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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted March 25, 2004 Press release © 2004 U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee)

Stupak Votes NO on budget that puts U.S. deeper in red

"This budget does little to create jobs here at home or end incentives for companies to ship jobs overseas," said Stupak. "Instead, it shortchanges education, public health, small business and veterans' health benefits."

The House Rules Committee Wednesday rejected Stupak's proposals that would have put fiscal responsibility into the budget process.

"My amendments said: no new tax cuts unless we have a surplus and can pay for them and no tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas," said. Stupak. "Most of my constituents don't spend money that they don't have, and I believe they expect the same kind of fiscal responsibility from Congress." 

Meanwhile, this budget resolution, which increases funding for Defense and Homeland Security, cuts a number of essential programs. For example, it cuts community and regional development by $1.4 billion over five years. It cuts Medicaid by $2.2 billion while Michigan's Medicaid rolls have increased by almost 30 percent in recent years.

The resolution also fails to address the nation's $7.1 trillion debt, which amounts to more than $24,000 for each American man, woman and child. "You could almost call this a birth tax for each child born today," Stupak said.

"Our children and grandchildren should not have to shoulder this burden. But under this budget, we're on the way to doing just that," Stupak said.

Stupak supported the Democratic alternative that balances the budget and requires a "pay as you go" plan for both spending increasing and tax cuts. That means, if you don't have the money available for spending increases and tax cuts, you must eliminate spending somewhere else to cover it. The Democratic alternative also fully funds education, small business and veterans' health care and extends the child tax credit and marriage penalty repeal for working families.

Citizens may contact Stupak's Washington office at (202) 225-4735 or email him at stupak@mail.house.gov. His Congressional Aide Amy Wisti may be reached in Houghton from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at (906) 482-1371.

For Rep. Stupak's views on current issues, visit his Web site.

Editor's Notes:  You can call Senator Carl Levin at 202-224-6221 and Sen. Debbie Stabenow at 202-224-4822 to leave a message with your views. For an update on the House of Representatives Floor Proceedings, visit the Web site of the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives.