AFT’s Weingarten Responds to the House Passage of the GOP Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the GOP-led House of Representatives passed its budget resolution:

“House Republicans cast their votes last night to make life harder for working people, backing cuts in healthcare and food assistance for the poor so that the wealthy can pay less in taxes.

“The budget resolution they passed on a party-line vote lays the groundwork for cutting Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by as much as $880 billion and $230 billion, respectively, while giving wealthy people $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. Every Democrat voted against these cuts in vital services.

“By voting yes, Republicans are endangering nearly 70 million Americans who receive basic healthcare through Medicaid, including cancer patients and seniors who could lose coverage for long-term care services. Children, seniors, veterans and working parents could lose their food assistance altogether and will go hungry without it. Free school meals for children from low-income families will be on the chopping block. Millions of current and future college students and their families will face higher costs to go to college and steeper student loan payments.

“And what for? To give tax cuts to wealthy Americans, even those with incomes in the top 1 percent who bring in $743,000 annually.

“At a time when inflation is going up and consumer confidence is going down, how does this help everyday American families? How does this lower costs, as President Trump promised?

“No wonder Republicans have been met with an outcry from angry crowds at their hometown town hall meetings.

“Americans did not vote for these kinds of assaults on our seniors, children and the most vulnerable. Voters want leaders who are listening to our concerns and working to make our lives better. Now is not the time to take a hatchet to enact cuts on millions of workers struggling to afford the basics. Let’s get to work on real proposals to help workers and their communities.”