Now is the time in the federal budget process for us to contact Congress with the simple message that we want the largest possible pool of money created for domestic discretionary spending. ($450 billion is the target number.) To get what we need, pressure must be put on Congress members now. Click through to find out how.
National Call-In Days that began yesterday will go on until Tuesday, March 20. Working Families, through its Act Now website ( ActNow.org), has set up four terrific webpages where members of your networks can get all the information they need to make short, effective calls to their members of Congress. There is even a response section available at each page so that progress can be tracked. American Friends Service Committee has graciously donated the phone line for the calls.
Here's the action part: Please share this information with your friends, family and blog readers and encourage them to use the webpages listed below. Remember, although certain issues are linked to certain Call-In Days for maximum effect, calls on any day about the importance of fully funding human needs programs are welcome and encouraged.
CALL-IN DAY SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 15 – Children and Youth Issues
Friday, March 16 -- Workers' Issues
Monday, March 19 – Education Issues
Tuesday, March 20 – Nutrition and Housing Issues
If we wait until spring, we'll be hearing the same song from every Congress member we contact: I'd love to fund X but there just isn't the money. Now is when we get that money. Please call your representatives in Congress and let them know that we need it set aside now. Instructions and talking points are at the links above.
If you missed a day, don't worry. Calling on any isse any time is effective and you should still call and encourage others to do the same. It's simply more effective when thousands of people call in on the same day. Let's make that happen.