Students Challenge Washington to Balance the Budget Without Cutting Education
(NSNS) -- A national petition drive demanding cuts in the military budget
and corporate welfare to balance the federal budget was launched through
the effort of youth and student leaders in Washington, DC.
Calling for "new priorities that place greater value on education" the
petition will be circulated via the Internet to college campuses around the
country.
"Since 1994, Congress has spent more on tax breaks and defense increases
and less on education, health care and human needs," said M. Kazim Ali,
president of the United States Student Association.
The petition will circulate on campuses from Iowa, Colorado, Washington
DC to Tennessee beginning on February 1, 1997 as well as appearing on the
Internet.
"It took Congress and Presidents Reagan and Bush 12 years to put the
government in severe debt with out of control military spending," said Ali.
"Now the current Congress wants to return the budget back to normal in
half the time, so they should balance what they unbalanced -- cut military
spending."
Currently over 60 campuses have agreed to circulate the petition,
according to Rich Cowan of the Center for Campus Organizing.
"We stand ready to circulate this petition on hundreds of campuses," said
Cowan.
"We will be sending a clear message to Congress and the President that
the last thing we need is to balance the budget on the backs of access to
education," said Cowan.
Among the participating groups include the Student Peace Action Network,
Youth for Democratic Action, and 20/20 Vision, an organization committed to
environmental and social justice.
"As our leaders discuss how we should balance the budget, they have not
listened to students and young people," said Cheryl Haeseker of 20/20
Vision.
By demanding cuts in military spending and corporate subsidies, the
petition includes a pledge to "give our votes and our time to candidates
who support our priorities."
"This campaign will bring young voices into Washington where they will be
heard -- or hold the leaders accountable," said Haeseker.
The launch of the petition drive coincides with the President's
submission of budget requests for the fiscal year 1998.
