[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 THE REPUBLICANS' PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS

  (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I want to quote an article that appeared 
last Friday in the Chicago Sun-Times by religion writer Kathleen 
Falsani under the headline ``Bush Administration's Moral Compass Is 
Lost.''
  She wrote, ``. . . this week, as Republican leaders try to force a 
monstrous $50 billion budget cut designed allegedly to offset the 
mounting costs . . . of hurricane-related aid through Congress, it is 
clear that the Bush administration's moral compass . . . has been lost. 
The proposed budget cuts, part of the so-called `budget 
reconciliation,' would have devastating effects on the poorest, most 
vulnerable Americans, while allowing tax relief for the rich.''
  She goes on to say, ``Maybe Republican leaders should consider 
proposing an open season on the homeless or the resurrection of 
debtors' prisons while they're at it. Is this the kind of leadership 
the majority of voters that, according to the pollsters at the time, 
cast their ballots in 2004 based on `moral values' had in mind? Is this 
what faith-based `compassionate conservatism' looks like? Is our Nation 
more moral, more secure, or spiritually healthier than it was a year 
ago? And to address my fellow Christian voters,'' she said, ``has the 
Good News been advanced in any way? No, absolutely not.''
  America can do better.

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