“The federal budget is an important moral statement of what we value as a nation and where our priorities lie. This year, the federal budget process is more important than ever. Many states are facing budget shortfalls and the deficit is at a record high. CDF believes investing in programs for children and youth is the long-term answer to our country’s budget problems. We will keep a close eye on the budget process, looking carefully at what funding increases or decreases are being proposed and how funding for these programs will affect millions of children and low income families across the country.”
The Children’s Defense Fund is taking a similar stand as The Rand Corporation. They realize that our country is going through some economic difficulties. However their stand is for different reasons then economist, they are trying to keep the money for the children and not see it get cut, so they are making a plan that will appeal to the economist and politicians.
This week I had also received an email from the Children’s Defense Fund and found the information to be very interesting and relevant to this weeks topic:
“Did you know that in 2010 General Electric reaped pretax profits of $5.1 billion in the United States but paid nothing in federal income taxes? Had GE paid the full 35 percent corporate tax rate, it would have paid $1.8 billion in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. Instead, GE reported $3.3 billion in tax benefits! In total, GE's federal tax breaks in 2010 were over $5 billion!
This lost revenue could have been used to fund an additional 670,000 eligible preschoolers in Head Start, creating at least 67,000 new jobs for teachers.
Imagine if all corporate loopholes were closed. Politicians in Washington have a decision to make. And we must insist they make the right choices by choosing education over corporations. They must protect children and education from all budget cuts and close corporate loopholes.”
The CDF is keeping their eye on what our government is doing and trying to show how the decisions they are making are not necessarily benefiting our future which investing in education would benefit our future.
The Children’s Defense Fund is really giving children a voice, I just hope that the CDF is listened to and making a difference. In order for them to be successful they need the support of others, including our government.
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
Amy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the information from the CDF. I agree with you, children and education should be protected from all budget cuts and close corporate loopholes. My heart breaks because of all that lost revenue. Now, our pre-k children and teachers are suffering from closed programs and salary cuts. What is our government doing to protect education?
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting and important posting.I also question what will happen to ECE education with all of these budget cuts which are leading to teacher salary cuts and closing of programs. i also fear if too many salary cuts happen will teachers choose to leave and find other means of employment?
Wow, what disappointing details about the tax breaks for GE. You are right, Washington should be taking the necessary steps to make sure this doesn't happen again. Our children's education should not suffer because of the lack of supervision on corporate loopholes. I appreciate the work that CDF is doing for early childhood education. Great posting!
ReplyDeleteI like the mission statement of the Children's Defense Fund..."The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities".
ReplyDelete