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Sen. Patty Murray

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Your Voice Is Needed in the Budget Process

Posted: 01/28/2013 9:30 am

When the American people went to the polls last November, they strongly endorsed a balanced approach to our budget challenges that puts jobs and the middle class first and calls on the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. If you were one of the many who cast a ballot, knocked on a door, or talked with your friends and family in favor of pro-growth, pro-middle class budget priorities, I'm asking you today to stand with us again.

Because the work didn't end on Election Day -- and Republicans are already gearing up to push a new Ryan budget that could be even more extreme than the last one.

As I move into my new role as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and we work to write a budget, I am committed to tackling this issue in a way that works for the middle class, protects seniors and families, and lays down a strong foundation for long-term economic growth.

I am eager to contrast our budget values and priorities with the Ryan budget that would end Medicare as we know it, gut job-creating investments and programs middle class families depend on, and continue protecting the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations from paying a penny more in taxes. Because we know that when our priorities are laid out next to Republicans', the public stands with us.

But I need your help. The budget process and conversation is too often limited to bureaucrats and politicians. The truth is that the federal budget belongs to the American people -- it belongs to you. You need to have a louder voice in this process, and your values and priorities should be heard.

That's why I am proud to announce the launch of MyBudget, a new online platform for members of the public to engage with the Senate Budget Committee.

MyBudget goes live today to help you share your stories, ideas, and priorities. It will give working families, students, and seniors one more way to let us know what a fair budget means to them. And in the weeks and months ahead, we will be adding additional tools and resources to enable people across the country to have their voices heard loud and clear as we tackle our budget and economic challenges and to help them engage their friends, organize, and advocate for their budget values and priorities.

So visit MyBudget today to share your stories, priorities, and ideas with us. And help us spread the word.

With your thoughts and ideas to guide us, we can seize this critical moment to stand up for our budget values and priorities, build a foundation for a strong and growing middle class for years to come -- and in doing so, make sure that the voices of the people who elected us are at the table and represented.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Read what I had to say about my values and priorities when I officially took over the budget committee here.

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/pattymurray

Follow the Senate Budget Committee on Twitter: twitter.com/SenateBudget

 

Follow Sen. Patty Murray on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PattyMurray

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When the American people went to the polls last November, they strongly endorsed a balanced approach to our budget challenges that puts jobs and the middle class first and calls on the wealthiest Amer...
When the American people went to the polls last November, they strongly endorsed a balanced approach to our budget challenges that puts jobs and the middle class first and calls on the wealthiest Amer...
 
 
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12:55 PM on 01/29/2013
What has to be addressed is the "backdoor" budget. The spending in the tax code which allows $1 trillion to be lost due to individual income tax expenditures alone. Add to that corporate tax breaks, and we can lick the budget deficit, and improve our infrastructure, in a few years.
02:59 AM on 03/15/2013
You have zero right to other people's money Zero.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bthompson18
10:06 AM on 01/29/2013
you might want to start with a budget first.
06:26 AM on 01/29/2013
From reading the posts on this article, there seems to be quite of bit of unflattering information about you, Ms Murray, regarding what you have said, and then, what you actually did. If you are sincere about doing the right things for the people, then you know the rediculously bloated budget for the military is not about the common good of the people. The military only needs funding to straight-up protect our country, on a frugal budget (like we live) and not lavish itself with perks, shell games and shock doctrine marketing, and to never attack any country, anywhere, for any reason.
06:09 AM on 01/29/2013
Asking Democrats to cut spending is like asking a hog to butcher itself!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
ipsut
why kill those that kill, to show killing is wrong
05:17 AM on 01/29/2013
If you want my advice, advice you'll never for one second consider it's, slash military spending, and build infrastructure and education.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
how did that happen
When governments fear the people, there is liberty
06:17 AM on 01/29/2013
I have an idea along the lines of what you said. Slash the military budget and return the money to the states without any strings to use to their best purposes. One size fits all Washington policies is not what is best for the states. Allowing them to keep their money in their state would go a long way to getting things done at the local levels where the people know what is best for their locality.
05:11 AM on 01/29/2013
With respect to Sen. Murray I must say this : she is not qualified to serve as chairwoman on the Dem Budget Committee. She has great ambition and passion when it comes to her attitude about government budgetary issues , but her passion , unfortunately , is not accompanied with knowledge , experiance or understanding. In simple terms--she wants to be in that posistion so she can give the Rep. ideas (budget) the axe---whether she knows what she's doing or not. . She begged for that chance,but instead of caving in to her they should have had more sense. Goes to show us just how lame our government is--they don't seem to want to bother questioning her. She's an embarrassing misfit . As a Washington resident I am ashamed of her . If anybody here is from Wash. State : WHY does our state come up with such God-awful politicians ?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
60cougar
Ice cream is good for you.
02:09 PM on 01/30/2013
You must have relocated from Texas.

