Toolkit - Alianza Americas

Toolkit

Tools 1. 2.

Budget Priorities- What We Could do to Make the Most out of Every Tax Dollar Impacts & Contributions of Immigrants to US Federal State and Local

3.

US Military Spending- Bad for Our Health

4.

Public Education

5.

How a federal budget happens

6.

U.S. Senate Budget Committee members

7.

House of Representatives Budget Committee members

8.

Talking points-Budget

9.

ACTION Alianza Americas Tax Day

10. Save the DateTemplate 11. Graphics

¿El gasto público refleja nuestras prioridades? The President has proposed a budget that includes a $54 billion increase in military spending (New York Times), and more than $7 billion for immigration enforcement (WSJ). Here are just a few things we could do with that that money instead of waging wars and building walls.

Education • •

Pay the salaries for half the elementary school teachers in the United States. National Priorities Project Send 1.6 million students to college for a four-year degree – for free. National Priorities Project

Health • • • •

Insure 15 million adults through Medicaid. National Priorities Project Cover 12 million people under the Affordable Care Act. National Priorities Project Increase 15 billion to NIH because most cancer drugs get their start in the basic research funded by the NIH. Trump Budget Cuts to Scientific, Medical Research Would Have ‘Devastating’ Effect: Experts With just a small fraction-- Keep $400 million in health professions and nursing training programs that create jobs and enhance culturally competent care for the most vulnerable patients. Trump Budget Cuts to Scientific, Medical Research Would Have ‘Devastating’ Effect: Experts

Housing Fund all of the items below: • • • •

Grants for local communities to build affordable housing. Provide housing for the elderly ($42 million) Invest in redeveloping low-income communities. Housing and housing vouchers for homeless veterans. Trump administration considers $6 billion cut to HUD budget

Transportation Fund all of the items below that are cut from the current budget proposal: • •

Invest $300 million in funding for light rail extensions in Boston, Charlotte, Portland, and Los Angeles. Proposed Trump budget makes billion-dollar cuts in city transportation, development funds. Programs to expand rail, bicycle networks and create pedestrian-friendly streetscapes at a $16.2 billion cost. Proposed Trump budget makes billion-dollar cuts in city transportation, development funds.

Contributions of Immigrants to U.S. Federal, State, and Local Taxes FAST FACTS: Immigrants Pay Taxes

$106

$86

billions

$12

billions

Total federal and state tax payments of Latino immigrants alone pay about all foreign-born individuals (all $86 billion in state at federal taxes. The Power of the Purse: The Contributions of Hispanics to immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, America’s. Spending Power and Tax Revenues in 2013 temporary workers, and undocumented workers) are $106 Billion per year. Examining the fiscal contribution of foreign-born and

mil millones

Undocumented immigrants pay almost $12 billion in state and local taxes a year. Undocumented Immigrants' State & Local Tax Contributions, ITEP

native-born households in the U.S.

Social Security & Medicare

Pay 3X more

Latino immigrants contributed more than 46 billion to Social Security and $10 billion to Medicare in 2014 The Power of the Purse: The Contributions of Hispanics to America’s. Spending Power and Tax Revenues in 2013 Undocumented immigrants nationwide pay on average three times more of their incomes in state and local taxes than the top 1 percent of taxpayers.

$2.18 billions

Granting legal status to all undocumented immigrants in the United States as part of a common sense immigration reform and allowing them to work legally would increase their state and local tax contributions by an estimated $2.18 billion a year. Their nationwide effective state and local tax rate would increase to 8.6 percent.

