WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement after House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan released his FY12 budget proposal:

Chairman Ryan's slash and burn budget proposal is not a budget at all. It is an all out assault on children, seniors and the disabled. It is a distorted, dramatically lopsided proposal that fundamentally restructures entitlement programs that millions of Americans rely on while giving the corporations and the wealthy another tax break.

"It's bad enough we are seeing vicious attacks on working families at the state level, but now we have leadership in the House of Representatives intent on continuing that assault to address the federal budget deficit.

"Cutting trillions of dollars from Medicare and Medicaid is not cutting government waste, it is a cold-hearted means to an end - abolishing Medicaid and Medicare as we know it.

"La'Kasha Hines, a Certified Nursing Aide at a nursing home in Philadelphia, knows first hand who these proposed budget cuts would hurt. She often sees patients, from young workers to retirees, who rely on Medicaid to pay for rehabilitation care that their insurance, if they have it, does not cover. Without Medicaid, these patients will have to delay their care or leave earlier than they should, threatening their chance to hold down their job, cover their medical payments and avoid more costly trips to the hospital.

"America's budget is a statement of our values and it is clear whose values Congressman Ryan's budget proposal reflects - the millionaires and big oil companies whose tax giveaways he pays for by cutting off support for our seniors and our children. Our nation will be judged by how we act together for the common good, not the good of a few.

"The question now is who will stand up against the assault on the middle class. The White House and Democrats in the House and Senate should fight this proposal tooth and nail until they can craft a budget that does not inflict harm on those who can least afford it. The American people are watching to see if their elected leaders will stand up for working families."

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

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