Progressive groups warn Congress off Policy Riders for 2012 budget vote

September 21, 2011

 

Dear Senator or Representative,

The undersigned organizations, on behalf of our millions of members and supporters, write today to express our strong opposition to the addition of policy riders in legislation that will fund government operations for Fiscal Year 2012. H.R. 1, the Continuing Appropriations bill for FY 2011, as originally passed in the House included more than 400 riders with far-reaching policy implications. These riders on budget legislation have been part of a continuing pattern of assault on public health, worker safety, consumer, women’s rights and health, D.C. home rule, and environmental programs during the 112th Congress. The extraneous riders advanced last spring were proposed by those intent on wiping out years of careful analysis based on broad public and stakeholder input, and received fewer than a few minutes of consideration by Congress. In fact, the final budget deal was negotiated by only a couple of decision-makers in the hours before a government-wide shutdown. This extortionist and back-room means of legislating did not allow for adequate debate on the merits of these numerous and sweeping policy proposals. As the legislative components of the budget agreement move forward, either through the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction or through the FY2012 appropriations process, including any omnibus budget bill or continuing resolution, we insist that these budget bills deal with the budget exclusively, and that Congress not use must-pass appropriations and budget legislation as cover for ill-conceived policy changes to undermine needed protections and rights.  Insertion of policy riders in unrelated legislation is a tactic opposed by groups across the political spectrum. Indeed, the 2010 Republican “Promise to America” included a promise not to package controversial legislation on must-pass legislation, but instead to “advance major legislation one issue at a time.” Responsibly addressing the national deficit without cuts to needed programs is difficult enough. Lawmakers must not be distracted by a sideshow debate over far-reaching policy riders that have little, if anything, to do with the deficit, and jeopardize the health and well-being of all Americans. Signed,   9to5, National Association of Working Women AARP Abortion Care Network Advocates for Youth AIDS Foundation of Chicago AIDS United Alaska Wilderness League Alliance for Justice Alliance to End Hunger American Association of University Women (AAUW) The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) American Medical Student Association American Rivers Americans for UNFPA Anna House Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice Asian &, Pacific Islander American Health Forum ATTIC, Inc. Black Women’s Health Imperative BlueGreen Alliance Catholics for Choice Cedar River Clinics Center for Biological Diversity Center for the Celebration of Creation Center for Food Safety Center for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc. Center for Reproductive Rights Chicago Abortion Fund Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) Clean Water Action Coalition on Human Needs Communications Workers of America (CWA) Community Food Security Coalition Connections Consulting Courage Campaign DC Abortion Fund DC Federation of Business &, Professional Women DC For Democracy (DCFD) DC Vote Defenders of Wildlife Disciples Justice Action Network Downwinders at Risk, Dallas, Texas Earth Day Network Earthjustice Emergency Medical Assistance, Inc. Environment America Environmental Integrity Project EQUAL Health Network Feminist Majority The Freedom Fund Fresh Energy Friends of the Earth Generational Alliance GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network Greater Washington Urban League Greenpeace Hartford Gyn Center Health Care Without Harm Heartland Alliance for Human Needs &, Human Rights HIV Prevention Justice Alliance Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health The International Center for Technology Assessment Ipas It’s Your Choice Fund JCEO Jewish Women International Just Harvest Kentucky Environmental Foundation Law Students for Reproductive Justice League of Conservation Voters Legal Momentum Lilith Fund Maternal and Child Health Access Mautner Project Medical Students for Choice Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy NARAL Pro-Choice America National Abortion Federation National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) National Center for Transgender Equality National Coalition Against Domestic Violence National Coalition for LGBT Health National Council of Jewish Women National Health Law Program National Employment Law Project National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) National Network of Abortion Funds National Organization for Women National Partnership for Women and Families National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition National Women’s Conference Committee National Women’s Health Network Natural Resources Defense Council Network for Reproductive Options Nevada County Citizens for Choice, Inc. New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Northern Alaska Environmental Center Northern California InAlliance Oceana OMB Watch Philadelphia Women’s Center Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC Pro-Choice Resources Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice Religious Institute Reproductive Health Access Project Reproductive Health Technologies Project The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law Save Our Rivers Save the Dunes Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) Sierra Club Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team Southern Environmental Law Center Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance Suburban Primary Health Care Council Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice Third Wave Foundation Trust Women Fund Trust Women/Silver Ribbon Campaign Union of Concerned Scientists Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations U.S. Labor Against War (USLAW) U.S. PIRG Voices for Illinois Children WHEAT Wider Opportunities for Women The Wilderness Society Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP) YWCA USA