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Statement

STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, Executive Director and Co-Founder, MomsRising on Meeting with President Obama on the Priorities of Moms and Families In the Economy

November 16, 2012

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

“MomsRising was honored to be part of a small, high-level White House meeting this afternoon, and had a chance to share the priorities and concerns of the nation’s women, children and families with President Obama, Vice President Biden and some of their top advisors. We noted that the nation’s mothers urgently need secure health care, good jobs, quality affordable child care, earned sick days, paid family leave, and a safety net they can rely on.
 
“It was a constructive meeting and the President shared with us his commitment to making sure that working and middle-class families aren't hurt.
 
“This is not the time to raise taxes on these families. If Congress pursues that direction, it will have an extremely negative impact on our economy--with the average family paying $3000 more per year in taxes. With the holiday season upon us, any legislation that hurts the financial security of our nation’s families is the wrong kind of legislation.  We left the meeting encouraged that the President understood these concerns.
 
“MomsRising has more than a million members. They are already sharing their experiences with lawmakers and warning that a middle class tax increase would undermine their families’ well-being, as would cuts to education programs, unemployment insurance, Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.  We will remain vigilant in the weeks ahead, to ensure that the wealthy pay their fair share, the budget agreement is fair to the working and middle class, and the most vulnerable among us are protected.
 
“We thank President Obama for taking the time to learn even more about the views of the nation’s mothers and families at a very productive, positive meeting today.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.