Dems say Ryan budget is a job killer

House Democrats on Wednesday warned that the Republicans’ latest budget proposal would tank the nation’s economy by starving the country of infrastructure funding and eroding its manufacturing base.

Behind Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the lawmakers say the proposal, authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), would “disinvest” in infrastructure and other job-creating programs while encouraging companies to hire overseas.

{mosads}”The Republican Ryan budget on the floor this week would be a disaster for our country and our economy,” Hoyer said during a press briefing in the Capitol.

Hoyer said Ryan’s plan would cut $173 billion in infrastructure spending over the next decade. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), the senior Democrat on the Budget panel, warned that it includes tax incentives discouraging businesses from hiring at home.

“The Republican budget is a ‘make-it-overseas’ budget,” Van Hollen said. “By disinvesting in things that have helped power our economy and make us grow, they’re actually creating an incentive for businesses to go to other parts of the world.”

The Democrats are pushing a sweeping package of economic bills — dubbed the Make it in America agenda — designed to boost research, improve infrastructure and encourage companies to hire at home.

Among the provisions is the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, a trade financing agency that Democrats say is vital if the nation’s small businesses are to compete in the global economy.

“As the rest of the world is growing a middle class, America — which has only 5 percent of the world’s population — needs to sell into it in order to keep our middle class,” said Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.).

In 2012, Hoyer united with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank over numerous GOP objections. Hoyer said he’s been in talks with Cantor this year in hopes of reaching a similar deal but declined to say if there was progress.

Wednesday’s briefing marks the Democrats’ latest shot at Ryan’s 2015 budget proposal, which attempts to eliminate deficit spending over a decade, largely with $5.1 trillion in cuts to entitlements and other domestic programs.

In a series of press events that began last week, the Democrats have hammered the Ryan plan for its cuts to education, children’s programs, seniors initiatives and healthcare services. The attack on the manufacturing provisions fits the same mold.

From a practical standpoint, the Ryan budget is unnecessary, because the government’s spending authority was previously established in December’s bipartisan budget deal cut between Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Still, the budget package could play a significant role on the campaign trail this year, as both parties are hoping to use it to attract voters.

The Republicans say it’s a roadmap for bringing fiscal responsibility back to Washington. The Democrats counter that the spending cuts are simply too deep to govern the country effectively.

Ryan’s bill is expected to pass the House on Thursday, but it has no chance of moving through the Democratic Senate.

Hoyer acknowledged that this month’s fight over competing budgets is largely political. But, he added, the proposals do serve the purpose of revealing each party’s vision for the country’s future.