Hailed as "the only honest" budget proposal in Congress and an embodiment of "true centrism," the People's Budget was unveiled last month by Reps. Mazie Hirono, Maxine Waters and Raul Grijalva, among other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
.
The plan strikes me as both compelling and surprisingly simple. It achieves both fiscal responsibility and social justice by focusing on investments in education and renewable energy and by returning income-tax rates and defense spending to the pre-Bush levels that had historically been considered reasonable.
Hirono's one-minute speech on the House floor provides a summary of the proposal's goals:
The CPC website has some handy bullet points plus links to the full text of the proposal and to media and academic analyses:
http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/...
While the People's Budget garnered only 77 votes on the House floor, it will continue to be cited by progressive Members of Congress as a blueprint for future budgets. The proposal can also function as the ready-made foundation of a campaign platform.
Indeed, Hirono has taken her advocacy for the People's Budget back home to Hawai`i, where she represents the 2nd Congressional District and is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Please follow me below for some updates on what she's been doing in the Aloha State, along with information on how to help her potential Senate campaign.
Imagine what it would be like to have a strong advocate for the principles espoused in the People's Budget actually serving in the Senate. We could see that reality as early as next year, when Hawai`i voters will fill an open U.S. Senate seat for the first time in 36 years.
During Congressional recesses this year, Hirono has island hopped throughout the State. She's been listening to constituents and talking about her vision for the future - which includes protecting and strengthening Medicare and Social Security; increasing educational and economic opportunities for all, including women and girls; and building a more vibrant and more sustainable economy.
On Maui, she recently sat down for an interview with local media to explain why the House majority budget proposal is an "anti-people budget" and to acknowledge that she is "seriously considering" the Senate race:
On the Island of Hawai`i, she was honored last month by the Hawai`i Island YMCA as the "2011 Remarkable Person" and used the opportunity to tout programs empowering women and girls.
On Kaua`i, she's been supporting urban and regional planners who are using Federal stimulus funding to design complete streets - roadways that are built not just for cars, but also for transit, pedestrians, bicyclists and wheelchair users.
On O`ahu, she's been supporting a promising initiative for electric cars:
Meanwhile, back in D.C. she's been speaking out on behalf of her constituents from Day 1 of the Boehner Congress. For instance, while David Brooks and others were applauding Ryan's courage (sic), Hirono went to the House floor to make an impassioned plea for something that's now in disfavor among her colleagues in the majority: budgeting based on compassion and fairness -
How about a little aloha?
If you'd like to see true courage like this on display in the U.S. Senate, you can show a little aloha for Mazie Hirono on my ActBlue page. Signing up for a monthly contribution of even $5 would be a big help.
As a current Hawai`i resident, I offer my thanks. I'd also like to think a certain native of Hawai`i would benefit from the support, encouragement and occasional prodding that could be provided by a Senator Hirono.
Mahalo!