Submitted by the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO
Referred to the Resolutions Committee
WHEREAS, Congress is embroiled in a continuing battle over spending priorities that threatens to eviscerate essential government programs in the non-defense discretionary budget, such as air traffic controllers, workplace safety and health, Head Start and other education aid, the diplomatic service, housing, environmental protection, medical research, public safety and innumerable other essential programs, services and government functions; and
WHEREAS, since 2002 military spending has grown by 35% (48% if you include war costs)—a rate that is more than four times the growth in domestic discretionary spending, which increased by only 8% over the same period; and
WHEREAS, the military budget now accounts for 57% of all discretionary spending, and U.S. military spending now accounts for 42% of all global military spending, is five times that of China, the next highest, and exceeds the combined military spending of the next fourteen countries; and
WHEREAS, the war in Afghanistan continues to cost over $100 billion a year, a significant portion of which is lost to corruption, fraud, waste and abuse; and
WHEREAS, our economic policies must create millions more jobs but money spent on the military creates many fewer jobs than the same money spent on education, health care, and clean energy; and
WHEREAS, returning veterans have a higher rate of unemployment, suicide and suicide attempts, and homelessness, and many face ongoing challenges due to war-related mental and physical disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the problem of terrorism is more effectively handled by police and intelligence activity, choking off financing, diplomacy, development aid and other non-military means; and
WHEREAS, true national security must include security in people’s health, education, employment, retirement, food and environment, as well as functioning modern infrastructure to support sustainable economic activity.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the AFL-CIO calls upon the Congress and President to end the war in Afghanistan with a rapid and full drawdown of military forces to be completed by the end of this year; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the AFL-CIO calls for a change in the nation’s course and priorities by endorsing a national budgetary strategy that increases tax revenues from the wealthy and large corporations, cuts military spending to the amount consistent with true security, creates stable jobs at living wages, safeguards and strengthens the myriad useful functions the federal government undertakes, and preserves and improves the integrity of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran’s Benefits and other social safety net programs on which millions of the elderly, children, disabled, veterans and others depend; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the AFL-CIO calls for cuts in the military budget to be accompanied by federal policies to use money now devoted to weapons production to support conversion of military jobs to civilian purposes and enhance manufacturing, construction and other economic activity that can absorb the labor force now employed in the defense sector of the economy; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the AFL-CIO will undertake an educational campaign on these issues and seek to involve union members in the political tasks necessary to implement this resolution in public policy.