IN THE NEWS

House Gop’s Budget Resolution Is A Cruel Trick On The American People

Whip Says Republicans Would Rob Peter to Pay Paul

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer released the following statement today regarding the Republican fiscal year 2003 budget which is to be considered on the House Floor next week:

    “Next week, the House of Representatives will debate a GOP budget resolution that will slash funding for Medicaid, veterans’ health care and other programs solely to provide enormous tax cuts for the most affluent citizens in our society.  Quite simply, that’s like robbing poor Peter to pay rich Paul.

    The irresponsibility of the Republican budget plan is breathtaking – in its specifics and in the message it sends to the American people.  It calls for nearly $600 billion more in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, education, veterans’ health care and environmental protection than called for in the President’s budget.  And the purpose of those proposed cuts is unmistakable: to pay for the President’s proposed tax cut of $1.3 trillion.

    The fact of the matter is, this Republican budget proposal is little more than a cynical stalking horse for unaffordable tax cuts.  Our nation is on course to run a record budget deficit this year of up to $400 billion, and deficits are projected for the next decade.  And our national debt is exploding again.

    With our economy losing 2.5 million jobs since President Bush took office, with the stock market continuing to spiral, with consumer confidence at record low levels, and with poverty on the rise and more Americans uninsured, the Republican Party’s one and only solution is to propose more tax cuts that would provide little economic stimulus and unfairly benefit the most affluent.

    Democrats strongly oppose this cruel hoax on the American people.   Next week, we will fight for a budget alternative that is fiscally responsible, that provides for our nation’s priorities, and that jump-starts our economy and creates 1 million new jobs.”

###