FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Office of the Vice President of the United States

Wednesday, November 16, 2005—WASHINGTON D.C.: This evening, the Vice President expressed disappointment with the Democrat’s budget proposal. The Vice President, who defended the Administration’s budget proposal on Tuesday, criticized the Democrats lack of concern for the nation’s safety and their disregard for hardworking Americans.

Vice President Cheney was especially dismayed with the Democrats’ proposal to halt progress towards a lighter and swifter military. “In light of the appalling suicide attacks in Jordan this week, all Americans should be reminded of the necessity of building a military that can fight terrorists before they reach our shores. We need a military that can fight the war of the 21st Century, and that war doesn’t require the military we have today, the same military we had during the Cold War. Their proposal to delay the fielding of the Future Combat System and other various defense cuts will catastrophically cripple our military in an ever changing and more dangerous world.”

In addition to criticizing the Democrats’ proposal to cut defense options, the Vice President also questioned the Democrats’ reasoning behind their revenue choices. “Have you ever been to ANWAR? I sure haven’t. I would rather lease that land for oil drilling, which will help decrease our dependence on foreign oil, than raise taxes. And raising taxes is exactly what their proposal does.”

When asked about his opinion on the other five alternative budgets offered by the Democrats, the Vice President chuckled. “I find it hard to take all five of their proposals seriously. It clearly indicates that their party is lacking unity and values.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday November 16th, 2005

From the Office of Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX)
Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
House Republican Steering Committee

Caribou Over National Security?!
Following tonight’s release of the Democratic budget proposals Rep. Joe Barton expressed his grave concerns that “green-loving tree-huggers have taken over the Democratic Caucus.” Barton, Chair of the House Energy Committee, insisted, “all the democratic energy proposals present serious threats to the nation’s security and crucial economic interests.”

“All six democratic budget proposals not only cut numbers, but cut into the heart of our nation and instead of losing blood we’re losing oil” said Barton, referring to the Democrats’ budget cuts to fossil fuel funding and refusal to open Alaska to oil drilling.

“This is a direct attack against the American people. How do they think the masses will go to work, will drive their youngsters to school and go to Church on Sunday?” asked Rep. Barton. “Do they really plan to fill their gas tanks with banana peels and patchouli oil?” Responsible investment in developing wind and solar capacity can help us meet our energy needs, still the protection of America’s vital interests demand continued investment in fossil fuels.

“What kind of a world is it where caribou prevail over terrorist threats?” asked Rep. Barton.

Democratic budgets also deliberately stomp on the nation’s economic interests by increasing taxes on carbon, sulfur and Superfund sites. “Democrats gave into unfounded fears of climate change” said Rep. Barton, “they yielded to pseudo-scientific, psychic readings of weather forecasts and sacrificed America’s small businesses and jobs.”

“The democrats’ proposals are clearly unpatriotic and nefarious,” concluded Rep. Barton, “I expect some of my democratic colleagues will come to their senses and realize where America’s best interests lie.”

For Immediate Release
House Republican Steering Committee

Democrats Fail Again.

Wednesday November 16, 2005 -- Washington, DC: House Democrats today released an irresponsible budget proposal that would cripple America’s economic growth. The American people could not be more clear about their priorities. They want a responsible budget that doesn’t sacrifice their futures to extremist special interest groups. They want to know they can take home the money they work to earn. They want to keep America safe by supporting our troops. Once again, the Democrats failed to deliver for the people of this country.

Most telling, the Democratic Budget proposes wasting $1.25 billion over the next five years on three line items (198, 199 and 200) labeled “stuff,” “stuff,” and “stuff.” Frankly, hard-working American people deserve better accounting for congressional spending than this.

Democrats want to impose taxes on hardworking and entrepreneurial Americans, and then use those taxes to fund multiple bureaucracies for small businesses to navigate – bureaucracies which duplicate each other. Democrats are stifling economic growth by burdening families – not only by raising existing taxes, but by creating entirely new taxes. As if that weren’t enough, the Democrats’ budget also increases tax burdens for businesses – discouraging growth and jeopardizing our economic viability.

Overall, the multiple proposals released by the Democrats are inconsistent and speak to the party’s inability to work together for the public good. Each “alternative” prioritizes spending for a different special interest – sacrificing the welfare of families, businesses, and working people to stuff the coffers of government bureaucrats. The House Democratic budget is no way to achieve a prosperous future for America.

House Republicans Release Responsible and Compassionate Budget

Wednesday November 16, 2005 -- WASHINGTON, DC: House republicans today released a budget proposal that provides a secure and prosperous future for all Americans by reducing the national deficit, eliminating wasteful spending, and relieving tax burdens for working people. The budget prioritizes spending for national security and honoring our commitments to America’s seniors.

