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Josephs urges feds to make national security priorities

HARRISBURG, March 21 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has joined nearly 300 women state legislators calling on the federal government to update national security funding priorities and develop smarter investments to make Americans safer.

"We must make sure that every public dollar spent on national security is wisely invested to keep our communities safe and secure," Josephs said. "Pennsylvanians deserve highly trained and fully equipped police officers, fire departments and hospitals prepared to handle emergencies of all shapes and sizes. Despite the obvious need for common-sense budgeting, the president is wasting over half of the discretionary federal budget on overly expensive and ineffective weaponry from the Cold War era rather than on basic needs of the 21^st century."

Pushing for an enhanced definition of security, Josephs co-signed a letter with 262 women legislators from 50 states urging Congress to enact significant changes in the proposed 2008 federal budget. The March 12 letter cites the fact that the Pentagon budget is growing rapidly (excluding money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) while funds for essential human services are shrinking.

"We must replace the existing – and badly outdated – Pentagon funding with common-sense budgeting to prioritize basic services that people depend on like our first responders and hospitals," Josephs said.

Josephs recognizes that states are buckling under the weight of increasing tax burdens while the citizens who are least able to afford more taxation are now less safe and less able to take care of themselves.

"As the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world, we should be able to guarantee the basic safety of our citizens. Too many Pennsylvanians are struggling because our national leaders are failing to look beyond costly outdated weapons systems to address the real needs of our people and our communities," Josephs said.

Josephs is proud to be a member of the Women Legislators' Lobby, referred to as WiLL, a national nonpartisan network of women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.

For more information on the letter, please visit www.wand.org/will_home.htm. For more information on Josephs, please visit www.babette.org.