I have six children my friend Jo has none. Between us we have an average of three kids apiece. That’s about the same kind of math President Bush used when he said of his new tax plan: "92 million Americans receive an average tax cut of $1,083. That's fair."

The Urban Institute-Brookings Institution’s Tax Policy Center find that about half of tax filers would get $100 or less. So the $1,083 average figure includes high-income folk who’d get massive tax cuts — $90,000 for those taking in over $1 million a year — with small tax cuts the rest will get. Actually the middle fifth or “average” American can expect $256.

Cut programs that benefit most Americans and we find in a cost-benefit analysis (weighing gains against losses) that we’ll be paying out more than we get back in tax cuts, a net loss.

For families struggling to make a living, educate children, care for elderly parents, plan for retirement, build a safe and environmentally sound community and a peaceful world, the budget side of the ledger tells the story.

Mr. Bush plans to cut by 4.6% in four key areas that benefit low-income families just as the need is growing: health care, low-income housing, energy assistance and job training.

72% of programs that benefit low and moderate-income households would be lower than last year, when adjusted for inflation.

In raising the minimum rental for low-income housing from $25 to $50 a month, for instance, a tax cut of $100 needs to be balanced against a rent increase of $300. Actually 30% or more of the poor will get no benefit from the tax cut.

Instead, Mr. Bush seems to see the federal government as benefactor to wealthy campaign contributors, including the very rich, the military contractors, big energy. It’s government of, by and for the people who have the cash.

If the Bush budget passes, the military budget will total $399 billion, not including new nuclear weapons, the cost of a war in Iraq or the continued Afghanistan conflict. That’s more than is spent by the next 25 nations combined* - many of whom are our allies.

51% of the federal budget voted on by lawmakers would go to the military. If Congress passes the new Bush tax cuts for the rich, your share of the total bill will be greater.
In return we get tens of billions in cold war weaponry that has little relevance in today’s world. The Center for Defense Information has identified a baker’s dozen of useless weapons systems, including Star Wars that could be eliminated or drastically scaled down.

We’ll pay for this budget in other ways: higher interest on a ballooning deficit; a Social Security system that is less secure; greater health costs from a fragmented, profit-driven system that fewer and fewer can afford.

And consider these proposed budget cuts:**

· 3% in energy conservation

· 13% for water resources

· 3% for recreational resources

· 7% in pollution control

· 11% for ground transportation

· 28% for community development

· 9% area/regional development

· 21% disaster relief/insurance

· 3% for higher education

· 11% training and employment

· 10% unemployment compensation

Finally, in case you missed it, the House leadership in February refused to allow a vote to extend unemployment benefits - even though an estimated 2.1 million workers will exhaust theirs in the first six months of this year, 81,700 of them in Pennsylvania.***

Mr. Bush, Citizens Budget Campaign has a better idea.

Citizens Budget Campaign of W. PA.agreed at our February meeting to organize and mobilize at the local, state and federal level a broad campaign Last year City Council adopted our Sensible Budget Resolution with the help of a broad coalition.

Now we must build a new consensus for the aims of the sensible budget, a thriving community based on reviving the principle of one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (It has a ring, doesn’t it?)

. People are starting to understand that what we have to do is more than fight the traditional battles over this year’s federal budget.

This is a struggle to define who we are as a people and to resist any attempt to divide us and to undo our centuries long struggle to become an inclusive and just community. We seek the common good over private gain at the majority’s expense.

We plan to bring together groups and individuals concerned for our nation’s and our community’s future. Our work begins with public education, lobbying our Senators and members of Congress and action in the streets. Everyone can be a part of this campaign for our future.

Plan to attend the next Citizens Budget meeting

Monday, March 11^th, 7 p.m. at the Merton Center. RSVP: 412/361-3022 Molly

Come to be inspired by the vision of Chuck Collins on March 20-21

*Center for Defense Information www.cdi.org

**National Priorities Project www.nationalpriorities.org/budget/FY03/BudgetTable.htm

***Center on Budget & Policy Priorities www.cbpp.org