Can we trust Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives to fix our long-term deficit problems in a responsible way?

Obviously not. On April 15, they passed an all-out assault on vital programs, including Medicare, to pay for massive giveaways to millionaires and billionaires—while doing almost nothing to balance the budget. The bill was passed without even a single Democratic vote.

This “budget” bill is a fraud on the American people—not a starting point for debate or negotiations. It is no more of a deficit reduction plan than Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s taking away rights from workers was a budget plan.1

A budget that’s only passed the U.S. House of Representatives isn’t law. But the big danger is that the Senate will try to cut a deal that meets House Republicans halfway and worsens the imbalance in our economy. We can’t let that happen.

Tell your senators and President Obama to reject the House Republican budget fraud—and create a responsible 2012 budget that funds the America we believe in.

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Congressional Republicans have hidden the motivations behind their policies again and again. Here are the facts:

They told us it was about reducing the deficit. But the budget House Republicans passed does virtually nothing about the long-term deficit problem. It cuts $4.3 billion in spending while handing out $4.2 trillion in tax giveaways that disproportionately favor corporations and the rich. The net deficit reduction? A pathetic $155 billion.1

They told us it was about reining in out-of-control health care costs for seniors. But the budget House Republicans passed forces seniors to pay dramatically more for less health care—it does nothing to control health care costs, but destroys Medicare as we know it, replacing it with underfunded vouchers. Under the House-passed 2012 budget, out-of-pocket health care costs for a typical 65-year-old will more than double in the first year alone, increasing by more than $6,000.2

They told us it was about addressing the jobs crisis. But the budget House Republicans passed will eliminate an estimated 1.7 million to 2.2 million jobs over two years.3

They told us it was about creating a better future for our children. But the budget House Republicans passed literally takes food out of the mouths of hungry children by cutting food assistance for low-income families. It kicks 200,000 kids out of Head Start, cuts funding for elementary and secondary schools by 25 percent and slashes college aid for 8 million students.4

No matter what House Republicans say, the bill they passed—which does almost nothing to reduce the deficit, demolishes Medicare and gives $4.2 trillion in tax cuts to the wealthy—shows they’re squarely siding with corporate America and against working families.

Sign our petition: Demand that your senators and President Obama reject this complete budget fraud that devastates working families, children and seniors.

President Obama recognizes we can’t follow the path of radical House Republicans who are willing to kill millions of jobs, destroy Medicare, give away $4.2 billion in tax breaks disproportionately to corporations and the rich and do almost nothing about the deficit. He’s made clear he understands why Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are so important to working people.

But even the president does not have the balance right yet between spending cuts and the need to raise revenue from Wall Street, corporations and the millionaires and billionaires who have benefited for years from our broken economy, which has failed working people miserably.

Corporate CEOs have seen explosive income growth and declining tax burdens for years. And they caused our economic crisis. It’s time for them to pay their fair share to create jobs and fix our crumbling infrastructure. Once that happens, working people can do our part to fix our long-term budget problems. But it’s got to be done in a fair way.

Sign our petition: Urge President Obama and your senators to reject the outrageous House Republican budget bill.

Whether you’re a Republican, an Independent or a Democrat, I hope you recognize today’s corporate Republican politicians—from Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner—have swung too far toward favoring corporate America at the expense of the rest of us. And I hope you’ll join us in opposing the House Republican budget.

Thanks for joining our fight for sanity in the federal budget.

In Solidarity,

Manny Herrmann

Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO