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.


"Local Jobs For America" Bill Helps Minorities, Lawmakers Say

By Brandon Kosters - Talk Radio News Service

A group of lawmakers and local politicians spoke to the press today about the “Local Jobs For America Act,” a bill which, if passed, will invest money in job training for and hiring of teachers, police officers and firefighters in economically vulnerable cities throughout the country.

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, believes that this legislation will have a notable affect on the unemployment rate areas with large African American and Hispanic communities.

“The national unemployment rate is about 9.5%, yet in minority communities, in the African-American and Latino communities, it hovers around 16-17 %,” Lee said. “The Congressional Black Caucus wants to make sure [that] on every jobs bill that we work on, that we leave no one behind.”

Congressional Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who also sits on the Congressional Black Caucus, said that the reduction of state services “diminishes the quality of life for our citizens,” and that the bill will ultimately stimulate the national economy. “Public jobs stimulate private job growth,” he said.

While the members of Congress conceded that there are lawmakers who oppose the bill, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter said that focus needs to be shifted from partisan politics to the people being affect the most by the struggling economy.

“I’m not exactly sure what the mood is in the Senate, but I would only suggest that maybe we need to be a little more concerned about the mood of people who are unemployed, [and] their mood is they’re pissed off,” Nutter said. “They don’t have a job, I think that’s what we need to try to stay focused on.”


Congressional Black Caucus Urges Senate To Pass Jobs Bill

Robert Hune-Kalter
Talk Radio News Service

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) hand delivered a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Wednesday, urging him to support job creation, especially for America’s youth.

The Senate recently rejected a provision put forth by the House to create summer employment for youths but CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said they were able to make headway in creating jobs for young Americans.

“In this bill we were able to negotiate a $1 billion provision for a summer youth jobs program, our black farmer settlement [and] an expansion of temporary assistance for needy families,” Lee said.

The CBC points out that although the unemployment rate dropped May, the unemployment rate for African-American youths showed a 1 percent increase between April and May to 38 percent.

“I used to remember when the summer came, young people were just anxious to have that opportunity for their first job, to deny that opportunity to young people today is a crime,” said Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.)

The CBC is looking at passing a jobs bill as soon as possible, saying that funding would be most effective during the summer months while students are out of school.

“If the bill is approved at 3:30 today, we still have a problem, and that’s why we can’t wait,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-Mo.). “The money goes through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to the state governments, then they go to the municipal government, which requires a vote to accept the money.”

Next Step Toward Haiti's Recovery Is Reconstruction, Says Congressional Black Caucus

By Antonia Aguilar
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Jesse Jackson and Haiti's Ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Joseph, were among those on hand Wednesday as members of the Congressional Black Caucus held a meeting to discuss efforts necessary to rebuilding Haiti.

"This is a long-distance struggle, not a short impulsive reaction to the earthquake," said Jackson. "Beyond the issue of rescue and relief is the issue of reconstruction."

Ambassador Joseph said that the new Haiti should implement green technologies in its reconstruction.

"Haiti has to harness the Sun, has to harness the wind," he said.

House Pushing Legislation Encouraging Americans To Donate To Haiti Relief Fund

By Sofia Sanchez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Thursday announced measures they are taking to help with the relief effort in Haiti.

CBC Chairwoman Rep. Maxine Waters (R-Calif.) said that the House has passed a bill offering immediate tax benefits to Americans who make charitable contributions to aid Haiti victims. The legislation, which passed unanimously, will allow individuals to claim any donations to the relief effort as an itemized deduction on their 2009 tax return.

“I have been moved and inspired by the outpouring of support from America for the Haitian people,” said Waters.

Waters also said she has introduced legislation to require the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to “cancel all of Haiti’s debts.” Members of the Caucus believe that this will free up the country’s meager resources, allowing it to begin meeting its immediate and long-term needs.