House Republicans Vote Once Again to Pass Their Budget

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on House passage of a rule to "deem" the Republican budget to be in place and pretend that it has been passed by both the House and the Senate:

"Today House Republicans voted once again to pass their budget, which would end the Medicare guarantee, abandon the economic recovery, and slash investments for national priorities -- all to provide a whopping average tax break of almost $400,000 for people making over $1 million a year. Republicans have made their choice abundantly clear: a path to greater prosperity if you're already wealthy, while leaving seniors, working Americans, and future generations behind. They've "deemed' their budget to be in place and tied the hands of the House of Representatives. This vote rules out any chance to reach a fair and balanced approach to the important budget choices facing our nation.

"House Republicans will now begin the "reconciliation' process -- a sham exercise that is ultimately a dead end. However, it will reiterate the clear distinctions between Republican and Democratic priorities. In refusing to ask the very wealthy to contribute one penny more for deficit reduction, Republicans choose to hit everyone else. Democrats believe we must take a balanced approach that preserves the Medicare guarantee, supports working families, asks millionaires and special interests to share responsibility for reducing the deficit, and protects the promise and opportunity of the American Dream for all."

Source