Rep. Taylor votes for bill despite local protests

On Nov. 18 the US House of Representatives passed a controversial budget cut bill, dubbed the Reverse Robin Hood, in a close vote of 217 to 215. The bill includes $50 billion in slashes to spending on social programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and student loans. In contrast to the cuts in spending on the poor are the $70 billion in tax breaks for the rich in the second part of the bill (which will be voted on separately). The bill is meant to address the growing national debt as a result of hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the Iraq War, and to cut the deficit in half by 2009. On Nov. 16, Asheville members and supporters of the organization MoveOn braved a cold, windy afternoon and joined members in 100 similar events across the country by staging a "speak-out" to persuade Charles Taylor and other Republican legislators to vote against the bill. About 50 locals gathered in front of Vance Monument carrying signs with slogans such as "Food for the hungry, cut to the bone" and "Budget priorities reflect life's priorities." The centerpiece of the demonstration was a mock Thanksgiving table set with empty plates. Five local residents from a variety of backgrounds–a recent college graduate, a working mother, a scientist, a Vietnam veteran and an attorney–related personal stories of how the budget plan would affect them. Following the speeches, the protesters reconvened at Taylor's Asheville office to urge him to oppose the budget cuts. Taylor was in Washington, so the group spoke with Steve Greene, Taylor's district chief of staff. When asked about Taylor's position on the bill, Greene said he had no comment, saying that the hurricanes would affect decisions and that the bill was still a work in progress. Greene deflected a question regarding tax breaks for the rich in contrast with cuts in spending on the poor back to Tessa O'Brian, one of the Asheville organizers for MoveOn. O'Brian replied, "…taking money away from the lower income class is not going to help Katrina victims." Another protester concurred, "It's hurting the same people." Greene responded, "It's hard to please everybody, there will be rich people upset too… it's gotta come from somewhere." Greene said Taylor would like information on how the budget cuts would affect people from the 11th district, which the group agreed to provide. He then stated, "We do case work here… I would like to see the bottom line… what I'll say is one thing Charles Taylor always says, 'the government can mess up a one car funeral.'" However, the input from these constituents did not affect Taylor's vote; he joined the majority of Republicans and voted in favor of the bill. Protest and criticism of the budget plan did result in concessions to the cuts to social programs, and a rider to the bill regarding drilling in the Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge was dropped. Now the House budget bill must be reconciled with the Senate version (cuts in the Senate version are much more modest) and a final vote is expected in the next few weeks.