Debt Ceiling Deal a Blow to Women's Economic Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2011
3:17 PM


CONTACT: National Organization for Women (NOW)

Latoya Veal, 202-628-8669, ext. 116
Debt Ceiling Deal a Blow to Women's Economic Security
Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

WASHINGTON - August 1 - The debt ceiling agreement reached by the White House and congressional leaders over the weekend deals a serious blow to women's economic security. If approved by both houses of Congress, the agreement will impose $1 trillion in cuts to programs such as family planning clinics, food stamps, college tuition assistance, child care and a host of other programs that disproportionately serve and employ women. But that is just the first part of the agreement.

This initial set of cuts is to be followed by an even more ambitious deficit-reduction package designed by a "super committee" composed of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats from both houses of Congress. The super committee's proposal would be put to an up-or-down vote later this year -- thus relieving elected officials from doing their job of crafting legislation through a deliberative, committee-based process. So-called triggers in the super committee's charter are designed to make it more likely than not that the ultimate product will include cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and possibly Social Security (and possibly military spending), but not meaningful taxes on the wealthiest or corporations.

This two-step plan attempts to balance the federal budget on the backs of the most vulnerable people in this country -- disproportionately women and especially women of color. And for what? Not for a balanced budget. Sadly, this punishing "deal" will not actually solve our deficit problem, which was caused by Bush-era tax cuts for top income earners, unfunded and ill-conceived wars, and reduced federal income tax revenue due to high unemployment. Those are the root causes that must be addressed.

In addition, this deal is sure to further depress the economy, lead to higher unemployment and further limit consumer spending, which is the reason the economy is not growing. This phony crisis -- forced by conservatives in Congress -- robs middle- and lower-income families in order to give a free pass to multi-millionaires and big corporations. It is a right-wing, anti-government solution that will lead to even more serious economic problems for the U.S. and will disproportionately impact women.

We call on Congress to reject any deal that fails to require the wealthiest to pay their fair share in taxes, cut wasteful military spending, and protect programs that women rely on in these tough economic times. The Obama administration and allies in Congress must stand up to the conservatives and Tea Party activists who are threatening the economic well-being of this country and apparently do not care if millions suffer thanks to un-called for cuts to vital government programs.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/08/01-5

Mods there is no copyright issue with this press release

can we get rid of them all now? I would suggest we keep the black caucus and Bernie Sanders. Russ Feingold.

I haven't figured out how to do a head count, though.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2015790703_mcdermotttobreakrankswithdemsondebtceilingvote.html

McDermott to vote against debt deal

Any word on CBC yet?

claiming that Krugman, Conyers, Reich, Greenwald, Sanders, the NYTimes, NOW, the Progressive Caucus, et. al. are all somehow misinformed about this charade, yet they are unqualified experts because they read the spin at mybarackobama.com

This is why President Obama pushed for this timing.

That's why working towards taking back the House and keeping the House and WH is more important than ever.

what little the working class has to depend on for survival. That makes me feel better. And please show me one bill that passed Congress that was later 'fixed' when we elected a 'Democratic Congress'? The Welfare Bill? Remember the promises?

Unbelievable that we actually did elect Democrats to all branches of Government and things are even worse now than when Bush was running things.

all over the country already. :grr:

NOW is exaggerating. Not the first time, either.

Planned Parenthood should be happy about the Obama Administration's order for birth control to be exempt from co-pays. They are under attack -- from Republicans. We must make sure we take back the House and keep the Senate and WH next year.

I want to know what Democrats are going to be on this committee.

How is 'taking back the House' going to be any different than it was after we 'took it back' in 2008?

They're going to have a harder time selling this in 2012 than they did then. Back then we actually thought the Democratic Party still represented the Working Class.

You can't be serious.

That's why Seniors had their SS benefits cut by pretending there was no inflation. That's why we got a Health Care bill that bailed out the happily failing HEalth Insurance Corps and gave them more of our Public Health Care Funds for profits instead of going directly to the people it was intended for.

That's why Guantanamo is still open. Why there has been no investigations of those who brought down this country's economy, only bailouts.

That's why the Patriot Act was extended and the Bush tax cuts.

That's why the ban on Offshore drilling was lifted.

And it's why in 2010 Independents stayed home ...

Being 'productive' doesn't mean being 'productive for the people'. The Big Corps made out fine. The American people can't seem to figure out what THEY got after working so hard to get a majority for Democrats.

If you don't know the difference between the Pelosi House and the Teabagger House, then I can't anything you say seriously. Go peddle your "there's no difference" crap elsewhere where people want to buy Brooklyn Bridges, too.

The difference between the Teabagger House and the Pelosi House is they fight for what they believe in, the Dems 'compromise' and cave even when they have a majority.

There's not much point in saying you support issues if you're not willing to fight for them.

I actually never said there was 'no difference' in the supposed goals of both parties. There is a huge difference which I have just illustrated above.

Are you Skinner btw? :eyes:

"more ample third".

lol

Entitlement benefits and many programs for the poor are not on the table, either as current cuts or trigger cuts.

And who will the Dems put on this 'Super Committee' do you think? Who gets to decide that?

Who would YOU put on the Committee?

And sabrina 1.

I am scared, at my age I cannot keep waiting.

This definitely hits home.


Thanks for the very good information you guys post here.

It is VERY helpful to a lot of us out here who are hanging on by hangnails, who do not have good jobs anymore.

Seems all too often anymore like the Democrats who are doing well want us to shut up and stop rocking their well filled boat.

Nothing Democratic, or progressive, or liberal about that at all.

That is 2011 republican speak.


Again, you both are a lifeline with your information, one of several Democratic Underground members whose links and posts I seek out to stay well informed.


(on edit, still trying to figure this place out, apologies for posting names wrong!)

:hi:

:grr:

What about men? Don't they matter?

What is the alternate proposal?

Aren't men in this country still making thirty cents an hour more than women are?

Isn't there a much higher incidence of poverty for female seniors?

>Don't they matter?<

Again, let's hear what you have to say about the oft-proven fact that women STILL don't make as much as their male counterparts, and the fact that those living in poverty after age 65 are overwhelmingly WOMEN.

Obama or SOMEONE should have gotten a clean bill and not this POS.

I'm seeing a whole helluva lot of pain from everyone except the rich.