Planning a Long-Term Proactive Tax and Budget Campaign Prepared by OMB Watch 1742 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20009 (202) 234-8494 http://www.ombwatch.org
Transcript
Slide 1
Planning a Long-Term Proactive Tax and Budget Campaign Prepared
by OMB Watch 1742 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20009 (202)
234-8494 http://www.ombwatch.org
Slide 2
What We Plan To Do Call to Action paper in December, 2003 (see
www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/1952/1/18/). Internet Survey
-- completed by over 700 respondents in Jan/Feb, 2004. Regional
Strategy Meetings -- in Columbia, SC; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL;
Phoenix, AZ, and Philadelphia, PA.
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What We Plan To Do (Cont.) National Retreat develop specific
recommendations and next steps. Online Resource Center on tax and
budget information. Face on the Numbers -- Online database
(www.ombwatch.org/budget/face.html) of stories about unmet needs
and how a service or program has made a positive difference.
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What Happens Next? Develop Specific Recommendations and Next
Steps based on action items under planning process. Determine
Whether Resources Can Be Raised for local, state, and national
groups to initiative a campaign. Address Leadership and
Organizational Issues, including coordination, roles, etc. Begin
Implementing the Plan of Action.
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The Crisis: A Long-Term Budget Problem
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The Budget & Tax Picture Today Weve got plenty of money in
Washington, D.C., by the way. President Bush in Louisville, KY
February 26, 2004 The tension is money. Theres not enough money.
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Chair Appropriations Committee March 3,
2004 ---------------------------------
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(Deficit excluding Social Security as % of GDP) Surplus Deficit
1983 -6.0% 2004 -5.9%
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1950 14.4% 2004 15.7%
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1.8% of GDP = $207 Billion in 2004
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Percent Change 2004-2006-0.5% 2004-2009+1.0%
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Percent Change 2004-2006-3.2% 2004-2009-7.0%
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Percent Change 2004-2006-4.8% 2004-2009 -10.8%
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The Longer-Term Budget & Tax Picture I dont want to abolish
government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag
it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub. Grover Norquist,
Americans for Tax Reform June 25, 2003
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Source: Steuerle, Carasso, Bishop, based on data from Gale,
Orszag, and the Tax Policy Center.
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Lost Federal Revenue Compared to Philanthropic Giving All
figures in 2009 Dollars. Philanthropy source: American Association
of Fundraising Counsels Trust in Philanthropy/Giving USA 2003.
Assuming charitable giving keeps pace with the growth in the
economy, giving in 2009 will be $341.4 billion. Charity would need
to increase 142% to replace the lost federal revenue, assuming it
continues to fund existing activities.
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Source: Derived from Chart 12-5, OMB, 2005 Budget, Analytical
Perspectives, page 194 As Baby Boomers Come of Age, the Deficit
Explodes
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The Long-Term Problem Its a Revenue Problem. The tax cuts since
2001 cause long-term systemic problems. Additionally, there is a
need to develop a fairer tax system with more revenue. Hard Choices
Await Us. Even with additional revenue, some hard choices about
spending priorities may be necessary. For example, some note that
current health care policies are not sustainable over the
long-term.
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Conservative Perspectives on Taxes are NOT Supported
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The govt doesnt do anything for me I dont like paying taxes
because Govt spends too much money on welfare and other handouts
75% 69%
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What the Public Does Not Mind About Paying Taxes
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The Public Supports a Strong Government and the Taxes to Pay
for It But 65% also Agree I dont like paying taxes because the
government is too wasteful and inefficient.
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OMB Watch Tax and Budget Internet Survey
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About the Internet Survey Not a Random Sample Over 700
Respondents with Diversity in Respondent Pool Respondents From
Every State But Nebraska Survey Conducted Between January 13
February 4, 2004
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Survey Respondents 63% of Respondents Were 501(c)(3) Groups ;
10% government; 9% foundations; 7% 501(c)(4)s; 9% other 45% Said
Their Primary Activity Was Service Provision 42% Said Their Primary
Activity Was Advocacy Or Public Interest Work 42% Said Their
Primary Mission Was Serving Children, Youth & Families
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Survey Respondents
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Groups Follow Tax & Budget Issues 70% of respondents say
they closely follow state tax and budget issues, and 64% closely
follow federal tax and budget issues. 64% 70%
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Strong Support for a Tax & Budget Campaign 90% of
respondents say it is time to launch a longer-term offensive
campaign on federal tax and budget issues. 90% Given limited time
and resources and the fact that there are many other important
issues, do you agree or disagree that it is time to launch a
long-term offensive campaign around federal tax and budget
issues?
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It is important to identify what we are for, not just against,
in a coordinated, long-term approach -- similar to what
conservative parties and organizations have done so well. Instead,
the non- profit sector is misunderstood by the public, given little
to none media attention (other than scandals and disasters), and
marginalized as a force in public policy and the public at
large.
