John Bel Edwards: “I would challenge any Member who votes for this budget to answer just one question: name one, just one religion in the…”

“I would challenge any Member who votes for this budget to answer just one question: name one, just one religion in the world that preaches the values of asking the most from those who have the least and asking nothing from those who have the most. Sadly, that is what this budget does. This budget is an assault on the faith-based values of American families. It is about mean-spirited cuts in college student loans and harmful cuts in health care for low- and middle-income working families. Why? To pay for Katrina? No. To reduce the deficit? No. This budget increases the deficit. These cuts are being made tonight to pay for tomorrow's $220,000 tax cut and dividend tax cuts for those making $1 million a year. That is right. But it is wrong. If the House Republican leadership thinks this budget truly reflects American values, it proves just how sadly out of touch they are with the values of average working families. All the fig-leaf sound bites in the world will not hide the sad truth that this budget is an assault on the dreams of middle- and low-income working families, dreams of decent health care, a college education, and a better life for their children: the American Dream. The congressional architects of the three largest deficits in American history once again tonight fail the test of fairness and fiscal responsibility.”