A Fiscally and Morally Responsible Alternative: the Congressional Black Caucus Budget for Fiscal Year 2009

Press Release

A Fiscally and Morally Responsible Alternative:
The Congressional Black Caucus Budget for Fiscal Year 2009

Today, U.S. Representatives Carolyn Kilpatrick (MI-13) and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-3) offered an alternative to the Democratic budget on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). While the CBC recognizes the important improvements the Democratic budget makes over the President's budget, the CBC believes that its budget does an even better job of meeting the needs of the American people while being even more fiscally responsible.

According to Rep. Kilpatrick, Chairwoman of the CBC: "Fiscal and moral responsibility are the underpinning of the Congressional Black Caucus alternative budget. In order for America to become stronger and healthier we must not devalue the vitality of the working class while insulating the wealthy few."

"The CBC budget demonstrates that when faced with tough choices we must keep the right priorities in mind. In so doing, it is possible to create a budget that is both fiscally and morally responsible," stated Rep. Scott, who chairs the CBC Budget Task Force.

One of the choices is to fund programs and services important to the American people rather than continuing to provide tax cuts to those who need it least. By repealing some of the tax cuts implemented under the Republican administration that primarily impact that portion of a household's income over $200,000, the CBC budget provides robust funding for much needed programs and services such as health care for uninsured children, education and job training programs, veterans' benefits and services and an expanded G.I. Bill for Post-9/11 Veterans, juvenile justice prevention and intervention programs, the Global AIDS initiative, community and regional development, public housing, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Army Corps of Engineers, and Homeland Security needs such as the Port Security Grant Program and grants for First Responders.

Even after funding all of these priorities, the CBC budget significantly reduces the deficit and, in fact, reaches surplus in FY 2012 and FY 2013.

Although the CBC Budget failed to gain a majority in the House, it did receive the support of 126 members - more than half of the House Democratic Caucus.

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