, education/training, housing, and other essential services. If the funding is as low as the President's budget, vulnerable people, from infants to the elderly, will lose needed services. Please do not sacrifice these essential priorities for tax breaks that favor the rich.

* WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The House Budget Committee is at work on its budget resolution now. They are expected to finish their work by the end of this week (March 31 or sooner) - but they are having difficulty because right wing members want big cuts and moderate members do not. It is extremely important that people of conscience who oppose cuts weigh in with Representatives, to strengthen the hand of a growing number of members who are telling their leadership they cannot support cuts. Remember - the last round of budget cuts passed the House by only 2 votes. Now, as the election draws closer, the voice of concerned constituents is especially important! At this point, we expect the budget to be on the House floor sometimes during the week of April 3.
There have been reports that the House budget's funding for annually appropriated programs will be close to the amount proposed by the President. That means cuts! Just a few examples of harmful cuts in the President's budget:

Food aid eliminated for 420,000 seniors and 50,000 young children and moms: the President would eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Education for the disadvantaged would be cut by $2.4 billion.

650,000 fewer children will receive subsidized child care in 2011 than in 2000.

For more details about what the President proposed: http://www.chn.org/pdf/FY07BudgetAnalysis.pdf

The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a
budget campaign, http://www.afsc.org/economic-justice/sos/ AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of non-partisan budget goals and without linking the alert to a website soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.

==============================================
Please forward this e-mail!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for CHN emails at http://www.chn.org/signUp.jsp