Risk to women is reason enough to Sign a Letter
Protecting Low/Moderate Income People
from Being Harmed by Deficit Reduction Measures
Click here to read the letter and see the national group signers as of June 30.
Signing Deadline Extended to September 8!
Please sign the letter by clicking here:
Politicians looking for ways to show they are willing to make the “tough choices” to reduce the deficit tend to be a lot tougher on vulnerable, low-income people than on powerful interests. That would put women, especially single mothers, at particular risk. An explicit promise to protect those with low incomes will reduce the threat of significant losses of income and services.
Why do we think vulnerable groups including poor women with children will be at risk? Well, take a look at what’s being considered in the U.K. In a story in the Washington Post, it’s reported that two separate studies concluded that women and the nation’s poorest people would be “hit hardest” by the deficit reduction measures. Not a surprise: low-income people need government services, and women are more likely to have government jobs. We do not have any reason to think the impact will be different here.
Signing Deadline Extended to September 8!
We urge local, state, and national organizations to sign this letter to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform urging it to commit to prevent harm to low/moderate-income people in its recommendations. The letter also calls for seeking and making public analyses to show the impact on different income groups, and for leaving room in future budgets for anti-poverty investments that will in themselves promote economic growth and reduce the deficit.
The letter has been signed by more than one-hundred (120) national organizations and has been circulated among Commission members. Now we need to show that local and state groups across the country share these concerns. We will share the letter with signers in every state both with the Commission and with Members of Congress. Please show that your organization joins with hundreds of others in recognizing the importance of sparing low and moderate income people from bearing the brunt of cuts to reduce the deficit.
To read the letter and see the national group signers as of June 30 click here.
To sign the letter click here.
Please sign if you are authorized to speak for a state or local organization – service provider, congregation or other faith-based group, advocacy org, business, PTA, labor union… – adding your voice will help! And if you’re a national group that hasn’t yet signed, we welcome you!
Click here if you want background info about the Commission.
For more info about deficit reduction click here.
Deficit reduction is a means to an end – the end being a strong economy with prosperity shared by all. If you agree that reducing the deficit by making cuts that hurt low-income people will only weaken the economy and our nation, please sign the letter.
A note about the form for signing the letter: You will be asked at the bottom to say “yes” or “no” to the question, “Are you authorized to sign on behalf of your organization?” Please only sign if you are authorized, and then select “YES.” If you forget to answer this, we will have to contact you to make sure we should be listing your organization.
Thanks to groups who have already signed and those who are about to!
