Trump’s budget shows priority of tax cuts for rich over cuts in programs for others

Editor:

Budgets are a reflection of the vision, values and priorities of the preparer. Since Chris Jacobs says he supports President Trump it is worth a look at the budget Mr. Trump proposes and see what values that Mr. Jacobs supports.

Los Angeles Times’s Michael Hiltzik wrote (2/10/20): “Trump’s proposed $4.8-trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year makes his intentions crystal clear: He means to shred the federal safety net for the poor and the sick. The budget proposed released Monday calls for drastic cuts in Social Security and Medicaid benefits, as well as in a program protecting defrauded student loan borrowers.”

From the New York Times (2/10/20) “The budget also assumes Mr. Trump’s 2017 tax cuts are extended for 10 years: It includes $1.4 trillion to extend the individual tax cuts to 2035.”

It is the poor and the middle class that are paying for Mr. Trump’s tax breaks for the wealthy. “For the first time on record, the 400 wealthiest Americans last year paid a lower total tax rate — spanning federal, state and local taxes — than any other income group, according to newly released data.” David Leonhardt stated in the NYT (10/6/19).

The L.A. Times writes, “Let’s make no mistake about the flow of federal funds in this budget proposal: It’s all about making the poor, sick, children and elderly pay for the tax cuts for the rich.”

These are the values Mr. Jacobs supports. Jerry Zremski, in The Buffalo News (8/2/19), reported that there are 57,000 food stamp recipients in metro Buffalo area alone. Cutting C.H.I.P. would put thousands of more children and family’s health in danger. The budget includes increases for Mr. Trump’s border wall but it decreases the health and safety and security of citizens living in Western New York.

This is what Chris Jacobs values; shafting the citizens of Western New York as long as Mr. Jacobs gets his tax break.

William Fine

Brockport