LETTER TO THE HOLLAND SENTINEL: Holland, MI — As a Sister of Mercy, I urge our members of Congress to find the political will to invest in job creation and to protect persons who are poor and vulnerable.
Members of our congregation of women religious minister every day to persons who seek emergency shelter, who turn to food pantries and soup kitchens, and who need job training to find work that pays a living wage. It is such programs that many legislators are talking about in their proposals to reduce the federal deficit and debt. Yet non-defense discretionary spending, which includes these vital human services, represents just 19 percent of the budget.
Members of our congregation of women religious minister every day to persons who seek emergency shelter, who turn to food pantries and soup kitchens, and who need job training to find work that pays a living wage. It is such programs that many legislators are talking about in their proposals to reduce the federal deficit and debt. Yet non-defense discretionary spending, which includes these vital human services, represents just 19 percent of the budget.
Most economic experts say that tax increases need to be considered for any real long-term debt reduction. Foreign policy and national security experts point out multiple ways in which the Pentagon budget could be cut more deeply without any harm to our security.
We urge our legislators to take a balanced approach to building a budget by taking into consideration the resources of wealthy individuals and corporations, and the needs of many struggling individuals and families.
Sister Pat Lamb
St. Francis de Sales Church
Holland
We urge our legislators to take a balanced approach to building a budget by taking into consideration the resources of wealthy individuals and corporations, and the needs of many struggling individuals and families.
Sister Pat Lamb
St. Francis de Sales Church
Holland