Faith Leaders Continue to Fight as Senate Passes Budget Bill
The U.S. Senate passed a nearly $40 billion legislation on Wednesday cutting from social welfare programs in a narrow 51-50 vote.
The U.S. Senate passed a nearly $40 billion legislation on Wednesday cutting from social welfare programs in a narrow 51-50 vote.
Vice President Dick Cheney broke a 50-50 tie in favor of the $39.7 billion five-year bill that would affect Medicaid and Medicare and student loan programs.
"Vice President Cheney's one vote tipped the balance of on this budget from need to greed," said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches USA, in a released statement.
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The bill now faces the House again before heading to President George Bush to be signed into law. Democrats forced a minor change to the debated measure requiring passage from the House, most of who have already returned home for the holidays. Nevertheless, the House is expected to approve the bill.
Faith leaders had expressed outrage against the House move on Monday and looked to the Senate to respond differently.
With large opposition to cutting benefits to middle and poor class Americans, members of the Senate had earlier passed a more moderate $35 billion measure.
The tight vote over the nearly $40 billion bill, however, went in favor of the cuts as Cheney made an unexpected return to Washington, D.C. for the deciding vote in the Senate.
For the past several weeks and throughout the year, Christian leaders had made continuous efforts to stop the cuts.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, released a statement today saying, "Countless people of faith, including myself and all 65 ELCA synod bishops, spoke out against the process, which threatened cuts to food stamps, Medicaid, student loans, and other programs that help people living in poverty throughout the United States."
"Our voices of opposition were heard, and have provided a tangible sign that the Church is living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 'proclaiming the greatness of the Lord' in our own day," he added as he noted the removal of food stamp cuts in the Senate.
Expressing thanks to members of Congress for their compassion, Hanson continued to make an outcry for the poor in reference to the current bill that just passed the Senate.
"In the current version, people living in poverty across the United States will see shrinking Medicaid benefits coupled with increased out-of-pocket costs many will be unable to afford. Less money spent on child support enforcement means less child support money going to the children who need it. And cuts to student loans will prevent many from breaking the cycle of poverty through the pursuit of higher education.
"As people of faith, we will continue to fight for an honest and moral budget in 2006, 2007 and beyond."
With the measure nearly reaching its final destination, the leaders of church groups, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as well as Christian activists continue to call for the defeat of the bill so that "good news" could be brought to the poor this Christmas or even next year.
"Single individuals who unite on behalf of persons in need will someday prevail. Next year is another year, and God's vote is always for the poor," said Edgar.
