Americans United for Change plans $5-7 million dollars for new budget

Jeremy P Jacobs

Coming off its campaign in support of the president's economic stimulus package last month, Americans United for Change announced "the biggest grassroots campaign in history" dedicated to working to pass President Barack Obama's budget.

On a conference call Friday, representatives of AFSCME, SEIU, USAction, Americans United for Change, the League of Conservation Voters, the National Women's Law Center, Environment America and ACORN praised Obama's $3.55 trillion budget and pledged an all out effort to get it through Congress by Easter recess.

The new campaign, said Brad Woodhouse, the president of Americans United for Change, "is more historic and larger" than the group's recent campaign to get the economic stimulus package passed. "This campaign is getting ready for a fight," he said.

Woodhouse said he expects the coalition to spend between $5 and $7 million in the next couple months and said that 50 major national groups are likely to get involved in the effort. The campaign will use every modern campaign tool available, he said. "Every trick of the trade, paid advertising, earned media, events, calls," he said. "This coalition is ready. It's engaged and it's ready."

Obama's budget has been met with significant resistance from Republicans. In particular, they have criticized plan that would increase taxes on the wealthy in 2011 in order to raise $1 trillion to pay for expanded healthcare, education and energy programs. Obama's plan also projects a $1.75 trillion deficit next year, another point of contention with Republicans.

Last month, Americans United for Change launched several television ads in support of Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan. This budget, representatives on the call said, is very ambitious and one of the most important pieces of legislation in the country's history.

"With the release of the budget," said Chuck Loveless, AFSCME's legislative director, "We think we are taking a big lead in terms of rebuilding our country."

"This budget represents real change, the change that Americans voted for last November," he added.