Budget by Crisis? We Must Demand Better
What's New
Sequestration, a looming government shutdown, no President's budget proposal for 2014, the debt ceiling... these crises are failures of Congress to fulfill its responsibility to our nation. We must demand a better federal budget.
Enough is enough.
We've succumbed to sequestration.
We're facing a looming government shutdown on March 27.
We're threatened with the expiration of a debt ceiling suspension in May.
And at the same time, we may be embarking on a broken FY 2014 budget process.
Join us in demanding more from our elected officials in Washington D.C.! Take Action Now .
Demand a Better Federal Budget
What we're asking for is not a lot. In fact, all it requires is lawmakers to do their jobs.
1. Repeal Sequestration: Slash and burn budgeting fails our democracy
This widely unpopular legislation was never meant to happen - and for good reason. Approximately $85 billion in automatic, across-the-board federal spending cuts in fiscal year 2013 will affect nearly every American over the next months and years.
2. Pass a 2013 Budget: Governing without a budget is irresponsible
Our federal government has been operating without a formal budget since Oct. 1, 2012. The continuing resolution only serves as a stop-gap measure to continue funding at 2012 levels. This means our nation is in a time warp.
3. Give us an accountable 2014 budget process: Our democracy and people deserve it
Our federal budgeting process is broken. Americans deserve a transparent and accountable budget process - the level of dysfunction we've seen in recent years flies in the face of government by and for the people. See our analysis of 2014 budget proposals from the House, Senate, and Congressional Progressive Caucus.
4. Avoid expiration of the debt ceiling: We don't need another crisis
Failure to raise the debt ceiling would cost the government many billions of dollars in higher borrowing costs and would trigger a government shutdown. We need to raise the debt ceiling limit beyond the May 18 expiration to ensure continued operation of our government.
More Information: FY2013 Budget
Since Oct. 1 the government has been running on a stop-gap spending measure called a continuing resolution (CR), which basically maintains status quo funding levels from 2012. The current CR expires on March 27, which means that the federal government will shutdown on March 28 unless Congress passes new legislation to continue to fund its operations. Cogress is currently considering a new CR that will fund the government through Sept. 30, 2013.
- What is a continuing resolution (CR)?
- Why it's a bad idea for our government to run on a continuing resolution
- What's going on in the House and Senate CR bills
More Information: FY2014 Budget
You've likely heard news in recent days about the release of the Paul Ryan budget, plus budgets put out by the Senate Budget Committee and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Those budgets are proposals for fiscal year 2014 – which starts Oct. 1, 2013. In other words, Congress has begun the 2014 budget process even though the fiscal 2013 budget is still up in the air.
- The top 5 things you need to know about the three budget proposals
- A detailed side-by-side comparison of the three proposals
More Information: Sequestration
As of March 1, nearly every American will begin to feel the impact of sequestration – approximately $85 billion in automatic, across-the-board federal spending cuts in fiscal year 2013 focused almost exclusively on discretionary spending. What does it mean for you?
- Build a Better Budget: an on-line game that shows you an array of budget proposals and the impact of sequestration
- An overview of how sequestration is failing all Americans
- Find out what is sequestration and how will it affect you
- A state-by-state analysis of how sequestration will affect the Pentagon and domestic programs
- A snapshot of how non-defense programs will be hit by sequestration
- How sequestration will lead to less informed budgeting
Additional Resources
- A Fight for the Future : How budget dysfunction harms young people
- The Untold Story of Deficits in Washington : How tax cuts and loopholes contribute to budget deficits
- Entitlement reform : The debate about changing earned-benefit programs
- Two Webinars : One focused broadly on the elements of Fiscal Cliff II and another looking specifically at the Pentagon.
Take Action with our #BetterBudget campaign!
We deserve a budget that reflects the voices of the people.
Join us to Demand a #BetterBudget from Congress and the President. We're using social media to spread awareness and action so that our legislators hear our voices and listen to our nation's priorities for the federal budget.We must make our voices heard. Join the Demand a Better Budget campaign !
Ways to Take Action Now:
- Tweet to your Congressperson demanding a #betterbudget. (Scroll down to see sample tweets)
- Share #betterbudget images on Facebook . (See sample posts below.)
- Join our mailing list for updates and news on Fiscal Cliff II
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
Tweet your Congressperson!
Find the Twitter handle for people who represent you in Washington.
Use one of these tweets or write your own to Demand a #BetterBudget!
- We need a #betterbudget for our nation. @[name] please avoid #fiscalcliff2 with equitable fiscal solutions.
- .@[name] a #betterbudget will reflect the priorities of people. Get our #democracy back on track. #fiscalcliff2
- .@[name] I'm tired of dysfunction in #Congress . Deliver on your responsibility to give the nation a #betterbudget .
- .@[name] for the future of our children, we need a #betterbudget for our nation that reflects people, not politics.
- .@[name] don't let our nation go over #fiscalcliff2 . Get the work done on a #betterbudget before it's too late.
Voice your priorities for a #betterbudget on Facebook
Share one of NPP's Facebook images or post to your wall and tag the White House or your Congressperson. Here's a sample Facebook post:
- Our nation is facing another Fiscal Cliff if Congress doesn't take action to resolve our budget challenges. It's time for a #betterbudget that reflects the priorities of people, not politics. [Add a statement about YOUR OWN priorities for how your tax dollars should be spent.]
- Share NPP's #betterbudget images on Facebook .