Washington, DC -

Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri made an impassioned statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging the defeat of a Republican budget reconciliation package that would slash $12 billion from Medicaid in order to help pay for huge new tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The GOP bill would also open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and natural gas drilling. 

In his statement, Mr. Clay said, “I rise to condemn this fiscally irresponsible and morally offensive budget proposal which violates every principle of responsible government.  This budget bill is a pathetic attempt to disguise the Republican leadership’s real intentions to pass another bloated windfall for the wealthiest Americans, at the expense of millions who are already suffering great hardships.  It is shameful that the same leaders who spend much of their time talking about morality and family values would attempt to finance another tax cut for millionaires by cutting food stamps for the hungry and slashing $12 billion from Medicaid.”

The Congressman also blasted a Republican attempt to include a provision in the budget package that would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and natural gas drilling.  He commented, “The Republican leadership is trying to reward big oil and big gas companies with a “GET INTO ANWR FREE card” as part of their budget reconciliation package.  These same companies made $27 billion in profits over the last 90 days.  And they still want more.  I appeal to my Republican colleagues to rediscover their humanity and to return to fiscal sanity.”