Max Baucus: “What is more, on January 12, a broad consortium of organizations--56 in number--wrote to all Senators to express their…”

“What is more, on January 12, a broad consortium of organizations--56 in number--wrote to all Senators to express their concerns with the Conrad-Gregg commission. Among the organizations signing this letter were the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Change to Win, the Campaign for America's Future, Common Cause, moveon.org Political Action, NAACP, the National Organization for Women, People for the American Way, the SCIU, and many others. This broad consortium of organizations wrote: We write with strong opposition to the proposal of Senators Kent Conrad, Judd Gregg and others to create a deficit-reduction commission to override the normal legislative process and replace it with expedited procedures prohibiting amendments and limiting debate. If the Conrad-Gregg proposal were to become law, it could dramatically change by stealth critical benefits and services so vital to America's families. The consortium of groups continued about the need for responsibility by writing: Americans--seniors, women, working families, people with disabilities, youth, young adults, children, people of color, veterans, communities of faith and others--expect their elected representatives to be responsible and accountable for shaping such a significant, far-reaching legislation.”