Congressman David Price will be holding two town hall meetings this month--the public is encouraged to attend. There is no admission cost or priority--first come, first seated. Space is limited, so arrive early.
Wake County Town Hall Meeting
When: Monday, February 20, 2012 from 5:15
PM 6:30 PM
Where: Cardinal Gibbons High School
Theater
1401 Edwards Mill Road,
Raleigh NC
Orange County Town Hall Meeting
When: Monday, February 20, 2012 from 7:30
PM 8:45 PM
Where: Southern Human Services Center
Board Room
2501 Homestead Rd.,
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(From Rep. Price's letter announcing these meetings):
Our Priorities and Values
Dear Friend,
On February 13, President Obama will submit his 2013 budget proposal to Congress. The budget is far more than just a set of spending policies; it is a statement of our priorities and values as a nation. As the President said in his State of the Union address, now is a "make-or-break moment" for our middle class and those trying to reach it, and I'll be looking for the President to prioritize three things in his budget request:
1. Continuing the economic recovery
2. Investing in the American people and our future
3. Returning to fiscal balance with a plan that is fair and comprehensive
As your representative in Congress, I have worked to strengthen and sustain our economic recovery in the Triangle and around the country. The 2009 Recovery Act provided a shot in the arm for our state. It kept thousands of teachers and first responders on the job, moved us closer to high-speed rail service between Raleigh and Charlotte, expanded the statewide broadband internet network, improved our energy grid, and helped fund many other infrastructure projects. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I helped secure $41 million in Recovery Act funds for the new National Guard headquarters in Raleigh, which will be dedicated later this week. I am proud that our state's citizen soldiers and first responders will finally have a headquarters befitting their critical homeland security and national defense missionand equally pleased that the building created or sustained 3,400 jobs along the way!
We've now seen 23 consecutive months of private sector job growth and 3.45 million new private sector jobs, but we cannot be content until every American worker who wants a job can find one. That is why I have been pushing for passage of the President's American Jobs Act. I am hopeful that he will include elements of the bill in his budget, and there are other creative approaches to job creation that deserve quick passage. One such example is the "21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act," which I have cosponsored, to put people to work repairing and rebuilding public schools across the country. And there are many more.
As we act to accelerate the recovery in the near term, we cannot neglect the long-term investments that are the major drivers of economic success: education, innovation, research, and transportation. The point isn't to spend more, but to spend our limited resources more wisely, so that we can secure the promise of America for all rather than just the wealthy few. The President's budget should call for Congress to take the steps needed to renew the American dream and revive the middle class.
The President has also issued a bold call for a fairer, simpler tax code, which will be essential to balancing our nation's budget. Warren Buffet's secretary -- Debbie Bosanek, who attended the speech -- should not pay a greater percentage of her income in taxes than her billionaire boss. Nor should seniors, or students, or families working hard to get by. This isn't "class warfare" -- it's common sense. We can protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires or we can invest in our people and plot a course to fiscal balance, but we cannot do both. I believe the choice we should make is clear.
On these matters and many others demanding our attention, I will continue to work with the President and with colleagues to chart a positive course. During the previous three years, we have reformed health care, reined in Wall Street, expanded access to education, and pulled the nation out of the Great Recession. But we have more to do. I am hopeful that Democrats and Republicans in Congress will come together in good faith to work with the President to advance the programs outlined in his budget. Where there are disagreements, I am hopeful they too will further a robust discussion of the priorities and values that are best for our country at this critical time. As this debate continues, I hope you will keep in touch to let me know your views.
Sincerely,
David Price
Member of Congress
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