In response to the announcement that Will Hurd has been hand-picked by Washington politicians to deliver the Republican national radio address, DCCC spokesman David Bergstein issued the following statement:
“When Will Hurd isn’t regurgitating the talking points of his dysfunctional Washington backers, he’s pushing a dangerous plan that indiscriminately slashes vital services for veterans, cuts support for schools and even jeopardizes Social Security and Medicare – all while giving more tax giveaways to the ultra-wealthy. Throughout his campaign, Hurd has proven nothing about himself except that he’s far out-of-touch with the values of Texas’ middle class families, and this speech is no exception.”
BACKGROUND:
Hurd Endorsed “Cuts of 16 Percent Across the Board” to the Federal Budget. “Hurd said that Congress needs to cap federal spending to ‘a percentage of GDP— 18% is a good number’ because that was the number when the budget was last balanced. ‘That would translate to cuts of 16% across the board.’” [Sara for America, 1/17/14]
Will Hurd Wants to “Slash Benefits For Texas Veterans.” “If Hurd’s budget plan were passed, drastic cuts would be made to veterans’ services. Hurd’s plan slashes the budget indiscriminately, without regard for what is being used to help those who have served our country. The budget would cut funding for VA hospitals in the district, and exacerbate the already-existing problems veterans face because of improperly funded VA offices. CD-23 is home to over 46,000 veterans who would be hurt by Will Hurd’s plan.” [Burnt Orange Report, 7/10/14]
Hurd’s Budget Plan “Would ‘Inevitably Force Enormous Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, And Possibly Social Security.’” “It turns out that Hurd’s proposed across-the-board, indiscriminate 16% budget cuts would put yet another program at risk–Medicare. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a budget plan like Hurd’s would ‘inevitably force enormous cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and possibly Social Security.’” [Burnt Orange Report, 8/1/14]
Nearly Identical Plan Would Result in “Huge Cuts” to Education. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the CAP Act, a proposal to limit federal spending to no more than 20.6 percent of GDP – a higher spending cap than Hurd suggested – would result in “huge cuts to the social safety net for seniors, children, and the disabled, as well as to public investments such as education and infrastructure.” [CBPP, 4/15/11]