Washington, D.C. – Leading progressive organizations and unions which led the fight to pass President Obama’s jobs and economic recovery package held a national press conference call today to announce a major new campaign to pass President Obama’s historic budget. 

Participants discussed plans to substantially ratchet up the same tools, techniques and strategies behind the successful campaign to pass the President’s economic recovery plan into law last month; including grassroots events, lobbying, phone and emails into Congressional offices and paid advertising. More than 40 major organizations have so far signed onto the estimated $6 million campaign to ‘Rebuild and Renew America Now.’

Alan Charney, USAction Program Director: “This morning, over 40 national organizations joined together in a campaign to promote and pass the President’s budget.  We believe that this budget is a blueprint for change that Americans voted for last November. We are mobilizing millions of our members, talking to our neighbors and co-workers and marshalling our resources for the battle ahead. It’s time to rebuild and renew America now.”

Chuck Loveless, Legislative Director, AFSCME: “Make no mistake: the Obama budget is real change – the change that Americans voted for in November.  As we were during the economic recovery plan, AFSCME will be a leader in the fight to pass the Obama agenda.  Our members make America happen.  And America deserves nothing less.”

Khalid Pitts, Director of Political Accountability, SEIU: “This budget is critical to restarting this economy and will make investments towards long term growth and stability.  And unlike some radio shock jock, people in this campaign and SEIU want to see this President and this country succeed in rebuilding and revitalizing the economy and this nation.  We know this won’t be easy. There are powerful corporate vested interests and entrenched Washington politicians that haven’t realized that change has come to America. SEIU intends to bring the full force of its 2.1 million members to see that these principles become policies and programs that will help all Americans.”

Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change: “President Obama’s budget is not just a list of line items or plusses and minuses – it is the blueprint for transformational change.  This campaign will spend the resources necessary and conduct the activity required to overcome the forces of opposition who want to maintain the status quo for their own private benefit instead of doing what’s in the public interest.”

Bertha Lewis, ACORN CEO and Chief Organizer: "ACORN applauds the choices President Obama has made in his first budget. Not only has he chosen to treat the American people as adults by delivering a budget free of gimmicks and based on realistic assumptions, but he has emphasized long-term investments, rather than short-term fixes based on political expediency. ACORN members plan to work hard to pass this budget. We are gearing up to get it on."

Anna Aurilio, Director, Environment America: “We know that we can no longer afford the failed economic policies of the past and we can no longer afford the failed energy and environmental policies that exacerbate the problem.  This budget restarts the clock on critical investments in clean water and toxic waste cleanup and is the starting pistol in moving legislation to fight global warming.”

Tiernan Sittenfeld, Legislative Director for the League of Conservation Voters: “As a blueprint for our energy future, President Obama’s budget is the most forward-thinking budget we have ever seen. It eliminates unfair tax loopholes and subsidies to Big Oil, anticipates hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue from a cap on pollution and invests $150 billion in clean, renewable energy.  The League of Conservation Voters will stand with the President by working to pass this budget and reinvent the way America uses energy.” 

Nancy Duff Campbell, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center: “After years of neglect, the President’s budget increases key supports for women and families in a fair and responsible way, by cutting subsidies to special interests and making corporations and the very wealthy pay their fair share of taxes.  Charting this new course will not be easy, but we’re ready to work with the Administration, Congress and our partners to get us there.”

Dennis Van Roekel, President, NEA:  “Investing in quality public schools will see the greatest return on taxpayer money and strengthen the entire economy.  Our public schools have been underfunded for far too long, and the president's budget reflects a renewed commitment to protecting the basic right of every student to attend a quality public school.”