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MR. SPEAKER, I WAS TAUGHT A
VALUABLE LESSON, IF YOU WEREN'T
RESPONSIBLE WITH YOUR ALLOWANCE
YOU WOULDN'T GET ANY MORE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I GO BACK TO THE
POINT THAT WAS RAISED AGAIN TO
WHAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE IN
TERMS OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE
PLAN.
WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A PREMIUM
SUPPORT PLAN.
THE IDEA BEHIND A PREMIUM
SUPPORT PLAN IS THAT THE
EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE SHARE THE
PREMIUM AND THE EMPLOYER IN THIS
CASE, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, PAYS
A CERTAIN PERCENT.
I HAVE RIGHT HERE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES HEALTH PLAN HANDBOOK
AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S SHARE
PAID IS SET BY LAW.
MEMBERS HAVE PROTECTED
THEMSELVES BY LAW.
THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION
EQUALS THE LESSER OF 72% OR 75%
OF THE TOTAL PREMIUM FOR THE
PARTICULAR PLAN.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
HAS 72 CENTS FOR EVERY PREMIUM
DOLLAR PAID FOR.
WHENEVER PREMIUMS GO UP, 72% OF
THE COST OF THAT PREMIUM IS
PICKED UP BY THE GOVERNMENT.
WHAT THE REPUBLICAN PLAN DOES IS
GIVE SENIORS A RAW DEAL.
IT DOES NOT GIVE SENIORS THE
DEAL THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
GIVE TO THEMSELVES AND THAT
SHOULD BE PUT TO REST RIGHT NOW,
JUST LOOK AT THE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
FLORIDA, MS. CASTOR.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
VOTE ON THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VOTES
THAT I WILL CAST AND MY
COLLEAGUES WILL CAST AS A MEMBER
OF CONGRESS.
THE VOTE WILL TELL A STORY OF
TWO DISTINCT VISIONS FOR
AMERICA, HOW WE REDUCE OUR DEBT,
OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE AND WHAT WE
VALUE AS AMERICANS.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN TO DESTROY
MEDICARE, REPLACE IT WITH A
VOUCHER SYSTEM AND SADDLE OUR
OLDER NEIGHBORS AND HARD-WORKING
FAMILIES WITH NEARLY THE ENTIRE
BURDEN OF REDUCING THE FEDERAL
DEFICIT BETRAYS OUR AMERICAN
VALUES.
MEDICARE HAS ALLOWED OUR PARENTS
AND GRANDPARENTS AND OLDER
NEIGHBORS TO LIVE IN DIGNITY IN
THEIR RETIREMENT YEARS.
MEDICARE HAS KEPT FAMILIES OUT
OF POVERTY FOR DECADES.
IT HAS WORKED WELL.
AND WITH THE BABY BOOMERS
COMING, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF
NECESSARY REFORMS, BUT THE
REPUBLICANS SHOULD NOT USE THESE
DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES AS A
REASON TO DESTROY MEDICARE.
AFTER ALL, THE REPUBLICAN PLAN
WILL NOT SAVE ANY MONEY, IT
SIMPLY SHIFTS THE COSTS TO OLDER
AMERICANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE NONPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE RELEASED AN
ANALYSIS THAT SAYS IN 2022, WITH
AN INCREASE OF $7,000 PER YEAR,
REPUBLICANS WOULD DOUBLE THE
COST PER PERSON.
AND NOT $1 OF THAT INCREASE IN
BENEFICIARY COSTS GOES TO
REDUCING THE DEFICIT.
IT ALL GOES TO COVER THE HIGHER
COSTS OF HIGHER PLANS THAT THE
REPUBLICANS WOULD FORCE YOU TO
JOIN.
THE PRESIDENT SAID YESTERDAY
THIS DEBATE OVER BUDGETS AND
DEFICITS IS MORE -- IS ABOUT
MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A
PAGE.
IT'S ABOUT THE KIND OF FUTURE
THAT WE WANT.
IT'S ABOUT THE KIND OF COUNTRY
WE BELIEVE IN.
AND I AGREE.
THAT EACH ONE OF US DESERVES
SOME BASIC MEASURE OF SECURITY
AND DIGNITY.
HE SAID THAT WE RECOGNIZE NO
MATTER HOW RESPONSIBLY WE LIVE
OUR LIVES, HARD TIMES OR BAD
LUCK OR CRIPPLING ILLNESS OR
LAYOFF MAY STRIKE ANY ONE OF US.
I.
THERE BUT FOR THE GAYS OF GOD GO
UNDER THIS REPUBLICAN PLAN IN
FLORIDA, LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT.
