If anyone still believes that Republican politicians care about average citizens, or that they are fiscally responsible, then they should look at the budget recently passed on a party line vote in the Senate. This budget, which is a statement of Republican values and priorities, cuts $473 billion from Medicare and $1 trillion from Medicaid. It also includes an additional $3.5 trillion of unspecified cuts, cuts that you can be certain will not come by closing loopholes used by millionaires and billionaires. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, this budget will increase the national debt by $1.5 trillion and by 2027 increase taxes for the average family by $1,370.

Why did Republican senators vote for such a vicious and irresponsible budget? Simple, to fund a huge tax cut for large corporations and the uberwealthy. They claim that this will stimulate economic growth that will help everyone. But today, corporate America is sitting on $2 trillion in cash. Why are they not investing these dollars to create new, higher paying jobs? And why don’t they use this $2 trillion to raise salaries of workers? Simple, that is not their mission. Their mission is to make money for their shareholders and top executives.

The Republican budget is a cruel, cynical hoax built on deception and lies. And if you look at it closely you can see those lies in black and white.

Richard Winchell, Asheville

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