Blumenthal comes to Winsted to speak against budget resolution, warn about possible ramifications of GOP-led tax cut effort

WINSTED — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, came to Winsted Friday afternoon to discuss and speak out against the budget resolution recently passed by Senate Republicans, warning that it could increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion and/or lead to cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

The Senate passed a budget resolution Thursday, which outlines a potential path forward for government spending in the 2018 fiscal year.

The resolution would allow for the national debt to be increased by $1.5 trillion, according to Vox.com. Its passage allows Republicans to pass a tax reform bill through budget reconciliation, which would require only 51 votes and thus eliminate the need for bipartisan support.

The budget offered in the bill would theoretically be balanced — deficits would be offset by projected economic growth and spending cuts, according to the New York Times. The cuts “exist only on paper, without legislation to achieve them” at this point in time, the Times reported.

Blumenthal warned about the potential $1.5 trillion increase in the national debt, the potential elimination of the tax deduction for writing off state and local taxes — also approved by the Senate Thursday, according to the New York Post, although not yet law - and the possible reduction of Medicare and Medicaid funding by more than $1 trillion.

According to USA Today, “(o)ver the next 10 years, the budget calls for $473 billion in cuts from Medicare and $1 trillion from Medicaid.”

“The fact is — we’re going to have look our children in the eyes and say to them ‘we’re creating an additional debt of 1.5 trillion dollars. We are putting you 1.5 trillion dollars further in debt, just so we can take these tax cuts,’” said Blumenthal. “In my view, that is unconscionable.”

The possibility of increasing the deficit reverses the traditional Republican position on the issue, Blumenthal said.

“The American people could be well-forgiven for being a little bit befuddled about what’s happening. This budget blueprint, which blows the deficit up $1.5 trillion, from a party that’s committed to fiscal responsibility,” said Blumenthal.” It makes no sense unless you see who is benefitting — and that’s Donald Trump, and the people around him, and the top, wealthiest people in the country.”

Blumenthal said most Connecticut residents would not see their taxes reduced if the plan put forward by the Trump Administration is passed into law. According to the New York Times, the plan calls for a reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent and eliminates the estate tax, among other measures.

“I guarantee that in Connecticut, there are very, very few people who will see tax cuts. Most people — we’ve done the numbers — will see increases in taxes,” said Blumenthal. “Middle class people will see increases in taxes.”

Winsted residents in attendance expressed their disagreement with the plan Friday, as they stood in a semi-circle with Blumenthal on the sidewalk in front of Town Hall.

Blumenthal suggested that they reach out to relatives in other states and ask them to contact their representatives in opposition to the possible tax plan.

“(Trump) is borrowing to benefit himself, from our children,” said Blumenthal. “But we have a decision to make, because we in the Congress represent you, and I think we just need to make people aware of what the real facts are and pay attention.”