Last
week, President Obama unveiled his budget—his blueprint for America—and it's
ambitious, amazing, and unapologetically progressive. I thought you should see
this summary of what the plan would do from MoveOn.org.
10
things you should know about Obama's plan
The
plan:
Makes a
$634 billion down payment on fixing health care that will go a long way toward
paying for a more efficient, more affordable health care system that covers
every single American.1
Reduces
taxes for 95% of working Americans. And if your family makes less than $250,000,
your taxes won't go up one dime.2
Invests
more than $100 billion in clean energy technology, creating millions of green
jobs that can never be outsourced.3
Brings
our troops home from Iraq on a firm timetable, finally bringing the war to a
close—and freeing up almost ten billion dollars a month for domestic
priorities.4
Reverses
growing income inequality. The plan lets the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest
Americans expire and focuses on strengthening the middle class.5
Closes
multi-billion-dollar tax loopholes for big oil companies. 6
Increases grants to help families pay for college—the largest increase ever.7
Halves
the deficit by 2013. President Obama inherited a legacy of huge deficits and an
economy in shambles, but his plan brings the deficit under control as soon as
the economy begins to recover.8
Dramatically increases funding for the SEC and the CFTC—the agencies that police
Wall Street.9
Tells it
straight. For years, budgets have used accounting tricks to hide the real costs
of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush tax cuts, and too many other
programs. Obama's budget gets rid of the smokescreens and lays out what
America's priorities are, what they cost, and how we're going to pay for them.10
Pretty
amazing, right?
Turns
out there are way more than 10 amazing things in Obama's budget:
Stops
unnecessary government subsidies to big banks, health insurance companies and
big agribusinesses.11,12,13
Expands
access to early childhood education and improves schools by investing in
programs that make sure every child has a qualified, strong teacher.14
Negotiates for better prescription drug prices using Medicaid's tremendous
bargaining power.15
Expands
access to family planning for low-income women.16
Caps the
pollution that causes global warming, and makes polluters pay to support clean
energy innovation.17
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