Baldwin Blasts Bill that Takes Food Out of the Mouths of Babes

Statement

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin today blasted House Republicans for passing legislation that takes food out of the mouths of babies and young children in order to continue rewarding Wall Street Bankers and billionaires.

On a party-line vote of 217-203, the House yesterday passed H.R. 2112, Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012. Nineteen Republicans joined all House Democrats in opposing this harmful legislation.

"This bill is yet another example of how out of touch House Republicans are with hard-working, middle class Americans struggling to pay their bills," said Congresswoman Baldwin. "How can anyone justify cutting funds for emergency nutrition for infants and children at a time when they're giving tax breaks to billionaires?," Baldwin asked.

The bill cuts emergency nutritional aid for between 2800 and 4800 pregnant Wisconsin women, infants, and children while cutting back oversight of Wall Street speculators who are driving up gas prices.

At a time when deaths from E. coli are in the news, and food contamination is a growing concern to Wisconsin families, the bill cuts funding to the Agriculture Department's food safety inspection service, which oversees meat, poultry and some egg products.

"Republican legislators seem to believe that slashing funds for food and public health in order to maintain tax subsidies for corporations that ship American jobs overseas will solve our economic problems," said Baldwin. "This is not the American way. We will only succeed if we share the sacrifices necessary to reduce our deficit and balance our budget," Baldwin said.

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