Political Quotes

“This week marks the latest chapter in the drama of Republican control of Congress. This is their first opportunity with complete control of both Chambers to bring into focus what they would do governing, and the results aren't pretty. We are discussing this week a budget that has been labeled by press accounts that actually give them the benefit of the doubt as being phony or a disaster. It has been condemned by many conservative commentators as a sham. The purported $5.5 trillion in budget savings over the next 10 years provides no good explanation about how it can actually be achieved. There is a trillion dollars in unspecified reductions ``other mandatory programs.'' They would abolish the Affordable Care Act, but somehow keep all of the revenues that finance it. There are a few areas of clarity which are hardly comforting. The ratcheting down support for our low-income college students through Pell grants is hardly a step forward and will be widely condemned the more clearly people understand it. We are back to the Medicare voucher, which may have a different name but is still toxic. A measure of their understanding of its unpopularity is their refusal to put it into effect for seniors now. Instead they would have people approaching retirement age in their mid- fifties who will be able to enjoy the benefits and uncertainty of a vouchered Medicare program. It is silent on the transportation crisis that is already upon us.…”