River Bend Times

U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has expressed his disapproval of President Trump's "skinny" budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026. As the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, the Oregon senator articulated concerns over the budget's implications for middle-class families.

"This budget is exactly what we expected: a betrayal of hardworking, middle-class families that shows the President’s singular focus is slashing essential government programs in order to fund more tax breaks for his billionaire buddies," Merkley stated. He emphasized that such measures are contrary to what Americans elected their officials to achieve and do not address the pressing economic challenges faced by various groups.

Merkley concluded by affirming his commitment to opposing the budget proposal. "As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I will do everything I can to make sure this budget is never enacted. We need to put an end to the Republicans’ mission of: families lose, and billionaires win," he said.