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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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Pelosi: Republicans Give New Meaning to the Words, ‘Suffer Little Children’
Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke early this morning on the House floor in opposition to the fiscally irresponsible Republican budget reconciliation bill that increases the deficit and cuts initiatives for those who need help most. The budget passed by a vote of 217 to 215, with all Democrats voting against it. Below are excerpts of Pelosi’s remarks:
"Mr. Speaker, tonight the Republicans are launching an attack on America’s children, America’s families, and America’s middle class. All of this to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in our country. This budget is a sham and it’s a shame. Democrats believe that together, America can do better.
"The National Council of Churches USA has written to every Member of Congress and carefully dissected this budget, and this is what they say: ‘The role of government is to protect its people and work for the common good. This is not the time for a budget reconciliation process. To do so is not only unjust, it’s a sin. It violates all the fundamental Christian principles of loving thy neighbor, caring for the poor and showing mercy. As religious leaders this is a violation that is unacceptable to us. How is it that we show mercy for oil millionaires and not hurricane survivors? We urge you to change this destructive course of action for the sake of our nation and for generations to come.’
"My Democratic colleagues have eloquently made an indictment against this budget, which is immoral because it contains more than $70 billion in tax cuts mostly for America’s wealthiest and decimates the very programs that millions of middle-class Americans rely upon to get ahead.
"As the number of people without health insurance has increased for four years in a row, Republicans are charging ahead with $45 billion in cuts to Medicaid – the health insurance program that provides medical care to America’s poorest children and many of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
"Republicans give new meaning to the words, ‘suffer little children.’ As the number of people in America who go to sleep hungry because they cannot afford to buy food has increased by 7 million people in the past 5 years of the Bush Administration, Republicans are slashing food assistance to America’s poor children. Republicans are slashing funding for preventative services and foster care for abused and neglected children, when more help, not less, is needed. Republicans are drastically reducing funding for the child support enforcement program, which could result in $24 billion in reduced child support from delinquent dads to their children.
"The Republicans are taking food out of the mouths of children to give tax cuts to America’s wealthiest. This is not a statement of America’s values. Democrats believe that together, America can do better."
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
