Dem: Ryan budget would ‘suck the blood out of the middle class’

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) on Tuesday compared the House GOP 2015 budget to “a Dracula in sheep’s clothing.”

“This budget is worse than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s like a Dracula in sheep’s clothing coming in to suck the blood out of the middle class,” Johnson said during debate on the budget proposal outlined by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

{mosads}The fiscal 2015 budget blueprint would cut planned federal spending by $5.1 trillion over the next decade. That cut is achieved in part through cuts to domestic programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and by overhauling Medicare and Medicaid.

“This embarrassing budget is an excuse to assault the social safety net that has saved millions of Americans who fell off the economic ladder of opportunity during the Bush recession,” Johnson added. “The Republican budget uses these programs as punching bags for their reckless agenda to cut and gut.”

Ryan responded by saying that Johnson’s comments were exaggerated, and said his budget increases overall spending over time, but at a slower rate.

“Wow, geez. That sounds horrible. Good thing it’s not true,” Ryan said after listening to Johnson.

“Only in Washington is a slower increase in spending awful, blood-curdling, terrible draconian cuts,” Ryan added.

The House began the first two hours of general debate on the Ryan budget Tuesday afternoon, and will complete the remaining two hours on Wednesday.