Dear Neighbors,
I know many of you are wondering about the recent actions that took place in the Senate late on Friday afternoon. In the coming days we’ll be learning more about the impacts of these actions, but for now I wanted to send you the statement that was released by Speaker Frank Chopp.
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Statement from Speaker Frank Chopp on the Republican actions in the Senate:
“The Senate Republicans have exercised the worst abuse of power I have ever witnessed in the legislature. It says something about them that the minute they gained power, they abused it.
“They immediately moved to run over the minority on the floor by denying them the right to even see the budget bill before asking them to vote on it.
“They immediately turned their backs on the rights of the people by dismissing all calls for public testimony. Yes, the party that regularly decries the lack of transparency in the legislature cut the public out of the process completely.
“As for their budget proposal, from what little we’ve heard, it shreds the safety net, eliminates state food assistance, housing and medical care for the disabled, and continues the Republican war on women by eliminating family planning grants.”
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