The reckless Republican proposal

Chairman Ryan and the House majority are asking sacrifice from seniors who need health care and children who need good schools. Meanwhile, the oil companies and other wealthy special interests, like corporations that send jobs overseas, continue to make out like bandits.

Destroying Medicare and cutting critical education investments is a path to American weakness, not prosperity. Their budget does nothing to create jobs and help the nation out of this brutal recession.

The fact is that we can reduce spending and rein in the deficit without hurting people. We can start by bringing our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan and ending the military operation in Libya. I will fight the Ryan proposal with every ounce of energy I have, and I will continue to promote a budget that invests in people, strengthens the middle class, creates jobs, and remains faithful to American values.