Congress chose wrong but can still get it right
Congress passed a law to create the sequester monster that neither Republicans nor Democrats claim they like very much, so Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has introduced this simple bill to slay the beast:
Section 251A of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 is repealed.
That's all it would take to undo the across the board cuts that went into effect on March 1st and will cost 750,000 jobs nationwide and cost North Carolina over $159 million in non-defense funding for critical programs.
Despite voter opposition, congressional Republicans are demanding cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid benefits and to protect tax breaks for Wall Street and the wealthiest 2%, and they keep manufacturing one fiscal crises after another to gain "leverage" to get their way.
It's time to take the gun away from the hostage takers. Repeal the sequester - don't replace it.
Demanding a better way on March 20th
We already have a serious crisis in this country - a jobs crisis - without politicians inventing new crises to divert attention from what matters - creating jobs, not cuts!
Join working families on March 20 for a national day of actions, at rallies and press conferences, to demand Congress repeal the sequester and work for solutions that work for working people.
Rally with AFGE in Greensboro, Charlotte, and Raleigh
North Carolina working families will rally with the American Federation of Government Employees outside the Social Security Administration offices in Greensboro and Charlotte and outside the federal courthouse in Raleigh to call on our U.S. Representatives and Senators Burr and Hagan to repeal sequestration immediately and to protect Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare from benefit cuts.
Who: Working family advocates, seniors, concerned community members
What: Calling on Congress to repeal sequestration
When: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from noon to 1 PM
In Greensboro: Greensboro SSA office, 6005 Landmark Trail Blvd., Greensboro, NC 27407. For more info, contact Hassani Monsanto in Greensboro at 336-253-8065.
In Charlotte: Charlotte SSA office, 5800 Executive Center Dr., Charlotte, NC 28212. Contact Valerie Langley in Charlotte for more info at 980-253-7445.
In Raleigh: Raleigh federal courthouse, 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27601. Contact Cheryl Daniels at [email protected] for more info.
Click here to learn more about these rallies.
...and a very special press conference in Raleigh
Advocates for workers and for policies in the public interest will gather on Bicentennial Mall in Raleigh on Wednesday to call for Congress to repeal the sequester and for state lawmakers to stop shifting the tax burden onto low- and middle-income families instead of having North Carolina’s wealthiest citizens and corporations pay their fair share.
Who: AFL-CIO, NC Justice Center
What: Press conference to announce a coming public showdown
When: Wednesday, March 20 at 10:30 A.M.
Where: Bicentennial Mall (across from the legislative building), 16 W. Jones St., Raleigh, NC
Details of the showdown only will be announced at this press conference! Want to know more? Stay tuned to our Twitter feed and Facebook page...
Shocking side-by-side comparisons
The bullies in Congress are holding the economy hostage with across-the-board budget cuts that will cost 750,000 jobs this year. This didn't have to happen. They had a choice.
AFL-CIO has pulled together a (sadly long) list of examples of what some in Congress chose to do instead of what they could have done. You've gotta see them all to believe it.
Click here to see other shocking choices Congress has made.