Kennedy Criticizes Budget Cuts and Tax Cuts
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 – Citing a Republican agenda that he said helps America’s wealthiest, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Monday criticized the expected budget cuts outlined in the House budget reduction bill and stressed the importance of helping low- and middle-income families in Massachusetts.
“This is a budget that is continuing to leave behind the needy families that today are paying the prices,” said Mr. Kennedy during a teleconference with reporters. “[These cuts] are hurting families that are facing higher costs for heating and health bills.”
Mr. Kennedy’s remarks come amidst controversy over the House bill passed last month, which many Democrats and some moderate Republicans contend cuts too much into such programs as food stamps, child support, child care, Medicaid and education.
The bill cuts approximately $50 billion in total spending, including $700 million from food stamps, $5 billion from child support programs and $12 billion from Medicaid over the next five years. Additionally, the House bill would cut $14.3 from federal student loans.
The bill also calls for tax cuts that would benefit taxpayers who make more than $1 million per year. Additionally, the House bill offers tax cuts on corporate dividends and capital gains.
“Republicans want $95 million in tax cuts,” Mr. Kennedy said. “This has a direct impact on children and working families.”
The Senate’s version of the bill, also passed last month, cuts around $35 billion in total spending over five years. The differences between the bills are expected to be worked out in the coming weeks, although a final draft may not emerge until some time early next year.
The House and Senate bills are part of a larger budget reconciliation meant to offset the cost of the Iraq war and hurricane relief.
“We are going to do everything we can to try and reduce oppression on needy families,” Mr. Kennedy said. He called the upcoming week in Congress one of the most important of the year.
“This week, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Massachusetts families facing record energy prices, soaring health care costs and rising tuition,” Mr. Kennedy said in a statement. “America can do better than the wrong priorities of the White House and Republican leadership,” Mr. Kennedy said. “The lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina have fallen on deaf ears and I believe it is immoral to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest on the backs of America’s working poor.”
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