Republican Budget for Fiscal Year 2006: Real Pain for Real Americans

Republican Budget for Fiscal Year 2006: Real Pain for Real Americans
Thursday, March 17, 2005

McCollum Votes for Fiscally Responsible Democratic Budget

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) voted for the fiscally responsible, common sense budget authored by House Democrats. "I voted for a return to sound fiscal policy which balances the budget within seven years using common sense, pay-as-you-go budgeting like every family does," said McCollum. "I voted to put family priorities first by maintaining strong national security, strengthening education, protecting veterans' health care and ensuring families are economically secure." McCollum opposed the Republican budget for Fiscal Year 2006 which produces record deficits and imposes damaging cuts to our communities.

"Unfortunately, the Republican budget inflicts so much burden on average families that it has been called 'unjust' by a broad religious coalition and was opposed by the major veterans organizations," said McCollum.

"The Republican budget imposes painful cuts on average Americans, local government, police and fire and veterans health care that will hurt middle class families. Republicans' best attempt at using accounting gimmicks and pretend projections still yields a record deficit, and fails to include the Iraq war in the budget-which is costing taxpayers $5 billion per month."

The Republican budget is opposed by major veterans organizations, including AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, as well as the American Legion. The leaders of five Protestant denominations, the Episcopal Church USA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church, recently called President Bush's budget "unjust." In addition, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare along with educators, 12 major environmental organizations joined in opposition to the harmful cuts in the Republican budget.

http://mccollum.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={2ECCE2A9-11A9-4E77-B2CA-83F74BF2DD44}&DE={5082ABE1-3919-454B-BCBE-DF3EA38B163F}