North Country congressman criticizes proposed budget [The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.]

March 28--PLATTSBURGH -- North Country Congressman Bill Owens believes the federal budget plan submitted by House Republicans is the wrong approach.

"This budget simply does not get the job done," Owens (D-Plattsburgh) told reporters in a recent telephone news conference.

He said the plan authored by Republican Congressman Paul Ryan shifts costs from the wealthy to the middle class and does nothing to reduce the federal deficit. It also would hamper Medicare, student loans, crop insurance and veterans benefits, he believes.

"This is an attempt to shift the entire burden from wealthy folks to literally all the rest of our friends and neighbors," Owens said.

He called for a balanced approach to increasing revenue and cutting spending as a way to attack the deficit problem.

Revenue could be increased by letting tax cuts imposed by former President George W. Bush expire and eliminating tax expenditures, including certain exemptions, deductions and credits, he said.

"This (Ryan) plan flies in the face of what every serious economist is proposing," he said.

'CLASS-WARFARE RHETORIC'

Not everyone shared Owens's thoughts on Ryan's budget plan.

Mark L. Barie, chairman of the Upstate New York Tea Party, issued a statement saying that Owens should be "ashamed of himself."

"Medicare and Medicaid will be bankrupt in a matter of years, and Congressman Owens offers us nothing except more of the same old class-warfare rhetoric," Barie said.

"We have a spending problem, not a tax problem."

UNYTEA is supporting Matt Doheny, a Republican from Watertown who is running against Owens for the seat in the new 21st District this year.

Owens said he trusts the input of national economic experts more than, he said, "our friend in Rouses Point (Barie)."

Email Joe LoTemplio at: [email protected]

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