Breaking: Senate Set to Vote on Republican Budget Shortly
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Breaking News: Manny Herrmann, AFL-CIO online mobilization coordinator, sends the following.
According to The National Journal, the Senate is expected to vote today on Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget that not only permanently extends the Bush tax cuts—but gives even more tax cuts to Wall Street and the wealthy—and pays for them by slashing services for seniors, children and low- and middle-income working families.
The House Republican budget bill would destroy Medicare as we know it and replace it with underfunded vouchers—a dangerous move even former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich called “right-wing social engineering.” When Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) announced he’d vote “no,” on the Ryan budget, he pointed out his fear that “as health [care] inflation rises, the cost of private plans will outgrow the government premium support—and the elderly will be forced to pay ever higher deductibles and co-pays.”
It’s important to note that Ryan’s tea party-inspired budget bill isn’t a deficit-reduction plan—it’s Robin Hood in reverse. While it includes $4.3 trillion in deep budget cuts—perhaps the most wrenching in our nation’s history—it almost completely cancels out these harsh cuts with $4.2 trillion in tax giveaways that disproportionately benefit America’s top earners.
STEELING a Union’s ID
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has been called a lot of names. Here’s another one for him: cheater.
It’s not surprising Steele and the Republicans are embarrassed about their party. But Steele has hit a new low (insert Munch’s “Scream” here): He’s set up an RNC fundraising page on Facebook made to look like it’s the United Steelworkers union.
The “United STEELE Workers Union” page even features a hard hat with an American flag sticker front and center.
Just curious, Michael: Doesn’t a white hard hat clash with your designer suits?
