Today marks the beginning of an exciting effort to urge Congress to pass a budget that makes critical investments in our families, communities and to get our economy positioned to effectively compete in a changing world.
For far too long, the concerns of American families have come second to the powerful interests in Washington. that pursued policies for self-enrichment and that make the current economic crisis all the worse for average Americans. Skyrocketing health care costs have created windfalls for insurance companies while crippling American families and small businesses. Insufficient student aid puts college out of reach for far too many young people, while rewarding private lenders with wasteful subsidies. Forward looking investments in public transit, rail and broadband access have been ignored.
At the same time, the powerful and connected -- some of the very same companies that contributed to the current financial crisis -- have used their access and influence to win massive subsidies and carve loopholes into the tax code to avoid paying their fair share. It is time for things to change.
For the last 37 years, Maryland PIRG has stood against powerful special interests on behalf of consumers and taxpayers. As a non-partisan advocacy organization, we have fought for meaningful reform in the areas of healthcare, higher education, infrastructure improvements, tax fairness and corporate accountability. In these areas, the President's budget serves as a blueprint for real reform.
It's a plan for responsible investments in affordable and dependable health care that will pay us back over time; it's a plan for necessary investments to make college accessible and create opportunities for millions of high school graduates; and it's a plan for smarter investments in an infrastructure for the 21st century.
The budget resolution presented by President Obama restacks the deck in favor of the American family. We will be working with our colleagues over the next several months on behalf of our members and supporters throughout the state to encourage Congress to pass a budget that fulfills the promise to rebuild and renew America.
