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AVON, OH--Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today called the president's proposed FY 2007 budget a set of failed priorities for Ohio families.
The budget, presented to Congress today, calls for drastic funding cuts in health care, energy, veterans, education, and job creation programs. At the same time, the president is demanding that Congress make permanent his tax cuts.
"Budgets are moral documents," Brown said. "The president wants to cut programs vital to millions of Ohioans to pay for billionaire tax cuts. Clearly Republican leadership does not share the same values as Ohio families."
Today the president proposed to:
Cut $36 billion from Medicare over the next five years, and $105 billion over ten
Cut or flat fund energy programs specifically designed to help Ohio industries improve energy efficiency and cut costs
Underfund No Child Left Behind by $15.4 billion
Cut health care for Ohio's veterans
Cut $198 million from children's hospitals
In addition to cutting Medicare, the president today proposed the privatization of health care through Health Savings Accounts.
Privatization of Medicare, known as Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program, went into effect January 1, 2006. Already, millions of Ohio seniors have been forced to pay two and three times more for their prescription drugs, have found their prescription drug coverage varies from month to month, or have been left out of the program altogether.
"This budget is not just irresponsible, it's immoral," Brown said. "This year is about choices. Will those of us who represent Ohio stand up for Ohio families, or succumb to the demands of drug and oil lobbyists. The moral choice is clear – Ohio families deserve better than the president's proposed budget."
