"Budget For All" rally in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A group of protesters rallied outside Springfield's Old Federal Building saying they wanted to deliver letters to Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, even though they knew the politicians weren't in western Massachusetts Thursday.

Dozens of activists had petitions demanding support for their "Budget For All" ballot question that passed by referendum in 91 Massachusetts cities and towns November 6th.

They claim the way to avoid the "fiscal cliff" is to bring war dollars home.

"We spend trillions of dollars on war, and they're talking about cutting social security and medicare and human services.  When all we have to do to fix the budget is to stop spending money on war, and start spending it on people," said 10-year Gulf War veteran and Holyoke resident Richard Purcell.

Progressive Democrats of America party member Tim carpenter told 22News, "The president's talking about a fiscal cliff.  That's a bogus argument.  Rather, we should be talking about a job stimulus program;  talking about prosperity not austerity.  Not cutting."

The "Budget for All" ballot question calls on congress and the president to prevent cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and to stimulate the economy by creating and protecting jobs.