Following the House leadership decision late this afternoon to pull a planned vote on the budget reconciliation bill, People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas had the following statement:

“The Bush Administration’s inability to lead, and the unwillingness of the radical right in the House to seek more reasonable policies, has brought about the defeat of this outrageous budget proposal.

“The House leadership was insisting on tax cuts for the wealthy, and insisting that those tax cuts come out of the hides of middle class families, the elderly, the sick and the poorest among us.

“They couldn’t make the moderates in their own party swallow it, they couldn’t convince the American people and the process has simply fallen apart. The members and activists of People For the American will continue to demand legislation that reflects the true priorities of the American people.”