Speaker Boehner rebuts USCCB criticism of Republican budget plan
April 19, 2012
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives has defended Republican budget plans against criticism by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), saying that the USCCB has failed to take into account the severity of US budget problems.
“I want them to take a bigger look,” said Speaker John Boehner. “The bigger look is if we don’t make decisions [to cut back federal spending] these programs won’t exist, and then they will really have something to worry about.”
In a series of letters to Congress, issued on behalf of the USCCB, Bishop Stephen Blaire had complained that the Republican budget plan “fails to meet moral criteria” because it includes some cuts in welfare programs. Speaker Boehner--who is an active Catholic--replied that if the federal government does not cut back on deficit spending, the government risks fiscal collapse and all federal programs will be at risk.
“If we don’t begin to make some decisions about getting our fiscal house in order,” the Speaker observed, “there won’t be a safety net.”
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Further information:
- Top US Republican rejects criticism by Catholic bishops (Reuters)
- USCCB criticizes House budget cuts (CWN, 4/18)
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Posted by: wolfdavef3415 -
Apr. 19, 2012 9:31 PM ET USA
I would not be surprised to hear that Boehner takes this criticism seriously and talks with the USCCB. He is right, though. There are several Federal entitlement programs I consider to be important. Title IV-E (foster care), for instance. But there IS room to do away with some unnecessary stuff, also.
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Posted by: Frodo1945 -
Apr. 19, 2012 4:39 PM ET USA
Yeh Mr. Speaker, don't cut any of those entitlement programs. Don't worry, your children and grandchildren will gladly pay for them. We don't count that massive debt in our morale criteria.
