WHEREAS: 

Republican House leadership has vowed to establish a fiscal commission to address the federal deficit; and 

WHEREAS: 

The Fiscal Commission Act (House Resolution 5779), advanced by the House Budget Committee, would establish a commission charged with identifying policies to balance the budget by reducing debt and making recommendations to improve the solvency of programs under the federal trust funds such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security; and   

WHEREAS: 

Previous fiscal commissions, like the U.S. Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction and the Greenspan Commission, have a troubled history. The Joint Committee’s plan led to mandated across-the-board budget cuts, and the Greenspan Commission resulted in raising the Social Security retirement age, imposing taxes on benefits for middle-income retirees and the creation of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), impacting nearly 2 million public servants; and 

WHEREAS: 

Fiscal commission proposals jeopardize the democratic process by giving Congress the power to expedite legislative measures with minimal public involvement, sidestepping normal full and open consideration; and 

WHEREAS: 

Potential actions of the fiscal commission include deep cuts to essential social safety net programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP and other programs which would disproportionately harm older Americans, children and other vulnerable populations, as well as exacerbate existing inequalities; and 

WHEREAS: 

In practice, the Fiscal Commission Act and similar legislative proposals fail to meaningfully address the need for additional revenue as a viable solution to the fiscal challenges facing our nation, thereby placing an undue burden on middle- and lower-income individuals and families by focusing on deficit reduction through spending cuts with particular emphasis on cuts to Medicare and Social Security; and  

WHEREAS:  

Supporters of the Fiscal Commission Act and similar measures too often neglect, in their deficit reduction proposals, the need for federal investment associated with the delivery of state and local government services and the need to ensure sufficient staffing levels to support public services, good jobs, healthy communities and a robust economy; and  

WHEREAS: 

The current tax code is in dire need of reform to ensure that the rich and wealthy corporations pay their fair share, yet the Fiscal Commission Act neglects to prioritize tax reform as part of its agenda. If Congress is serious about addressing the debt and deficit, one place to start would be the tax cuts benefitting the wealthiest among us, which are set to expire at the end of 2025. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: 

That AFSCME condemns proposals calling for the creation of fiscal commissions that would result in cuts to vital social programs, and urges policymakers to instead seek alternative solutions that prioritize the well-being of all Americans, such as raising revenues through fair and equitable tax policies, rather than solely relying on austerity measures that disproportionately impact the most vulnerable members of society and erode public services; and  

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: 

That AFSCME opposes fiscal commission policies as a mechanism to diminish federal investments in the public services that are needed for revitalizing communities through the reconstruction of roads, bridges and public infrastructure, fostering job creation and expanding job training opportunities, and enhancing public health systems such as by investing in the long-term care and child care workforces; and 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: 

That AFSCME will advocate to prevent damaging fiscal commission proposals from advancing in Congress. 

SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive Board