First Budget Gains Traction in Iowa, New Hampshire

WASHINGTON - May 20, 2015 - PRLog -- First Budget (http://firstbudget.org/), a nonpartisan initiative to raise awareness of the nation’s fiscal challenges during the 2016 presidential campaign, is already making its presence felt in Iowa and New Hampshire.

First Budget announced today Cabinets in both Iowa (https://firstbudget16.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/pressrelease-5-20-15-iowacabinetannouncement.pdf) and New Hampshire (https://firstbudget16.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/pressrelease-5-20-15-nhcabinetannouncement1.pdf) that include Democrats and Republicans, congressmen and state lawmakers, local business and civic leaders. They all share a deep concern over the growing federal debt and will help First Budget make this issue a top policy priority during the early primaries and caucuses.

This week, First Budget also released videos (http://firstbudget.org/videos/) that show citizens in Iowa and New Hampshire talking about the growing debt and the responses they want to hear from candidates.

First Budget’s cabinets and videos follow numerous events in both states over the past few months. Most recently, First Budget hosted programs on college campuses to engage younger Americans on the federal debt and encourage them to get involved in pushing for more responsible policies. First Budget partnered with College Democrats and College Republicans and other civic groups on campuses such as St. Anselm College, Dartmouth College, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa, among others. Other events have included budget exercises where participants get a first-hand look at the tough choices facing the country.

First Budget volunteers routinely attend candidate appearances where they ask the candidates about their plans to tackle the growing debt problem. Through these activities, First Budget is building a robust network of volunteers and supporters who are pressing candidates during town halls and other forums with specific questions about what they will do as president to address the national debt.

“This is why we need First Budget to ask candidates what specific steps they plan to take,” said Maya MacGuineas, head of the Campaign to Fix the Debt. “Our supporters throughout New Hampshire and Iowa are helping educate voters and insert a crucial topic into the national political conversation.”

First Budget is a joint nonpartisan initiative of The Concord Coalition and the Campaign to Fix the Debt. This initiative is raising public awareness of the dangers posed by the nation’s unsustainable budget policies and making this issue a high priority for the 2016 presidential candidates.