This is serious: Help Save the HUD CDBG Program from Bush! Please!

[JanMichael]

Time is running out to stop Bush from killing this 30 year old program.

So far 55 Senators have signed a pledge to save this program, 14 Republicans as well. But the House will kill it, it's up to the Senate. Please call, fax, write, email, whatever it takes.

Cities, States and Counties around america WILL suffer with the loss of this program.

If you want additional information click the APA, NCDA, Conference of Mayors or just Google "CDBG Eliminated".

From the National Community Development Association:

The Senate will begin debate on the Budget Committee's Budget Resolution for FY 06. We urge you to contact your Senators to get them to support the Sarbanes Amendment. If hope to have a Republican co-sponsor of this amendment by close of business today.

Ask Your Senator to Support and Co-Sponsor the Sarbanes’ Amendment TODAY!

Action Requested:

Ask your Senators to support Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) amendment to the fiscal 2006 Budget Resolution to restore funding for 18 of the community economic development programs President Bush eliminated from his budget.

Deadline: Call your Senator by Thursday, March 17 (There was a typo in the original email. The action that's being request should occur before this Thursday, Thanks!) at [phone].

Background:

Starting the week of March 14, the Senate is debating the budget resolution for federal government spending. Senator Sarbanes will offer an amendment to the fiscal 2006 Budget Resolution to restore funding for the Community Development Block Grant program, the Economic Development Administration programs, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Community Services Block Grant program and 14 other community economic development programs that the President proposed to cut in his fiscal 2006 budget.

The Last Word:

Senator Sarbanes’ amendment will restore $5.7 billion in community economic development funding by closing tax loopholes that an overwhelming majority of Senators voted to close in the last Congress. While the tax loophole closing vote was not enacted, it offers us a bi-partisan way to save community economic development programs.
==================================================================
THE SENATORS THAT HAVE SIGNED TO SAVE CDBG:

APA Community Development Block Grant Campaign U.S. Senate “Honor Roll” These 55 U.S. Senators — 14 Republicans, 40 Democrats, and 1 Independent — made clear their support for the nation’s communities by signing a letter urging the Senate Budget Committee to oppose the misguided attempt to eliminate the Community Development Block Grant program. Did your Senators sign?

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D)
Sen. Mark Pryor (D)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D)
Sen. Ken Salazar (D)
Sen. Christopher Dodd (D)
Sen. Joe Lieberman (D)
Sen. Joseph Biden (D)
Sen. Tom Carper (D)
Sen. Bill Nelson (D)
Sen. Mel Martinez (R)
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D)
Sen. Barack Obama (D)
Sen. Evan Bayh (D)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D)
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D)
Sen. David Vitter (R)
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R)
Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D)
Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D)
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D)
Sen. John Kerry (D)
Sen. Carl Levin (D)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D)
Sen. Mark Dayton (D)
Sen. Norm Coleman (R)
Sen. Christopher Bond (R)
Sen. Jim Talent (R)
Sen. Max Baucus (D)
Sen. Conrad Burns (R)
Sen. Ben Nelson (D)
Sen. Jon Corzine (D)
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D)
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D)
Sen. Charles Schumer (D)
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D)
Sen. George Voinovich (R)
Sen. Mike DeWine (R)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D)
Sen. Gordon Smith (R)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R)
Sen. Rick Santorum (R)
Sen. Jack Reed (D)
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R)
Sen. Tim Johnson (D)
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R)
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D)
Sen. James Jeffords (I)
Sen. Patty Murray (D)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D)
Sen. John Rockefeller IV (D)
Sen. Herb Kohl (D)
Sen. Russ Feingold (D)

[firefox]

1. Can't afford it

Do you know how much illegal wars of aggression cost?

[JanMichael]

10. That's their line.

Sadly this important program is peanuts compared to the Invasion costs...

[southlandshari]

2. Help me out, please

I feel like a total idiot for not knowing more details on this. I knew that some CDBG funds were at risk now, but is the entire program about to be killed?

I will definitely do something with the info you are passing along. I really do try to keep up with everything, but sometimes s$#% comes from this administration so fast, furious and from so many angles, I think my head may explode!

[JanMichael]

4. They will eliminate the program.

Basically by moving it to Commerce alond with 18 other programs and cut the whole thing by 2 Billion dollars.

The likely result is a 40% cut for most cities and perhaps elination for others.

The primary CDBG activity in many areas is Single Family ome Rehabilitation. Usually the people that recieve this are Low ncome Elderly. The economic spin-off from this loss will effect Contractors, Building Suppliers, Other Homeowners, etcetera.

