WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement Friday in response to Senate Republicans’ proposed fiscal 2018 budget resolution:

“After failing to throw 32 million Americans off health insurance, the Republicans are continuing their attack against the working families of our country with one of the most destructive budgets in modern American history. This budget is the Robin Hood principle in reverse. At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, the Republican budget takes from the middle class and those in need, and gives huge tax breaks to the wealthiest people in this country. While this budget would cut Medicare by at least $450 billion, it would give billionaires, including the Trump family, huge tax breaks. Further, it would increase the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade.

“As the ranking member of the Budget Committee, I will do everything I can to oppose the absurd set of priorities in this budget. At a time when the middle class is shrinking and over 40 million Americans are living in poverty, we need a budget that reflects the needs of the working families of our country, not just the wealthy, the powerful and large campaign contributors.

“This Republican budget was written for the billionaire class, for Wall Street, for corporate CEOs and for the Koch brothers. It is the exact opposite of what America stands for and must be soundly defeated.”