Driving to work (school) the other day, I listed on NPR as they talked about the need to curb spending, and AGAIN, the targets were the very DOMESTIC programs that the people value the most — Medicare, Social Security, etc. NOT ONE WORD about the incredibly bloated defense budget or the Homeland Security Agency that’s allowing more and more of our tax dollars to be privatized into black holes of campaign contributors. If we want to get a handle on the deficits (and I’m not sure any of our electeds are serious about that), then the MILITARY budget and their constant “supplementals” has to be put on the TOP of the stack for cutting.

Here’s another of the great releases being done by CD36 candidate Marcy Winograd. A few days old, but still quite relevant:

Marina del Rey, CA, January 20, 2010  — President Obama’s soon-to-be announced three-year spending freeze will have a chilling effect on our schools, says Congressional Candidate Marcy Winograd (CA-36/Harman), a veteran public school teacher, who points out that K-12 schools, already choking from lay-offs and overcrowded classes, face the danger of book shortages and additional program cuts.  

Programs Most Affected

Though the majority of school funding comes from the states, the Obama proposal could freeze spending on items funded with federal dollars: supplementary books, reading programs, English as a Second Language classes, and modifications for students with disabilities.

“Public schools need more stimulus dollars to preserve music programs, reduce class size, and pursue quality professional development.  A three-year spending freeze on education sends the wrong message to our children, who should be considered our nation’s greatest resource for innovation.”

Military Spending Continues to Soar

“If the President wants to appease the neo-conservatives, the deficit hawks,” says Winograd, “I would encourage him to cut our bloated military budget, which is now paying for multiple perpetual wars that create new enemies.”

The President’s deficit reduction plan would not touch military spending, slated in 2010 to include 30 billion for Iraq & Afghanistan, 700-billion for the defense budget.  Spending on air traffic control, education, and national parks would, however, be frozen.

Warning Signs:  Must Protect Social Security & Medicare

Though the freeze, which the President hopes will save 250-billion over 10 years, does not affect Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security, Winograd warns those mainstays of our safety net could be next.  “Watch out,” says Winograd, “for anything billing itself as a bi-partisan independent commission to restore the nation’s fiscal balance.  In English that translates into cuts for the poor who rely on Medicaid and for seniors who worked their entire lives to receive Medicare and Social Security.

Marcy Winograd has been a teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1994.  Most recently she taught English and worked as a literacy coach at Crenshaw High School in south Los Angeles.

Winograd is a progressive challenging Jane Harman in the June 8, 2010, Democratic Party primary in California’s 36th congressional district (West LA to San Pedro).  In 2006, Winograd mobilized almost 38% of the primary vote in only three months of campaigning.  The San Francisco Chronicle recently highlighted the Winograd-Harman contest as one of the key races to watch in 2010.

To learn more about the Winograd For Congress campaign, visit:

http://www.WinogradForCongress…

http://www.Facebook.com/Winogr…

http://www.Twitter.com/MarcyWi…

http://www.youtube.com/Winogra…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/w…

http://www.meetup.com/Winograd…

Contact:

Michael Jay

Campaign Manager, Winograd for Congress

[email protected]

Ph: (818) 445 4520

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