Top Ten Reasons this Budget Gives Me Hope...

[Obama...@googlemail.com]

Dear Friends,

Last night, President Obama hosted a press conference to talk to the
nation about his efforts to restore the American economy. As you
probably already know, economic recovery has been the overwhelming
focus of Obama's Presidency so far, and we still have a lot more work
to do.

You can watch his press conference here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/03/24/VI2009032402948.html?sid=ST2009032403256

But Obama hasn't forgotten that his Presidency is about the victory of
hope over fear. And he hasn't forgotten the elements of the better
country he promised to help us build - the renewed infrastructure,
health care and education investment that will not only help us get
through this crisis but also build a better future for the next
generation.

One major hurdle that President Obama will need to overcome is to
ensure that his 2010 budget passes through Congress, and he has asked
those of us who worked on his campaign to help him get the word out
that the budget is important, progressive, and pragmatic.

But a Presidential budget is a huge and a complex thing - it contains
thousands of pages of information and trillions in expenditure. It may
be hard to understand what support for the budget actually
represents.

I'll tell you what it means to me. This budget is an investment in
what he promised us. It's full of bold new or expanded programs that
use smart, pragmatic approaches to restore America to a position of
leadership on innovation, the environment, health and education. Want
to know more?

Recently I've been Twittering the top 10 things in Obama's budget that
make me hopeful for our future. Check it out here:

http://twitter.com/karinjr

I'm halfway there, so tune in for more! Here's what I've got so far:

6) Supertrains! Read more: http://tinyurl.com/c724tx
7) Energy innovation for housing. Reduced bills, a reinvigorated
economy and a cleaner environment! Read more: http://tiny.cc/tv4up
8) College Completion Incentive Fund. Nearly half of students don't
graduate, but they still have the debt. Read more: http://tiny.cc/nrlVe
9) Improved funding for mental illness treatment in the military.
People are hurting in all kinds of ways. Read more: http://tiny.cc/6Aq3f
10) 1.3 Billion for rural broadband. US is way behind in broadband
takeup, which creates jobs. Read more: http://tiny.cc/Nyyog

What I'm asking of you:

Please share this information - forward it on as needed. Feel free to
repeat my list to Twitter, blog, or e-mail to your own contacts. Or,
go to www.whitehouse.gov/omb for yourself and and use the detailed
budget information that's there to make up your own list. Please call
your friends, family, college classmates, colleagues and - of course -
your congresspeople to let them know why you think this budget is good
for our future.

And by the way, if you are a US citizen this might be a good time to
make a donation to

Democrats Abroad: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
Or to the DNC: https://www.democrats.org/page/contribute?source=NETA454

This will make sure we have the resources we are going to need, to
make sure the President's plan gets through.

Thank you for your support!

All best wishes,

Karin