President Obama Unveiled the 2012 Budget

Yesterday, the White House released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2012.  While Generations United is disappointed that  it contains cuts to valuable programs such as $2.53 billion from home-heating aid to poor families and cuts community services block grants in half, there is much in the budget to applaud.  The proposal includes  a suggested $1.3 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), a suggested $866 million increase for Head Start, and a suggested $350 million to create an Early Learning Challenge Fund.  Generations United also applauds the President for including the restoration of the SNAP cuts in his budget proposal, and is committed to working with Congress to ensure that the SNAP restoration and education proposals are implemented.

The White House also  put forward six principles for Social Security reform, none of which suggest benefit cuts of any kind.  In fact, the Administration doesn't appear to embrace any recommendations for Social Security reform from The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.  The Commission had called for a higher retirement age and a scaling back of benefits.

We encourage the White House to hold firm and protect Social Security for all generations.

The following are analyses of President's proposal:

Washington Post 

Analysis: Obama budget plan reveals vastly diminished ambitions

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Statement: Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, on the President's Budget Proposal

Huffington Post

Plouffe: Obama Won't "Slash" Or "Reduce" Social Security Benefits

FRAC 

President's FY 2012 Budget Proposal Includes Restoration of SNAP Cuts

The PEW Charitable Trusts

Pew: Congress Must Support Early Learning in Obama's Budget

tured Headline

Proposed House GOP Cuts to the FY 2011 Budget are Damaging to Families and Children

Please contact your member of Congress and voice your opposition to these detrimental cuts.

The following are analyses of the GOP proposal:

USA Today

House begins debate on $61B in spending cuts

Washington Post

House Republicans counter Obama budget plan with much deeper cuts

New York Times

Eat the Future

Generations United's Social Security Briefing:  

March 3, 2011

Social Security is more than a retirement program. It provides more benefits to children than any other federal program.  In policy discussions about Social Security, rarely is it framed in terms of who Social Security protects and how these protections can and should be strengthened.  More than 6.5 million children in the United States receive part of their family income from Social Security.  Their economic security is in the balance. 

As the 112th Congress begins discussing long-term solvency solutions for Social Security, Generations United invites you to join us for a panel discussion on the release of our new profile publication, Social Security: What's at Stake for Children, Youth, and Grandfamilies.  Join us as we discuss how Social Security benefits children, hear compelling stories of the impact Social Security has had in protecting families, and review policy recommendations that legislators could implement to improve the adequacy of Social Security to sustain this important program for future generations.  To attend the event, register here.