WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement after the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or "Super-Committee," did not reach an agreement:

"Democrats on the Super-Committee stood their ground. They insisted that everyone in America pay their fair share and prevented devastating cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and other programs that millions of Americans rely on for their healthcare, long-term care and their livelihoods. But, Republicans decided to insist on tax giveaways to the top 1 percent instead of offering serious proposals that would require true shared sacrifice.

"The full Congress is where these decisions should be made. Now, it's up to both chambers to focus on putting Americans back to work. That is the best way to reduce our deficit. A cuts only approach will not work and will end up shifting responsibility to already stretched state budgets and cost millions of jobs."