Press Releases

DelBene Opposes Budget That Puts Middle Class Last

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today opposed the House Republican’s budget, which would have damaging effects on working families.

“The Republicans’ budget jeopardizes the middle class by gutting funding for basic necessities like healthcare, nutrition, housing and education. This budget would also have a negative impact on investments in infrastructure, job training, and scientific research,” DelBene said. “We should be working on a bipartisan, long-term budget that provides working families certainty and stability through strategic, forward-looking investments that grow our economy. Instead, we’re debating legislation that will go nowhere in the Senate simply so it can be used as a vehicle to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax cut at the expense of middle-class families.”

Video of DelBene’s floor speech can be found HERE.

The House Republican budget cuts funding for community development programs, which provide localities with funding for housing, nutrition, education, infrastructure and job training. Their budget also guts Medicaid and privatizes Medicare, both of which provide vital healthcare services. Republicans need to pass a budget in order to use a procedural tool in the Senate called reconciliation, allowing them to pass legislation with a simple majority instead of the usual 60 votes. That’s how they hope to pass their partisan tax proposal rather than working across the aisle on true, lasting reforms.

DelBene serves on the House Budget Committee as well as the House Ways and Means Committee, both of which have jurisdiction over these issues.

###