President Obama sends Congress farewell budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama sent his final budget to Congress, proposing to spend a total $4.1 trillion in FY2017. Once again, congressional Republican leadership has indicated that this proposal will not be given serious consideration.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica issued the following statement in response:

This is a budget for the status quo, not for the economic and political revolution we need. Doing slightly better than business-as-usual will not help end our growing inequality.

The looming climate disaster will disproportionately impact women, low income communities and communities of color so this is no time to have social spending near historic lows. Meanwhile, the largest corporations are enjoying increasingly lower tax rates, and our military is still funded for permanent war.

In total, the president’s budget plays it safe and it is not ambitious enough.

###

Expert contact: Lukas Ross, (202) 222-0724, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]