Sen. Landrieu Fights for Middle Class
Joins colleagues in response to President's FY07 budget
March 14, 2006
U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., joined her colleagues today in response to the President's FY07 Budget and urged Congress to make life more affordable for the middle class. Standing with Sen. Landrieu and middle-class Americans today were Senators Barbara A. Mikulski, D-MD, Barbara Boxer, D-Cali., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.
"College is part of the American dream, it shouldn't be part of the American financial nightmare. Families are looking for help and President Bush doesn't offer them much hope," said Sen. Mikulski, Dean of the Senate women. "The President's budget has all the wrong priorities and does nothing to ease the burden on middle class families. Belief in the American dream is shrinking - but there is a wallet deficit, not a dream deficit. Massive cuts to financial aid couldn't come at a worse time. We can do better."
"The American people expect a budget that reflects their priorities and values," said Senator Landrieu. "Unfortunately, the Administration's budget proposal misplaces America's priorities, ignores our values, bypasses victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and squeezes the middle-class."
Sen. Boxer said, "This Administration continues to make choices that are bad for America's families, and no place is that clearer than in the President's budget. Instead of taking steps to make college more affordable, this White House is making it harder for families to send their kids to college. Instead of providing more at-risk kids with the opportunity to attend an afterschool program, they are flat funding the afterschool program. We can and we must do better for our families."
"We've got work to do to make our country strong again. And we need to craft a budget that reflects our priorities and our values," Senator Murray said. "Unfortunately this budget undercuts our nation's most basic values - like the right to safe, affordable housing. By cutting investments in the needs of middle-class Americans, this budget is neither honest nor responsible."
"Middle class families in Michigan and across America are struggling financially and are under tremendous pressure to make ends meet," said Senator Stabenow. "The President's budget proposals will add to that struggle - driving up the cost of college and health care. Democrats are fighting for the right priorities and the kind of future we need to raise our children, take care of our families and be secure in our retirement."
Read Sen. Landrieu's initial response to the Administration's FY07 budget.
Photographs from Press Conference
Photo Credit: United States Senate
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