Congressman Harold Ford today said that the federal budget package the House of Representatives will consider on Thursday makes unacceptable cuts to priorities that are vital to Tennessee's future and announced he will vote against it. The budget will increase the costs of student loans; reduce funding for vital health care, education agriculture, economic development and child support enforcement programs."America is a country of opportunity for all, not just the privileged or the rich. Our government should cut taxes for middle class families, not just millionaires. This year, millionaires will enjoy an average tax cut of $103,000 - that is more than what 95 percent of Tennessee households bring in for the year. If we reduce their tax cut by $15,000 to $88,000, Congress could avoid raising student loan fees for Tennessee college kids, ensure that Tennesseans facing high home heating costs this winter receive some help paying the bills and prevent further cuts to TennCare, which Tennessee clearly cannot afford.
"Government should not have spending and tax policies that make it harder for middle class and hard working Americans to get ahead by making college more expensive and health care unaffordable.
"For these reasons most importantly, I am voting no on the President's budget bill this week."
Ford released the following analysis of the impact on the budget proposal on Tennesssee:
- GOP House plan cuts Medicaid by $11.9 billion, including $8.8 billion in cost-sharing and premium increases, benefit cuts and provisions that will make it harder for seniors to access long-term care.
Student Loans
- $14.3 billion in cuts passed by House Education and Workforce committee
Interest rate increases (and increase in caps on interest rates)
Raise taxes on student loans
- This would impact the 128,410 student borrowers in Tennessee.
- While the cost of college is rising faster than inflation - to the tune of 10.5 percent compared to 2.97 percent - Republicans want to make the largest cut in the history of the federal student loan program.
LIHEAP
- Democrats are calling for an increase of $3 billion for LIHEAP, from $2.1 billion to $5.1 billion.
- GOP is calling for funding at $3 billion.
- Impact to Tennessee:
Child Support - 5-year cut of $75 million in Tennessee; 10-year cut of 238 million in Tennessee
Food Stamps - GOP proposes cutting $844 million in food stamp assistance will be cut over the next 5 years.
Impact to Tennessee from 2 percent reduction in domestic spending as has been proposed by the House Budget Committee
Education- Elementary and Secondary Education
Total - $20.7 million
Education for Disadvantaged - $8.9 million
Special Education - $4.6 million
School Improvement - $7.1 million
- Vocational and Adult Education - $1.717 million
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- U.S. - $403 million cut
- Tennessee - $5.65 million cut
Children and Family Services - (including Head Start and Services for Abused Children)
Child Care Assistance
- U.S. - $86 million cut
- Tennessee - $1.87 million cut
Section 8 Housing Vouchers
- U.S. - 72,000 less housing vouchers
- Tennessee - 1,000 less housing vouchers
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Funding
- U.S. - $63 million cut
- Tennessee - $672,000 million cut
More: Read Congressman Ford's distinguished record on fiscal responsibility here!
Note: This press release is from Wednesday afternoon.
