Power Grid Blog
Mark's Weekly Message
November 16, 2012 | Mark Perriello
Now that the chaos of the election is over and we are given another long overdue respite from political ads, it’s time to get down to business. We are now entering the 46 day count down to the fiscal cliff, or the impending expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts and spending cuts under the Budget Control Act of 2011. To steer clear of the fiscal cliff, legislation is needed to reduce the deficit by trillions of dollars over the next ten years. There has been much back-and-forth from both sides.
Our representatives need to ensure that millions of Americans, who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, and Veteran Services to live independent lives in our communities, don’t find themselves out in the cold this January. Leaders on both sides of the aisle must come together to create a common sense solution.
Any common sense solution needs to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable Americans. We should not cut benefits to millions of Americans and deprive them of health care and community supports, to facilitate tax breaks to those who don’t want to pay their fair share. Making cuts to benefits is not the answer.
We must not make cuts in spending that would reduce services to Americans with disabilities and we cannot accept a solution that prioritizes tax cuts over the health of millions of individuals.
At AAPD, we fight to ensure that our community has the resources we need to live, work, and thrive in our communities. Tell us what the fiscal cliff would mean to you, by writing in the comments below.
