Whereas Federal Budget decisions will affect the public good for years to come; and

Whereas budget decisions made in Washington have a profound effect on the people of the Commonwealth; and

Whereas on November 6, 2012 voters in 91 cities and towns across Massachusetts have by large margins expressed their support for a “Budget for All” non-binding public policy question with the below provisions, and have urged their elected state officials to address Congress and the President on their behalf;

Therefore be it resolved that the Massachusetts General Court hereby calls upon Congress and the President to:

1. Prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits, or to housing, food and unemployment assistance;

2. Create and protect jobs by investing in manufacturing, schools, housing, renewable energy, transportation and other public services;

3.  Provide new revenues for these purposes and to reduce the long-term federal deficit by closing corporate tax loopholes, ending offshore tax havens, and raising taxes on incomes over $250,000;  and

4. Redirect military spending to these domestic needs by reducing the military budget, ending the war in Afghanistan and bringing U.S. troops home safely now.