A common sense ‘People’s Budget’

By Will Parry

In what should have been big news to the mainstream media but wasn’t, 79 (seventy-nine!) members of Congress have rolled out “The People’s Budget” for fiscal year 2012, a common sense plan that would eliminate the federal deficit, create jobs and protect the American people.

The budget is the work of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, comprised of 77 House members plus Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democratic Senator Tom Udall of Utah. It is the largest caucus in Congress. Washington’s Rep. Jim McDermott is a member.

Here in summary is the caucus’ budget proposal: End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Enact a public option for health care. Reform the tax system so that corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share. Protect the integrity of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Invest $1.45 trillion in job creation, education and infrastructure.

“The Republican budget will wreak havoc on hard-working Americans,” Caucus Co-chairs Rep. Raul M. Grijalva and Rep. Keith Ellison declared in a letter to Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the ranking Democrat in the House. “They have proven, once again, their unwavering commitment to taking trillions of dollars from the pockets of the middle class and giving ever more generous windfalls to millionaires and large corporations. They want to throw seniors off Medicare. Their slash-and-burn tactics will throw hundreds of thousands of people out of work. They will eliminate health care for children and those with disabilities.

“We can present a clear alternative to the American people. We can and must produce a budget that eliminates the deficit, protects the American people, and creates jobs,” the co-chairs wrote. “We hope that you will give this due consideration as we move through the budget process.”

Reporting day after day on Republican budget gymnastics and on the efforts of a handful of senators to cobble together a bipartisan alternative, the media has largely ignored the bold and thoughtful proposal from the Progressive Caucus.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), a veteran of many political battles and a member of the Progressive Caucus, said the only way the People’s Budget will get traction is if progressives fight for it. “It’s about time we started joining with our allies and marching and protesting and going to the White House,” he said. “The rhetoric is beautiful, the speeches are great, but until we start protesting with thousands of people backing up the Progressive Caucus, we’re just another group that issues press releases on Wednesday.”