As Will Hurd campaigns with Congressman Paul Ryan today in Houston, David Bergstein of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued the following statement:
“It’s no wonder that a Washington politician like Paul Ryan is campaigning with Will Hurd – they share a dangerous agenda that would jeopardize Medicare and Social Security for seniors, slash benefits for veterans and make dramatic cuts to education programs, all in order to protect tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. The fact that Hurd is campaigning outside the district with a leader of the dysfunctional Washington politics that Texans hate is another sign that Hurd is out-of-touch with the values of West Texas families.”
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]
Nearly Identical Plan Would Force Deep Cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. 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 “inevitably force enormous cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and possibly Social Security.” [CBPP, 4/15/11]
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]