E.J. Dionne Jr. has written a scathing op-ed blasting lawmakers - particularly in the House - for "proclaim[ing] their desire to encourage hard work, personal responsibility and family values," but then going against these stated principles by "pushing a budget that... is a direct assault on ... hard work, personal responsibility and family values." As Dionne points out, the cuts proposed by House Republican leaders would hurt programs that provide food stamps, child care assistance, child support enforcement, foster care, and Medicaid. So many politicians are quoted in the media discussing the "hard choices" they have to make to cut the deficit. But in reality, these reconciliation bills don't do anything to cut the deficit because they also cut taxes. As Dionne says, "A hard choice for them would be to cut tax pork, that dizzying list of "tax incentives" they have showered on oil companies and investors, and to halt the repeal of the inheritance tax on large fortunes." The lawmakers working on the budget as we speak cannot call themselves fiscally responsible until they make some real hard choices -- that is, ending the flow of tax breaks for the wealthy that are pushing this country deep into debt and giving Republicans a cover to cut both entitlement and discretionary spending. Anything less than ending the onslaught of tax cuts (federal spending in disguise) is simply a front at fiscal responsibility. The op-ed, House Mollycoddles The Rich, appeared in today's Sacramento Bee.