| Offices : Beckley • Charleston • Fairmont • Martinsburg • Washington, DC | E-mail Senator Rockefeller |
April 6, 2001
ROCKEFELLER SAYS BUDGET PLAN WON'T PROTECT WEST VIRGINIA'S PRIORITIES
WASHINGTON, DC – After a week of intense debate, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today denounced the latest $1.2 trillion tax cut proposal for continuing to ignore the concerns of West Virginians. Rockefeller asserted that the $1.2 trillion tax cut – which was included in the overall budget plan that the Senate passed today – is still too costly and would shortchange Medicare, health care and other programs that are important to West Virginia.
Senator Rockefeller is a cosponsor of the alternative Democratic tax cut plan that would divide the budget surplus in 3 parts. Approximately $750 billion for tax cuts, $750 billion for debt reduction, and $750 billion for priorities like prescription drugs, education, and health care.
"As a United States Senator for West Virginia, my number one priority is to protect the interests of West Virginians. West Virginia desperately needs funding for roads, water and sewer systems, education programs, and health care – yet this budget would cut funding for every one of these priorities." Rockefeller said. "And, that’s not the half of it. The budget that was presented today would raid the Medicare Trust Fund by $54 billion dollars over the next several years, all in the name of a tax cut. That’s wrong, it’s unfair, and I can’t support it."
There are several other features in the budget plan that Rockefeller has criticized for not reflecting West Virginia’s needs. "Many seniors in my state, and across the country, are struggling to pay for the high cost of prescription drugs. Congress must pass a Medicare prescription drug benefit this year. However, under the President’s budget and tax plan, a prescription drug plan is crowded out."
"And, I’m concerned that the President’s budget does not include enough funding for debt reduction. Last year, American taxpayers spent over $200 billion dollars in interest on the national debt. In addition to saving billions of dollars, paying down the debt would give all Americans the best tax cut of all -- lower interest rates," Rockefeller added.
The House of Representatives has already passed their budget which includes President Bush's $1.6 trillion tax cut. A House-Senate conference committee will now be appointed to reach a compromise.
"This is the first round in the budget process and I expect this to be a long, hard fight," Rockefeller said. "But West Virginia interests have got to be protected, and I’m prepared for battle."
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