Republicans present alternative budget proposal

WASHINGTON — American families are having to sacrifice, and Republicans say the federal government should follow their example.

Budget plans offered by Republicans hold down deficits while addressing the struggling economy, health care and retirement security, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said Saturday in the Republican radio and Internet address.

“The budget House Republicans offered gives Americans a real choice,” said Ryan, top Republican on the House Budget Committee. “It curbs spending, creates jobs and controls the debt.

“American families are making sacrifices and tightening their belts. Washington should do the same.”

Ryan said Republicans are trying to do just that.

“The Republican budget has lower deficits than the Democratic plan every year, and by 2019, has half the deficit proposed by the president. Under our plan, the public debt would be $3.6 trillion lower than President Obama’s plan.”

Obama’s Democratic allies passed plans Thursday broadly supporting the administration’s agenda of higher spending on domestic programs like education and overhauling the health care system. Twenty House Democrats, mostly from GOP-leaning areas, abandoned Obama on the final vote due to unhappiness over deficits.

House Republicans lost a vote last week on their alternative budget, with more than three dozen of the chamber’s more moderate members defecting from the GOP in a 293-137 tally that rejected cuts to Medicare and the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled.

But Ryan said Democrats’ budget plans will raise deficit spending to unacceptable levels.

“The president’s budget, which passed the House and Senate this week, will make the crisis much, much worse,” he said. “Rather than getting spending under control, it sends spending out of control. Rather than keeping taxes low to create jobs, it chases ever-higher spending with ever-higher taxes and results in ever-higher debt — an unprecedented, unsustainable increase in red ink. It doubles our national debt in five years and triples our debt in 10 years.”

Ryan said the GOP budget gives priority to national defense and veterans’ health care and freezes all other discretionary spending for five years. Democrats just put off tough decisions, he said.

“Their budget puts all the sacrifice on future generations,” Ryan said. “It makes no tough choices. It’s only tough on our children and grandchildren.”

Talk to us

More in Local News

Emergency responders surround an ultralight airplane that crashed Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at the Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington, resulting in the pilot's death. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Pilot dead in ultralight plane crash at Arlington Municipal Airport

There were no other injuries or fatalities reported, a city spokesperson said.

An example of the Malicious Women Co. products (left) vs. the Malicious Mermaid's products (right). (U.S. District Court in Florida)
Judge: Cheeky candle copycat must pay Snohomish company over $800K

The owner of the Malicious Women Co. doesn’t expect to receive any money from the Malicious Mermaid, a Florida-based copycat.

A grave marker for Blaze the horse. (Photo provided)
After Darrington woman’s horse died, she didn’t know what to do

Sidney Montooth boarded her horse Blaze. When he died, she was “a wreck” — and at a loss as to what to do with his remains.

A fatal accident the afternoon of Dec. 18 near Clinton ended with one of the cars involved bursting into flames. The driver of the fully engulfed car was outside of the vehicle by the time first responders arrived at the scene. (Whidbey News-Times/Submitted photo)
Driver sentenced in 2021 crash that killed Everett couple

Danielle Cruz, formerly of Lynnwood, gets 17½ years in prison. She was impaired by drugs when she caused the crash that killed Sharon Gamble and Kenneth Weikle.

A person walks out of the Everett Clinic on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Everett Clinic changing name to parent company Optum in 2024

The parent company says the name change will not affect quality of care for patients in Snohomish County.

Tirhas Tesfatsion (GoFundMe) 20210727
Lynnwood settles for $1.7 million after 2021 suicide at city jail

Jail staff reportedly committed 16 safety check violations before they found Tirhas Tesfatsion, 47, unresponsive in her cell.

A person walks in the rain at the Port of Everett in Everett, Washington on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
First heavy rain event predicted Sunday night for Snohomish County

Starting Sunday evening, 1 to 1½ inches of rain is expected in western Washington. It marks the end of fire season, meteorologists said.

Clinton man, 61, dies in motorcycle crash Friday

Washington State Patrol lists speed as the cause. No other people or vehicles were involved.

Inside the new Boeing 737 simulator at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
New Boeing 737 simulator takes ‘flight’ in Mukilteo

Pilots can test their flying skills or up their game at Simulation Flight in Mukilteo.

Most Read