WE NEED TO REJECT THIS
REPUBLICAN PLAN ON THIS MOST
IMPORTANT VOTE.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SAVE
MEDICARE AND KEEP DIGNITY FOR
OLDER AMERICANS.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I WISH I COULD HAVE
THAT CHART, SAVE MEDICARE.
LET'S LOOK AT CURRENT LAW
PASSED HERE NOT LONG AGO, THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
WE'VE ALL DONE TOWN HALL
MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE SAY, WHY
DO YOU KEEP RAIDING THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND?
WE AGREE, THAT WAS WRONG.
GUESS WHAT, THE CURRENT HEALTH
CARE LAW RAIDS MEDICARE.
THE CURRENT PRESIDENT'S HEALTH
CARE LAW TAKES $682 BILLION OUT
OF MEDICARE TO SPEND ON THE
OBAMACARE ENTITLEMENT.
WE'RE ENDING THE RAID OF
MEDICARE.
WE'RE MAKING SURE THOSE SAVINGS
GO TO MAKING MEDICARE SOLVENT.
IT ONLY GOES TO 2021.
MORE TO THE POINT, MR.
CHAIRMAN, WE BELIEVE THAT
SENIORS SHOULD BE IN CHARGE.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO
MAKE MEDICARE BETTER IS TO GIVE
SENIORS MORE CHOICES.
GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO MAKE
CHOICES AND VO PROVIDERS
COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR
THEIR BUSINESS.
HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE.
THE PRESIDENT WANTS 15 PEOPLE
TO MAKE THE CHOICES IN
MEDICARE.
WE SAY, LET 40 MILLION SENIORS
HAVE CHOICE, HAVE POWER, AND
HAVE THOSE PROVIDERS COMPETE
AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THEIR
BUSINESS SO THEY'RE IN CHARGE
OF THEIR MEDICARE.
THE PRESIDENT, THE LAW TODAY,
HAVE HIM APPOINT 15 PEOPLE TO
RATION MEDICARE AND CONGRESS
CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
THEIR DECISIONS GO RIGHT INTO
LAW.
THAT'S THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE
PRESIDENT SAID, LET'S THROW
UNDER THE CURRENT LAW.
ANOTHER TRILLION ON TOP.
SO HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S COMING UP
WITH A NEED FOR MORE SAVINGS,
WHAT DOES HE DO?
HE CALLS UP HIS MEDICARE
RATIONING BOARD AND SAYS, GO
FIND ANOTHER $480 BILLION.
FOR MEDICARE.
THAT IS NOT THE FUTURE WE WANT
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
US.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE
GOVERNMENT RATION HEALTH CARE.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE IN CHARGE
OF THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD --
WILL THE GENTLEMAN
SUSPEND BRIEFLY.
THE COMMITTEE WILL RISE
INFORMALLY.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER A
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER.
MADAM
SECRETARY.
THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO
INFORM THE HOUSE THE SENATE HAS
FAILED TO AGREE TO H.CON.RES.
35 AND H.CON.RES. 36.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
DIRECTING THE CLERK OF THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
MAKE A CORRECTION IN ENROLLMENT
OF H.R. 1473.
THE
COMMITTEE WILL RESUME ITS
SITTING.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
BE IN ORDER.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN IS
AT THIS TIME, I'D LOO
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. MCCLINTOCK.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
HISTORY WALKS WITH US AS WE
DEBATE THIS BUDGET.
HISTORY OFFERS US NOT A SINGLE
EXAMPLE OF A NATION THAT'S EVER
SPENT AND BORROWED AND TAXED
ITS WAY TO PROSPERITY, NOT ONE.
BUT IT OFFERS US MANY, MANY
EXAMPLES OF NATIONS THAT HAVE
SPENT AND BORROWED AND TAXED
BANKRUPTCY.
THEIR WAY TO ECONOMIC RUIN AND
HISTORY IS SCREAMING THIS
WARNING AT US THAT NATIONS THAT
BANKRUPT THEMSELVES AREN'T
AROUND VERY LONG BECAUSE BEFORE
YOU CAN PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON
DEFENSE AND PROMOTE THE GENERAL
WELFARE, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO
PAY FOR IT.
AND THE ABILITY OF OUR NATION
TO DO SO IS NOW IN GRAVE
DANGER.
YESTERDAY, THE PRESIDENT
ATTACKED THIS BUDGET BECAUSE HE
SAYS IT LOWERS TAXES ON THE
RICH WHILE RAISING MEDICARE
COSTS FOR SENIORS.
