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February 11, 2016

First Budget thanks you...

With voting in Iowa and New Hampshire now complete, the First Budget team thanks you for your support and involvement. We have many achievements to be proud of in both states, and below are a few highlights.

Getting candidates on the record about their fiscal and economic priorities:
  • Hundreds of interactions between candidates and our supporters over the course of the campaign allowed us to hear directly from candidates about how they would address the national debt and the budget.
  • In New Hampshire, we launched “Fiscal Fridays” in partnership with NH1 News Network, the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, and the Warren B. Rudman Center. We interviewed seven presidential candidates about the policies they would pursue as president, including Gov. Chris Christie, Gov. John Kasich, Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Gov. Martin O’Malley, Gov. George Pataki, and Sen. Rand Paul.
  • In Iowa, we launched “Your First Budget” in partnership with community news network MC22, where three presidential candidates went on the record discussing their plans to address our nation’s fiscal issues, including Carly Fiorina, Gov. John Kasich, and Sen. Rand Paul.
Consistent media coverage of our efforts, including:

“Haven’t heard of First Budget? You would if you attended candidates’ events in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina or other early caucus and primary states... Its members are pressing, politely but relentlessly, for answers about America’s perilous finances from the men and women who would be our 45th president.” – Chicago Tribune

“So far, however, it’s been mostly empty rhetoric. Actual proposals have been incomplete, unrealistic or irresponsible.

That’s the conclusion of a new report by First Budget, a nonpartisan initiative between the Concord Coalition and the Campaign to Fix the Debt.” – Des Moines Register

Educated and engaged the public:

  • In both states, First Budget has held dozens of public engagement and education events that included forums, interactive budget exercises, and meetings with voters.
  • First Budget had the help of its 'cabinets' in Iowa and New Hampshire that were composed of political, business, and civic leaders across each state who share a deep concern over the growing national debt. Members engaged with media on numerous occasions. For example, in Iowa, cabinet members wrote an op-ed titled, "Candidates must have plan for federal debt" and in New Hampshire cabinet members wrote an op-ed titled, "Make debt a national priority."
  • In Iowa, we partnered with the Greater Des Moines Partnership on interactive budget exercises and other public events, such as our forum in October with Gov. Ed Rendell and business leader Paul Stebbins.
  • In New Hampshire, we partnered with the Community College System of New Hampshire on classroom exercises, candidate events, and elected leader events, such as our January event with Sen. Judd Gregg and Gov. Ed Rendell.
The Concord Coalition and the Campaign to Fix the Debt will continue spreading the message of First Budget across the country as the 2016 campaign continues. Our work is not done and our organizations will continue raising awareness of the consequences of the national debt, asking candidates how they would address it, and holding candidates accountable for paying for their proposed plans and new programs.