Bill > H3144

This bill, titled "Resolutions Referendum on a budget for all," is a set of resolutions from the Massachusetts General Court (the state legislature) urging the United States Congress and the President to take specific actions regarding the national budget. The resolutions are based on the sentiment expressed by voters in 91 Massachusetts cities and towns on November 6, 2012, who supported a "Budget for All" non-binding public policy question. Specifically, the Massachusetts legislature is calling on Congress and the President to prevent cuts to essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' benefits, as well as to housing, food, and unemployment assistance. They also advocate for job creation through investments in areas such as manufacturing, schools, housing, renewable energy, and transportation. To fund these initiatives and reduce the federal deficit, the resolutions propose closing corporate tax loopholes, ending offshore tax havens, and increasing taxes on incomes exceeding $250,000. Finally, the bill suggests redirecting military spending to domestic needs by reducing the military budget, ending the war in Afghanistan, and bringing U.S. troops home.