Paul Tonko: “I thank the chair and ranking member of our Budget Committee for the opportunity to share some thoughts. Mixed…”

“I thank the chair and ranking member of our Budget Committee for the opportunity to share some thoughts. Mixed messaging--it really grips the American public. Washington Republicans are presenting their budget and proclaiming that we are about reducing the debt and reducing the deficit. We are concerned about our children, we are concerned about our grandchildren. At the same time, the mixed message is to the crowd that is above a million dollar threshold, income threshold: We have money for you we are going to spend for you. We are so concerned about the debt and the deficit that needs to be reduced, but we will spend on you. We will offer you an average $200,000 tax break, so allow us to spend on you. Somehow the children and the grandchildren are not a worry then. So the mixed messaging on this one is amazing. {time} 1715 Over the last couple of days, I have had the opportunity to either meet in the office or in group sessions or in large gatherings here in Washington with a number of advocates who are concerned about investments that need to be made in this Federal budget. There is the Alzheimer's Association that is imploring us to find a cure, to invest in research. Washington Republicans say: no, we need to spend on tax cuts for the wealthy, and we need to use your funds to reduce the debt and the deficit.…”