Barbara Lee: Reckless Republican Budget Hurts Families, Working Poor
Contact: Kristal DeKleer (202) 225-1882
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) spoke in opposition to the GOP budget plan considered on the House Floor that would threaten Medicare and Medicaid and hurt our nation’s most vulnerable communities:
“I rise in strong opposition to the Republican Budget for the 1%.
“Once again, Republicans are proposing a budget that pays for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the poor and most vulnerable Americans.
“At a time when America faces the greatest income inequality since the Great Depression, this Republican budget would continue the largest wealth transfer in history to the top 1 percent.
“It would recklessly deny basic support services to the poor and hungry, end the Medicare guarantee, and destroy American jobs while preserving tax breaks for millionaires, special interest, and Big Oil.
“That’s not all. While the Republican Budget crushes the American Dream for the poor, it would increase spending for an already bloated Pentagon budget and continue the war in Afghanistan at a time when 7 out of 10 Americans believe the war should end.
“We cannot do this to America’s struggling families and the working poor.
“I urge all Members to reject this Republican Budget and instead support the budget proposals of the Democratic Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Congressional Black Caucus.
“Mr. Speaker, a budget is a moral document that shows our nation’s priorities and our values.
“We need a budget that puts Americans back to work, invests in our future, protects the safety net, including Medicare, and works to reignite the American dream for all – not crush it for all but the wealthiest 1 percent.
“Vote no on the Ryan budget.”
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Follow Barbara Lee on Twitter @RepBarbaraLee
Watch Representative Lee’s Floor speech: http://bit.ly/H1igvu