News Release

Republicans Wrongly Equate Pentagon Spending with American Security

Liz Rose — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:56:38 -0500

Washington, DC -- Senator John McCain and three other Republican Senators are unveiling legislation that would protect the Pentagon’s budget from the sequestration cuts required in the debt deal, forcing greater cuts in domestic investments.

The Campaign for America’s Future’s co-director Robert L. Borosage said:

“Republicans believe bloated Pentagon budgets strengthen American security. In fact, the reverse is true. The most important security priority for America is making the investments here at home vital to reviving our economy, modernizing our infrastructure, educating our children, and getting our fiscal house in order. To achieve this, we need to reduce unnecessary spending – and there is no greater source of that than the Pentagon.

“The Cold War is over. Bin Laden is dead and Al Qaeda dispersed. The U.S. cannot and should not police the world. The Pentagon now spends almost as much on the military as the rest of the world combined. It is the largest source of waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. The Pentagon budget more than doubled over the past decade, bringing total U.S. defense spending to historically high levels not seen since World War II. It’s higher in comparable dollars than it was under Ronald Reagan in the midst of the Cold War.

“We can and should reduce our military spending, revise our forces to fit the new world we live in. Even after the full sequester, the U.S. will retain by far the most powerful – and expensive – military in the world. These Senators would weaken our security, not strengthen it. They are defending the entrenched interests of the military-industrial complex a Republican President, Dwight Eisenhower, warned us about, not the real security of the American people.”

Take Back the American Dream Conference is October 3 to 5, 2011

Liz Rose — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:33:29 -0400

Washington, DC -- The Campaign for America's Future is teaming up with Van Jones' "Rebuild The Dream" organization for the Take Back the American Dream conference October 3 to 5, in Washington, DC. This annual conference of the progressive movement has a new name—and a new focus on strengthening the fast-growing American Dream Movement.

Speakers include: The American Dream Movement’s Van Jones, author Drew Westen, Former Sec. of Labor Robert Reich, the AFL-CIO’s Richard Trumka, Rep. Barney Frank, Rep. Keith Ellison, The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel, comedian Lizz Winstead, Campaign for America’s Future’s Robert Borosage and many more progressive leaders. For details on the conference agenda: click here: http://www.ourfuture.org/conference/agenda

The Take Back the American Dream conference will be at The Washington Hilton hotel at 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC.

Campaign for America's Future Opens Voting for 5th Annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award: Honoring an Unsung Progressive Hero

Liz Rose — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:05:21 -0400

Washington, DC -- The fifth annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award will be presented at the Take Back the American Dream conference on Oct.5, 2011. The award goes to a person whose tireless, behind-the-scenes work has been critical to the success of the progressive movement in the past year.

“Maria Leavey did great work without much acknowledgement while she was alive. This award is made in memory of this progressive hero: an organizer with extraordinary talent, a behind-the-scenes force with an uncanny ability to connect rising young progressives with Washington leaders,” said Campaign for America’s Future’s co-director Roger Hickey, “Leavey was a tireless advocate who often worked without claiming credit or even compensation.”

Since her death in 2006, Campaign for America’s Future honors her legacy with the Maria Leavey Tribute Award, which goes to a person in the progressive movement whose behind-the-scenes work and selfless service embodies Maria's spirit and has made an invaluable contribution to social justice.

The five finalists for the Maria Leavey Award are: Jenifer Fernandez Ancona of the
Women Donors Network, Ana Maria Archila of Make the Road New York, Joshua Barclay of DreamFarm.org, Courtney Foley of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, and Deb Richter of Health Care for All Vermont.
Click here to learn more about the finalists and vote for the 2011 Maria Leavey Award.

“These progressive leaders are an inspiration at a time when the Progressive movement is working to fight injustice on many fronts,” Hickey said, “We hope the Maria Leavey Awards shine a spotlight on Progressive heroes who effectively battle insurmountable odds every day.”

Progressive Groups Warn Democrats: Super Committee Must Strongly Defend Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and Make Milliona

Liz Rose — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:08:02 -0400

Washington, DC – Three activist groups have joined together urging Senate Majority Leader Reid and Leader Pelosi to ensure that the Democratic Members on the new “Super Committee” hold firm against cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits. And they stressed that any deal must require corporations and millionaires and billionaires to carry a bigger share of financing essential government investments and financing deficit reduction.

