The death of compassionate conservatism
by Jim Wallis
Urgent Action Alert: Call Rep. Tauscher now at (800)
426-8073. Say "no" to a morally bankrupt budget.
Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a
press conference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House
of Representatives to oppose cuts in social services
in their budget bill. When it was over, we walked to
the rotunda to offer a prayer for our nation and its
leaders, that they would do the right thing for people
in poverty. Suddenly, we were face to face with
Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took the
opportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He
listened politely, but offered little response.
The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its
budget bill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On
the table are cuts of $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by
requiring co-pays for pregnant women and children for
the first time; $8 billion in foster care, child
support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and $844
million in the Food Stamps Program, which would
prevent 300,000 people from receiving food stamps.
Forty thousand children would be cut from
reduced-price school lunches. Lawmakers intend to
follow these with a further cut of $70 billion in
taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% of
taxpayers. The message from Congress is that in
response to Hurricane Katrina, we're going to cut
services for the poor, cut taxes for the rich, and
increase deficits for our children and grandchildren.
These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for
by tax cuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the
national priorities we need to protect our most
vulnerable citizens. We need strong moral leadership
in Congress, especially during this time of war,
record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and
natural disasters. Cutting food stamps and health care
that meet the basic needs of poor families is an
outrage. Cutting social services to pay for further
tax cuts for the rich is a moral travesty that
violates biblical priorities. The House leadership
seems to be saying they literally want to take food
from the mouths of children to make rich people
richer. If this ideology and politics of rich over
poor prevails and our leaders fail to govern from a
set of moral values, then the religious community must
conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.
As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on
members of Congress, some of whom make much out of
their faith, to start Bible studies before they cast
votes to cut services that will further harm the
weakest in our nation. They should focus on the gospel
imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations
to the "least of these." Some of them have heard the
slogan "What would Jesus do?" Now they should ask,
"What would Jesus cut?" Budgets are moral documents,
and they reflect our national priorities and values.
In the name of social conscience, fiscal
responsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our
communities, and the very idea of a common good, the
upcoming budget votes will be closely watched by
people of faith.
I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up
your phone, and call your member of Congress. Tell him
or her to show political will in standing up for the
least of these, as Jesus reminds us.
Call Rep. Tauscher now, toll-free:
(800) 426-8073 (Thank you, American Friends Service
Committee).
The House of Representatives will vote on this immoral
budget proposal as early as Thursday of this week, and
a one-minute call from you and others could mean the
difference between a "yea" or a "nay" vote from Rep.
Tauscher. Dialing the number above will get you to the
Capitol switchboard. When you reach an operator, ask
for Rep. Tauscher, and when connected, say something
like:
"As a person of faith from California, I urge Rep.
Tauscher to vote "no" on this immoral budget bill that
cuts $54 billion in vital services to vulnerable
people, including Medicaid, foster care, food stamps,
and child support. These cuts will hurt survivors of
Katrina and countless working families. Along with
proposed tax cuts for the super-wealthy, these are the
wrong priorities at the wrong time."
After you call, click here to tell 10 friends about
our call-in day. With your help, we can jam the phone
lines for justice in Washington! Spreading the word
about this outrage is critical to the success of our
campaign.
Urgent Action Alert: Call Rep. Tauscher now at (800)
426-8073. Say "no" to a morally bankrupt budget.
Last week, I spoke with other religious leaders at a
press conference in the U.S. Capitol, urging the House
of Representatives to oppose cuts in social services
in their budget bill. When it was over, we walked to
the rotunda to offer a prayer for our nation and its
leaders, that they would do the right thing for people
in poverty. Suddenly, we were face to face with
Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and took the
opportunity to deliver our message directly to him. He
listened politely, but offered little response.
The House is scheduled to begin debate tomorrow on its
budget bill, which includes $54 billion in cuts. On
the table are cuts of $9.5 billion in Medicaid - by
requiring co-pays for pregnant women and children for
the first time; $8 billion in foster care, child
support enforcement, and aid to the disabled; and $844
million in the Food Stamps Program, which would
prevent 300,000 people from receiving food stamps.
Forty thousand children would be cut from
reduced-price school lunches. Lawmakers intend to
follow these with a further cut of $70 billion in
taxes that will primarily benefit the top 3% of
taxpayers. The message from Congress is that in
response to Hurricane Katrina, we're going to cut
services for the poor, cut taxes for the rich, and
increase deficits for our children and grandchildren.
These plans for deep cuts to social supports, paid for
by tax cuts for the wealthiest, are contrary to the
national priorities we need to protect our most
vulnerable citizens. We need strong moral leadership
in Congress, especially during this time of war,
record deficits, rising poverty and hunger, and
natural disasters. Cutting food stamps and health care
that meet the basic needs of poor families is an
outrage. Cutting social services to pay for further
tax cuts for the rich is a moral travesty that
violates biblical priorities. The House leadership
seems to be saying they literally want to take food
from the mouths of children to make rich people
richer. If this ideology and politics of rich over
poor prevails and our leaders fail to govern from a
set of moral values, then the religious community must
conclude that compassionate conservatism is dead.
As this battle for the budget unfolds, I am calling on
members of Congress, some of whom make much out of
their faith, to start Bible studies before they cast
votes to cut services that will further harm the
weakest in our nation. They should focus on the gospel
imperative - what Jesus tells us about our obligations
to the "least of these." Some of them have heard the
slogan "What would Jesus do?" Now they should ask,
"What would Jesus cut?" Budgets are moral documents,
and they reflect our national priorities and values.
In the name of social conscience, fiscal
responsibility, equal opportunity, protecting our
communities, and the very idea of a common good, the
upcoming budget votes will be closely watched by
people of faith.
I urge you to read the alert that follows, pick up
your phone, and call your member of Congress. Tell him
or her to show political will in standing up for the
least of these, as Jesus reminds us.
Call Rep. Tauscher now, toll-free:
(800) 426-8073 (Thank you, American Friends Service
Committee).
The House of Representatives will vote on this immoral
budget proposal as early as Thursday of this week, and
a one-minute call from you and others could mean the
difference between a "yea" or a "nay" vote from Rep.
Tauscher. Dialing the number above will get you to the
Capitol switchboard. When you reach an operator, ask
for Rep. Tauscher, and when connected, say something
like:
"As a person of faith from California, I urge Rep.
Tauscher to vote "no" on this immoral budget bill that
cuts $54 billion in vital services to vulnerable
people, including Medicaid, foster care, food stamps,
and child support. These cuts will hurt survivors of
Katrina and countless working families. Along with
proposed tax cuts for the super-wealthy, these are the
wrong priorities at the wrong time."
After you call, click here to tell 10 friends about
our call-in day. With your help, we can jam the phone
lines for justice in Washington! Spreading the word
about this outrage is critical to the success of our
campaign.
posted by Rev. Rick Mitchell, PhD at 3:21 PM
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