Studies and Analyses

Public Policy & Government Affairs Projects

Your tax dollars at work, but for whom?

By April 15, Americans are all required to pay government taxes. But do you know where the money – nearly $3 trillion – goes? You probably know that the federal government funds large programs including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and military spending. But your federal tax dollars also fund states, counties and cities directly, as well as local programs and services including community health clinics, community centers (including LGBT centers), senior centers, police departments, local parks, substance abuse efforts, etc. Even churches have received federal funding through federal, faith-based initiatives.

Federal funding has or could support the following programs in the LGBT community:

• Shelters and programs to help homeless and runaway LGBT youth
• Substance abuse prevention and treatment programs
• Domestic violence awareness and prevention efforts
• Anti-violence programs
• Safe schools initiatives Senior services and housing
• Research on LGBT health issues Health services HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment Housing for people with AIDS

So, who determines where the money goes?

Ultimately, Congress has the responsibility to balance the national checkbook, create a federal budget, and then “appropriate” dollars to national programs. The budget process occurs every year. The process begins on the first Monday in February with the president’s release of his budget. April 15, the deadline to file your federal taxes, is Congress’ deadline to create a budget. As you are paying your taxes, they are planning how to spend it. September 30 marks the end of the federal fiscal year and the deadline for Congress to pass all funding bills, about 13, to keep the government running. If these bills do not pass, the government literally (and rarely) shuts down. It is likely no surprise that the budget priorities of the Bush administration short-change our priorities while cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans, disproportionately funding military spending and racking up the largest national debt ever.

To offset the president’s misplaced priorities, programs that help many communities, including the LGBT community, are on the chopping block. It’s bad enough that this Republican-misled Congress and administration has blocked legislation to protect the rights of LGBT individuals and families, but we should not allow Congress a free pass to allocate our tax dollars on misplaced priorities that short-change our community.

For example, the president proposed deep cuts for public health, runaway and homeless youth programs, substance abuse prevention and treatment, senior housing, community development, education, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, child care, violence against women programs, and the list goes on. These cuts are restricting the funding available to the LGBT community. The Task Force has prioritized advocacy efforts focused on the federal budget. We have been meeting with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to educate them about the needs of the LGBT community.

To make the case, we are working closely with local organizations across the country. Topics discussed, as prioritized by our local partners, have included rapid testing for HIV, resources for homeless and runaway LGBT youth, anti-violence efforts and crystal methamphetamine and substance abuse prevention. These efforts are the beginning of a broader effort. We are also cataloguing federal grant opportunities for direct services and offer a weekly grants listserv to apprise LGBT organizations about government funding opportunities.

You don’t have to live in Washington, D.C., or run a local LGBT agency to register your concerns. Check this Web site or sign up to receive regular updates on what Congress is doing that affects you and your community. Remember, you can contact your member of Congress and voice your concern for budget priorities that help our communities.