The AmericaSpeaks forums clearly highlighted that there is no silver bullet to solve all our fiscal problems.  Washington has some very tough fiscal decisions to make and I hope this exercise provided decision makers with a good idea on where the public is on these issues.

The Dallas Regional Chamber is supporting this important national town hall effort since we believe the growing federal deficit is a critical national issue that deserves public input. We join groups from across the philosophical divide to give Dallas residents a voice.

This national discussion on our federal budget is exactly the type of civil, grassroots participation in government that is at the heart of the Coffee Party Movement.  People from different backgrounds and different perspectives will be brought together and given the tools and support they need to really have their voice heard and to hear each other.  Furthermore, our nation’s leaders will hear these collective voices and see that the American people can work together to identify shared priorities for dealing with this challenge.

The Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce is involved in promoting this national discussion for one reason, and that is the national budget and our national debt will impact the economic security not only of our generation but of generations of the future. This is the most urgent of all the national issues we are facing.

This meeting gives the citizens of Albuquerque an incredible opportunity to express their views with other members of our community. This type of engagement will bring together the voices of working families and voters, among others, which ultimately affects policy changes on our behalf.

The President and Congress, and our state and local leaders, are facing some very difficult decisions about our budget and the economy.  It is essential that Oregonians — along with all Americans — have an opportunity to voice their priorities and concerns. The June 26 discussion will give voice to Oregonians from all walks of life, and I look forward to seeing what they recommend

As a fiscal conservative, the issue of America’s fast growing debt burden has been on my agenda for a long time. In order to solve the problem we need people from a variety of backgrounds to come to an agreement on ways to make America’s budget more sustainable

This is a rare opportunity for Louisville residents from all political persuasions, racial backgrounds and income levels to tackle an issue that affects all of us. We often complain about partisan politics in Washington – this is a chance for us to step outside of our comfort zones and truly engage our fellow citizens in solutions that we can all support.

In this time of economic uncertainty it’s vital that every person’s voice is heard, especially those affected most. Many constituents of mine are truly hurting from lost their homes, retirement, and their financial wellbeing. AmericaSpeaks:Our Budget, Our Economy give them a chance to voice their concerns. In order for me to effectively serve my constituents, I need to know their concerns. AmericaSpeaks affords me the opportunity not only to hear from my constituents, but to give them a platform to express themselves.

As the Chairman of the Democratic Budget Group and a member who served when we did in fact balance the budget, I am interested in seeing the results of this event.  When it comes to choosing which steps we’ll take to chart a course back to fiscal balance after two wars and an economic downturn, I think participants will find that the devil’s in the details.  Balancing the budget requires tough choices, but it’s been done before and we must build the political will to do it again.

I applaud AmericaSpeaks’ effort to create a national dialogue on the fiscal challenges facing our nation. Many Americans do not realize the magnitude of our long-term fiscal imbalance, so the National Town Meeting is a good way to educate citizens, initiate discussion, and generate ideas about how the United States can get back on the right track. The economic well-being of future generations — our children and grandchildren — depends on this generation’s willingness to take this issue seriously and find effective solutions.

We’re pleased to be able to co-host this important national discussion with The Commonwealth Institute and AmericaSpeaks. This is a very challenging time in our country and it will take all of us working together to see this nation through. The decisions made at the national level will have important impacts on local communities like greater Richmond. The City of Richmond is honored to do our part.

Our country is facing a long-term structural imbalance between what we bring in through taxes and what we send out through spending. We won’t be able to effectively tackle these daunting problems without engaging all of us in the discussion.

These are the best of times, and the worst of times. In our nation’s current budget crisis, Americans are being called together on June 26 to lend their voices to the discussion, and come away with a better understanding of the implications of long-running economic policies that will affect us well into the future. Collectively, we will be able to find ways to reduce the budget crisis to its lowest common denominator, and offer meaningful alternatives to save America from sinking deeper into the morass of economic despair.  We need you in this endeavor.

It’s important to give citizens a voice in big issues like the federal budget, and it’s especially important that Americans are expected to learn about the issue and talk to people who have different points of view. This is one of those situations where solving the problem for one person will create one for another person, so it’s not enough to stand at a microphone and say, ‘Here’s what I want.’ We need to listen to one another, and the AmericaSpeaks process will allow that to happen. KC Consensus is happy to be involved.

The human services community in Johnson County, Kansas has felt the impact of the recession. Getting the economy back on its feet is critical and will require making difficult choices about the federal deficit. I am heartened to learn that residents of Johnson County will have the chance to be part of this historic conversation about our nation’s economy.

Detroit residents have a unique opportunity to engage in the decision-making process and catalyze change in their community by joining this town hall meeting. This is truly about sharing the common ground and raising voices to national policymakers to improve our nation’s fiscal crisis, and impacting the lives of our children’s future.

AmericaSpeaks is providing a valuable public service in spearheading a national dialogue on the country’s long-term fiscal challenges. It is critical to have an informed and involved citizenry on such matters of national importance. AmericaSpeaks is helping to educate the public about our nation’s fiscal problems and the difficult choices that must be made. This effort is vital to our economic future.