Washington, DC - Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, called the just-passed budget reconciliation plan a morally offensive package that “Sacrifices the health of seniors and threatens the future of America’s young people.”  The Republican budget reconciliation plan, which passed the House by a margin of just two votes, 216-214, slashed more than $39 billion dollars from Medicare, Medicaid and student loans.

“The Republican-led Congress and President Bush are dedicated to chipping away at the foundations of Medicare and Medicaid.  This budget plan is the first step towards their ultimate goal of killing those vital programs,” said Clay.  “And at the same time, while they’re making life much harder for seniors who need healthcare and for students who are trying to find a way to pay for college; they want to reward the wealthiest Americans by pushing for $70 billion in additional tax cuts.”

Clay accused the Republicans of abandoning any claim to fiscal responsibility or protecting family values.  “After today, no Republican who voted for this budget can claim to be pro-family or fiscally responsible.  They are harming the most vulnerable while piling up record deficits to reward the privileged few and their campaign donors.  And the bill for their recklessness will be sent to our children and grandchildren.”

Mr. Clay said the cuts will hurt American families at a time when most middle-class households are finding it harder and harder to shoulder the burden of caring for aging parents and paying for their children’s college education.