IN FACT, THIS BUDGET ENDS MANY
OF THE LOOPHOLES THAT HAVE
ALLOWED SOME OF THE WEALTHY TO
PAY LESS THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE
OF TAXES WHILE IT LOWERS THE
OVERALL RATE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE
PAID MORE.
AND SINCE 8 % OF SMALL BUSINESS
INCOME IS AFFECTED, ECONOMISTS
TELL US THAT THE TAX RELIEF
PROVIDED BY THIS PLAN WILL
PRODUCE A MILLION NEW JOBS NEXT
YEAR.
I SAY TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MARYLAND, THAT'S THE HEALTHY
WAY TO PR DEUCE NEW REVENUE.
THE PRESIDENT OF -- THE
PRESIDENT APPARENTLY BELIEVES
SMALL BUSINESSES, SOMEHOW
THAT BY TAKE MANAGER MONEY FROM
THEY'LL CREATE MORE JOBS.
THAT'S THE ECONOMIC FOLLY THAT
MISGUIDES THIS ADMINISTRATION.
AS MY FRIENDS TO MY LEFT KNOW,
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID WILL
COLLAPSE WITH IF WE CONTINUE
BUSINESS AS USUAL THIS BUDGET
SAVES THOSE SYSTEMS BY PUTTING
THEM ON A SOUND FINANCIAL
FOUNDATION.
IT REVERSES THE TREND OF
DOCTORS REFUSING TO TREAT
MEDICARE PATIENTS AND ASSURES
FUTURE SENIORS A WIDER CHOICE
OF PHYSICIANS AND PLANS THAN IS
AVAILABLE TODAY.
THIS BUDGET BRINGS FEDERAL
SPENDING BACK UNDER CONTROL AND
IT PLACES OUR NATION ON A PATH
SO THAT WHEN MY CHILDREN
RETIRE, THEIR RETIREMENT
SYSTEMS WILL BE SAFE AND SECURE
AND THEIR NATION WILL BE
DEBT-FREE AND PROSPEROUS.
I YIELD BACK.
THELE
TISSUE
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND IS
I REMIND THE
GENTLEMAN THAT WHAT WE'RE
SAYING IS THAT THE TOP 2%
INCOME EARNERS SHOULD GO BACK
TO THE RATES THEY WERE PAYING
IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THE
ECONOMY WAS ROARING AND 20
MILLION JOBS WERE CREATED.
WHEN WE MOVED TO THE CURRENT
RATERS IN FOLKS AT THE VERY
TOP, WE SAW AT THE END OF EIGHT
YEARS, 2000 TO 2008, A LOSS OF
OVER 625,000 PRIVATE JOBS.
LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS MEDICARE ISSUE.
BECAUSE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN DOES WILL RESULT IN
RATIONING BY INCOME, LET ME BE
CLEAR, SENIOR, YOU WILL NO
LONGER BE ABLE TO CHOOSE TO
STAY IN THE MEDICARE PROGRAM.
YOU'VE GOT TO GO INTO THE
MARKET.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE
YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVEN A
VOUCHER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CALL IT THAT DOESN'T KEEP PACE
WITH RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THAT MEANS THAT THE PLAN YOU
MAY BE ABLE TO AFFORD MAY NOT
COVER THE VERY BENEFITS YOU
NEED AND YOUR DOCTOR CERTAINLY
MAY NOT BE ON THAT PLAN.
SO YOU'LL LOSE YOUR CHOICE OF
DOCTOR, YOU CAN'T HAPPEN TO
AFFORD THE PLAN THAT THEY'RE
ON.
OR YOU LOSE YOUR BENEFITS.
THIS REPUBLICAN PLAN IS
INDUSTRY.
RATIONING BY THE INSURANCE
WITH THAT, I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM OHIO,
MS. KAPTUR.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I THANK CONGRESSMAN VAN HOLLEN
FOR YIELDING.
THE BEST WAY TO BALANCE ANY
BUDGET FOR OUR COUNTRY IS TO
GET EVERYONE BACK TO WORK WHO
WANTS TO WORK.
THE PRESIDENT'S BIPARTISAN
FISCAL COMMISSION ALSO SHOWS
ANY RESPONSIBLE EFFORT REQUIRES
A BALANCED APPROACH THAT
ADDRESSES BOTH SPENDING AND
REVENUES.
BY CONTRAST, THIS BUDGET FROM
THE REPUBLICANS FAIL THE SIMPLE
TEST OF ADDRESSING BOTH
PROGRAMS, PROGRAM SPENDING AS
WELL AS TAX BREAK SPENDING AND
IT FAILS IT BADLY.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET INCREASES
TAX BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES WHILE ENDING THE
MEDICARE GUARANTEE FOR SENIORS
DOUBLING THEIR OUT-OF-POCKET
COSTS FOR THEIR INSURANCE
PREMIUMS.
