House Budget Cuts Aid to Poor, Nixes ANWR Drilling
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a Republican-backed budget bill late Thursday night that includes cuts of $50 billion, mostly from programs for the poor and to help students go to college. The plan targets Medicaid, food stamps and student loans, but does not include a proposal to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and also axes some cherished "pork barrel" projects.
MADELEINE BRAND, host:
From NPR West, this is DAY TO DAY. I'm Madeleine Brand.
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Representative DENNIS HASTERT (Republican, Illinois; Speaker of the House): The meanest and most mean-spirited we can do is to leave our children with a debt that they can't pay.
BRAND: That's Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Republican from Illinois, on the floor of the House of Representatives last night.
Rep. HASTERT: We could leave our children with a deficit...
(Soundbite of cheers)
Rep. HASTERT: Leave our children with a deficit--you're right. You are right. Stand up and clap.
(Soundbite of cheers)
Rep. HASTERT: Because we will leave our children--Could I have some water?
BRAND: By a vote of 217-to-215, a bill was passed that will cut about $50 billion of spending, mostly from social welfare programs for the poor, students and farmers. Cuts to Medicaid, for example, will allow states to scale back their coverage and encourage pharmacies to issue generics instead of brand drugs. Interest rates on student loans will increase. The spending reductions will also force thousands of people off food stamps, and there are cuts in foster care and child-support spending. Fourteen Republicans voted against the bill; Democrats unanimously opposed it. Here's Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California.
Representative NANCY PELOSI (Democrat, California): The Republicans are launching an attack on America's children and America's families. And they are also launching an attack on America's middle class. All of this, to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in our country.
BRAND: And Republicans fired back. Here's Jim Nussle of Iowa, chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Representative JIM NUSSLE (Republican, Iowa): The Democrats act like this is the government's money that we're talking about here tonight. This isn't the government's money. Mr. Speaker, this is the hard-working taxpayers' money.
BRAND: The Senate has already passed its version of the bill and now the two houses must come up with a compromise. That's expected next month.
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