Officials Urge Senate to Avoid Cuts for Billionaire Tax Breaks

Senate Faces Pressure from Elected Officials Over Proposed Budget Cuts

In a significant political maneuver, nearly 900 elected officials across 36 states have rallied to urge the U.S. Senate against approving budget cuts that could jeopardize essential public services. Organized by AFSCME, this bipartisan effort highlights the potential impact of the House-approved budget bill.

The officials have expressed grave concerns, warning that the proposed cuts would necessitate sacrificing crucial programs to fund tax reductions for billionaires. They argue this move would disproportionately affect states, cities, towns, and educational institutions nationwide.

The letter, addressed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, outlines the detrimental effects of federal budget cuts. It warns of significant budget shortfalls that states would struggle to manage, leading to inevitable cuts at local levels and adversely affecting sectors like healthcare and public safety.

In their statement, the officials assert: "As government leaders, we understand the importance of rooting out fraud, waste and abuse to keep public services strong, but this plan fails to do that. Instead, it would rip the very fabric of our nation's social safety net wide open to give the wealthiest people tax breaks they don’t need. Meanwhile, veterans, seniors, children, people with disabilities, and all working people will suffer.”

Among the concerns raised, the letter highlights potential severe reductions in Medicaid funding, which could strip healthcare from millions, force the closure of long-term care facilities, and cause other significant repercussions. Additionally, the budget proposal could shift $300 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs to states, exacerbating food insecurity for 40 million Americans and leading to critical public service cuts.

The proposal also includes automatic Medicare cuts, posing a considerable threat to seniors and potentially causing a ripple effect through the economy as families adjust to care for affected relatives.

The letter concludes by emphasizing the overwhelming burden these cuts would place on state governments. "Taken together, the cuts that are included in H.R. 1 will place an impossible burden on states," it states.

For those interested in the full letter and its signatories, a copy is available here.