Deirdre Cummings
Legislative Director, MASSPIRG
617-747-4319
[email protected]
Statement of MASSPIRG’s Deirdre Cummings on the Passage of Obama’s Budget Plan
Media Contacts
MASSPIRG
Washington, April 29 – Congress marked President Obama’s 100th day in office today by passing his transformational plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system, make college more accessible, and eliminate wasteful subsidies and abusive tax shelters and loopholes.
“The budget resolution passed by Congress today prioritizes students over banks, consumers over insurance companies and taxpayers over entrenched special interests. It speaks to the key concerns that all Americans share, and provides a roadmap to a strong, stable economy.
On health care, the budget resolution sets the stage for fiscally responsible health care reform legislation later this year to address sky-rocketing costs.”
“For too long, unrestrained growth in health care costs has fueled the profit margins of insurers, drug companies, and other special interests, while American families and small businesses suffered. In today’s struggling economy, our country simply can’t afford another year of higher health care costs.”
For higher education, the resolution includes a significant reinvestment in the Pell grant, the nation’s primary need-based student aid program, which could be achieved by cutting excessive subsidies from banks and lenders.
“By redirecting wasteful bank subsidies to increased aid for students, the budget resolution underscores just how deeply our federal government is committed to making college more affordable.”
“On behalf of our members across the country, US PIRG, the federation of State PIRGS, and MASSPIRG applauds Congress for this step in transforming America’s priorities.”
