Not one penny in tax breaks for the millionaires, billionaires and corporations reaping in profits from mass incarceration and over criminalization of communities of color and immigrants.
We say no funding for the Trump Election Integrity Commission convened solely for the purpose of disenfranchising millions more with Federal support.
The People’s Budget increases investments in programs to reform our criminal justice system and bring fairness and justice to all Americans. Our justice system has been dominated by racial disparities; The People’s Budget endorses significant changes to the criminal justice system, seeking to end excessively harsh criminal justice policies that result in mass incarceration and over-criminalization which stands in the way of a fair and equal society. We also invest in Department of Justice programs which investigate and take on corporate monopolies and stop anti-competitive mergers.
Criminal Justice Reform — The CPC Budget supports criminal justice reforms which strengthen public safety, reduce unnecessary incarceration and the use of force. The People’s Budget also calls for rebuilding trust in the justice system by increasing funding for community oriented policing reforms. Our budget endorses federal investments consistent with the goals of Rep. Bobby Scott’s (D - VA), Safe, Accountable, Fair, and Effective (SAFE) Just ice Act of 2015. The legislation would reduce recidivism, increase the use of evidence-based alternatives to incarceration, curtail over-criminalization, reduce crime, and save money.
The People’s Budget also supports new funding for Second Chance Act re - entry programs consistent with the goals of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2015 . Robust funding for housing, job training, medical care, education, and other re-entry programs will help drastically reduce the rate of recidivism and put ex-offenders on a path toward success in their communities again.
Ending Racial and Religious Violence — The People’s Budget devotes significant resources to Department of Justice programs which empower communities to end racial profiling by law enforcement and to also crack down on the rise of hate crimes which we have seen across the country. Education is critical to prevent violence and discrimination of religious and racial minorities.
Voting Rights — The CPC Budget calls for increased funding for the Department of Justice’s
Voter Protection Program and voter protection agencies, including funding for the Help America
Votes Act to ensure American’s have access to the polls and do not have to wait in excessively
long lines in order to exercise their right to vote.
The People’s Budget would also ensure states and localities have the funding they need to have modern voting technology to protect voting machines from electronic hacking and ensure that every vote is counted accurately.
Public Financing of Campaigns — In the aftermath of the Citizens United decision, the wealthy and welll-connected have flooded our politics with big money campaign contributions. Corporations are not people and elections should never be bought. The People’s Budget adopts Rep. Sarbanes’ Government by the People Act and provides $10 million for the public financing of campaigns and invests in the Federal Election Commission. Public financing gives a voice to small donors that have been drowned out. It is more important than ever to make sure every American’s voice is heard and provide candidates with alternatives to financing their campaigns. Public financing and rigorous enforcement of election finance laws keeps politicians accountable to the voters that elect them instead of to special interest money.
Gun Safety — The People’s Budget adopts policies and initiatives to significantly reduce gun violence.
We support funding for 200 new special agents and investigators for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Additionally, the budget would fully fund grants to local communities to help improve local recordkeeping and reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Taking on Monopolies and Anti-Competitive Behavior — In recent years, the wave of mergers in nearly every sector of the US economy has imposed significant costs on our economy and slowed economic growth. The People’s Budget would revitalize the work of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition by increasing their budgets by 20 percent, which would allow for the hiring of 200 additional attorneys and support staff. Increased enforcement of Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act and additional scrutiny of mergers will help stop powerful corporations from rigging our economy and corrupting our political system.