MoveOn, Campaign for America’s Future, and Progressives United are concerned that the recently enacted debt ceiling deal, which mandated establishment of a 12 Member deficit cutting Super Committee, could allow one Democrat to join with a united group of Republicans on the committee to support a budget plan that could cut vital benefits for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid recipients with no significant change to the contribution of the wealthy or corporations to financing government. Such a 7-5 deal would be guaranteed a “fast track” vote in Congress, with no opportunities for hearings or amendments.

Roger Hickey, co-director of Campaign for America’s Future warned, “All of our groups want to make sure that none of the lawmakers nominated by Reid or Pelosi subscribes to the idea of a “grand bargain” that imposes pain on the elderly, the poor and the middle class, while actually cutting taxes for the rich and the corporations.“ Campaign for America’s Future is especially troubled by a Kerry appearance on the August 7 edition of Meet the Press where he called for “a mix of reductions and reforms in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” Hickey, the organizer of a progressive commission on deficits and jobs that called for more health reform, not cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, noted that “those two programs do a better job of controlling costs than private insurance plans, and Social Security contributes nothing to the deficit and thus should not be the focus of a deficit-focused “Super Committee.”

“MoveOn’s 5 million members have put in countless hours and donated millions of dollars to elect Democrats so that they would protect, not gut, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid,” said Daniel Mintz, Senior Campaign Director of MoveOn.org. “The appointees to the super committee must stand up to Republican hostage-taking so any deal makes millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share and safeguards programs working folks rely on.”

Cole Leystra, Executive Director from Progressives United declared, "Democratic appointees must protect crucial safety net programs, especially Social Security and Medicare benefits, and insist that wealthy individual and corporate interests bear a fair share of the burden of any debt reduction plan.”

Yesterday representatives of the three groups delivered petitions with more than 100,000 signatures to Senate Majority Leader Reid and Leader Pelosi, calling on them to appoint reliable liberal champions to the Super Committee to ensure that America’s social safety net is protected and any deal makes millionaires and corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

The MoveOn petition, circulated nationally, was signed by 50,000 people, urged Reid and Pelosi “to only appoint Democrats to the Super Congress who will stand strong against cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, and who will end tax breaks and close loopholes to make sure the rich and corporations finally pay their share.”

The Progressives United petition, distributed in an email signed by the group’s founder, former Senator Russ Feingold, was signed by 35,000 Americans. The signers demanded that Democratic Leaders, “appoint true progressive champions to the Super Committee." Noting that, “There is no doubt Mitch McConnell and John Boehner will appoint members who will draw the line on no new revenues, and instead zero their aim on big cuts to Medicare and Social Security, using the deficit to change our fundamental values, the petition demanded, “Democratic appointees must oppose all cuts to Social Security and Medicare and demand that corporations and the wealthy finally sacrifice like everyone else. No ifs, ands, or buts.”

The Campaign for America’s Future petition, signed by 15,000 people from around the country, called on Democratic leaders “to appoint to the Super Committee the best middle class champions who represent the views of the American majority…Democrats have offered too many unilateral compromises. They have surrendered too often. It is time to stand up. Some Democrats have already capitulated to the conservative deficit agenda. But there are plenty of Democrats in both the House and Senate who will fight for the middle class and the poor. It is time to name representatives who will fight for the views most Americans support.”

Campaign for America’s Future, MoveOn and Rebuild the Dream Launch New "Contract for American Dream"

Liz Rose — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:43:06 -0400

Washington, DC -- Campaign for America’s Future, MoveOn.org and Rebuild the Dream announced the new Contract for the American Dream. The Contract, born out of the new American Dream Movement, is a progressive economic vision crafted by 125,000 Americans who came together online and in their communities, and put forth ideas to get the economy back on track. Members of the American Dream Movement will take the Contract directly to Congress during the August recess to demand "Jobs Not Cuts," beginning with hundreds of actions around the country on August 10th. Then the American Dream Movement will join with the Campaign for America’s Future and organize activists to implement an action plan for the ten point plan at the Take Back the American Dream Conference in Washington, DC, October 3 to 5

“Corporate interests and conservative ideologues have distorted our politics, and are destroying the broad middle class that made America special. The American Dream is in peril,” said Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future. “People who want jobs and a secure retirement need to speak up and demand that politicians do right by them or nothing will change. Now Americans are coming together to draft the Contract for the American Dream and to build a movement that can challenge failed ideas and corrupted politics. The Contract is a roadmap for a brighter future for this country. Infrastructure, green jobs and better schools are what Americans clearly want and need. Let’s demand that job creation is the most important thing we want from Washington. If we join together, as MoveOn, Campaign for America’s Future and the American Dream Movement and many other allied organizations have, we can save the American dream. In October at the Take Back the American Dream Conference, citizen activists will come together to map a strategy for going forward.”

