Ramsburg Calls Ryan Budget Plan Immoral

Press Release

In The Chambersburg Public Opinion Monday August 13th, U.S. Representative Bill Shuster enthusiastically supported Paul Ryan's budget plan. Candidate Karen Ramsburg (D-Pa 9th) who is seeking Shuster's Congressional seat responded to his remarks. She told supporters that the budget proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wi) is "an affront to Christian and American values." Ramsburg condemned her opponent's "mindless support" of the plan, saying it would bankrupt the US economy while destroying the social safety net.

Ryan, Mitt Romney's pick for vice-president, calls for heavy cuts to medical care for children and the disabled, and slashes Medicare through payment vouchers.

"It's hard to understand how those who believe in sanctity of life can support Ryan's budget, which attacks the most vulnerable segments of society, dismantles Medicare, and does nothing to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability," Ramsburg stated Monday that "As a fiscal conservative, I think the plan is smoke and mirrors. As a pro-life Catholic, I find it morally offensive."

Ramsburg isn't alone among Catholics questioning the morality of Ryan's budget. Catholic nuns have been conducting a nationwide bus tour to draw attention to the Ryan plan, which they say would turn millions elderly, poor and disabled citizens into a "permanent underclass." The US Conference of Catholic Bishops, normally cautious on political issues, is publicly lobbying Congress to reject the Ryan budget on moral grounds.

Citing the New Testament, Ms Ramsburg said Ryan's plan contradicts Christian values.

In Matthew (25: 40) Jesus said, "As you do unto the least of these, you do unto me." Ramsburg commented, "I cannot help but wonder if Mr. Ryan and Mr. Shuster would be willing to exchange their congressional health insurance plans for these vouchers."

Ramsburg called the plan to slash taxes for the richest "reckless and counterproductive." "While offering tax breaks to the wealthiest people -- most of whom are salaried managerial employees at large corporations --Ryan's budget offers little relief to real 'job creators': the entrepreneurs and small businesses employing the overwhelming majority of Americans," said Ramsburg.

"Ryan and Shuster aim to destroy Social Security and Medicare -- upon which most ordinary Americans rely. The voucher system will create a new healthcare bureaucracy and concentrate its control to the insurance cartel. It's fiscally irresponsible and immoral."

Ramsburg accused Shuster of offering support for Ryan's budget without considering the impact on his constituents.

"While we must rein in government spending, the Ryan budget constitutes a massive give-away of resources to corporate interests that have hijacked the Republican Party," Ramsburg said. "Disguised as 'fiscal restraint,' Ryan's budget is an assault on the values that tie us together. As FDR eloquently stated 75 years ago: "The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough for those who have little."

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