DNC: The Misplaced Priorities of the Party in Power

[Rose Siding]

The Misplaced Priorities of the Party in Power
November 14, 2005

Washington, DC – As millions of American families are wondering how they will pay skyrocketing home heating costs this winter, Republicans in Congress are continuing to push a radical, special interest agenda at the expense of ordinary working families. Even as they insist that America cannot afford $3 billion in home heating subsidies for low-income families, Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee are pushing to extend tax cuts on dividends and capital gains for the richest Americans.

Now, Republican leaders in the House are trying to force a radical budget reconciliation measure that would slash as much as $50 billion from programs for poor and working families. Because of objections from a unified Democratic caucus and even some Republicans, the House Republican leadership expects this to be the "toughest fight so far in the 109th Congress."

This week, in elections across the country, the American people stood up and cast their vote for strong Democratic candidates who share their values and priorities. They demonstrated that the American people are hungry for leaders who put our government to work for them, not for special interests.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the following statement calling on Republicans in Washington to fight for America's working families:

"The decisive victories this week by Jon Corzine, Tim Kaine and strong Democratic candidates across the country sent a powerful message that the American people are hungry for leaders who share their values and priorities. They want leaders who will put the government to work for them, not the special interests.

“Sadly, the vision of leadership embraced by the American people stands in stark contrast to the misplaced priorities of Republicans in Washington. Instead of helping Americans pay their heating bills, the Senate Republican leadership is pushing new tax cuts for the wealthy. Instead of fighting for the interests of America's working families, the House Republican leadership is fighting Democrats and even some Republicans to ram through a radical budget reconciliation that will harm working families.

"America can do better. Democrats are working to make America stronger and safer for every American, not just the privileged few. We are fighting for an America that is prosperous, competitive and ensures the promise of opportunity for everyone. Instead of pushing a radical agenda that only helps the wealthy and the special interests, Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in that fight."


The Radical Republican Agenda

• Slashing $12 billion from Medicaid ;

• Slashing $14 billion in federal student loans, denying loans to 14 million American students every year ;

• Taking $844 million dollars from food stamps programs, denying nearly 300,000 people much-needed nutritional assistance programs ;

• Denying free or reduced-price lunches to some 40,000 school children ; and

• Cutting $397 million in foster care support, denying foster care payments for 4,000 children per month .

http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/11/the_misplaced_p.php

[shance]

1. The Republican party - where accountability is for everyone else but them

the true definition of evil lies within everyone of those cuts mentioned.