WHEREAS:

The U.S. economy continues to be the envy of the world, unemployment is at its lowest point in 30 years, inflation remains low, the dot.com society is generating new wealth at an extraordinary pace and, in a dramatic turnaround from the massive deficits of recent years, the federal budget, and most state budgets, are showing large surpluses projected to be at least $3.1 trillion dollars; and

WHEREAS:

There now exists an extraordinary opportunity for a new politics, a shift from years of deficit-driven cuts and shrinking of government activities to a politics of opportunity where basic assumptions about federal budget policies can be challenged and new ideas for improving the prospects of American families and the quality of life in our communities can thrive; and

WHEREAS:

The choice to invest in America's people, in education for our children, job training for workers, improvements in the environment and infrastructure, health coverage for the uninsured, and support for American families is not as high on the political agenda as it should be; and

WHEREAS:

There is debate currently underway in Congress on how to spend the surplus. The only serious contenders in this debate are tax cuts (largely targeted to the wealthy), increased defense spending, investments in Social Security and Medicare, and paying down the national debt; and

WHEREAS:

Politicians, opinion leaders and groups advocating for human, environmental, and infrastructure needs have not yet succeeded in using this once-in-a-lifetime occasion to frame the need to invest wisely to improve our communities, to insure the well-being of future generations of Americans, and to extend the benefits of prosperity to those not enjoying the fruits of these economic boom times; and

WHEREAS:

In sharp contrast, the American people recognize the returns that come from productive investments and consistently support federal funding for important domestic priorities, such as improving education, taking care of senior citizens, environmental quality, lifting families out of poverty, and providing health care benefits over cutting taxes or reducing the national debt; and

WHEREAS:

At this time of huge opportunity, federal spending to address essential domestic needs is at its lowest level since 1963 and more cuts are expected as the pressure to enact costly tax cuts and the resolve to retire the national debt hold center stage in the political debate; and

WHEREAS:

A new national coalition called "Invest in America" has emerged which represents non-profit and public interest organizations, and a diverse range of groups which have not traditionally worked in concert, but who all recognize the importance of working to change the debate at this historic moment.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support the "Invest in America" campaign as a tool to shift the national policy debate by educating policymakers and the media to recognize this historic opportunity to invest in our people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That we support an activist role for our government in making necessary investments in our communities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That attention to the need for increased federal investment can improve existing programs and services as well as create new opportunities to improve the lives of all Americans, revitalize communities, protect the environment, and strengthen the economy; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to oppose unwise efforts to cut federal taxes, particularly those tax cuts that overwhelming favor the wealthy and special interests and which are being pursued for short-term political gain.

SUBMITTED BY:

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD