To no one’s surprise, Macomb County’s two lawmakers, Reps. Candy Miller and Sandy Levin, split
their votes today on the House budget bill that would defund Obamacare.
their votes today on the House budget bill that would defund Obamacare.
A Harrison Township Republican, Miller received applause
from tea party groups when she announced last week that she would support the
plan to tie Obamacare defunding to the temporary budget bill that needs passage
by Oct. 1 in order to avoid a government shutdown.
from tea party groups when she announced last week that she would support the
plan to tie Obamacare defunding to the temporary budget bill that needs passage
by Oct. 1 in order to avoid a government shutdown.
In a statement, Miller said:
“Today members of the U.S. House put forward and passed a
plan to protect every American from the harmful effects of ObamaCare, allowing
for patient-centered health care reforms to take the place of the president’s
burdensome law. By ending the reign of Obamacare, we ensure that every
American is provided the relief needed from this burdensome law, not just the
big businesses that the administration decided to exempt.
“On Sept. 30, the federal government will reach the end
of the fiscal year, and we call on our colleagues in the U.S. Senate to join us
and pass H.J.Res. 59. Congress must act now to responsibly fund the
federal government with the current spending levels mandated by the Budget
Control Act and avoid a shutdown of vital government services, keep our
nation’s finances stable by enacting the Full Faith and Credit Act requiring
the U.S. Treasury Department to make good on public debt payments should
America reach its statutory debt ceiling, and pass legislation to fully defund
Obamacare ending undue burdens. Members of the U.S. House have acted to
avoid a shutdown; the U.S. Senate must join us now.”
of the fiscal year, and we call on our colleagues in the U.S. Senate to join us
and pass H.J.Res. 59. Congress must act now to responsibly fund the
federal government with the current spending levels mandated by the Budget
Control Act and avoid a shutdown of vital government services, keep our
nation’s finances stable by enacting the Full Faith and Credit Act requiring
the U.S. Treasury Department to make good on public debt payments should
America reach its statutory debt ceiling, and pass legislation to fully defund
Obamacare ending undue burdens. Members of the U.S. House have acted to
avoid a shutdown; the U.S. Senate must join us now.”
In contrast, Levin, a Royal Oak Democrat who represents
most of Macomb County, said House Republicans took the first step toward a
government shutdown by tying Obamacare defunding to a budget bill that would
continue funding the federal government through Dec. 15.
most of Macomb County, said House Republicans took the first step toward a
government shutdown by tying Obamacare defunding to a budget bill that would
continue funding the federal government through Dec. 15.
Here is Levin’s statement:
“House Republicans are charting a course toward chaos,
led by their obsession with keeping big health insurers in charge of Americans’
health care. They have closed their eyes to reality and shut their ears even to
many of their staunchest allies – including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – who
have urged them not plunge our nation into the abyss. Their blind ideology now
threatens the economic well-being of all Americans.”
*****
Btw: Miller voted for another controversial GOP bill on
Thursday, when the House, by a 217-210 vote, agreed largely along partisan
lines to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program over 10 years.
Thursday, when the House, by a 217-210 vote, agreed largely along partisan
lines to cut $40 billion from the food stamp program over 10 years.
Under the influence of tea party conservatives, House
Republican leaders said the food stamp program, which carries an $80 billion
annual price tag, had ballooned out of control even as the U.S. unemployment
rate has fallen.
Republican leaders said the food stamp program, which carries an $80 billion
annual price tag, had ballooned out of control even as the U.S. unemployment
rate has fallen.
The legislation would end certain state
exemptions from federal rules by requiring adults between 18 and 50 without
minor children to find a job or to enroll in a work-training program in order
to receive benefits.
exemptions from federal rules by requiring adults between 18 and 50 without
minor children to find a job or to enroll in a work-training program in order
to receive benefits.
The measure would also limit food
stamp benefits for individual recipients to three months. It would also limit
the time those recipients could get benefits to three months. Currently, states
can extend food stamp benefits past three months under certain circumstances.
stamp benefits for individual recipients to three months. It would also limit
the time those recipients could get benefits to three months. Currently, states
can extend food stamp benefits past three months under certain circumstances.
Democrats said the cuts were “draconian” and “heartless,”
as the average family on the safety-net program receives about $1.50 per meal,
per day. Republicans said the program is plagued by fraud and creates government
dependency, so “responsible nutrition program reforms” are needed.
as the average family on the safety-net program receives about $1.50 per meal,
per day. Republicans said the program is plagued by fraud and creates government
dependency, so “responsible nutrition program reforms” are needed.
Miller said:
“Americans have a long and proud tradition of extending
aid to their fellow citizens in times of need. When our friends, our
families and our communities need help we have provided it – and as taxpayers,
we provide this assistance through our federal government. However, for
decades these nutrition supplemental programs, more commonly known as food
stamps, were combined with our nation’s farm policy even though one has little
to do with the other. This is why (on Thursday) the House passed a bill
to ensure that the food stamp programs stand on their own merit, making the
needed reforms to strengthen assistance, ensuring our nation’s citizens are
provided with a better product, as well as saving the taxpayers an estimated
$40 billion over ten years.
aid to their fellow citizens in times of need. When our friends, our
families and our communities need help we have provided it – and as taxpayers,
we provide this assistance through our federal government. However, for
decades these nutrition supplemental programs, more commonly known as food
stamps, were combined with our nation’s farm policy even though one has little
to do with the other. This is why (on Thursday) the House passed a bill
to ensure that the food stamp programs stand on their own merit, making the
needed reforms to strengthen assistance, ensuring our nation’s citizens are
provided with a better product, as well as saving the taxpayers an estimated
$40 billion over ten years.
“These reforms will provide the assistance to those who
need it and work to end the (rampant) waste, fraud and abuse done by a few who
steal millions from the program. One example recently reported was of the
arrest of nine retailers from Detroit’s Eastern Market Terminal for defrauding
the government’s food stamp program, stealing millions of dollars. And that
is just one recent example.”
need it and work to end the (rampant) waste, fraud and abuse done by a few who
steal millions from the program. One example recently reported was of the
arrest of nine retailers from Detroit’s Eastern Market Terminal for defrauding
the government’s food stamp program, stealing millions of dollars. And that
is just one recent example.”
