Ryan Budget a Wakeup Call for 2014 Elections

USW International Vice President Fred Redmond and progressive talk show host Leslie Marshall this week discussed Rep. Paul Ryan’s federal budget, a plan that would cut $5 trillion in spending from programs on which the poor and working class depend while providing hefty tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

“This is a budget that not only would destroy the social safety net of America,” Redmond said, “but tells us what the Republican Party is all about. And it tells us what these folks would do if they gained control of the executive and legislative branches of government.”

The Ryan budget slashes spending on many popular, necessary programs, including food stamps, Pell grants, Medicare and Medicaid. It would also enable the rich to amass even more wealth by reducing the effective tax rates of top earners and shrinking taxes on corporations.

The House voted to approve the budget last week, but it has no chance of being enacted as long as Democrats retain control of the Senate and White House. Still, Redmond said, this type of “you’re on your own” governing embraced by many Republicans is dangerous, setting high stakes for the elections this fall.

“We would hope this would wake up the American people,” said Redmond, “so we can say loud and clear that this is the type of government that we don’t want.”

Click the audio to hear the full discussion.

 


Background Material

House passes Ryan budget

The Ryan Budget's Radical Priorities Provides Largest Tax Cuts in History for Wealthy, Raises Middle Class Taxes, Ends Guaranteed Medicare, Privatizes Social Security, Erodes Health Care

The Ryan Budget Shows What Republicans Want to do to America

Paul Ryan’s “New” Austerity Budget

GOP Budget: The Anti-Robin Hood Spending Plan

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