Concord Coalition: 7 key questions for candidates on their federal budget policies

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From: Concord Coalition

CONCORD COALITION RELEASES CONVENTION UPDATE FOR "KEY QUESTIONS"

WASHINGTON – The Concord Coalition today released the Convention Edition of its Election 2008 "Key Questions" brochure. Representatives of The Concord Coalition will distribute the brochure at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. The brochure proposes questions that citizens and the media should ask candidates about the federal budget and the nation's fiscal future. Each question features background information to provide context on these critical issues.

"The candidates we elect in 2008 will face crucial decisions about the path of our nation's fiscal policy. These decisions go well beyond what may be needed to balance the budget in the short-term. Campaigns are the best time for voters to find out how candidates plan to deal with the looming fiscal challenge, or whether they have even thought about it at all. It is crucial that voters be able to assess whether the candidates appreciate the magnitude of the looming fiscal challenge, the need for trade-offs, and the importance of acting sooner rather than later," said Concord Coalition Executive Director Robert L. Bixby.

"Some candidates will be tempted to tell the voters what they think they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. It's up to the voters to make each campaign a 'pander-free' zone. For our part, we hope these questions will help in that effort. We also encourage candidates to show initiative by bringing up these issues themselves, without waiting for the voters to demand answers. That is what real leadership is about," said Concord Coalition Field Director Harry Zeeve.

The brochure includes these questions, with explanations:

• Do you believe that budget deficits matter?
• Do you have a plan to balance the federal budget?
• What specific spending cuts would you propose to help balance the budget?
• What assumptions do you make regarding the future of defense spending?
• How do you plan to deal with the budgetary consequences of extending some or all of the expiring tax cuts?
• Will you be as committed to slowing the growth of health costs as you are to expanding health care coverage?
• What steps would you take to close Social Security’s long-term funding gap?

Key Questions Convention Update (brochure in pdf format): http://www.concordcoalition.org/files/uploaded_for_nodes/docs/August08-Key_Questions.pdf. Shortened URL http://snurl.com/3jp7h-dw.

. >All Things Reform Mobile: allthingsreform.mofuse.mobi >Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 (not toll-free) >US House/Senate Mobile: bit.ly/members >Contact your reps tips: bit.ly/dear .

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Reflections on World Water Day 2008

The theme for World Water Day 2008 is "Sanitation Matters." This year's theme highlights the fact that "adequate sanitation to protect health is considered a fundamental human right." Unfortunately, for roughly half the developing world, safe and reliable water is not accessible. The result is the daily tragedy of waterborne disease, which claims thousands of lives each day.

"Safe water and sanitation are vital to human health and are critical for the stability of nations around the globe," said AWWA Executive Director Gary Zimmerman. "In North America, clean water is often taken for granted, but World Water Day creates an opportunity to think about the extraordinary value of our precious water supplies and advance water treatment and delivery systems.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are around 2.2 million per year worldwide who die from diarrheal diseases caused by poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water. Now that's a REAL water problem.

According to a British government minister, the world faces a future of "water wars", unless action is taken to prevent international water shortages and sanitation issues escalating into conflicts.

The warning came as a coalition of 27 international charities marked World Water Day by writing to British prime minister Gordon Brown demanding action to give fresh water to 1.1 billion people with poor supplies.

"If we do not act, the reality is that water supplies may become the subject of international conflict in the years ahead," said International Development minister Gareth Thomas. "We need to invest now to prevent us having to pay that price in the future."

A lack of political will remains the greatest obstacle to efforts to drastically reduce the number of people without access to basic sanitation and clean, running water, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, calling on the international community to take firmer and faster steps to tackle the problem.

“If we take up the challenge, the positive impact will reverberate far beyond better access to clean water,” Mr. Ban said in a message to mark World Water Day, which is celebrated today. This year's Day also coincides with the International Year of Sanitation.

“Every dollar invested in water and sanitation yields an estimate seven dollars worth of productive activity. And that comes on top of the immeasurable gains in cutting poverty, improving health and raising living standards.”

And of course, here in America, there are communities that struggle with water infrastructure issues (for instance, the colonias in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas). The issue of water in the western US is growing every year as population grows and the climate warms. Make this day one of reflection on the life-giving gift of water, and how much it is needed by our neighbors in this country and around the world.

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Positions on open government and Freedom of Information issues by the three major presidential candidates

In October of 2007, the then 16 presidential candidates were asked their positions on open government and Freedom of Information issues. Only Bill Richardson answered all of the questions; John Edwards answered some. In response, researchers for the Sunshine Campaign for Sunshine Week 2008 compiled a web page of how the remaining three major presidential candidates-- John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama-- stand on these issues.

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How each presidential candidate proposes to spend your taxes

NTU (National Taxpayers Union) has prepared a report on the spending proposals of each of the leading candidates for president. A data and graphical breakdown for each candidate is included.

Yes, there are many considerations for choosing your next president. This report on where more or less of your money will go starting next year may, however, be a major factor in your voting decision.

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Where do the presidential candidates stand on fiscal policy? A quick rundown.

The HeraldTribune.com news site from southwest florida has a report on the basic fiscal policy issues of each of the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. Although All Things Reform does not endorse any one candidate, it is hoped this quick rundown of each candidate's stands on the federal budget will be of assistance in making your own voting decision.

This large newspaper doesn't include the fiscal platforms of minor and independent presidential candidates, so I must ask you to visit their respective campaign websites for those. Here are just a few third party websites that include candidates running for their nominations:

• Libertarian Party
• Green Party
• Constitution Party
• Independence Party of America

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The League of Women Voters Presidential Candidates Questionnaire

The League of Women Voters has a presidential primaries voter's guide in pdf format (free Adobe Reader required). It gives basic facts about the presidential office, and short biographies and issue positions of the leading Republican and Democratic candidates for president.

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Tell the FCC NO on fewer mass media owners

Common Cause is leading an email campaign on the issue of media consolidation. Recent news says that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has scheduled a vote on December 18th on whether to allow fewer mass media companies such as major news networks, radio stations and daily newspapers, than we have now.

Further relaxing media consolidation rules means fewer voices on the airwaves and less variety of viewpoints and information. We, the people, must enjoy free speech in all of its forms, including radio, tv, newspapers and more. We need a large variety of owners in our local and national news and entertainment media. If you agree, please take action here by contacting the FCC through the Common Cause website; the larger the number of letters sent in this campaign, the greater the chance for success.

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Tell your U.S. Representative to oversee the FCC

Common Cause has released an action alert on the issue of media consolidation. They are fighting unethical moves by the Federal Communications Commission to hastily pass media ownership rules. Here is their explanation; if you agree, please take action at this webpage:

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants his agency to make crucial decisions about media ownership rules behind closed doors and without public input. That’s what happened in 2003, until Congress and the courts stepped in. We shouldn’t let history repeat itself.
Contact your Representative today, and let them know that if the FCC won’t listen to the public, Congress can and should exercise its oversight power.
These media ownership rules are too important to be kept secret. We need full disclosure and a robust public debate before the FCC votes to make any changes that would allow Big Media to get even bigger.

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The Executive Branch represents ALL of the people

On July 18th, the Washington Post revealed energy industry's role in V.P. Cheney's Energy Task Force of 2001. To no one's surprise, most of the final report reflected industry's input.

The Executive Branch represents the whole country, not select pieces of it. Sure, there may be particular problems that rely mostly on certain segments of the population for input. However, on fundamentals like national energy policy, all players must have a voice. When one sends a letter on a national issue to the Vice President, for example, they should not be fearful of biased reception of it. We, the people can hire and fire any elected official at will.

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