House of Representatives Debate Rages On: Democrats Decry Immorality of Budget

I've never been prouder to be a Democrat!

As I sit here, watching CSPAN late into the night, the House of Representatives is debating the latest Republican attempt to pass a budget for the year that began on October 1, 2005. In a shocking loss for the Republican majority leadership, their budget package was defeated once today in the House.

Their latest overall package, which increases the US budget deficit by at least $20 billion, still contains $70 billion in tax cuts , mainly for the top one-tenth of one percent of taxpayers, all of whom make more than $1 million a year. And to pay for these rich tax cuts, the following is a partial list of budget cuts:

-- $14 billion in aid for the poorest college students (called Pell Grants)
-- $650 million from foster care children
-- $11 billion in Medicaid, which will cause 6 million children to lose all healthcare
-- $3 billion from child support enforcement, which will cause single parent families to lose $24 billion in child support for their children
-- $796 million in food stamps for the hungry and homeless

Led by Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Democrats (nicknamed "Blue Dogs") are united in their opposition to this immoral budget proposal, and have been joined, so far, by moderate Republicans, in their fight against incomprehensible far-right Republican greed. The debate rages on as I write this. Here are a few quotes that send chills of progressive pride down my spine....

Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) called this budget "immoral, inhumane."

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) quoted the McCarthy hearings by emotionally asking Republicans 'Have you no shame?' "

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) , "Who bears the burden of these cuts? The most vulnerable in America. This is a cut in our moral fiber....This is wrong."

Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), "What have America's children ever done to Republicans? Vote down this immoral budget!"

Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), serving his 26th term in Congress, "This bill will take from those who have the least, and give to those who have the most. This is an outrageous budget proposal."

Rep. Chet Edwards (D-TX), "This budget is an assault on the faith-based values of America. This budget is an assault on the American dream for all Americans."

And equally passionate protests were uttered by Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS), Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) and many more House Democrats.

The gist of this budget package is that millionaires and billionaires will receive $70 billiion in new tax cuts, while the poor, disabled, students, ill, elderly and especially children will all suffer very severe cuts in basic living requirements, such as food, shelter and healthcare.

And 19 million middle-class taxpayers, through income tax increases (via the Alternative Minimum Tax) , and the poor, through cuts in services, will carry the full burden of paying for the Iraq War.

This debate continues. (Can you even imagine that self-respecting people can support this budget?) I'll bring you more tomorrow, or maybe later tonight. Like I said, I've never been prouder to be a Democrat! Let's all email these American patriots, and tell them how proud we are of them.
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Related Articles
-- Pells Grants Defined and Updated for 2006
-- Medicaid Made Simple - Health Care for 50 Million Americans
-- Profile of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader
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