AT THE SAME TIME, REPUBLICANS
ARE DOLING OUT A TRILLION
DOLLARS OF TAX BREAKS OVER THE
NEXT 10 YEARS TO THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, TO
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND
TO THOSE ON WALL STREET WHO PAY
AS LITTLE AS 11% OF TAXES.
MEANWHILE, THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET WILL END MEDICARE AS WE
KNOW IT AND IT WILL THROW
AMERICAN SENIORS AT THE MERCY
OF INSURANCE COMPANIES.
SENIORS LOVE MEDICARE AND THEIR
FAMILIES LOVE MEDICARE.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
ARE COMPACTS OF TRUST BETWEEN
YEN RATIONS AND I WOULD NOT
WANT THE NEXT GENERATION TO
HAVE LESS THAN OUR GENERATION
HAS HAD.
I DISAGREE WITH THE RYAN
PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT DIVIDES YEN
RATIONS.
THE DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE
REDUCES THE DEFICIT WHILE
PRESERVING THE SOCIAL SAFETY
NET.
THE PLAN OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS
WOULD CUT THE DEFICIT BY AN
ADDITIONAL $137B9 TRILLION MORE
THAN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND
ACHIEVES PRIMARY BALANCE AS
EARLY AS FISCAL YEAR 2018 AND
PUT OURS ECONOMY ON A FULL PATH
TO RECOVERY.
THE RYAN BUDGET FAILS TO SAY
THE REASONS FOR THE DEFICITS WE
FACE.
$1.4 TRILLION IN THE COST OF
THE AFGHAN AND IRAQI WARS AND
THE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS SPENT
ON WALL STREET, BAILING THEM
OUT AND ALL THE COST OF
UNEMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING
FORECLOSURE THAT'S GONE WIT.
ON JOBS AND WORKING AMERICANS
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET GIVES UP
AND CATERS MAINLY TO THE UPPER
1% AND FRANKLY IT GIVES UP ON
AMERICA'S FUTURE.
THE RYAN BUDGET IS THE ROAD MAP
TO RUIN.
IT WON'T CREATE JOBS.
IN FACT, IT WILL CAUSE MORE JOB
LOSS.
IT'S A DEAD END BUDGET FOR
AMERICA AND I CAN MY COLLEAGUE
IT IS OPPOSE IT.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE GENTLELADY'S
TIME HAS EXPIRE THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN.
I YIELD MYSELF 30
SECONDS TO SAY, IT'S WELL
KNOWN, OUR BUDGET DOESN'T TOUCH
MEDICARE, CHANGE IT, FOR PEOPLE
IN OR NEAR RETIREMENT, 55 YEARS
OLD OR ABOVE.
UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN, THE
15-PERSON BOARD SAYS YOUR
DOCTOR CAN'T GIVE YOU THE CARE
HE WANTS TO, OR YOUR HOSPITAL
CAN'T DO IT, THEN THEY CAN'T.
THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT DOING
THIS UNELECTED BUREAUCRATS TO
CURRENT SENIORS AND WE OPPOSE
THAT.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
THE DISTINGUISHED STATE OF
WISCONSIN, MR. RIDDLE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
AS A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE AND
FORMER SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I
RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
2012 BUDGET RESOLUTION.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN TODAY WITH A
QUOTE FROM A FAMOUS AMERICAN,
QUOTE, AT WHAT POINT CAN WE
HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION
ABOUT MEDICARE AND ITS
LONG-TERM LIABILITY, OR A
SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT
SOCIAL SECURITY OR SERIOUS
CONVERSATION ABOUT BUDGET AND
DEBT WHERE WE AREN'T SIMPLY
TRYING TO POSITION OURSELVES
POLITICALLY?
THAT'S WHAT I'M COMMITTED TO
DOING.
END QUOTE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WAS
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA JUST
LAST YEAR.
AS WE DEBATE THIS BUDGET, I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE TO HEED THE
WORDS OF OUR PRESIDENT.
LET'S STOP THE DEMAGOGUING AND
THE POLITICAL JOCKEYING AND
ACTUALLY WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION
TOGETHER.
OUR CHILDREN, MY GRANDCHILDREN,
DESERVE NO LESS.
