James M. Jeffords: “I have been in the Congress some 30 years. I have seen a lot of budgets. I have voted for some, and voted against…”

“I have been in the Congress some 30 years. I have seen a lot of budgets. I have voted for some, and voted against others, but in all my days, I have rarely seen a more irresponsible budget than the one this Congress is about to approve. In a time of rising debt and rising military expenses, we are also absurdly living in a time of rising tax cuts. Frankly, I am appalled. I am appalled at the fiscal irresponsibility of cutting taxes by $106 billion over the next 5 years, primarily for the wealthiest among us, while our budget and trade deficits go up. It is no wonder the value of the dollar has plunged. I am also appalled that this budget excludes future costs of the war in Iraq. In the past, we have sometimes raised taxes to pay for war costs. I believe this is the first time this country has ever cut taxes and waged a war at the same time. I am tired of witnessing a shell game where it is claimed that a budget will lead to a reduction in the deficit, while the President requests billions and billions of dollars in so-called ``emergency'' military spending. At the same time this budget calls for increasing tax cuts, this budget will mandate cuts in programs that benefit low-income Americans. A Federal budget is about setting priorities, and the priorities contained in this budget are all wrong. This budget puts tax cuts ahead of ensuring that our communities have clean water, safe streets, and good schools.…”