IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
161742
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. WITKOWSKI
Title
Resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s proposed 2018 budget.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s opposition to President Donald J. Trump’s proposed 2018 budget and urges Congress to restore funding for education, jobs, housing and environmental programs that are vital to growing vibrant, sustainable cities and helping people to lead productive and dignified lives.
The resolution also directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to encourage other local units of government within Milwaukee County and across the State of Wisconsin to adopt similar resolutions. The City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, all members of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation, all members of the Wisconsin Legislature, the Governor of Wisconsin, all members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the Milwaukee County Executive.
Body
Whereas, President Donald J. Trump, in his proposed 2018 budget, “America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again”, drastically reduces spending on education, jobs, housing and environmental programs in the United States and abroad while expanding military spending to well over 60% of total federal discretionary spending; and
Whereas, President Trump’s budget cuts billions in grants for teacher training, after-school and summer programs, and aid programs to first-generation and low-income college students; and
Whereas, President Trump’s budget scales back a number of job-training programs, including those aimed at helping seniors, disadvantaged young people and unemployed Americans; and
Whereas, President Trump’s budget eliminates the Community Development Block Grant Program, which funds local improvement efforts and anti-poverty programs, and cuts funding for rental assistance, homeownership programs and affordable housing initiatives; and
Whereas, President Trump’s budget eliminates funding for Great Lakes monitoring and cleanup, for the Clean Power Plan and for climate change research and international climate change programs; and
Whereas, President Trump would eliminate funding for nearly 20 independent agencies, including the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Legal Services Corporation, which finances legal aid groups; and
Whereas, These and other budget reductions do not reflect the need for continued federal investment in education, jobs, housing and the environment to grow vibrant, sustainable cities and help working-class Americans find a path to financial independence and security; and
Whereas, Mayor Tom Barrett estimates that the City of Milwaukee would lose $18 million in grant funding in 2018; and
Whereas, The proposed reductions in education, jobs, housing and environmental spending, as well as reductions in other domestic and foreign aid programs, offset a $54 billion increase in military spending; and
Whereas, This increase alone exceeds the entire defense budget of most countries, and would be one of the largest one-year Department of Defense budget increases in American history; and
Whereas, Increased military spending at the expense of education, jobs, housing and environmental programs does not help Milwaukee residents, and the residents of urban centers across the nation, to lead full, productive lives with dignity and hope for their childrens’ futures; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee opposes President Donald J. Trump’s proposed 2018 budget; and, be it
Further Resolved, That U.S. Congress is urged to restore funding for educations, jobs, housing and environmental programs vital to growing vibrant, sustainable cities and to helping people lead productive and dignified lives; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division shall encourage other local units of government within Milwaukee County and across the State of Wisconsin to adopt similar resolutions; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, all members of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation, all members of the Wisconsin Legislature, the Governor of Wisconsin, all members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the Milwaukee County Executive.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB168048-2
Dana J. Zelazny
March 27, 2017