Yesterday Congress started voting on the FY 2012 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill commits $118 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and another $530 billion to the Pentagon, consuming over 50% of all discretionary spending at a time when communities are suffering from chronic unemployment and under-funded public services.

Please contact your Representative immediately, both through e-mail and phone.  Say two things:   

Please support the Lee Amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill, which limits funding for the Afghanistan War to the safe and responsible withdrawal of all US troops.  

If Congress wants to get serious about reducing spending - or making investments that we need here at home - Rep. Lee's amendment gives them a chance right now to save over $100 billion a year--about $2 billion every week. 

Meanwhile, in the Oval Office . . .

You have no doubt read about the debt ceiling talks. We need to ensure that the President realizes that we are paying attention! Can you contact the White House and tell President Obama not to cut essential human services - cut the Pentagon instead!

Call toll-free: 1-888-245-0215 or send a  message.   

You can paste the following into the White House comment line or write something in your own words:    

Please prevent harmful cuts or caps to low-income programs in the negotiations to reduce the deficit. Insist on fair increases in revenues to prevent reckless cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, and other essential services. And don't increase the Pentagon budget - cut it so we can have the services we need!

Thank you for the important steps you take--like these--to bring some sanity back to our world and our country.  

In peace and solidarity,