View the Contract here: http://ourfuture.org/contractfortheamericandream

The American Dream Movement inspired 27,000 people to attend 1,600 house parties across the country to help craft the Contract for the American Dream. Two weeks ago, more than 25,000 Americans held 800 rallies across the country to protest the final debt deal that fails to create jobs and make millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share. The American Dream Movement is a growing movement inspired by protests in Wisconsin and fueled by the brutal right-wing attacks on the middle class and on low income Americans. Campaign for America’s Future, MoveOn.org and Rebuild the Dream, along with allied organizations, have joined the American Dream Movement to fight to ensure that Americans have the opportunity to find a decent job, afford to go to college, and secure a future for our children and our communities.

Campaign for America’s Future is Critical of Reid's Appointments to the Super Committee

Liz Rose — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:05:43 -0400

Washington, DC -- Senate Majority leader Harry Reid announced his appointees to the Super Committee will be Senators John Kerry, Patty Murray and Max Baucus.

Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future is critical of Senator Reid’s picks. Borosage said, “Reid apparently has chosen not to appoint Senators Bernie Sanders or Sherrod Brown or Jeff Merkley who have forcefully stood with the majority of Americans who want Medicare and Social Security protected and who favor raising taxes on the rich to help reduce the deficit.”

Borosage called Senator Baucus, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, a conservative Democrat, but praised his defense of Social Security and Medicare in the past noting that Sen. Baucus has been a consistent supporter of Social Security, playing a key role in blocking President Bush’s attempt to privatize the program. He was on the President’s deficit commission but sensibly voted against the plan put forth by the Co-Chairs which would have cut deeply from Social Security and Medicare.

On the other hand, Borosage said, “Baucus is a leading recipient of contributions from the drug companies and the health insurance industry. He has voted against repealing the tax benefits for companies that ship jobs overseas. He voted for the Bush tax cuts and voted to repeal the estate tax. He is not a champion of sensible health care policy or progressive tax reform.”

Senator Kerry, according to the Washington Post, is supposed to `appease liberals.’ In his 2004 Presidential campaign, he pledged to protect Medicare and Social Security, arguing that we should not balance the budget on the backs of seniors. In recent months, he has spoken forcefully against the Republican efforts to turn Medicare into a voucher program.

But, Borosage said, “Like President Obama, Kerry is fatally attracted to the notion of a grand bargain, sacrificing cuts in Medicare and Social Security in exchange for increased revenues to reduce long term deficits. And he is simply wrong-headed about what the nation must do in order to get the economy on track.”

In a now infamous interview on Meet the Press, Kerry touted the $4 trillion “bigger deal” that Obama and Boehner nearly reached, with “a mix of reductions and reforms in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid but also recognize we needed to do some revenue.” The “real problem for our country,” Kerry argued, “is not the short-term debt… It’s the structural debt of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid measured against the demographics of our nation.”

“This is the essence of deficit hawk Pete Peterson’s argument and is establishment nonsense,” said Borosage. “Yes, as every projection shows, we have a long term debt problem. It is entirely a question of our broken health care system. Its soaring costs will bankrupt everything – families, businesses, state and federal governments – unless they are brought under control. That requires not cutting Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, which simply transfers those out of control costs to the most vulnerable and least able to pay. That requires taking on the drug and insurance companies, the private hospital complexes, the way we deliver medicine that leaves us with a system that costs nearly twice per capita of every other industrial system and delivers worse results.”

Kerry goes on to say that a growth plan requires “Number one, we’ve got to deal with this debt and deficit, send Wall Street and the marketplace a message that the United States of America is deadly serious about dealing with this long term structural deficit…”

Borosage said, “Dealing with the debt and deficit in the midst of the recession, with Europe sinking and the recovery stalled is a recipe for a renewed decline. Look at Britain, with riots on the streets. At Greece, with demonstrations through the country. Austerity bites. It costs jobs; it exacts pain on an economy already sick. It is like bleeding a patient already weak from loss of blood.

