Republican Budget Prioritizes Tax Breaks for Wealthy, While Cutting Public Education, Crippling Medicare, Making College More Costly

WASHINGTON—Statement of American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the Republican budget introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan:

"It is morally unacceptable and economically indefensible for House Republicans to put forth a budget that doubles down on a cuts-only approach to our economy at a time when our children and families continue to struggle to get by.

"Today, half of all Americans are either poor or low-income. Three million more children live in poverty today than when this recession began. And we've already slashed more than 300,000 education jobs at a time when our children and our public schools desperately need resources and support to compete in a 21st-century knowledge economy.

"This budget prioritizes huge tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations, while likely cutting money from public education and programs such as Title I that go directly to support low-income children in the classroom. It would end Medicare as we know it and leave seniors without access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and it would make college more costly. It would do nothing to help Americans find good jobs, keep their homes, and ensure our children have a better and brighter future.

"The American people can't afford a reckless economic plan like the Ryan Republican budget that says you're on your own unless you're wealthy or a big corporation. Instead, we need a bold economic vision that is rooted in rebuilding the middle class, strengthening our public schools and our democracy, and ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at success."