Jewish groups joined prayer rallies and demonstrations in Washington and across the country to urge Congress to preserve federal programs for the poor.
The rallies called on members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the congressional budget supercommittee, not to reduce the deficit by cutting programs that assist poor families and children in the United States and abroad.
The rallies are part of the Faithful Budget campaign organized by religious denominations and organizations to urge the Obama administration and Congress to remain committed to domestic and international poverty assistance programs.
The supercommittee, created several months ago during congressional debate on the debt ceiling, was unable to agree on a package to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal deficit by Nov. 21.
B’nai B’rith International called on the committee to act before “deep, automatic spending cuts kick in that could put our nation’s most vulnerable at greater risk.
“Deficit reduction can and should be done without breaking the promises of Medicare and Social Security, or shaving more from already thin budgets for programs like low-income housing and other services for the elderly.”
The statement recommended modest tax increases on the wealthy, saying that cutting benefits to the elderly and poor shifts costs to states, individuals and families. — jta