Murray is a GREAT senator.

The GOTP candidates have been largely rejected by savvy Washington voters. We prefer PROGRESS instead of Regression.
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12:19 AM on 01/29/2013
I think we already tried this through the NYTimes site which allowed you to modify the budget to meet the deficit. Why didn't you take a look at our suggestions?
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unitron
Reverse Chron Order never stays checked
12:05 AM on 01/29/2013
Well, my voice and wishes were throughly ignored on the fix the filibuster mess issue, so forgive my lack of enthusiasm.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
frank1946
Tell the Truth
11:05 PM on 01/28/2013
Very Simple.

Tie spending to revenue.

Federal Spending cannot exceed 60 % of actual revenue.

It's done !

Increased spending must come from higher taxes, economic growth or innovation.

How nice.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Richard Bartholomew
My micro-bio isn't empty.
03:58 AM on 01/29/2013
I agree, with the caveat that federal tax revenue be spent only on fullfilling our dear elected representatives clearly defined, and severely limited duties under the United States Constitution and its amendments---no more and no less.
HUFFPOST PUNDIT
realitytrumpsbull
Two 'alves of coconut!
09:45 AM on 01/29/2013
Not gonna happen. In one sense, the entire budget debate is a fool's argument, none of this stuff is binding. There's lots of good ideas, and there's the right way to do things, but, since the United States hasn't really followed any honest, hard-and-fast budget rules for about the last 40 years, why start today? The bureaucrats and support industries aren't going to cut their own throats by painting themselves into a corner with one more piece of legislation limiting their basic capacity to print more money. Please.
11:04 PM on 01/28/2013
Well Patty,
after your dismal performance on the Simpson-Bowles commission, and the corporate giveaway at the so called 'fiscal cliff' where the corporate tax rate has been lower to 20% from 35%, when the best thing and quickest way to debt reduction would have been to just let Bush's infamous tax holiday expire, your continued support for more military spending, Guantanamo, drones, unlimited surveillance, and the latest 'down is up', 'filibuster reform', the Democratic brand is tarnished and isn't believable. I'll be voting for your 3rd party opponent next election.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Richard Bartholomew
My micro-bio isn't empty.
03:59 AM on 01/29/2013
Vote Libertarian.
04:44 AM on 01/29/2013
No thanks, I appreciate the offer. I'm more Green Party, or Socialist.
Peace,
RR
09:25 PM on 01/28/2013
Why didnt they ask us if we wanted to bail out the banks?
They have nerve asking us for sacrifice.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ozy
09:16 PM on 01/28/2013
"I wish this was going to do some good, but Harry Reid took care of that prospect.DITTO!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mike Northrop
08:41 PM on 01/28/2013
Paul Ryan simply needs to go! I dont care were, just go.
08:35 PM on 01/28/2013
An education in gym class . . . preschool teacher . . .

That's the qualifications to Chair the Senate Budget Committee that overlooks a nearly $4 trillion dollar budget . . . .

No wonder we have budget problems in this country.
08:13 PM on 01/28/2013
submitted the following:

Why are drug laws so harsh? The lengthy prison terms, often mandatory, are expensive and counterproductive. We have spent more than $1 Trillion on the war on drugs and in the process devastated minority America. What a cynical, criminal waste.