Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “this week we were to take up the Republican leadership budget bill that would have cut student loans, rural and…”

“this week we were to take up the Republican leadership budget bill that would have cut student loans, rural and agricultural programs, LIHEAP low energy assistance programs, and other major programs in our Federal budget that the American people depend on. I am happy to report at this moment they have postponed that legislation just for today. We want Americans all over to speak up and to contact your Congresspeople. This is not the time to cut vital human family programs like student aid, like rural and agricultural development, like food stamps, and like low energy assistance programs. Do we have problems in America? Yes, we do. But we hope our Republican leadership will not bring a budget resolution forward that will further decimate and hurt families. At a time when many manufacturing jobs have been lost in America, in my own State of Michigan, the highest unemployment State in the country, this is not the time to cut vital programs. It is time, though, not to have a $1.7 trillion cost for a tax cut for the wealthiest of Americans. Speak up, America. Let your voice be heard. ____________________”