Washington D.C., Dec 23, 2013 / 08:24 am (CNA/
EWTN News).- A federal budget framework
resulting from dialogue and compromise in
Washington, D.C., drew both praise and caution
from the head of the U.S. bishops’ committee on
domestic justice and human development.
“Millions of working families across the country and
around the world struggle to survive and achieve
stability,” said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of
Miami, after the House approved the bill. “While this
agreement is an important first step to
accomplishing that, more needs to be done.”
The Senate approved the plan on Dec. 18, sending
the bill to President Obama, who voiced his support.
The budget plan had previously passed the House
of Representatives by a wide margin, drawing
support from majorities of both parties.
Negotiated by budget committee leaders Rep. Paul
Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.),
the plan removes some of the forced spending cuts
put in place under the “sequester.” It relaxes
spending caps while lowering the deficit by some
$20 billion in future years. Laying out a spending
plan through fiscal year 2015, it also seeks to avoid
another potential government shutdown.
Some Republican lawmakers were unsatisfied with
the bill, due to its failure to stay within spending
caps and reduction of some military pension
benefits. Some Democrats voiced complaints that
the bill did not include an unemployment benefit
extension.
However, other members of both parties applauded
the move as a compromise after months of partisan
stalemate.
Archbishop Wenski, while commending the dialogue
behind the plan, also expressed his disappointment
that unemployment benefits were not extended,
saying that the “recent welcome decline in
unemployment levels hides the reality that millions
of long-term unemployed workers continue to suffer
from an economy that does not produce enough
decent work. For most of these families, jobless
benefits are the only source of support.”
He stressed the need for “wise bipartisan
leadership” as the bill moves forward, calling for
protection for the poor and vulnerable, as well as
work toward the common good and the promotion
of human life and dignity.
“Congress and the Administration still face serious
and consequential decisions regarding
appropriations for fiscal year 2014,” he said.
EWTN News).- A federal budget framework
resulting from dialogue and compromise in
Washington, D.C., drew both praise and caution
from the head of the U.S. bishops’ committee on
domestic justice and human development.
“Millions of working families across the country and
around the world struggle to survive and achieve
stability,” said Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of
Miami, after the House approved the bill. “While this
agreement is an important first step to
accomplishing that, more needs to be done.”
The Senate approved the plan on Dec. 18, sending
the bill to President Obama, who voiced his support.
The budget plan had previously passed the House
of Representatives by a wide margin, drawing
support from majorities of both parties.
Negotiated by budget committee leaders Rep. Paul
Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.),
the plan removes some of the forced spending cuts
put in place under the “sequester.” It relaxes
spending caps while lowering the deficit by some
$20 billion in future years. Laying out a spending
plan through fiscal year 2015, it also seeks to avoid
another potential government shutdown.
Some Republican lawmakers were unsatisfied with
the bill, due to its failure to stay within spending
caps and reduction of some military pension
benefits. Some Democrats voiced complaints that
the bill did not include an unemployment benefit
extension.
However, other members of both parties applauded
the move as a compromise after months of partisan
stalemate.
Archbishop Wenski, while commending the dialogue
behind the plan, also expressed his disappointment
that unemployment benefits were not extended,
saying that the “recent welcome decline in
unemployment levels hides the reality that millions
of long-term unemployed workers continue to suffer
from an economy that does not produce enough
decent work. For most of these families, jobless
benefits are the only source of support.”
He stressed the need for “wise bipartisan
leadership” as the bill moves forward, calling for
protection for the poor and vulnerable, as well as
work toward the common good and the promotion
of human life and dignity.
“Congress and the Administration still face serious
and consequential decisions regarding
appropriations for fiscal year 2014,” he said.
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