Reject cuts to social programs

I am responding to the story on March 21, 2012 about the House Republican budget drafted by Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. [“GOP budget plan cuts social programs, tax rates,” News, March 22.]

It seems Ryan and others in Congress are again determined to use our government to reward the rich and abandon low-income Americans. The House Republican budget would enact massive cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, the Earned Income Tax Credit, and other safety-net services. These services help millions of Americans stay out of poverty, particularly children. Half of all Medicaid and food-stamp recipients are children and the Earned Income Tax Credit lifts more children out of poverty than any single program.

But it doesn’t stop there. The House Republican budget takes the savings from these draconian cuts and gives wealthy Americans and big corporations a massive tax cut. I guess Ryan and his colleagues believe making millionaires and billionaires richer is far more important than feeding hungry children.

The House Republican budget is a blueprint to crush the American dream. I strongly urge our members of Congress to wholeheartedly reject it and its radical ideas for America.

— Bob Dickerson, Seattle