Reid: Ryan-Koch budget harms students, seniors

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday that Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) budget would result in “more poverty and less opportunity.”

Ryan released his budget Tuesday, which reduces taxes, but cuts federal programs. 

{mosads}Reid said the spending cuts to Medicare and financial aid harm seniors and students.

“The Ryan-Koch budget tells our nation’s children you’re on your own,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “It rolls back federal financial aid to students. 

“The Koch-Ryan budget breaks the promise to seniors. … It would be the end to Medicare as we know it.”

Reid said Ryan designed his budget to help the wealthy, such as David and Charles Koch — billionaire oil tycoons Reid has often criticized.

Senate Democrats decided not to release a budget because a two-year budget agreement was reached last year. Instead Democrats are focusing on wealth inequality issues, such as raising the minimum wage and extending long-term unemployment benefits.