Recently talks to raise the nation’s debt ceiling have gone in an ominous direction. Cuts are being proposed to programs that support struggling individuals and families. Yet the Pentagon’s bloated budget remains largely untouched. And those pushing to keep tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest people utterly reject calls for shared sacrifice.

Those voices also are demanding “balanced-budget” measures which would impose across-the-board spending caps. Such measures would cripple the US’ ability to respond to economic, environmental, or other crises.

Make your voice heard. Call your members of Congress, using this toll-free number provided by AFSCME: 1-888-907-1485.

Remind them that spending on two wars, huge increases in other Pentagon spending, reduced taxes on the rich and the rising cost of health care are the main causes of our deficit problem. Demand they support deeper cuts to military spending and an end to the Bush era tax cuts.

• Any deal on the debt ceiling, the deficit, or the budget must make deeper cuts to military spending instead of cuts to programs that help poor and vulnerable people. The Pentagon's base budget – which doesn't include the costs of fighting two wars – has increased by 81 percent in the last decade (43 percent when adjusted for inflation). Read more. 

• Any budget or deficit deal must end the Bush era tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest people.

• Any budget or deficit proposals must exempt programs that serve the poor and vulnerable like Medicaid, Food Assistance, Head Start, and Global Health initiatives.

• Proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would do nothing to restrain the rising cost of health care; instead they simply shift the burden from the government onto individuals who can’t afford it.

• Across-the-board spending caps that restrict spending to a percentage of GDP would unnecessarily cripple the federal government’s ability to respond to economic downturns and other urgent needs.