KINGSTON – The Republican-led House of Representatives’ two proposals concerning the national debt are both flawed and should not be allowed to pass. That from Congressman Pat Ryan while at Kingston City Hall on Saturday.
Surrounded by armed services veterans, Ryan, himself a combat vet and graduate, said the nation cannot be allowed to default on its debt for the first time in its history, nor should it make massive cuts to social services programs.
Ryan said no taxes are collected on a yacht tax or a private jet tax.
“And yet we are going to make seniors who count on meals on wheels, kids that are hungry, vets pay the price while they continue to get no corporate taxes,” he said. “What is not on the table – removing the yacht tax. Yes, that is real thing in the United States of America, if you own a yacht, you can deduct it and not have to pay it. If you have a private plane, you can deduct it and not have to pay for it. Those need to be on the table, not our veterans, vulnerable people, and so on and so forth.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, a Marine veteran who continues to serve the community and cuts proposed would negatively impact those who need them most.
Army veteran Ray Harvey said the proposed Republican cuts are “an insult to everyone who has sacrificed for this county.”
Kevin Keaveny, president of the Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration, “Not a Memorial or Veterans Day goes by that we don’t see our country’s leaders praising the service of our Veterans. Yet when it comes to actually caring for them, we pass a bill that threatens to cut and reduce services, the hypocrisy bewilders me,” said Kevin Keaveny, President of the Hudson Valley Center for Veteran Reintegration. “At what point do we say enough is enough? As a nation we must stand for our Veterans, not turn our backs on them.”
Aside from proposed cuts to veterans’ benefits, Republican are looking to cut Social Services, food stamp at benefits.
