An Open Petition to Congress

The most serious economic challenge facing America is the continuing jobs crisis, not the deficit or the national debt. Besides, we cannot stabilize our national debt over the long term unless we fix our economy first. A deeply misguided focus on budget austerity already has caused a “double dip” recession in Europe. More budget austerity in the United States could keep us from ever fixing what is wrong with our economy.

We, the undersigned, have a tremendous stake in the outcome of the ongoing budget debates. As Congress takes up sequestration, as well as short and long term budget bills, we urge you to insist on policies that create jobs; oppose benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; protect the critical services Americans rely on every day and avoid asking government workers to sacrifice more than they already have.

In short, we urge you to strongly oppose the radical approach of those lawmakers who are holding our economic well- being hostage for yet another manufactured crisis. Please support the following principles, and work to ensure that your colleagues stand for them as well:

• Oppose cuts to federal employee pay, health insurance, and retirement. Government employees have already sacrificed $103 billion dollars towards the deficit. When federal employees are constantly under attack, work morale and the government services that we take for granted suffer.

• Cancel sequestration. Americans should not have to go without safe borders, clean air, drinkable water, safe food, disaster relief and other critical services to meet unnecessary spending cut demands.

• Oppose cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The sick, poor, and elderly did not cause this deficit, and they should not be asked to pay for it. Social Security has not added one dime to the deficit, and Medicare and Medicaid are not the reason behind this financial crisis.

• Close tax loopholes for Wall Street and the richest 2% and cap the exorbitant compensation for government contractors. This includes closing loopholes that encourage job offshoring, allow corporations to pay no taxes, and enrich the already wealthy.

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