Cuts for kids, seniors, port security and you?

Q: What do educating kids, national security, seniors and jobs have in common?

A: They’re all victims of the 2011 Budget passed by House Republicans.

During the past month, I have met with people throughout South Florida who are deeply concerned about our community, our safety and our future.

A few weeks ago, I listened to the concerns of working moms in Davie who fear losing early childhood education and Head Start programs for their children.  These programs are proven to increase high-school graduation rates and reduce future delinquency and crime.

Last week I was briefed by security officials from South Florida’s two major seaports – Port Everglades and The Port of Miami – they are concerned because the 2011 budget cuts critical port security funds by 66% nationwide.

And Monday, I met with seniors in Hollywood who depend upon their Social Security payment for food and medicine – essentially for their survival.  However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) now faces cuts of $1.7 billion below the level needed to maintain basic services to the public.   In Florida, that means 256,542 people would go to the Social Security office for help and find the lights off and the doors locked.

All the while economists at Moody’s Analytics have estimated that the House Republican 2011 budget would result in a loss of 700,000 American jobs.

Is this is way to balance the budget? On the backs of children, the shoulders of our seniors and the paychecks of the middle class?

It certainly is not.  There is a better way.

As your voice in Washington, I will work with my colleagues across the aisle to find ways to reduce federal spending.  But while doing so, I will not turn my back families, seniors or public safety.  We need to balance the budget and bring government spending under control, but not at the expense of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens and our middle class.