Jay Rockefeller: “our annual budget should be a blueprint of our Nation's priorities. It should be a statement of our collective values…”

“our annual budget should be a blueprint of our Nation's priorities. It should be a statement of our collective values and contain positive initiatives for growing our economy and preparing a better future for our children. Unfortunately, this budget does not achieve any of these objectives. This budget makes the Federal deficit worse than if we had done nothing, which means we will pass on an even greater burden of debt to our children and grandchildren. This blueprint also reflects a misguided set of priorities that sends a clear message to the least among us--our poor children, our disabled, and our elderly--that they are not as important as our wealthy. It is unacceptable--and truly stunning--that Congress is being confronted with a budget resolution that contains $10 billion in cuts to Medicaid, a health care program for our most vulnerable citizens, while simultaneously offering an additional $106 billion in tax breaks, much of which is designated for our Nation's wealthiest citizens. Where is the justice in these numbers? Last month, a bipartisan majority in the Senate rejected any cuts to Medicaid. Members on both sides of the aisle said no. But the Republican leadership ignored the result. On Tuesday, an overwhelmingly bipartisan majority in the House voted 348 to 72 to strike the Medicaid cuts from the budget. Again, the Republican leadership ignored the result, ignored what a majority of Members said.…”