“Kerry’s appointment will alarm, not appease liberals,” Borosage said, “for he is the most dangerous of politicians: someone who doesn’t understand what he doesn’t understand.”

Borosage said that Senator Patty Murray, the head of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. This has led good government groups to protest that her interests in fund-raising will skew her positions on taxes and military spending (reinforced by being from Washington once the headquarters of Boeing). It has led Republicans to call for her to be withdrawn as too political.

“A little political sense would be a good thing for Democrats on the committee,” said Borosage. “Americans, by overwhelming majorities, want Social Security and Medicare protected. And they favor tax increases on the rich and closing of corporate tax havens as the first step in getting deficits under control. Democrats with a sense of social decency or a sense of self-preservation would be wise to stand with that majority. That opinion represents both good policy and good politics – something Tea Party Republicans scorn and Democrats would be wise to defend.”

# # #

Article by Robert Borosage on Senator Reid’s appointments to the Super Committee: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011083210/harry-reids-appointments

Groups Tell Congress at their Home Offices: Don’t Destroy the American Dream

Liz Rose — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:14:44 -0400

Washington, DC -- Campaign for America’s Future, MoveOn.Org, Rebuild the Dream, and a large ad hoc coalition of advocacy groups, are asking Americans to act now to prevent a disastrous debt deal that could harm the economy and undermine Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The groups are urging people to attend a protest today at noon at every local Congressional district office throughout the country.

Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future said, “Washington Republicans are doing everything they can to protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations -- they're driving us closer to economic catastrophe. They would rather break our government's Social Security and health care commitments; create chaos in the global financial markets and throw millions more out of work than accept any compromise. Now, with the fate of our economy hanging in the balance, it is absolutely crucial that we send a message to Congress, today and tomorrow, that says `Don't Destroy the American Dream.’”

Campaign for America’s Future is asking people to send a message today Members of Congress to reject cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – and to support raising the debt limit immediately and without conditions, and is urging activists to join MoveOn.org, Rebuild the Dream and thousands across America for the "Don't Destroy the American Dream" protest at every local congressional office in the country today at noon.

Robert Borosage, Campaign for America’s Future’s co-director said, “We will demand that politicians stop holding America hostage to protect tax breaks for millionaires and corporations. And we will show our full support for the Members of Congress who've stood up in defense of vital programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and we urge them to keep standing strong for the core principle that those who do well in America should do well by America.”

Will Democrats Embrace a Foul Deal?

Liz Rose — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 11:53:42 -0400

Washington, DC -- In an article today Robert L. Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future writes about news of a “foul deal” in the debt ceiling talks. He urges Democrats to, “draw an independent line in the sand. No deal without the rich and big corporations sharing in the sacrifice. No deal that takes more out of the programs for middle income and poor Americans than it takes from tax breaks, loopholes and havens for the rich and the big corporations. Stand up to the extortionists, do not accept their terms.”

Borosage writes, “Instead of insisting on a clean lift of the debt ceiling with no extortion, the White House is negotiating with extortionists willing to threaten to blow up the economy if they don't get their way.
“Instead of insisting on a one-to-one ratio of spending cuts to top end tax hikes, the White House apparently accepts that spending cuts will be most of the deal, ratifying the utterly dishonest conservative claim that government spending is the problem.

“Instead of insisting that top end tax rates must be hiked, or demanding a millionaire's tax at a time when the richest Americans are paying a lower effective tax rate than their chauffeurs, the White House now brags that it has embraced no tax rate hikes, it only wants to close egregious loopholes.

“The most vulnerable Americans will be forced to pay for the mess created by Wall Street's excesses and Bush's follies. If these guys were negotiating for the purchase of your next car, your first born might be at risk.

“Through this, Democrats have been silent.

“The deal probably can't pass the House without Democratic votes but House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has been excluded from the negotiations. The deal can't pass the Senate without the Democratic majority, but other than Senator Sanders, Democrats have said nothing, allowing Republicans to drive the debate.

“Republicans are in an utterly untenable position -- but they seem confident that the president will cave. And given the history of the tax negotiations last December and these negotiations to date, it isn't hard to imagine where they got that confidence.

