Senate Bill 1932

[Neil D]

[:"green"] I guess the Republican majority can brag about $2.6 billion in new tax cuts for oil companies, $6.9 billion in Medicaid cuts, and cuts to foster children, the most vulnerable of all of our citizens. Corporate welfare was saved. Student loans were cut. I don't know how you can, with a straight face, say that is the kind of priorities we should be having at any time but particularly in the Christmas season. But I suppose the folks who find these

great big tax breaks under their tree are going to be grateful.

The ultimate irony is that this bill is being called deficit reduction. We know how to do deficit reduction. We did it in the 1990s. We did it by making hard choices. We did it by making it clear that nobody was going to get off scot-free, that everybody would have to pay their fair share. Tough decisions would be made on both the revenue and the spending side.

This bill doesn't reduce the deficit at all. In fact, it worsens the deficit outlook by at least $30 billion. That is going to become even more clear when we come back after the first of the year and the Republicans give us $70 billion in additional tax cuts. Let's tell everybody those tax cuts are, once again, going to help people who have been helped already, quite substantially, over the last 5 years.

It is not doing much for the average American, it is not doing anything for some of the poorest of Americans, other than telling them they are on their own. [/] Senate bill 1932

From the newsletter of the AARC

[:"green"]ISSUE:

Included as a provision of the 2007 federal

budget bill is a provision that

would require Medicare patients after 36 months

of use on home oxygen

therapy to purchase their oxygen equipment,

rather then continue renting the

equipment.

This is a major and detrimental change in the

provision of home oxygen service from what has always been available to the Medicare patient. If enacted this would place the on the shoulders of the patient the responsibility and the cost of both servicing and

maintaining their oxygen equipment. This is a patient safety issue, and as respiratory therapists we

ask you to let your Senators know you oppose this

provision. [/]

The republicans are putting your grandmothers who are on oxygen at risk...Congratulations, republicans...We know what your agenda is...Inherating your grandparents money....!

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

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I don't know how you can, with a straight face, say that is the kind of priorities we should be having at any time

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When one has a grasp on economics they have no problem saying such things with a striaght face. Tax cuts for coorporations result in job growth which expands the economy and an expanded economy will increase revenues.

When the economy is slow, taxes should be cut to stimulate it and thus create jobs.

When the economy is robust, taxes should be increased to slow it down and reduce inflation.

The economy is now booming so one would think this would be a good time to increase taxes. All things being equal, it would be. However since energy prices have increased dramatically they are impacting the economy much like tax increases would.