The other day I wrote about the disparity of wealth in this nation of ours. The old maxim “The rich get richer, while the poor get poorer has never been as true as today. The ink isn’t even dry on that article, so to speak, and the Office of The Budget is again cutting programs for low income citizens and implementing a program to make Veterans pay for their medical care. The Budget Director also wants to do away with the Estate Tax and give tax cuts to the wealthy. I received a transcript of a debate between Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Budget Director Jim Nussel. This should be a must read for every American that thinks that talk of a “Class War” is just rhetoric. Here it is;
The following transcript of February 5’s Senate Hearing inquiry and response between Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and the White House Office of Management & Budget Director Jim Nussel should be sent to every qualified voter in America.
http://c-span.org/VideoArchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100&Page=7
The above sited exchange commences at the 43.09 mark on the progress bar.
Prefatory Remarks:
Remark 1:
The United States government works on an October 1 through September 30 fiscal year. The current 2008 budget was submitted and approved in early 2007. The budget presented, constitutionally first to the House of Representatives, then to the Senate, is for 2009, to take effect October 1 this year.
Remark 2:
In testimony before the Budget Committee, not transcribed here, Director Nussel, under hostile questioning, acknowledged: A.) the submitted budget proposes only $70 billion for the combined wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, B.) that the president’s proposals are neither fact- nor experience based, C.) that the cost of current combat operations approximate $85 billion per year, D) the president’s budget forecast for 2010 operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are ZERO DOLLARS!
Remark 3:
The president’s budget effectively would cut veterans VA medical benefits by requiring most current recipients to pay an up front fee for medical services.
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