Obama's Proposed Budget Reflects CWA's Priorities

February 26, 2009

President Obama has proposed to Congress a broad outline of a budget that would transform the nation, making sound investments in the key areas of health care, green jobs and education. Currently, the budget outline is expected to move through U.S. House and Senate committees the week of March 23 and face floor votes in the U.S. House and Senate in early April.

The budget outline meets three of CWA’s top priorities – a commitment to a health care system that provides every American with quality, affordable care; investments in “green” jobs and further investments in broadband.

Highlights of the budget include a $634 billion reserve for enactment of a quality, affordable health care plan; restoring taxes on the wealthiest Americans; raising taxes on oil and gas companies, managers of hedge funds and private equity firms; increasing and expanding the availability of Pell grants for college education; and permitting the importation of prescription drugs from foreign countries, which would lead to lower drug prices.