State and local tax Contributions by undocumented immigrants by state where Alianza Americas has presence: STATE ALABAMA

CURRENT STATE AND LOCAL TAXES

TAXES IF GRANTED LEGAL STATUS

TAX CHANGE

$62,312,000

$80,061,000

+$17,749,000

$3,199,394,000

$3,653,985,000

+454,591,000

ILLINOIS

$758,881,000

$917,370,000

+158,490,000

FLORIDA

$598,678,000

$658,546,000

+$59,868,000

MASSACHUSETTS

$184,605,000

$240,773,000

+56,168,000

$39,800,000

$48,177,000

+8,376,000

$587,415,000

$661,130,000

+73,716,000

$1,102,323,000

$1,349,476,000

+247,153,000

$277,402,000

$370,780,000

+93,378,000

$83,247,000

$108,786,000

+25,538,000

$1,560,896,000

$1,716,985,000

+156,090,000

CALIFORNIA

NEBRASKA NEW JERSEY NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA OHIO TEXAS

Fuente: Undocumented Immigrants' State & Local Tax Contributions, ITEP

U.S. Military Spending - Bad for America’s Health

$600 billions

The United States already spends more than 50% of its discretionary budget on military spending. In 2015, that number reached nearly $600 billion National Priorities

To put that very large number into context, here are some things we could buy with the amount that is currently allocated for defense. To be clear, we could buy ALL of these things, with the same amount of money currently being spent on defense (with a little bit left over…) TRADE OFF

HOW MANY

YEARS

COST

Adults Receiving Low-Income Healthcare

18,557,388

1

$66.06 billions

Children Receiving Low-Income Healthcare

27,865,726

1

$66.06 billions

Scholarships for University Students

1,988,919

4

$66.06 billions

Military Veterans Receiving VA Medical Care

6,394,006

1

$66.06 billions

Head Start Slots for Children

7,413,726

1

$66.06 billions

Jobs with Supports Created in High Poverty Communities Clean Energy Jobs Created

660,612

1

$66.06 billions

891,826

1

$66.06 billions

Elementary School Teachers

817,367

1

$66.06 billions

What taxpayers in the United States pay for Department of Defense: $528.490.000.000 Total Trade-Offs: $528,489,830,743 Amount Remaining: $ 169,257

El nuevo presupuesto "America First"? The administration’s new “America First” budget calls for a 16 percent cut or $15 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services, while also offsetting a proposing proposed $54 billion increase in defense spending.

Here are a few things we could do with $54 billion instead of spending it on war and walls:

15 12 billions

Make sure that 15 million adults have access to health care through Medicaid.

billions

Cover 12 million people under the Affordable Care Act

$400 billions

Keep the $400 million for training for health professions and nursing that was cut in the current proposal. This funding could create good jobs and provide culturally competent care for the most vulnerable patients

Increase funding for cancer research at the NIH, and jump start research for the millions of Americans Sources: Trump Budget Cuts to Scientific, Medical Research Would Have ‘Devastating’ Effect: Experts National Priorities Project Supplemental Request The Record U.S. Military Budget

Cutting Federal Funding for Public Education Increases Segregation and Poverty in the U.S. Education always makes the list of the top three priorities for the American people, and yet, in 2015, the federal government spent only 4 cents out of every tax dollar on education programs. Even so, these programs provided critical assistance to more than 18 million children in more than 51,000 high poverty schools. What the cuts means for public education? ●

Nearly 14% cut or $9 billion cut to the Department of Education.

●

Remove $1.2 billion in funding for summer and afterschool programs.

●

Cut $3.7 billion in grants for teacher training

● $200 million in cuts to federal TRIO programs, which benefit low-income, first-generation, and disabled students. ● Cuts to GEAR UP, a program that helps prepare low-income middle and high-school students for college. The administration’s new “America First” budget, is shifting more than $50 billion from human needs and development to the military and immigration enforcement. Spending billions to tear apart immigrant families through aggressive deportation and detention does not make us safer and it wastes taxpayer dollars we could put to much better use. How this money could be better used? • • • • •

Build 184 new elementary schools, at a cost of roughly $16.3 million each. Hire just over 55,000 new kindergarten and elementary school teachers, at an annual salary of $54,500 each. Pay for nearly 311,000 people to attend a four-year college per year, at an in-state tuition rate of $9,650. Continue to fund Head Start programs which enrolled 945,000 children in fiscal year 2015 Increase funding for special education in schools, currently assisting 6.5 million children, under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.

