The War Against the Poor

David Broder turns again to the budget war being waged against the poor by Congressional Republicans and the Bush Administration.

Budgets are a statement of priorities and values. Republicans in Washington have made it clear that tax cuts for the affluent are fine, even if they are passed on the backs of low-income families across the nation. While people were focused on events in Iraq, Congress this week passed unacceptably harsh budget resolutions. As Broder writes:

Neither the House nor the Senate budget truly addresses the needs of the nation. Neither one has the degree of fiscal discipline needed in a country at war and mired in a struggling economy. Either one would add close to $2 trillion to the national debt over the next 10 years.

But there is a big difference between the two versions. The House budget provides twice as big a tax cut, principally for affluent Americans, as does the Senate's. And the House version would deal low-income Americans, particularly children, a much heavier blow. If the House version -- or something close to it -- prevails, expect dire consequences for many Americans.

We learn in these budget resolutions that tax cuts for the affluent are more important to Republicans than health care for children. Or school lunch and children's nutrition programs. Or -- unbelievably -- in this time of war, veterans' benefits. Broder explains:

Rather than throw a lifeline to the states and these people, the House budget would cut federal funding for Medicaid by $92 billion and also reduce other vital programs. Veterans' benefits are slated to take a $14 billion hit. A similar cut is required for the earned-income tax credit, a subsidy for the working poor. Food stamps would be reduced by $13 billion, school lunch and other child nutrition programs by $6 billion. There are also multibillion-dollar reductions in store for such programs as foster care and adoption assistance and child support enforcement.

Budgets are a statement of our values. Are we really a nation that would make passing a large tax cut that targets the affluent and would not stimulate the economy a higher priority than helping children have proper nutrition and health care, providing veterans' benefits, and ensuring we do not saddle our children and grandchildren with a crushing debt burden?

We now know the Republican Party's answer.