Priorities, Or, The Progressive Caucus Needs A Publicist

by dday

The House passed a budget tonight, one that largely contours to Barack Obama’s outline, on a vote of 233-196, with all Republicans opposed. The President responded favorably, saying that “Tonight, the House of Representatives took another step toward rebuilding our struggling economy.” But that was but one of a host of budgets that were voted upon today.

The Progressive Caucus advanced a plan to spend hundreds of billions more on domestic programs than Obama, while cutting back on his defense budget. It failed, 348-84.

Next came a proposal from the conservative Republican Study Conference that would have cut Obama’s domestic spending proposals, and reduced taxes. It was defeated, 322-111.

The Congressional Black Caucus proposed immediately repealing Bush-era tax cuts for wealthy taxpayers, while adding a new tax on couples making over $1 million. It called for greater spending on domestic programs,including education, transportation and job training. It fell, 318-113.

House Republicans presented a comprehensive alternative, including a provision to eliminate the current traditional Medicare program as an option for anyone currently under 55. Upon turning 65, their Medicare coverage would come only from plans operated by private insurance companies. Their costs would be paid at least in part with government funds.

Supporters said the change would prevent Medicare from going broke.

The Republican budget was rejected 293-137. More than three dozen members of the GOP rank and file voted against it, and several officials said the internal opposition stemmed in large measure from controversy surrounding the Medicare proposal.

Also, St. John McCain offered his budget, which included a total spending freeze, today in the Senate, and he got 38 Republican votes for it, including Arlen Specter, who voted for the stimulus package, which included, you know, spending.

But I want to highlight that Progressive Caucus budget, which got short shrift in both the media and the Congress. The budget accurately describes progressive values and suggests what could be possible if politicians were actually straight about the needs of the American people separate from the needs of lobbyists and greedheads on Wall Street:

CPC Budget cuts and revenue raisers highlights:

· Elimination of unneeded, unwanted, and unproven Cold War Era weapons systems ($60 billion/year);

· Elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse at DOD. ($8.7 billion/year);

· Redeployment of all U.S. troops and military contractors out of Iraq ($90 billion);

· Repeal of Bush tax breaks for the top 1% of taxpayers ($222 billion);

· Instituting “Make Wall Street Pay For Wall Street’s Bailout” tax of .25% on all stock transactions ($150 billion/year);

· Closing egregious corporate tax loopholes ($100 billion/year);and

· Cap on tax deductibility of excessive executive compensation ($20 billion/year).

CPC Budget investment highlights:

· Provides $991 billion for non-military discretionary spending in FY10, $469 billion above President Obama’s request, primarily to help rescue the faltering U.S. economy and those Americans hardest hit;

· Provides $479 billion as sufficient defense spending level;

· Provides a strong economic stimulus package of $300 billion that includes an extension of unemployment insurance, an increase in assistance for food stamps, transportation infrastructure, school construction, water and flood control projects;

· Provides $120 billion a year for health care for all Americans; and

· Provides $1.22 trillion to cut the poverty rate in half over the next decade.

That’s a real-live progressive budget – what’s more, it’s no less fiscally responsible than the President’s, with the $469 billion in spending more than canceled out by the $600 billion-plus in savings. And it got 84 votes. Sometimes it’s good to know where we stand.

It’s important for the Progressive Caucus to set this marker every year, to create a budget and argue out in the open. They just need a better publicist.

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