[southlandshari]

3. Deadline question

The info in the original post mentions "Monday, March 15" as the target deadline for contacting congressional representatives. Is it Monday (3/14) or Tuesday (3/15)? I realize this wasn't your error, but I need to know if it is still worth me calling tomorrow!

[JanMichael]

5. Yes it is. The fact is that there is process that begins Thursday.

I think the NCDA was just panicking with the date.

Mid-April will see a budget recommendation then in June the Appropriations bill will be worked on.

Essentially the farther down the road this travesty goes the harder it will become to stop it.

Thanks for your support!

[southlandshari]

8. Which is it?

Monday (today) was the 14th, not the 15th. If I call tomorrow, it sounds like I won't be too late to at least voice an opinion, right?

[JanMichael]

9. Ah, I missed that. It's a typo.

There is still time. We probably have three moments between now and the end to make a difference.

This week, sometime in April, then either June or July.

If, however, the Sarbane's Amendment makes it in this week the saving of the program looks really good.

Ill change the original post, thanks!

[whistle]

6. Need to stop the Iraq war and reign in presidential war powers then

[JanMichael]

7. Multi-task.

Walk Chew Gum Same Time:-)

EDIT: Seriously. This program survived Raygun's assault then again the Dems had the Congress most of his terms. Either way it IS possible to save this program, perhaps more possible that getting us out of Iraq in the near-term. Baby steps:-)

[motherbell]

11. It is almost too late

Here in Ohio most of the programs are shut down already. They are no longer taking applications for housing.
Just like the food stamp programs that they are going to cut are already cut here in Ohio for most people. In January of this year almost everyone I know lost theirs. Including myself. 196.00 in food stamps no longer come into my house.

[JanMichael]

12. You are correct.

But hey, at least we've got a shot on this program.

[Sugarbleus]

15. I hear ya MB... Calif here but still the cuts are coming in trickles..

Jacked my subsidized rent up from $175 to $512!! I appealed, they reduced it $29. :eyes:

Was talking to a friend who is in her early 60's, still working but low enough income to require housing assistance. She is "between" rentals at the moment. She is freaked out. Said she feels ill all the time because she is so insecure about what will become of her. She is a small time accountant; the housing costs in this area are Astronomical.

This friend told me that her contact inside local HUD says they will only give vouchers for studios to single persons from this point forward. No one bedroom vouchers anymore. Of course, having any place to live depends on whether there is ANY place that will rent to ya.

My adult daughter is living with us along with her son, she's not suppose to be here. She is going to school and has ZERO income. How is she suppose to find a place to live even if an income becomes available to her...and where? She was cut off of food stamps for some snafu.

We are going CRAZY in this tiny little dump, worrying about what is going to happen/waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I say we "Storm" the gates of Washington like they did in France under King Louie.

If meaningful and well paying jobs were plentiful and the cost of living was regulated, we wouldn't need any assistance. These programs are made for times like these; now they want to cut them.

I'm waaaaaaaaaaay pissed off and sick to my stomach. :nuke:

[JanMichael]

13. kick

:kick:

[Sugarbleus]

14. I did a call in for this issue in February... I will be happy to keep

the ball rolling. A Housing Coalition in my area put me onto this issue last month. IT IS CRITICAL...I know cuz the cuts to the programs in HUD are already being felt across the nation INCLUDING MY COMMUNITY. It's HORRIFYING to think you could be put out of your "home" for no good reason; not to mention the Block Grant cuts for other community programs.

Got the Fax machine fired up too....... THANKS FOR REMINDING FOLKS OF THIS AGAIN!! Well Done JanMichael :toast:


*I am surprised to see Santorum's name on this list*

[JanMichael]

16. Kick

nt

[JanMichael]

17. kick

kick...

[merh]

18. Use this site & 800 number - adapt the message to include this cause!

Use this site to email your congress critters! Adapt the email to suit your purposes - I included the budget amendments, feeding the poor, the bankruptcy reform legislation (anti) and anti- Alaska drilling.

http://go.sojo.net/campaign/morally_bankrupt_budget/step1.tcl


Call your senators and representative now! Sojourners and Call to Renewal have set up a toll-free phone number for you to reach Congress today only (Tuesday):

[phone]


Reach out and touch the congress critters! Let them know that they work for you and not the corporations! REMIND THEM that the Bible dictates that we take care of the sick, poor and homeless! If they claim to be Christian, call them on it, tell them that they are to give up their worldly possessions and be sure to take care of the less fortunate.

Go to this thread for other ideas on what legislation is pending and needs to be adopted or killed!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3275877

(please kick it after you have taken action!)