Thursday, March 31, 2011

Heads up: Congress is debating a budget plan that would be devastating to Michigan.

Dear Lisa,
Heads up: Congress is debating a budget plan that would be devastating to Michigan. Will you pass this along?
Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin need to hear from all of us about it right now, before they cut a deal in the next few days.
Please spread the word about all of these proposed cuts to Michigan:
  • $76 million would be cut from federal funds for clean and safe water in Michigan.1
  • 6,100 Michigan children would be immediately cut from Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood development services for at-risk children ages zero to five.2
  • $202 million would be cut from Pell Grants, affecting all 337,000 higher education students with those grants in Michigan.3
  • Job training and employment services would be effectively eliminated for 8,800 dislocated workers, 139,000 low-income adults, and 19,000 youths age 14 to 21.4
  • $4.8 million would be cut from law enforcement assistance, taking cops off the beat.5
It's especially galling when the same budget protects tax breaks for corporations like GE and the very rich.
Just last night the news broke that Congress may be close to striking a deal on the budget. Now is the only time we can influence the outcome. 
Can you call Sens. Stabenow and Levin and ask them to oppose these cuts in the budget? You can pick one of the cuts in this list to highlight in your call.
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Phone: 202-224-4822

Senator Carl Levin
Phone: 202-224-6221
Click to report your call. Then pass this email along locally!
The cuts that the Republicans are proposing would disproportionately hit those who can least afford it in Michigan, and it's up to us to stop them.
Thanks for all you do.
-Daniel, Amy, Milan, Tate, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "House Bill Means Fewer Children in Head Start, Less Help for Students to Attend College, Less Job Training, and Less Funding for Clean Water," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March, 1, 2010
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3405
2. "Projected Reduction in Children Served in Head Start Based on H.R. 1—Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution," Center for Law and Social Policy
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=207278&id=26722-10488838-AociLBx&t=3
3. "House Bill Means Fewer Children in Head Start, Less Help for Students to Attend College, Less Job Training, and Less Funding for Clean Water," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March, 1, 2010
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3405
4. Ibid
5. Ibid
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Lisa Ekanger Your Hometown Realtor!

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