Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) decried the “toxic tea” being “brewed” by the Tea Party Republicans in Congress on the floor of the Senate Thursday, highlighting proposed cuts to early education funding, college tuition assistance, women’s health care and environmental protections.
“Here in Congress, Tea Party activists have seized control of the Republican side of the aisle — and it is far from a tea party for lots of jobless people and those qualified to study in college but unable to pay the freight,” Lautenberg said in prepared remarks.
“Now that they are in power, we see they’re brewing Toxic Tea — a dangerous concoction that will create pain for our children and bring shame to our country,” he said.
“We know that cutting critical programs now brings sky-high prices later — in more illnesses and a less-educated society,” Lautenberg said. “So we look at the future and we say we must invest in our children, our environment and medical research. But every time, they say: ‘No.’”
“Ask any parent if they want their kids to drink from that teapot. We need to gather together for birthday parties, school graduation and lots of smiles instead of their toxic tea parties. Let’s reject the House Republican Tea Party approach to funding our government,” Lautenberg said.
“When they say, ‘Have some Toxic Tea,’ we must say: ‘No,’” Lautenberg said.
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Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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