Financing the Future:
We are under a moral obligation to reduce the national deficit. The House Republican Budget fulfils this commitment to our future by cutting the deficit in half by 2010. By making tax cuts permanent, we’re helping working Americans keep the money they earn. Our budget improves the economy by emphasizing market based solutions for programs, empowering entrepreneurs and families.

Prioritizing our Security:
In our budget, fiscal reform does not come at the expense of America’s national security. We are committed to supporting our sons and daughters by providing them the equipment and resources they need while they work night and day to keep us safe and secure. This budget increases troop strength by 40,000, giving our troops much needed support. At the same time, we streamline operations making our military stronger and more efficient.

House republicans are taking steps to relieve America's dependence on foreign oil by exploring domestic fuel sources, and protecting our environment through investing in clean coal and renewable energy programs.

Keeping our commitments:
The house republican budget helps our children, families and seniors. We honor our commitments to the most vulnerable in our society by ensuring safe and healthy schools for children, providing access to opportunities for higher education, and protecting critical aspects of social security and Medicare.

Speaker Hastert comments: "Today, with this budget, Republicans have kept faith with the American people. Our budget is fiscally responsible and reduces the deficit not by raising taxes, but by cutting spending. We have kept faith with this Nation's armed service men and women by providing much needed back-up in terms of both manpower and resources. We have kept faith with older Americans by preserving Social Security and Medicare. We have kept faith with our youth by ensuring safe and drug-free schools, and maintaining our commitment to higher education. Today, I have never been prouder to be an American and a Republican."

Bill of Rights now available for trampling

by Lefty Libewitz

The Right may trumpet their faith in the free market to solve all problems, but when it comes to the marketplace of ideas, they clearly aren’t so confident.

As the final vote on budget passage nears, House Democrats began a responsible public information campaign to educate citizens on important issues.

Republicans, evidently hostile to the free exchange of information, were seen tearing down and destroying the flyers. (It would be unprofessional to name names, but I won’t Delay telling you that one of the two culprits’ names anagrams to “Congresswoman Deborah Ice PR.”)

What does this flagrant violation of the first amendment teach us about Republican priorities? We can bring concealed handguns to church, but free political speech is off-limits?

It can only make us wonder: what else are Republicans hiding?

Conservatives fear the truth. They are perfectly aware that if the people were educated and informed, no one would vote for them. They depend on keeping the public ignorant so that they can be easily misled by a smokescreen of “values” and “patriotism” into voting against their own interests.

If Republicans had any faith in their own principles and platform, they would not need to hide information from the public. Clearly, their politics are only a cynical attempt to enrich themselves, their cronies, and the big corporations that bankroll their campaigns.

Shame on them.

[Pictured: The Democrats' flyer, rescued from the trashcan.]

For Immediate Release:
November 16, 2005
From Chet Edwards (D-TX)
From Joe Bardon, (R-TX)

Representatives Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Joe Barton (R-TX) expressed their strong concern regarding several options in the Bush Administration budget. “We need to make sure that Texas remain the strongest state in the nation, and we are confident President Bush understands our commitment to the Lone Star state’s interests. Specifically, the two congressman have announced a commitment to the Space Program and to Renewable Energy.

Commitment to Space Exploration: Since 1961, the United States of America has been the world’s champion of space exploration, beginning with President Kennedy’s dramatic call to place a man on the moon because “whatever mankind must undertake, free men must fully share.” In the wake of the Columbia disaster in 2003, President Bush pledged: “Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on.” In 2004, he declared that the space program had “expanded human knowledge,” “revolutionized our understanding of the universe,” and “produced technological advances that have benefited all of humanity.” Our space program has produced spinoff technologies ranging from plastics to computers that has made America the world’s leader in advanced technology. “These technologies have a home in Texas, and it is our job to keep them there.” Says Rep. Chet Edwards. This administration’s budget effectively shuts down the American space program, ending a 45 year-long commitment and abdicating our leadership role to China and Europe.

Increasing our Dependence on Foreign Oil: By eliminating funds for alternative-energy and conservation programs, the administration increases our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and abandons efforts to bolster our national security through the development of secure domestic energy sources. Texas has a long standing history of Renewable Energy, and specifically in the state Renewable Portfolio Standards has been a signal to the industry that it is a viable industry. Texas has captured a tremendous amount of the Wind Energy Industry, and it is vital to our national security interests to keep it strong.

This meeting of the minds across the isle signals that the these two representatives wish that their state’s interest are not sacrificed on the altar of ideology. “There are several areas in which Congressman Edwards and I disagree on, but our first concern is for Texas.” says Barton. “Texan values transcend partisan politics” he added.