Ask Judge Mathis

Once again, the Republican Party is showing that it cares very little about the average American and their struggles. While taking a stab and crafting a budget that will serve the nation in the long-term, Republican members of the House of Representatives proposed cutting $5.7 billion from affordable housing programs. They also want to eliminate more than $550 million from a program that offsets rent costs for low-income senior citizens and do away with over $200 million that helps people with disabilities pay for housing. If that weren’t enough, they also want to end funding for a program that provides counseling to families fighting foreclosure.

The recession has seen an increase in the number of homeless people in this country. With so many Americans out of work or employed in low paying positions, rent is an expense that eats away at a large chunk of whatever income they bring in. Without these government subsidies, we’ll see more and more families forced into the streets. Similarly, foreclosure counseling has helped a great number of people stay in their homes. Without access to this service, more people will lose their greatest asset. Of all the programs the Republicans could look to cut, housing is the one area they should leave alone. It’s inconceivable that a political party would fight so hard to extend tax cuts for the rich while working equally hard to keep the poor down and to move the middle class into poverty and homelessness.

Congress has gone back and forth, arguing on a budget that would carry the federal government through the remainder of this fiscal year. There is a sense of urgency; if no agreement can be reached, the government will shut down and any ‘non essential’ government business would cease. Federal workers would be out of work and the services they provide no longer available, creating frustration for all of us. Recently, the President approved a temporary budget that will keep the government running through March 18. But, he and Congress need to decide on a longer term budget, one that will keep the government funded through September 30. Already, there is some dissatisfaction with the $4 billion in cuts in the temporary measure. Indeed, America has to make some tough decisions about how it spends its money if the nation is to reduce the deficit. Intellectually, most Americans understand and accept that truth. The progressive thinkers among us just don’t want those cuts to come at the expense of the poor and working class.

Call your Congressman and express outrage over the Republican budget proposal. Tell them to keep their hands off housing programs. Demand that they stand up for the average American. Not sure how to get in touch with your legislator? Visit www.usa.gov to find out how.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has set off a fire storm among the state’s unions and public employees. To compound matters other states are proposing similar laws and will soon have to deal with their own revolts. Walker, in the name of balancing the state budget, has proposed legislation that will essentially deny public employees their collective bargaining rights and increase their payments to the state’s healthcare and pension plans.

Union employees, including teachers and others, from around the Midwest (some even came in from New York) flocked to the Wisconsin state capital en masse to protest and continue to do so. The state legislature’s 14 Democrats oppose the plan and don’t want to vote on it. Instead of staying in Wisconsin and simply not showing up for the vote, which would have been in violation of the law, they left the state to prevent the state legislator from having the necessary number of members needed to vote on the legislation.

Wisconsin definitely has a big mess on its hands. Soon, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio – all of which have similar legislation in the works – may be dealing with their protests and stonewalling from state Democrats.

Supporters of the proposals in all the states say these types of cuts are necessary to reduce state deficits. Yet, Governor Walker, a Tea Party backed Republican, has proposed tax breaks for corporations. If Walker is truly interested in sorting out Wisconsin’s finance, why would he, on one hand, give away revenue by cutting corporate taxes and then, on the other, jeopardize the job and financial security of union employees, all of whom are tax paying citizens? Something here doesn’t compute.

Also interesting is the fact that Walker received more than $40,000 in campaign contributions last year from a political group run by David and Charles Koch. The two Koch brothers run a booming gas and oil business and have been uncovered to be major financial supporters of the Tea Party movement. Is Walker, and other politicians like him, doing his own bidding, or is he paying back the Tea Party for its support by moving their agenda forward?

We may never know for certain. But we do know this: balancing the budget, whether it be at the state or federal level, on the backs of public employees who provide the services we all need to maintain and enjoy our quality of life is unfair. Especially when rich corporations are being given tax breaks. Walker’s attempt is an old maneuver from the Republican playbook of the past and the Tea Party of new. Opponents of union busting legislation must stand strong and reject these modern day union busting efforts.