The war on the elderly and poor may be moving forward. The Associated Press is reporting that the House and Senate are expected to vote on a budget for the remainder of this fiscal year midweek. President Obama will reveal his plan to reduce the deficit, in part by scaling back the government's chief health programs for seniors and the poor.
The House, too, may vote on Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's spending plan for next year as Democrats readied arguments that it proposed "draconian" cuts to Americans who need help the most. Ryan wants to cut Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and student loans.
Congress is in the process of making sure that Friday's "compromise" that would fund the government through September is put into effect. What's next? A fight over raising the nation's debt limit and the election-year budget.
The AP reports, "We've had to bring this president kicking and screaming to the table to cut spending," said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., on Fox News Sunday. Presidential adviser David Plouffe said that Obama has long been committed to finding ways for the nation to spend within its means. He confirmed that the president would unveil more specifics for deficit reduction with a speech Wednesday that would reveal plans to reduce the government's chief health programs for seniors and the poor.
We hope that President Obama doesn't allow the Republicans to twist his arm into doing something crazy, like putting those "draconian" cuts into effect. If Republicans want to cut those programs, then they can do it when they are in the White House. Besides, Republicans always talk tough on these issues but know in their mean-spirited little hearts that if they go through with their cuts, the majority of those who make use of those services — white Americans — would be negatively affected. But then again, maybe the Republicans under the influence of the Tea Party are finally ready to put their economically disadvantaged "not so distant" cousins out to pasture? Time will tell.
Read more at Yahoo News.
In other news: Double Dribble: New York Nets Fined $50,000 for Jay-Z's Locker Room Visit.
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