River Bend Times

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, expressed his concerns following the recent passage by Senate Republicans of a new budget resolution. Merkley criticized the resolution, suggesting it prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires over the needs of ordinary families.

"For a second time, Republicans passed their budget resolution in the dark of night to double down on their mission to slash programs that help families thrive to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires," Merkley stated.

According to Merkley, the Democrats attempted to counter these measures by proposing several amendments aimed at reducing grocery costs, protecting Medicaid and Social Security, and easing financial pressures on the middle class. However, he noted that each amendment was rejected, stating, "And every time, Republicans sided with billionaires over families and voted down these amendments."

Merkley warned that the Republican budget plan could result in millions of Americans losing health insurance, a reduction in education funding, increased expenses for working families, and a significant increase in the national debt. "Their plan is: billionaires win, families lose," he added, branding the budget resolution as the "Great Betrayal of working families."

As the Ranking Member, Merkley served as floor manager during the Senate's consideration of the resolution and led an initiative to remove provisions that he believes would significantly raise the national debt.