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Cuts Fail to Address the Priorities of Maryland Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC-Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today voted against the reconsidered Republican budget plan that will cut billions of dollars for programs that benefit students, seniors, and children.
“Last night in his State of the Union address, President Bush proposed a new federal commitment to training our nation’s students in math and science so they can compete for high-wage jobs,” Hoyer said. “Yet, today, at a time when college tuition is skyrocketing, this Republican budget slashes student loans by more than $12 billion – increasing the costs for the 91,317 student borrowers in Maryland.”
Hoyer said that Republicans have once again shown that “recognizing our nation’s challenges and actually offering real solutions are two entirely different things.”
Hoyer expressed disappointment that this so called “Deficit Reduction Act” would actually add to the historic deficit and debt fostered by Republicans.
“The Republican budget plan increases the deficit by over $100 billion, and cuts critical assistance for students, seniors, and Maryland families in need,” said Hoyer.
Students aren’t the only losers in this package. The Republican budget slashes Medicaid funding by $7 billion, which would have a severe impact on the 752,065 children, seniors and others in Maryland who rely on Medicaid for their health care. Among its cuts, the budget allows states to charge premiums and co-payments to some Medicaid-eligible children for the first time – reducing their access to health care.
“Under the guise of fiscal responsibility, this package provides $106 billion in new tax cuts, mostly for the wealthiest Americans and strips the most vulnerable in our society of the services they so desperately need,” Hoyer concluded.
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