Congressional Black Caucus Releases Their Own Budget Proposal

By Anna Cameron

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus weighed in on the current budget debate Thursday by unveiling an alternative proposal for FY 2012.

The CBC budget, entitled “the Responsible Path Towards Investing In America,” offers additional funding for education, infrastructure, technology and innovation, and health care services as well as alterations to the current tax system.

“When we have vital programs like job training, education and health care being cut, it means that we are traveling on a road to nowhere,” Caucus Chair Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said during a press conference. “We will not have a horn of plenty in this nation if we blow it on this budget, so it is important for the American people to know that there will be some people standing up and speaking out for the vulnerable population.”

Members suggest that by rendering the tax system more fair, and by closing corporate tax loopholes, the CBC budget will save $1.3 trillion more than the Republican proposal and $5.7 trillion more than that of the President.

“While I commend the Republican Chairman of the Budget Committee for proposing a budget that reduces our long term debt, he only achieves this by further shifting the burden to lower income Americans and seniors,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.). “The CBC budget is much more responsible because it makes tough choices…and it reduces the deficit more than the underlying Republican budget.”

As the debate continues over the budget for fiscal year 2012, the CBC has declared that it will vote in support of the $3.69 trillion Democratic proposal spearheaded by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

“One thing that I want to make you understand clearly, unambiguously, we are all voting for the Democratic plan,” said Cleaver.

The Democratic budget would reduce the deficit by cutting billions of dollars in military spending, while increasing taxes on corporations and the wealthy.