Baldwin Calls Budget Bill "Heartless"
Baldwin Calls Budget Bill "Heartless"
November 18, 2005
Blasts Punishment of Hard-Working Families to Pay for Tax Cuts for Wealthy Few
"This bill punishes sick children, struggling students, and their hard-working parents to pay for tax cuts for a wealthy few," said an angry Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin on passage last night, by two votes, of the Republican budget reconciliation bill which slashes 50 billion dollars in federal spending in order to partially offset 70 billion dollars in new tax cuts.
"This bill can only be described as heartless," said Baldwin. "Middle and lower income families in Wisconsin are having a tough time paying for health care for themselves and their families and college education for their children. This measure will only make their struggles even harder."
"In the past few weeks, the American people have spoken out strongly against provisions in this bill that would take away nursing home staff, make students pay more for college and cut food stamps and home energy assistance for low income families and individuals...support that helps people survive and get ahead. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the Republican's don't get it. Our economy will grow more by investing in education, health care, and training, than by cutting taxes for the wealthy few who invest instead of work for a living," Baldwin said.
Baldwin, who led an effort in the House Energy and Commerce Committee to restore cuts to the Medicaid program, said the bill is an insult to the millions of Americans struggling to pay for higher gas and heating costs, higher tuition bills, and higher medical bills. "It's outrageous that these heartless slashes in vital services for families that need them will pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and nothing more - not body armor for our troops, not prescription drugs for seniors, not teachers in our classrooms, not housing for hurricane victims now being evicted from temporary quarters, and not homeland security. What's next from this Administration and its cronies in Congress?," she asked.
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