PETITION: President Obama: Don't Balance the Budget on the Backs of Children
Dear President Obama.
Thank you for your leadership and congratulations on your re-election. We are the voters for action, ready to join you in solving our most pressing challenges. We come from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations, but are united by the common mission to prevent child abuse and neglect.
In the upcoming budget negotiations and beyond, we believe that keeping children safe should be something on which we can all agree.
We applaud your balanced position on the budget and implore you to also hold children harmless in your plan. Your past actions to increase fiscal support for early childhood education and incentivizing place-based, anti-poverty initiatives work to keep families strong. Children flourish in healthy, economically secure families that can meet their basic needs. However, families without the resources—such as health care and work supports—to find stability are at-risk for child abuse and neglect. In addition to the social safety net, targeted child welfare discretionary and entitlement programs must be preserved to maintain the critical work of child protection and healing.
Non-defense discretionary programs that encompass most of child welfare and the social safety net have already been reduced by a trillion and half in recent budget negotiations. It’s time to take these programs supporting children and families off the table. A balanced approach should recognize the importance of strengthening the most vulnerable, so they are able to contribute to the economic recovery. Your plan will set the tone for ongoing negotiations and we want you to protect critical supports for children and families.
Reposted by STOP ABUSE OF CHILDREN
November 12 • Started by Suzanne Lay
As expressed L Ron Hubbard, do that Human Rights are a reality, not an idealistic dream.