our budget: their future -- federal budget imperatives 2025
There are many assaults to our democratic system which require action and will be played out in the federal administration, in the courts, and in Congress. The biggest role Congress has is enacting the budget – which in most years involves incremental changes. This year, however, Congress is proposing radical changes that disrupt services, provide huge tax breaks for the wealthiest, and expand the federal deficit. These webpages are directed to anyone who would like to make their voice heard in Congress in forging a different path.
budget reconciliation and america's future
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: THE STAKES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: THE STAKES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: THE STAKES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
The individual elements and ways to achieve the budget resolution goals will shift and change and evolve, but President Trump and his allies have made clear that their goal involves a massive redistribution of resources and power at the expense of overall public services that Americans rely upon.
They know the individual provisions are deeply unpopular with voters, so they are seeking to create a crisis around the need to do something, roll the unpopular provisions into an omnibus piece of legislation, market it as critical to avert the crisis. and contend there is no other way to protect the public from a greater enemy.
Simply put, the unfolding Congressional strategy is to enact one big beautiful bill” that simultaneously:
1. Extends and expands unpopular and inflationary tax cuts to the wealthiest and most powerful corporate interests of $4 plus trillion over the next decade;
2. Decimates core, popular domestic programs people rely upon, with $2+ trillion in spending cuts that harm working and middle-class Americans and cascade down to create impossible state and local government challenges to maintain health, education, safety, and agricultural programs they administer; and
3. Increases the national deficit by $3 plus trillion and places additional burdens on future Congresses and future generations.
DO THE MATH: THREE WRONGS EQUAL A DISASTER.
INTO THE IMPACTS: THE ABC'S OF BUDGET RECONCILIATION
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: THE STAKES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: THE STAKES IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION
The U.S. House passed a budget resolution to guide Republicans in using “budget reconciliation” to unilaterally (with no Democratic support) pass a federal budget that places many American families in jeopardy, increases the wealth and power of a billionaire class, and creates huge burdens for local and state governments and future generations.
Since budget reconciliation will include virtually all programs and federal spending as well as tax policy, it will be complicated. The ABC’S OF BUDGET RECONCILIATION webpage has both synopses and talking points around the overall reconciliation proposals and deeper dives in the core elements in the tax and spending included. Some of the “devil” is always in the details, and this webpage helps in exposing the devils and what to do to rectify them.
EXERCISING OUR RIGHTS AND POWER
Budget reconciliation is not a done deal.
Many Republicans are very uneasy about the budget reconciliation package. Democrats are unified in opposition. If there were a free vote on changes of this magnitude or if it required sixty percent of members to agree, the legislation would look entirely different – and at least a third of House and Senator Republicans would feel much better about their votes. In short, a pronounced majority of members of Congress want something different.
A key to changing course is making our voices heard and our members of Congress answer to us. There are many organizations from the grassroots to the national level that are doing so. The LENDING YOUR VOICE webpage offers ways for all of us to be involved where we can both find solidarity with others and use our own knowledge and connections as influencers to be involved.
TAKING A BETTER PATH
It is complicated, but the Harris campaign and Democratic leadership have mapped out a budget that would make the tax system fairer and work better for working families and would preserve services and make improvements to them. It does so in a pro-child, pro-family, and pro-economy way that supports the economy and doesn’t burden future generations with debt.
In addition to opposing and resisting the budget reconciliation President Trump and his allies are advancing, we can show there is a better way. The elements of such a proposal also are provided on the ABC’s OF BUDGET RECONCILIATION WEB PAGE.