REPUBLICANS FINANCE MORE TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY BY CUTTING PROGRAMS FOR THE NEEDY

They've done it again.

Say this much for House Republicans' budget. It leaves no doubt who the conservatives expect to swallow hard while the party continues its wild indulgences in tax cuts, deficit spending and weapons programs.

The poor, students and farmers can all step up to take a dose of bitter medicine. As part of the budget measure passed by two votes on Friday, growth in Medicaid spending will be curbed. Food stamp eligibility will be tightened. Farm conservation programs will suffer. And the party that likes to boast of its belief in building a strong economic future will make higher education tougher by imposing steeper interest rates on parent and student loans, raising fees and cutting subsidies to lenders.

The cuts of $50 billion were designed to look like a package that benefits the country's economic future by containing the explosion of the national debt. In reality, the House Republicans want to impose the pain on the poor and the middle class so they can pander to the rich with $70 billion in tax-cut extensions.

Tags: tax cuts, House Republicans, budget