Congress Adjourns Without Finishing Appropriations Makes Time for More Corporate Tax Breaks
(10/14/2004)
Budget Not Complete
Congress
has adjourned until the end of October
when they will come back to deal with
the September 11 Commission Recommendations.
They are expected to complete their
final budget in the middle of November
during what is called a lame duck session.
While Congress did not complete a
final appropriations bill, they were
able to put together a series of tax
cuts for corporations. First, as part
of the extension of the middle class
tax breaks, Congress decided to add
an additional $13 billion tax break
for large corporations. But they were
not done. What started out as an attempt
to fix a trade issue worked its way
into another giant tax break for corporations
totaling $143 billion. Not only were
the tobacco growers lucky enough to
walk away with a $10 billion “buyout,” General
Electric got an $8 billion tax break
as well. Remember this when your member
of Congress tells you during the election
that they can’t afford even a
modest increase for Head Start because
of tight budget times.
Dear Colleague Circulating
in the House of Representatives
NHSA
is currently working with Congresswoman
Heather Wilson (R-NM) on a “Dear
Colleague” letter she is circulating
in the House of Representatives. The
letter, which will be sent to the Appropriations
Chairman, Congressman Ralph Regula
(R-OH), calls on Congress to add $121
million extra to the Labor/HHS Appropriations
bill that passed the House a few weeks
ago. We hope that this effort will
bolster our chances of receiving a
reasonable increase when a final vote
on Head Start funding takes place in
November.
To get involved, ask your member
of Congress to sign onto the Head Start
funding letter being circulated by
Congressman Heather Wilson (R-NM).
Contact your member of Congress through
the Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.
National Vote for Kids Day
Scheduled for October 23rd
On
Saturday, October 23,NHSA
will launch National Vote for Kids
Day — a major Get out the Vote
Effort using “Vote for Kids” flyers.
Please mark your calendars! We are
calling on everyone in our community
to get involved in this exciting effort
to get folks to the polls. Help us
make history by mobilizing the largest
turnout ever for Head Start parents
and staff. Next week, NHSA will send
you information about National Vote
for Kids Day and the materials needed
to carry out your activities. If you
would like a sneak peek about the day
to help in your planning, please contact
Joel Ryan at (703) 739-7567.
New Voter Engagement Opportunities
Here
are some new opportunities beyond the
work we are doing:
Administration Cuts Section
8 Housing Vouchers
The Center
on Budget and Policy Priorities is reporting
that the administration has found a new
way to cut into the Section 8 Housing
Vouchers Program. Starting in fiscal
year 2005 (which began October 1), HUD
is cutting the minimum percentage by
which Fair Market Rents for four-bedroom
apartments must exceed those for two-bedroom
apartments (from 40 percent to 23 percent). This
change will reduce the Fair Market
Rent — and thus the amount of
assistance — to larger families
in a number of areas, forcing them
to increase their own rent payments
or look for cheaper apartments, which
in many cases would mean moving to
areas that are less safe and have fewer
opportunities. To read the report and
speak out, please go to http://www.cbpp.org/10-12-04hous-pr.pdf
October is Head Start Awareness
Month
Governors of several states,
including Idaho, Oregon, and Missouri,
have proclaimed October “Head Start
Awareness Month.” In Missouri,
the governor designated October 20 as
Head Start Awareness Day. The Missouri
Head Start Association is using this
great opportunity to launch their Get
out the Vote Campaign.
Please remember that this document
is paid for by the Dollar per Child
Campaign! |