Sources: American Progress (CAP) How We Should Really Be Spending Trump’s $3 Billion Immigration Enforcement Supplemental Funding The Concentration of Poverty in American Schools National Priorities Project At Risk: Federal Grants to State and Local Governments Trump's Education Budget Revealed Supplemental Request

How a federal budget gets approved (and how you can make your voice heard)! When all goes according to plan, the process takes several months, with a final bill ideally signed before October 1. Here is a guide to how it should happen: National Priorities Project. In recent years, that process has broken down. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the last time all appropriations bills were enacted on time was for the 1996 fiscal year. Rather, Congress has relied on Continuing Resolutions—which are short-term budget bills—or omnibus bills—which direct federal spending across many areas. As the budget process moves forward, there are a lot of places where taxpayers can weigh in-- first with the House and Senate Budget Committees, and then with the various appropriations committees. The President has put forward his proposal (step 1) so it is critical to make sure your elected officials know what your priorities are, as they consider budget resolutions.

Here is a quick summary of the steps: •

• •

• •

The president submits a budget proposal that has been put together by the Office of Management and Budget. This,in essence, amounts to a wish list and gives a clear indication of the president’s spending priorities. (The Trump Administration has put forward its proposal. What Trump Cut in his Budget The Budget Committees in both the House and Senate pass their own budget resolutions, which amount to other wish lists. Appropriations Committees on specific issues (defense, agriculture, transportation, education, etc) in the House and Senate determine more precise levels of spending for discretionary funds. See a list of the 12 committees. (How Federal Budget Happens) The full House and full Senate vote on the appropriations bills, reconcile differences, and send final drafts to the president. The president signs (or vetoes) each appropriation bill to make the budget law.

House of Representatives Budget Committee members President:

Ranking Member:

Diane Black (R-TN)

John Yarmuth (D-KY)

Republicans:

Democrats:

Diane Black, (TN-06), Chairman

John Yarmuth, (KY-03), Ranking Member

Todd Rokita, (IN-04), Vice-Chairman

Barbara Lee, (CA-13)

Mario Diaz-Balart, (FL-25)

Michelle Lujan Grisham, (NM-01)

Tom Cole, (OK-04)

Seth Moulton, (MA-06)

Tom McClintock, (CA-04)

Hakeem Jeffries, (NY-08)

Rob Woodall, (GA-07)

Brian Higgins, (NY-26)

Mark Sanford, (SC-01)

Suzan DelBene, (WA-01)

Steve Womack, (AR-03)

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, (FL-23)

Dave Brat, (VA-07)

Brendan Boyle, (PA-13)

Glenn Grothman, (WI-06)

Ro Khanna, (CA-17)

Gary Palmer, (AL-06)

Pramila Jayapal, (WA-07), Vice Ranking Member

Bruce Westerman, (AR-04)

Salud Carbajal, (CA-24)

Jim Renacci, (OH-16)

Sheila Jackson Lee, (TX-18)

Bill Johnson, (OH-06)

Janice Schakowsky, (IL-09)

Jason Smith, (MO-08)

Jason Lewis, (MN-02) Jack Bergman, (MI-01) John Faso, (NY-19) Lloyd Smucker, (PA-16) Matt Gaetz, (FL-01) Jodey Arrington, (TX-19) Drew Ferguson, (GA-03)

Website http://budget.house.gov/ Minority Website https://democrats-budget.house.gov/

U.S. Senate Budget Committee members

12 republicans

14 democrats

President:

Ranking member:

How many members:

Mike Enzi (R-WY)

Bernie Sanders (D-VT)

Republicans:

Democrats:

Charles Grassley (IA)

Patty Murray (WA)

Mike Crapo (ID)

Ron Wyden (OR)

Lindsey Graham (SC)

Debbie Stabenow (MI)

Pat Toomey (PA)

Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)

Ron Johnson (WI)

Mark R. Warner (VA)

