WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a feeble attempt to address the ballooning national deficit, the Republican Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Budget Reconciliation bill that cuts $50 billion from programs to aid America’s most vulnerable. At the same time, Republicans plan to present a tax bill that spends $106 billion in tax cuts to the rich. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) voted against the bill calling the cuts to programs including food stamps, child support services, student loans and Medicaid for the disabled in favor of tax cuts to people who earn over $400,000 the “backwards priorities” of the Republican leadership.

“Apparently, the Republican Leadership has spent so much time in Washington, D.C. they have actually created a new form of math from the rest of the world. Only in their minds does spending twice as much as you cut equal a savings,” Stupak said. “What’s worse is that they are robbing from the poor to pay the rich – robbing from children to pay corporate CEOs; robbing from seniors to pay oil tycoons. In the end, they will have done a great injustice to this country’s most vulnerable on the backs of our children as we actually add tens of billions to the deficit.”

Besides failing in the mission to balance the budget, this reconciliation legislation slashes Medicaid by as much as $12 billion. This will result in a cut of more than $280 million per year to Michigan’s most vulnerable residents. Stupak said the Medicaid cut punishes Michigan despite the fact that Governor Jennifer Granholm has kept Medicaid spending growth at a mere 1.4%, making it one of the most efficiently run Medicaid programs in the country.  Additionally, billions will be cut from vital student loans, food stamp and child support services programs.

The Republican Leadership intended to take the bill up late last week but were forced to cancel the vote when they were unable to twist enough arms to win the vote. After spending a week making idle promises and instilling forceful pressure to gain the necessary votes to pass the legislation, the 15 minute vote was still held open for 30 additional minutes before reaching the slim 217-215 margin required for passage.

“It’s quite apparent that when threats are necessary to convince their own party to vote for this bill that amounts to nothing more than an attack on the middle class, these cuts are not in the best interest of Americans,” Stupak said. “The Republican leadership wants to justify these cuts as a way to pay for Katrina or for the war in Iraq. That is simply not true. This Budget Reconciliation bill is nothing more than a means to fund tax cuts to the very wealthy. The Republicans do not have their priorities straight when it comes to knowing what Americans need. By working together, America can do better.”

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