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Support for a Campaign Was Strong in Every Region 90% 92% South
Carolina region includes: AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC
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Support for a Campaign Was Strong in Every Region Chicago
region includes: IL, IN, MI, OH, WI 90%
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Support for a Campaign Was Strong in Every Region Phoenix
region includes: AZ, CA, NV 90% 92%
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Support for a Campaign Was Strong in Every Region Philadelphia
region includes: DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV 93% 90%
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Support for a Campaign Was Strong in Every Region Seattle
region includes: AK, ID, OR, WA 90%
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State and National Groups Feel the Strongest About Initiating a
Campaign A 10 would mean all respondents supporting a campaign felt
very strongly and no one felt somewhat strongly. A 0 would mean all
respondents felt somewhat strongly and none felt very strongly
about the campaign. A 5 would indicate an event split between very
strong and somewhat strong support.
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What Should Be the Objectives of the Campaign?
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9 in 10 Said the Campaign Should Address: 94%93% 90%
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Redefine the definitions of "tax" as more than some kind of
perverse theft of money. Tax must become redefined in a context of
community-building, fairness, common ground and even
patriotism.
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Other Supported Campaign Themes 87% 75% 70%
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A Majority Oppose Cutting Spending to Reduce the Deficit 56%
%
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What Should Be the Objectives of the Campaign?
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What Should the Campaign Be Doing?
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Top Four Activities Voter Mobilization for Accountability
Improve Language We Use Values Based Language Develop Policies
& Principles that Provide Vision 89%88% 84% Those items with
more than 80% support and where at least 50% felt it was very
important to do the activity.
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We need less studies and more grassroots activity We need to
learn to articulate our principles in language that 'sells,' i.e.,
We're about building communities we can be proud of.
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Other Very Highly Rated Activities (At Least 80% Support)
Educate Community Leaders on Importance of Fair Taxes &
Spending Priorities Research the Impact of Federal Changes on
States and Program Areas Media Campaign with Positive Message
Create a Local, State, & National Network to Work on Campaign
Compile Stories About Benefits of Government as well as Gaps in
Services
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Media, media, media - we need a national and consistent public
information and marketing campaign to change minds and opinions of
the American public.
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3 of 4 Say Advocacy Training is Needed How important is it to
offer advocacy training including on lobbying, grassroots
organizing, and media advocacy?
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Two Activities Identified As Less of a Priority Public Opinion
Research on Tax & Budget Issues Case Studies of Budget &
Tax Campaigns
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High and Low Priorities for Respondent Participation Develop
Common Messages, Themes & Principles More Info on State/Local
Impact Distribute Current Info on Budget/Tax More Info on Issue
Area Impacts Workshops, Training, Meetings Funding Tax/ Budget
Work
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Whats It Take to Get Groups Engaged? Develop Common Messages,
Themes & Principles More Info on State/Local Impact Distribute
Current Info on Budget/Tax More Info on Issue Area Impacts
Workshops, Training, Meetings Funding Tax/ Budget Work HIGH
LOW
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It's very difficult to understand how the federal budget and
taxes directly impact our local communities -- we need translation
and messages to reach us at our own homes and pocketbooks
Currently, it's difficult to directly see the consequences of
cutbacks.
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What Should the Campaign Be Doing?
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What Are Some Challenges That Must Be Confronted?
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Participation May Be a Challenge POSITIVENEGATIVE 90% of
respondents say it is time to launch a campaign BUT 49% say they
are unlikely to participate.
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Even Though 49% say They Might Not Participate in a Campaign
61% Say They Will Help Redistribute Information About the
Campaign
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Other Ways Groups Say They Would Participate
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National and State Groups Most Likely to Participate 55% 54%
49% 45% 43%
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While Only 54% Said Funding of Tax/Budget Work is Important
Two-thirds of state and local groups considered funding for tax and
budget work important in getting them to participate. 44% of
national groups considered funding important. 66% 62% 44%
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Caveat on Funding (Cont.) Two-thirds of those who might
participate consider funding for tax & budget work an important
incentive. One-third of those who are unlikely to participate
consider funding important. 69% 35%
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76% 72% Top Challenges to Confront Its an Organizing Issue
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I believe there would be a need to decentralize the campaign
and have designated organizations to give regional and local
leadership to these efforts.
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Other Challenges to Confront Relationships between National,
State and Local Groups 67% say that national groups do not listen
to state and local groups and are out of touch with their concerns
National organizations often fail to form the partnership and show
little respect for the amount of work being done on the local
level. In addition, national organizations are often very abusive
partners.
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Other Challenges to Confront Top Down Nature of Federal Budget
& Tax Policy 69% say the top down nature makes state and local
groups feel irrelevant. Convincing local organizations to carve out
time for working on bigger picture issues when the day-to-day
running of an organization are often overwhelming.
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Groups Optimistic About Building a Common Message 62%
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Americans hate taxes, do not trust the government to spend them
well and want to keep the money for themselves. To some extent this
is natural, to some extent it has been very carefully and
intentionally crafted by the right wing groups. That must be
countered or change will go no where.