Employees of the federal government are caught squarely in between the federal deficit and congressional plans to cut into it – and their union, the American Federation of Government Employees, wants to make sure their side of the story is being heard – and it’s using almost 100 radio stations in over 20 markets.
AFGE wants to make sure it’s known that budget cuts will have consequences, especially if the full $61B targeted by some is accepted.
“These budget cuts will force agencies to lay off or furlough tens of thousands of federal workers who deliver vital services and programs to the American public,” AFGE National President John Gage said. “Federal agencies already are stretched thin since they’ve been operating on last year’s budgets for the past six months. These budget cuts will decimate federal programs and services but won’t make a dent in the massive budget deficit, which was the result of two unfunded wars, the stock market collapse and trillion-dollar bailouts and tax breaks for corporations.”
According to a Washington Post account, the Union is paying over $250K to run the flight and is also making $100K in seed money available to local chapters in markets that are not included in the buy.
Here is the advertisement’s script:
The wrecking ball is hitting right now.
Vital federal, state, and local services that working Americans depend upon every day are being smashed.
As public employees, we know – first hand – the damage these crushing attacks will have on so many Americans:
* Education cuts from Head Start through college loans;
* Less nursing care for veterans;
* Shutting down inspections for food, air, water, and coal mines;
* Closing social security offices;
* Less fire, police, prison and border protection; and
* Less support for our troops.
Public employees need to set the record straight. No one is telling the real story. And no one knows it better than public employees.
Call — then visit — your Congressman and Senators. Tell them who you are and what you do.
Just tell them the truth. It’s about time somebody did.
Paid for by the American Federation of Government Employees.
