Rep. Chu Statement on President Trump’s FY 18 Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Donald Trump released his proposed FY 2018 budget proposal. The proposed budget would increase defense spending by $22 billion to $668 billion, while cutting all non-defense programs by a total of $57 billion to $479 billion. By 2028, overall spending will be cut by $4.5 trillion, including $800 from Medicaid and $192 from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) released the following statement:
"It's hard to begin listing all the ways this budget fails the American people, but one thing is clear: this extreme budget is a complete betrayal of even Trump's own campaign promises to help working and middle class families succeed. This budget would make it harder for struggling families to afford food, send their kids to college, or access healthcare, all while giving an enormous tax break to those already doing the best.
"The details are staggering. In order to afford the tax cut for wealthy people like Donald Trump and his family, this budget forces devastating cuts to necessary programs like SNAP and Medicaid, and slashes Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits that provide an important financial lifeline to seniors and the disabled. In my state of California, over 13% of households are food insecure – meaning they do not know where their next meal will come from. That insecurity is lessened thanks to SNAP, which over 2 million Californians rely on to help afford groceries. I cannot support a budget that makes the rich even richer by denying help to those who are struggling to put food on the table. It's the same for healthcare. By senselessly slashing Medicaid and continuing the assault on Planned Parenthood, this budget leaves low-income Americans without access to healthcare. Long-term health prospects are also worsened by this budget's cuts to NIH medical research and the EPA, which threatens access to clean air and water.
"Understanding the problems with this budget also requires understanding the lies it is built on. In introducing this budget, Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, claimed it will force SNAP recipients back to work. But close to two thirds of SNAP recipients are children, seniors, or disabled people and, among those who can work, about 86% do. Moreover, most SNAP recipients only rely on the program for an average of 9 months. So the long-term savings he claims will come just aren't there. Further, the budget expects to pay for itself by relying on prolonged 3% economic growth– something that economists from both sides of the aisle say is unlikely if not impossible.
"This budget is so extreme and unrealistic that many Republicans are already expressing skepticism about its chances for passage. I'm not just skeptical, I'm deeply opposed. This budget does not reflect our values, nor does it reflect responsible stewardship of taxpayer money."