What Pa. and N.J. politicians say about Trump's budget plan

Democrats raced out of the gate Thursday to condemn President Trump's first budget outline, accusing him of turning his back on the middle class voters he claimed to champion during his campaign last year.

Republican reaction was slower to roll in as officials digested the president's first formal spending plan.

While Trump's policy aims have often been vague or shifting, the budget spells out priorities in stark terms: He would spend more on defense and homeland security, and would slash funding for environmental protection, work-study aid for college students, a program that helps the poor pay for home heating, arts funding and the National Institutes of Health, which fuels research into fighting cancer, heart disease and many other conditions.

Here is how Pennsylvania and New Jersey lawmakers and other politicians were responding Thursday:

Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.): "President Trump's budget blueprint proposes a significant increase in spending to strengthen national security, rebuild our neglected military, and honor our commitment to veterans with additional resources for the VA. To pay for these changes, it proposes reductions to non-defense programs. After years of overspending, I am encouraged that the President has proposed actual spending cuts and has committed to maintaining the overall cap on discretionary spending. I look forward to carefully examining each of the proposed reductions in this budget proposal."

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney (D): "This budget would be devastating to every single Philadelphian. Its effects cut across racial and socioeconomic lines. While we are still evaluating the total and precise details of the impact, it's safe to say that the cuts to Community Development Block Grants would devastate small businesses, neighborhood and affordable housing. Moving funding from public education to the charter and private sector, would weaken our traditional public schools, creating fewer opportunities for our students. The cuts to the EPA and health and human services would hamper the City's ability to protect residents from health threats like air pollution and infectious diseases. I urge Congress to show common sense and compassion, and reject a spending plan that, if enacted as proposed, would adversely impact working families in Philadelphia and across the country."

After a luncheon for business owners in the city, Kenney was quick to cast the blame on voters for the cuts but also urged a wait-and-see approach.

He said: "If you voted for Donald Trump, I guess you're getting what you want and it remains to be seen whether you'll be happy at the end of that four years." The mayor added: " "We have to see how this takes shape. This is not something that's going to happen like a lightning bolt, overnight, it's going to take shape over the budget process and we're going to see what's actually out there that's doable that he wants to do, and what Congress is going to push back on. And hopefully Congress is going to help save us in some of this."

One local lawmaker, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R., N.J.) praised the budget for what it didn't include: proposed cuts to the Coast Guard. The Atlantic City-area Congressman and others representing coastal strongly objected when the idea was floated earlier this month.

LoBiondo said: "I am pleased we were able to convince the Trump administration to protect the critical security missions the U.S. Coast Guard undertake each day to keep our nation safe ... I will continue to closely monitor the Service's funding support to ensure these vital missions are not infringed."

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D): "Thousands of Pennsylvanians rely on programs that are being eliminated or dramatically cut in President Trump's budget proposal. Seniors receive food from meals on wheels efforts. Families across Pennsylvania get help paying for their heating bills through heating assistance. Workers rely on job training programs to help them get back on their feet. Students across Pennsylvania with disabilities get access to the education they need to succeed through federal funding. All of these programs are facing elimination or massive cuts. It's unacceptable. Many communities will be harmed by indiscriminate cuts to housing programs, agriculture investments, and efforts to keep our land and water safe."

As for foreign governments, Rick Pitcairn, chief investment officer of the Jenkintown-based Pitcairn investment firm, said they would be more pragmatic about Trump's efforts to cut budgets and stimulate economic growth. He said: "Trump prides himself on his unpredictability, but that's not the only reason it will be difficult to figure out what he's going to do. In order to enact any of his policies, he must work with Congress. Even with both houses under Republican control, we've seen in the past that negotiating with Congress on policies is anything but a sure thing."

Staff writers Julia Terruso and Erin Arvedlund contributed to this report.