Ryan and Price's unregulated lump sum of lower funds for block grants will reduce the reach of critical initiatives like Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, WIC, and other social service programs. It would reduce Medicaid by a third. "This is the definition of class warfare," Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said in response to Ryan's most recent budget.
One area should not be near agreement by both sides but is: the trillion-dollar (including secret "black" operations) military and national security budgets. President Obama's military advisors have persuaded him on the high-figure value despite the President's criticizing our military expenditures as recently as last year, when he asserted, "We spend more on our military than the next ten counties combined." The Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus always seek reductions and try to reallocate a big chunk for anti-poverty and jobs programs here at home. They always fail. Ryan's budget actually calls for $270 billion more over ten years for military expenditures than Obama's so the president's version is considered "compromise."
Ryan says he wants to "focus on steps that are achievable," but what exactly does he aim to achieve? In the State of the Union speech this year, President Obama said to Congressmen who refuse to raise the minimum wage, "If you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, try it." He's right --purchasing food, housing, and health care for your family with a job at $7.25 is just not possible.
The congressional leadership's budget will put people into poverty, and leave millions without health, food, college educations for their children, and housing. It will squeeze the pockets of the middle class and lower incomes even drier. But the rich will get richer, and it will trickle down. Keep waiting.
Robert Weiner is a former spokesman for the Clinton White House and senior staff for Reps. John Conyers, Charles Rangel, Claude Pepper, Ed Koch and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. He wrote the epilogue to Bankole Thompson's groundbreaking book, "Obama and Christian Loyalty." Autumn Kelly is senior policy analyst at Robert Weiner Associates.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
2
1
1
