Christian Leaders Blast GOP Tax Bill morally reprehensible WASHINGTON (RNS) A coalition of liberal Christian leaders blasted a GOP budget plan that would extend Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy while slashing key provisions for the poor. The bill, which is being used by both parties as part of election-year jockeying, would slash the Earned Income Tax Credit, which supplements wages of low-income workers, and the Child Tax Credit, which provides up to $1,000 financial support per child for poor working families. At the same time, the bill would extend Bush-era tax cuts for the highest income earners: individuals earning over $200,000 a year and families earning over $250,000. The tax cuts, which were renewed two years ago on a temporary basis, are set to expire at year's end. In a letter delivered to Capitol Hill on Wednesday (Aug. 1), 60 faith leaders urged Congress "to put families and workers before ideological agendas that favor the powerful." "To roll back tax credits for the poor to help fund tax breaks for the rich is simply morally reprehensible," said the Rev. Jim Wallis, president and CEO of the social justice organization Sojourners, who called the federal budget a "moral document" that should transcend party politics.
The two items are not connected but the optics of them are poor and give an opening for demagogues like these leftwing preachers to exploit. Maybe if we stopped pissing aways billions per year in Afghanistan and Iraq we could somehow afford to look after people here. I don't really support these programs. I mean, why is it my responsibility to pay for other peoples' children? If you can't afford children, maybe you shouldn't have them, but i know that kind of thnking is hopelessly out of step. In any case, as Ron Paul points out, whatever you think of this type pf program, at least it is going to people in this country in real need. I would rather spend it here than in afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt etc.