Today, Economic Policy Institute president Heidi Shierholz condemned the House Republicans’ budget resolution while testifying at a U.S. House of Representatives Education and Workforce Committee hearing titled, “Unleashing America’s Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy.” The proposed budget would gut vital programs like Medicaid to help pay for extending the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy. 

According to EPI’s analysis, the proposed $880 billion cuts to Medicaid alone would reduce incomes for the bottom 40% of households far more than extending the TCJA would boost them. On net, the bottom 20% of households would see a 6.8% income cut, while the top 1% would see incomes rise by 3.9%. 

“We are meeting today to discuss ‘unleashing’ America’s workforce and strengthening the economy. However, our discussion is occurring while this very chamber moves forward with a budget that will make draconian cuts to health care and food assistance for children and families, hurting millions of America’s workers, and weakening our economy,” said Shierholz. “If you are truly interested in unleashing America’s workforce and strengthening the economy, you would implement tax policy that ensures the health of critical programs like Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP, not advance measures that give tax cuts to the wealthiest at the literal expense of poor children, the sick, and the elderly.”

The full written testimony and video of the hearing can be seen here.