Faith, Community Leaders Provide Alternative to Devastating Romney-Ryan Budget
Syracuse, NY – On the heels of their successful tour throughout Binghamton, Cortland, and Utica, leaders of faith communities in Central New York, joined by Syracuse area labor and community groups, traveled in a caravan around Syracuse today to speak out against deep federal budget cuts proposed by Vice Presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and endorsed by Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle and Mitt Romney.
As faith leaders, those who participated in the tour have a unique awareness of the struggle facing working families across New York and the increased hardship that would be wrought under the Romney-Ryan budget, that would eviscerate crucial programs like Medicare and Social Security and bring drastic cuts to services such as nutrition assistance, early childhood education and job training programs that provide pathways out of poverty for millions of families.
“The proposed cuts of Representative Ryan in the Ryan’s Budget are immoral and unjustifiable and will be putting the burden on the poor,” said Father Fred Daily of All Saints Church. “I think that all people of faith should be in the streets proclaiming the immorality of these proposed cuts.”
They called on Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle to listen to her constituents and abandon her support for the Romney-Ryan budget. Along with the millions of dollars of cuts to food assistance and other programs, the cuts would overwhelmingly affect those who depend on those programs. Combined, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid provide almost $130 billion in benefits to New Yorkers each year, many of which are Buerkle’s constituents.
“I ask you Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle, as a graduate of Saint Joseph School of Nursing; whose mission is to follow the gospel message and to be at one with the poor and marginalized, to consider your vote and vote against the Romney/Ryan budget. If this budget does go through many of our friends and neighbors here in Syracuse will have drastic cuts to their services,” said Sister Pat Bergan of Saint Lucy’s Church.
Faith leaders have joined together with members of the community to say that there is an alternative and urged Buerkle to throw her support behind it. They have created the “Faithful Budget” as an alternative. The Faithful Budget promotes comprehensive and compassionate budget principles that helps lift the burden on the poor, rather than increasing while shielding the wealthiest from any additional sacrifice unlike the Romney-Ryan budget that Buerkle has previously supported.
“The Faithful Budget is a solid alternative to what Congresswoman Ann Marie Buerkle would have us do. Rather than support further devastating cuts to vital programs like Medicare or Social Security, we should be implementing fair share tax reform and help provide programs that create pathways out of poverty for millions of families. It’s time for Congresswoman Buerkle to abandon her support for the Romney-Ryan budget that would shield the super wealthy from paying their fair share,” said Lionel Logan, a local Citizen Action of New York board member.
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