Justice and Advocacy Resource Links

Current and Proposed
U.S. and Pennsylvania Budgets

U.S. Budget

• Center on Budget Policy Priorities – many resources on federal budget and tax policy
• Coalition on Human Needs (CHN)
  – resources on many issues, including budget, appropriations, and tax policy.
  • The Deficit Deal Explained – webinar and many other resources
  • Federal Budget Debate Toolkit – links to webinars and even more resources
• Interfaith Taskforce on Domestic Human Needs (DHN) – U.S. budget analysis and advocacy resources, including budget briefing videos (webinars).
• Federal Budget Debate & Resources (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington Office)
• Move the Money – AFSC toolkit on US Budget, with four-part focus:
  • Deep cuts in the Pentagon budget
  • Raising revenues through taxes on the wealthy and corporations
  • Continuing protection for programs that aid the most vulnerable
  • Short-run investments to stimulate job creation
• U.S. Budget Debate Resources (Bread for the World)
• One Minute for Peace – federal budget allocation – military versus human needs
• “The People’s Budget” – proposal by Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) to end the deficit within 10 years – as an alternative to the Paul Ryan budget proposal. The CPC budget raises taxes on large corporations and millionaires, reduces military spending, and protects Social Security, Medicare, and other community services.

U.S. Government Resources

Office of Management & Budget (OMB)	— www.whitehouse.gov/omb
U.S. Senate Budget Committee	— budget.senate.gov
U.S. House Budget Committee	— budget.house.gov
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)	— www.cbo.gov
THOMAS — Library of Congess	— thomas.loc.gov

Pennsylvania Budget

July 2012 – For comprehensive analysis of the 2012-13 budget adopted June 30, 2012, see
pennbpc.org – Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center’s extensive resources. The Legislature restored some of the cuts proposed by Governor Corbett, but General Assistance ended in August, 2012, and there have been other siginificant cutbacks in education and social service programs during the current legislative session.

April 2012 – The 2012-13 budget proposed by Governor Corbett makes additional cuts (about 20% overall) to social services that affect our poorest and most vulnerable citizens. (See LCCC’s summary 2012-13 State Budget Analysis.)

July 2011 – The 2011-12 budget signed by Governor Corbett in June cuts about $1 billion from the 2010-11 budget, to keep spending at $27.3 billion. Pennsylvania ended the 2010-11 budget year with a $786 million surplus, but only about $200 million has been carried over to the 2011-12 budget.

The most substantial cuts are borne by public schools and universities, but there were substantial cuts to many social services as well, at a time of continuing high unemployment and
For budget details, see PBPC analysis of the 2011-12 budget and 2012-13 budget analysis. Also see United Way Budget Forum resource page for more details about impact of the proposed budget in the Lehigh Valley.

• Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center –
  many resources on Pennsylvania budget and tax policy.

• Editorial Commentary by Sharon Ward on the Corbett budget proposal (Morning Call, 3/8/2011).
• Better Choices for Pennsylvania –
  “coalition for a responsible budget” – promotes alternatives to the Corbett budget proposal.

Free Webinars

Past webinars are archived for on-line viewing.

See CHN webinar page for other and more recent budget-related webinars.
Also, Tax Fairness Organizing Collaborative (TFOC) offers monthly “Tax Fairness Tuneup” webinars.

• Impact of Looming Budget Cuts on Low-Income Families, our Communities, and our Economy: Tools and Resources to Help You Fight Back, (4/10/12)
  webinar recording and handouts].
• Budget Debates: Why you should care & what you can do about it (4/2/2012).
  [Webinar Recording], [Description and Resources].
• The Deficit Deal Explained, 8/18/2011
  [audio recording (81 min.)],
  [presentation slides], [other related resources].
• 
  The U.S. Debt & Budget Deal, 8/3/2011
  
  an analysis of the budget deal – debt, deficit, and Congressional “Supercommittee.”
• Budget Update, 5/26/2011
  a more in depth look engaging in advocacy around the budget crisis
• Budget Primer, 4/12/2011
  overview of budget issues
• Also see DHN webinar page

Other Resources

• “Dear America: You Should Be Mad As Hell About This,” by Henry Blodget, 6/7/2012
  (businessinsider.com) –
  Commentary, with many charts on unemployment, CEO and worker pay, income & wealth inequality, tax policy, and more.
• Economic Policy Institute – resources on many national economic issues

Also see:

• Jobs, Unemployment and Workplace Issues
• Tax Policy
• Poverty,Income, Wealth
• Faith-Based Reflection