ELCA presiding bishop thanks members of Congress

Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, sent a thank-you letter Dec. 6 to members of Congress who voted against spending cuts to human services programs such as Food Stamps and Medicaid in the budget reconciliation process.

“I wish to thank you for not closing your ears to the cries of the poor during this Advent season,” Hanson wrote.

The budget reconciliation process is comprised of House and Senate bills for spending and tax cuts. Tax cuts for the wealthiest 3 percent of U.S. taxpayers are being proposed by Congress along with spending cuts in human services programs for the next 5 to 10 years. The spending cuts have passed in both the House and the Senate, and differences in the bills are currently being resolved in conference committee. The tax cuts have passed in the Senate, but have not been voted on in the House.