NAEYC Children’s Champions
August 2, 2011
DEBT VOTE IS NOT THE LAST ACTION FOR ADVOCATES
Today, the President signed the bill that raises the debt limit and makes program cuts toward deficit reduction. While this takes care of the concern about lifting the debt ceiling, it is not the end of the story for advocates who care about resources to help all children and families thrive and succeed.
The bill has a two-part strategy that coves the next ten years. First, there are nearly $1 trillion in cuts to programs on the defense and nondefense discretionary side of the budget. There are no “program by program” specifics with the exception of a bright spot of funding increases for Pell Grants.
Then there will be a 12-person committee (equal representation from both parties) that will make recommendations in November for an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit cuts that can include cuts to discretionary, mandatory and entitlement programs, and the committee does have the ability to recommend raising revenue. Congress will then take an up-or-down vote on the committee’s recommendations. If Congress doesn’t enact sufficient reductions/revenue rising, then there will be automatic cuts starting in 2013. Cuts could include Head Start, child care, K-12 education, nutrition, Social Security, Medicaid, and on and on. The “automatic trigger” does not change current tax benefits.
So stay tuned for the announcement of the 12-member committee. Keep up the advocacy on how we need fiscal responsibility to be fair for all of us, to look at revenue needs not just cuts, and to make the right fiscal choices that make us a stronger, healthier, better educated nation for the near and long-term.
For more details on the budget and debt ceiling deal, go to a three-page brief by the Center for Budget & Policy Priorities here.
Join Our Children's Champions email list to receive regular updates and action alerts on important child and family issues being considered by Congress and the Administration.
<< Go back to NAEYC Updates
