Merkley: Families Lose, Billionaires Win Under Republican Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley – Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee – released the following statement after Senate Republicans passed a FY25 budget resolution:

“Families lose and billionaires win. That’s the heart of the Republicans budget resolution.

“This Republican budget proposes $1 trillion cuts to programs for working families by the end of this fiscal year. The only way to cut $1 trillion by September 30 is to gut entire agencies and all of their services, which families rely on. Trump and Senate Republicans are showing who they truly care about as they slash programs for families to line the pockets of their billionaire friends. Trump’s tax plan is the Great Betrayal of working families.

“Every step of the way, from the Budget Committee to the Senate Floor, Democrats fought to protect families and lower the cost of groceries, prescription drugs, rent, and housing. Republicans voted against every single one.

“The American people are sick and tired of this bait-and-switch of Republicans campaigning on fiscal responsibility and then governing by driving up deficits and debt at the expense of critical programs.”

As Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Merkley acted as floor manager while the Senate considered dozens of amendments. Merkley led two amendments, including provisions to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and to lower rents and restore the dream of home ownership by pushing hedge funds out of the single-family housing market.

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