A diverse coalition of 154 citizen groups representing a broad range of public interests re-sent letters to the White House and Senate leadership today urging them once again to reject any consideration of non-budget amendments to the federal budget bill currently being considered. Today the NAACP, AFL-CIO and other groups representing millions of Americans added their voices to this letter originally sent yesterday.

The following is a statement by Earthjustice Senior Legislative Counsel Joan Mulhern:

“It’s one thing to pass a budget to keep the country running and it’s something else entirely for the House Republicans including Tea Party members to try to hijack the budget process by adding numerous non-budget amendments to push the rest of their agenda. The Senate and White House need to stand tough and hold the line on this budget bill to make sure that non budget policy items are not part of this bill. Amendments that forward the agenda of the Tea Party or anyone else need to be vetted by the Congress through the normal committee process where all sides can have their fair say. This is the way our American democracy is set up in order to be fair to all points of view and to produce the best, most well thought out legislation. As it stands, certain members are attempting to ramrod their ideological wish list of non budget agenda items through with no public hearings or input. It’s clear by the large number of very diverse groups representing people across all walks of life that have signed this letter to the White House and Senate leaders that insisting on keeping this budget bill focused on a budget is the preference of mainstream America. Earthjustice is proud to stand in solidarity with other groups representing the public interest in opposing all policy riders.”

Letter to the White House
Letter to Senate Leadership