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THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW - December 2, 2010
Nongovernmental Coalition Proposes Alternative Budget Cuts
by: Nadia Prupis
truthout - Report
The Citizens' Commission on Jobs, Deficits and America's
Economic Future, a grassroots coalition of labor leaders
and economists, on Tuesday released its own recommendations
for cutting the deficit.
In a press conference call, the Citizens' Commission
recommended spending $1 trillion over the next two years
to stimulate the economy and deferring budget cuts until
after unemployment has dropped to 5.5 percent.
The Citizens' Commission proposal aims to reach a sustain-
able deficit of 3 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
through a "gradual reduction in the deficit-to-GDP ratio
over the coming decade" fueled by a short-term period of
economic stimulus.
Implementing budget cuts too early could prevent future
growth even if the economy begins to recover as early as
2015, the Citizens' Commission report states. The target
of a 5.5 percent unemployment rate "will enable us to
stabilize the level of debt as a proportion of GDP at
sustainable levels, because with high employment GDP will
be growing faster than the debt."
"One voice has been conspicuously absent from most
discussion of deficits - that's of the American people,"
the report stated. "The public agrees with economists who
warn that deficit reduction must be performed judiciously,
without restricting government's ability to create jobs
and without damaging needed social programs."
Stimulating the economy and investing in sustainable
growth for the future are "not just moral imperatives.
They are economic prerequisites for successful deficit
reduction."
The Citizens' Commission report was endorsed by the
Communication Workers of America (CWA) and the Campaign
for America's Future, among other labor leaders.
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"Most of labor endorses and is totally committed to push-
ing this report," said CWA president Larry Cohen.
The Citizens' Commission plan is also supported by the
Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Following
the release of the more austere plan by National Commission
on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform co-chairs Alan Simpson
and Erskine Bowles, SEIU International president Mary Kay
Henry stated, "We cannot balance our budget on the backs
of seniors and people who keep our communities safe and
healthy, teach our kids, and plow and repair our roads."
Like Representative Jan Schakowsky's (D-Illinois) proposal,
the Citizens' Commission report runs contrary to the
Simpson-Bowles plan and instead recommends protecting and
strengthening Social Security rather than cutting its
services.
As the main source of income for most retirees, the report
states, Social Security benefits lead to economic growth
without adding to the deficit, as it is "prohibited by
law from drawing on the general budget." The report calls
for an increase in modest benefits and states that Social
Security "has played no role in our current deficit."
Echoing its arguments against Social Security cuts, the
Citizens' Commission also opposes capping, cutting, or
"voucherizing" Medicare or Medicaid. Controlling medical
costs should come through the "immediate establishment of
a robust public option plan available to all Americans
[and] direct government negotiation of drug prices,"
among other measures.
Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America's
Future, said that the Citizens' Commission hopes its
recommendations will become part of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus' platform next year. "There will be a
lot of pressure from the Democratic base to draw a clear
line around Social Security and Medicare and to make sure
that the president stays focused on creating jobs and not
on austerity," Borosage said.
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