Democratic leaders led a 12-hour sit-in protest on the Capitol steps Sunday as lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C., to take up a budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The New York Times reports the White House is proposing a budget that would cut billions of dollars from programs that support child care, health research, education, housing assistance, community development and the elderly.
Meanwhile, three civil rights leaders were arrested on Monday as they held prayers inside the Capitol Rotunda to protest against the Republican-led budget bill. Among them was Rev. William J. Barber, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign.
Bishop William Barber II: “How many of you believe, even more than you did when you came here, that this budget is a moral issue?
Crowd: “Yes.”
Bishop William Barber II: “And that this current budget is — say this with me if you believe it — it is morally indefensible.”
Crowd: “Morally indefensible.
Bishop William Barber II: “It’s constitutionally inconsistent.”
Crowd: “Constitutionally inconsistent.”
Bishop William Barber II: “And it’s economically insane.”
Crowd: “Economically insane.”
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