Civil and Human Rights Coalition: Obama Deficit Reduction Plan Reflects American Values, Provides Positive Framework for Responsible Budget

Washington, D.C. — Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition of more than 200 national civil and human rights organizations, released the following statement following President Obama’s deficit reduction plan:

President Obama should be commended for leveling with the American people about the stark choices we face in reducing the long-term deficit. Significantly, he has set forth a plan that is rooted in deeply held American values and our collective duty to provide a measure of economic security to all Americans.

The president’s plan provides a sharp and telling contrast to the irresponsible, slash-and-burn House Republican budget proposal, which would decimate vital safety net programs and shortchange important investments in order to provide even bigger tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. While we know that the devil is in the details, the path laid out by the president goes a long way toward protecting low- and moderate-income Americans, many of whom are people of color, women, seniors and people with disabilities.

The Leadership Conference welcomes a plan that involves appropriate revenue increases in addition to thoughtful spending reductions. But any fair proposal must take a hard look at the corporate tax structure to eliminate tax avoidance and spur job creation in the U.S. Further, the proposed debt-reduction trigger could cripple our ability to respond to future economic downturns and national security emergencies when government should have the most flexibility to meet unforeseen challenges.

We know that it’s possible to reduce the long-term deficit in a fair and balanced way that will strengthen our country and provide for shared prosperity. We encourage all those involved in the upcoming budget negotiations to work to improve the proposal so that the final resolution will, as the president, said, do “what’s required to preserve the American Dream for future generations.”

Nancy Zirkin is executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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