AFSCME’s Saunders: Diverting funding from vital public services to billionaires is inhumane

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate passed a budget reconciliation package, beginning the process to cut essential public services for communities nationwide:

“This budget is inhumane. If cuts to essential services are enacted, children in public schools will go hungry. Retirees who depend on Medicaid and Medicare will lose health care. Families on SNAP will have to choose between groceries and rent. Emergency calls will go delayed or unanswered. Lifesaving public services will again come to a screeching halt, all so billionaires can hoard even more wealth.

“On average, 33% of state budgets depend on the federal government. Deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP or other programs will force states, cities and towns to significantly cut the services they provide and slash public service worker jobs. Clearly, these anti-worker senators do not work for us; they work for the wealthy who they plan to hand trillions of dollars in tax cuts while depriving vulnerable Americans of food and health care.

“AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, the public service workers who keep our communities running, will mobilize the full strength of our union to urge members of Congress to abandon these destructive budgets. And we will keep fighting to ensure that there is always someone there to answer 911 calls, pick up your child from school, ensure your roads are safe to drive on and protect public services for future generations.”