Bob Corker (TN)

Jeff Merkley (OR)

David Perdue (GA)

Tim Kaine (VA)

Cory Gardner (CO)

Angus King (ME)

John Kennedy (LA)

Chris Van Hollen (MD)

John Boozman (AR)

Kamala Harris (CA)

Luther Strange (AL)

website www.budget.senate.gov

Talking Points As taxpayers, we want to make sure that our resources are spent wisely, to make our communities good places to live and work. Here is WHY we should care about the budget being proposed: 1. Americans as a whole pay a lot of taxes and that includes immigrants. We all should care about where our tax dollars go. 2. Immigrants Pay Taxes too-- Latino immigrants pay more that $85 Billion in state and federal taxes and we want our money to be spent wisely. ●

Immigrants pay more than $100 billion in taxes.

●

Undocumented immigrants also pay taxes, estimated at almost $12 Billion in state and local taxes.

3. The battle over the budget is shaping up and we all need to speak up. There will be a lot of rhetoric on tax cuts. It is important to understand what will get cut and who will benefit. 4. No more waste on border walls, tearing apart families when so much else is needed 5. Let's not line the pockets of military contractors and private prisons when our kids need good schools, ordinary folks need health care and decent jobs, seniors need housing, etc Trump administration budget proposal adds large amount to military, while cutting programs that help working people. The administration’s new “America First” budget calls for a 16 percent or $15 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services, while proposing $54 billion increase in defense spending. This is on top of a military budget that already accounts for more than 50% of our total discretionary spending. Spending billions on a wall and deportation squad won’t make us safer, and comes at a huge cost. The president requested from Congress an extra $6.6 billion for this fiscal year in funding for enforcing a

discriminatory immigration agenda. This is both a waste of taxpayer dollars, and a diversion of muchneeded funds from programs that would benefit families, workers, children, and seniors. The president's budget is bad for ordinary people in many ways: ● children of low-income parents lose access to urgent food assistance, afterschool and summer programs and to work-study aid to continue their education; ● a slash to funding for medical research that could help treat and cure chronic diseases like AIDS, which can be fatal if go untreated; ● a decline in the availability and quality of affordable housing, and undermining efforts to improve low-income communities through investment; ● loss of programs that provide job training to youth living in poverty and that help low-income seniors find jobs; ● diminished capacity to identify and address pollution and toxins in our drinking water, air and land;

This is not the time to waste taxpayer dollars on building walls and sowing fear in immigrant communities.

TAKE ACTION! As tax time approaches, call on policymakers to focus on education, health, decent jobs and the environment, not on detaining immigrants, building walls, or lining the pockets of military contractors. Do you know where your tax dollars go? Less than one cent out of every dollar is spent to fund housing and community programs. Four cents go to education, while 27 cents out of every single tax dollar go to military spending. $5.6 million per day is spent on immigration detention. Did you know that a billion dollars spent on domestic priorities such mass transit, home weatherization, education and health care, would each produce more jobs than the same amount spent on the military? This will come at the expense of many social, scientific and other programs that benefit working people. Among many other things, these proposed cuts would: • • • •

Reduce help for low- and moderate-income students to afford college; Make it harder for cities and rural communities to invest in economic development Eliminate housing and energy supports for families and seniors Drastically reduce the capacity of agencies that monitor pollution and toxic contamination--threatening our water, air and other natural resources.

Alianza Americas is calling on individuals, faith based communities, and organizations across the country to join us in action as we approach the April 15 tax filing deadline: 1- Call House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman Diane Black, (R-TN) at (202) 225-4231 and Ranking member John Yarmuth (D-KY) at (202) 226-7200. Tell them: “Do not use my taxes in detention centers, the militarization of communities, or in border walls. I encourage you to invest our taxes in improving the quality of life of our communities, guarantee universal access to health for all, quality education, decent housing and good public transportation.” 2- Stay informed. We will share a new action every day between now and April 15. Visit Alianza Americas at www.facebook.com/AlianzaAmericas/

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