FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2004

CONTACT: Stacey Farnen 202-225-3130

HOYER: DEMOCRATIC UNITY ON BUDGET VOTE DRAWS CLEAR DISTINCTIONS

Democrats Vote for Responsible Democratic Budget, Against Irresponsible GOP Budget

WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) released the following statement this evening after the Democratic Caucus united in voting against the Republican Budget Resolution for FY05 and for the Democrats’ budget alternative:
“House Democrats sent a crystal clear message to the American people today by strongly supporting our Democratic budget plan for Fiscal Year 2005 and unanimously opposing the irresponsible Republican budget.

“Every Member of the Democratic Caucus who was present voted against the Republican budget, and 194 Members of our Caucus voted for the Democratic plan, two more than last year.  This is the largest show of support for the Democratic budget since Republicans took control of the House in 1994.  And it’s not hard to understand why: The Democratic budget was vastly superior.

“If the American people want to know the priorities and values of Democrats and Republicans they need look no further than our budgets.  Democrats would balance the budget within eight years.  Republicans would not. 

"Democrats would apply pay-as-you-go budget rules to both spending and taxes.  Republicans would not.  Democrats would match the Republican budget on defense spending and allocate $6 billion more for homeland security.  We would provide tax relief, extending marriage-penalty relief, the child tax credit, and the 10-percent tax bracket.  And even as we rein in record budget deficits created by the Republican Party’s failed policies, we would provide more resources for education, veterans, job training, infrastructure and health care.

“House Democrats stood fast against an irresponsible Republican budget that will heap unprecedented debt upon our children, rob Social Security and Medicare, and shortchange school children, seniors, veterans and others.”

 

###