P.O. Box 21321
Washington, D.C. 20009
202-265-4433 institute@citizenpolicies.org

The Citizen Policies Institute is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible educational organization, working to strengthen our democracy and solve our social, cultural, and environmental problems. Our plan combines guaranteed economic security with universal community service.

We will be a co-sponsor of the 3rd Annual Congress of the U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network, on February 20-22, 2004. The meeting will be at the Hyatt Regency in Washington DC, in association with the Eastern Economics Association. For more information, please contact us or usbig. Their web site, <www.usbig.net>, also has papers from previous congresses.

Some Americans—residents of Alaska—already enjoy a basic income guarantee through a direct share of oil royalties.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are "pressing the Bush administration to consider an Alaska-style revenue distribution plan" for the rebuilding of Iraq. On April 29th, Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee "if they [the Iraqis] had access to that [oil royalty] money directly, as in the case of Alaska . . . a decision will be made to start a business, or educate a child, or build a house, or buying clothing—it will circulate in the economy. It will contribute to the economy." A Citizen Policies Institute proposal can be found on this website.

In Brazil, President Lula da Silva has endorsed a constitutional amendment to guarantee a minimum income to poor families. In South Africa, a government commission has endorsed a universal basic income. And in Europe, basic income is being promoted by political parties in several countries, and by the Basic Income European Network <www.basicincome.org.>.

Please contact us if you are interested in these ideas.