“It is time for Democrats to assert their values.

“Democrats should draw an independent line in the sand. No deal without the rich and big corporations sharing in the sacrifice. No deal that takes more out of the programs for middle income and poor Americans than it takes from tax breaks, loopholes and havens for the rich and the big corporations. Stand up to the extortionists, do not accept their terms.

“The best outcome now would be for the President to say we agree that the deficit must be brought down, but cannot agree on how to get there. Republican willingness to blow up the economy to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans precludes any deal. So accept the debt limits that Republicans voted for in their budget -- that added $8 trillion in debt over the next 10 years. Lift the cap only to those levels -- and let's take the fight about how to get there to the American people in the elections, and let them decide how they want to exact the sacrifice.

“The Senate should bring a measure to lift the debt ceiling to the floor under those conditions. Let Republicans decide if they want to blow up the economy. It is time to call their bluff -- for they are using extortion to achieve ends that are bad for the country, bad for the economy, utterly unjust, and massively unpopular.

“If Democrats allow them to get away with that, can anyone wonder why their supporters will be discouraged or disillusioned? It is time to stand up.”

# # #
To read the article by Robert L. Borosage visit: http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2011072601/will-democrats-embrace-foul-deal

Campaign for America’s Future Lauds Rep. Lynn Woolsey’s Congressional Career Advocating for the Most Vulnerable

Liz Rose — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:25:47 -0400

Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-6), who announces her retirement today, has had a long career of fighting for justice, peace and progressive change. Self-described as `the first former welfare mother to serve in Congress,’ Woolsey went to Washington to stand up for low income and middle class people and especially for education, children and families. As part of this mission, she served as the co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future said, “Today’s announcement from progressive champion, Lynn Woolsey, marks the culmination of a distinguished Congressional career. For two decades Congresswoman Woolsey has worked tirelessly on behalf of America’s working class families and advocated for some of our nation’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised.” Borosage also praised her for her role in forming the Congressional Out-of-Iraq Caucus.

Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future said, “As a reliable advocate for preserving and strengthening America’s safety net, Ms. Woolsey has long fought to ensure that promises made to our current and future seniors remain promises kept. While her leadership will, undoubtedly, be missed, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey leaves behind a lasting legacy and track record of fighting for justice that future progressive leaders will follow.”

Always an adamant advocate for universal healthcare Woolsey, in her own words has worked to make sure that “no longer will females be considered a pre-existing condition.” Hickey, praised her for her sponsorship of the Public Option Deficit Reduction Act. The act would establish a robust public health insurance option as a supplement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Campaign for America’s Future Urges: “Draw Down Afghanistan. Build Up America.”

Liz Rose — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:02:08 -0400

Washington, DC – Robert Borosage, co-director of the Campaign for America’s Future issued the following statement in anticipation of President Obama’s speech tonight announcing the troop withdrawal levels for the conflict in Afghanistan.

Borosage said, “We went into Afghanistan to track down those who launched the 9/11 attacks on America. With Osama bin Laden dead, and Al Qaeda smashed, that mission has been accomplished. Meanwhile, we face a fundamental security challenge here at home in rebuilding America.

“We have spent $450 billion on the war in Afghanistan since 2001. What was initially a hunt for the perpetrators of 9/11 has turned into the nation’s longest war, with the thankless task of nation-building in Afghanistan, while bolstering a regime too corrupt to stand on its own.

“We need to remain vigilant against terrorists who still seek to do us harm. Aggressive global international intelligence, police, and Special Forces activity are still required.

“But it is time to end the effort to prop up the corrupt and incompetent Karzai regime in Afghanistan, led by someone who continually threatens to join the other side.

“We should not continue spending over $10 billion a month and sacrificing lives in what has become a quagmire with no remaining clear objective. Instead, we bring the troops home with dispatch, and invest the money here at home, revitalizing our infrastructure, generating clean energy and educating our kids. Also, it’s important that the troops that do come home have the opportunity to find meaningful work here at home. They will need the support of the American people to re-integrate to our economy and to life back home.

“It is time to declare mission accomplished in Afghanistan and bring our soldiers, our resources and our attention home.

“Please join us in sending the message to the White House and to the leaders in Congress. It is time to declare victory and come home.

“Click here to sign the petition: "Draw Down Afghanistan. Build Up America."