Peter Welch, Democratic candidate for Congress, issued the following statement Thursday concerning the Budget Reconciliation bill in Congress:

The Republican leadership in Washington will once again attempt to pass a budget that is both fiscally irresponsible and morally bankrupt. After transforming an inherited record surplus into a record deficit in just ten months, George Bush and Republican leaders are at it again - now intent on passing more tax cuts for the well-off, while cutting programs for the poor and working class.

Among the items on the House GOP chopping block is $11.9 billion in cuts to Medicaid and children,s health insurance, $14.3 billion cut from student loan programs, $800 million cut to food stamps. In our state alone, 55,000 Vermonters are "food-insecure" and 88,000 past and present Vermont residents or Vermont students currently rely on federal loan programs to fund their opportunity for higher education.

At the same time these cuts are under consideration, the House GOP is pushing more tax cuts - totaling $57 billion - for the wealthiest Americans. They burden the working class with their so called "Deficit Reduction Act" with one hand and offer tax cuts for the rich and add to our deficit with the other.

This budget under House consideration is a continuing display of distorted priorities - a focus on cutting taxes for the rich while hollowing out the government,s ability to provide for the legitimate needs of its citizens. This action by Congress offers us yet another example of why we need change in Washington.