Advocates Urged to Weigh In with Lawmakers
In its September 4, 2012 Memo to Members newsletter, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLICH) gives an update on sequestration. In its August 22 2012 report, An Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2012 to 2022, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) presents revised estimates of the savings anticipated from sequestration in 2013. CBO originally estimated that $98 billion would be cut from discretionary spending. It now estimates that $94 billion would be cut during the upcoming year.
Lawmakers are expected to debate the sequester when Congress returns from its August district work period, but are not expected to entertain alternative proposals in earnest until after the November election during the “lame duck” session of Congress. Meanwhile, the Administration is preparing to release data on sequestration impacts. The Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 obligates the Administration to send this information to Congress by September 6. The Administration has stated that it believes that sequestration is an inappropriate policy solution to address the deficit and should be avoided.
Advocates continue to urge Congress to avoid sequestration and ensure that deficit reduction efforts include a balanced approach to spending and revenue in order to protect low-income households served by government-funded programs.
The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) is circulating a sign-on letter from local, state and national organizations urging Members of Congress to protect low income and vulnerable people, promote job creation, increase revenue from fair sources, and target wasteful spending in the Pentagon. These four demands are the “Strengthening America’s Values and Economy” (SAVE) principles developed prior to the passage of the BCA and endorsed by 1,600 organizations.
Monarch Housing has signed on to the letter and is working with the NLIHC to urge New Jersey organizations to join them in signing onto this letter.
Click here to view the sign on letter from CHN.
