Sen. Tim Mathern, Fargo
The Republican Ryan budget reduces federal spending by cutting needed infrastructure and hurting those who have less. It protects those who have power. It places farming at risk.
One task of the faith community is to advocate for those without work, seniors on a limited income, or children being raised in families hit by the recession.
That is why I like the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops am so concerned by the budget that moved through the U.S. House of Representatives. It would cut $180 billion from farm and nutrition programs. While oil is big in North Dakota, our base economy is agriculture. This budget chips away at the farm safety net of crop insurance.
We all understand that tough choices need to be made on the federal budget. But a sound policy has to be a just policy, rather than simply forcing cuts that put the vulnerable at risk while giving breaks to those who do not need them.
I hope that our bishops will speak out on this basic social justice issue as some did about health care. Doing so would demonstrate a consistent ethic of life.