You Better Call Your Senators Today... about the budget

... and, for that member, your Representative too... an action alert from our friends at the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (of which the Center for Rural Affairs is a member)...

...editor's note... I know, I know, budget bills and appropriations always sound, well, boring, but reforms that we have fought for over the last decade and more as well as most of what we are trying to accomplish in the next farm bill will hang in the balance with this budget resolution, so, I am making my calls (and sending my faxes) today and urge you to do the same... john

BUDGET COMMITTEES DEBATE BUDGET BILLS IN COMING WEEK

OUTCOME WILL DETERMINE FATE OF THE 2007 FARM BILL

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRIORITIES HANG IN THE BALANCE!

Phone calls or faxed letters are needed immediately, directed at the Senate and House Budget Committee members, to urge them to increase the spending allowances available for the writing of the 2007 Farm Bill (covering 2008 through 2012) as well as the Agricultural Appropriations bill for 2008.

i. The list of Budget Committee members follows below. If no one from your state is on the budget committee, please call or fax a very brief letter to the Chairman of the House and Senate Committee.
ii. The Senate Budget Committee will convene on Wednesday, March 14 to take up the Budget Resolution, and will start voting Thursday, March 15. The House Budget Committee intends to write its budget bill the following week.

The funding level set by Congress in the Budget Resolution will dictate how much money the Agriculture Committees can spend on the new five-year Farm Bill. The spending level set in the Budget Resolution for domestic discretionary social spending will largely determine how much money the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee will have when it writes the discretionary spending bill for next year. Our chances for winning major farm bill reform or increased funding levels for sustainable and organic programs will be determined in large part by action on the Budget Resolution.

PLEASE CALL OR FAX TODAY
The message is simple. I am a constituent and I am calling to ask Senator _______ (or Representative ________ ) to vote for a Budget Resolution that
- Increases mandatory spending levels for the 2007 Farm Bill by $20 billion; and
- Increases spending levels for the 2008 Agricultural Appropriations bill by at least $1 billion.

I believe we need to invest in conservation, renewable energy, sustainable and organic farming, rural economic development, beginning farmers and ranchers, and local and regional food systems.

It’s easy to call or write. Please call the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for your Senator’s or Representative’s office by name. Ask the Senator’s or Representative’s receptionist for the legislative aid who covers the budget resolution. If the budget aid is unavailable, leave a message with your name, phone number and the message above on the aid’s voice mail or with the receptionist.

If you prefer to write, fax a brief letter with the points above, along with your name and address and contact information, to the fax number listed in this list of Budget Committee members ---www.msawg.org/pdf/ACTION_ALERT_-_BUDGET_RESOLUTION.pdf

Agree? Disagree? Post a comment here or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org

Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.