EVEN MOST DEMOCRATS AGREE THAT
OUR CURRENT SPENDING IS ON AN
UNSUSTAINABLE TRAJECTORY SO
WHONT YOU AGREE THAT FINGER
POINTING AND MAKING FALSE
CLAIMS TO SCARE SENIORS WHILE
MAKE NOTHING SOLUTIONS OF YOUR
OWN IS COUNTERPRODUCT SNIVE WE
CUT SPENDING BY $6.2 TRILLION
AND SHRINK THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT TO HISTORICALLY
NORMAL LEVELS.
WE START TO GET OUR DEFICITS
UNDER CONTROL.
AND PUT OUR BUDGET ON A PATH TO
PROSPERITY.
I KNOW WHAT HIGH TACKS MEAN TO
JOB TRAINERS IN OUR COUNTRY,
THAT'S WHY OUR BUDGET CALL
FARCE FLATTER, FAIRER TAX THAT
CLOSES LOOPHOLES AND INCREASES
THE INCENTIVES OF CORPORATIONS
TO KEEP JOBS RIGHT HERE IN
AMERICA.
I KNOW WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES
LOOK FOR WHEN THEY LOOK TO
SPEND AND INVEST.
AND THIS BUDGET MORE THAN
THEY LOOK FOR CERTAINTY.
ANYTHING ELSE PUTS OUR COUNTRY
BACK ON A CERTAIN PATH OF
SUSTAINABILITY.
JOB CREATORS AND BUSINESS
LOANERS WILL STAND UP AND CHEER
WHEN THEY SEE REAL IDEAS LIKE
THIS PUT FORTH.
MORE IDEAS OF MERIT IN THIS
BUDGET AND WE WANT A VIGOROUS
DEBATE BUT I HOPE IT WILL BE A
DEBATE ON POLICY DIFFERENCES
NOT POLITICAL MANEUVERING.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM M.D. IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I POINT OUT AGAIN, THE CHOICE
IS WHETHER WE WANT TO ASK FOR
SHARED SACRIFICE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE
REASON THE BIPARTISAN FISCAL
COMMISSION SAID THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET ISN'T BALANCED WAS,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE IT
ASKS FOR NOTHING FROM THE FOLKS
AT THE VERY TOP WHO GOT THE BIG
TAX CUTS.
WITH THAT, I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA,
MS. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET PLAN, WHICH IS NOT A
PATHWAY TO PROSPERITY BUT A
NATION.
TRUE PATHWAY TO POVERTY FOR OUR
THE REPUBLICANS' EXPLICIT
CHOICE TO PROTECT MILLIONAIRES
AND SPECIAL INTERESTS AT THE
EXPENSE OF JOB CREATION IS
DANGEROUS AND FORE SAKES OUR
FUTURE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
RECKLESS AND SHAMEFUL CUTS TO
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF
RESEARCH FOR CURES TO CANCER,
STROKE, DIABETES AND OTHER
ILLNESSES THAT FALL UNDER ITS
JURISDICTION.
THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD STOP THESE
CUTS YET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES VOTED
AGAINST IT.
FOR JUST HALF A PERCENT, HALF A
PERCENT OF THE COST OF
EXTENDING TAX CUTS FOR
MILLIONAIRES AND PLNARIES, WE
COULD COMPLETELY REJECT THE
DEVASTATING CUTS TO MEDICAL
RESEARCH FOR NEXT YEAR.
CUTS OF THIS NAGNY TUDE --
MAGNITUDE WILL SLOW THE PROCESS
AND CUT WORK THAT MAY SAVE
LIVES.
THE CUTS PREVENT US FROM
WINNING THE FUTURE.
IT KILLS JOBS.
N.I.H. GRANTS SUPPORT MORE THAN
350,000 HIGHLY SKILLED JOBS IN
ALL 50 STATES PLUS AN
ADDITIONAL 800,000 SUPPORTING
JOBS CREATED IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR THIS MEANS THAT THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET BUT -- BUDGET
PUTS OVER ONE MILLION AMERICAN
JOBS AT RISK FROM
PHARMACEUTICAL JOBS TO MEDICAL
DEVICE MANUFACTURERS TO
TECHNICIANS WORKING IN MEDICAL
LABS.
AT THE SAME TIME THE REPUBLICAN
PATH TO POVERTY IGNORES THE
N.I.H.'S ROLE AND THE
BALLOONING COSTS THAT COMPOUND
OUR DEBT.
WE MUST MAKE SMART INVESTMENTS
IN OUR NATION'S MEDICAL AND
FISCAL HEALTH AND WE MUST MAKE
THE INVESTMENTS NOW TO STEM THE
TIDE OF FUTURE DISEASE RATES.
CANCER INCIDENTS IS EXPECTED TO
DOUBLE IN 2020, PARTICULARLY
AMONG THE AGING BABY BOOMER
POPULATION.
AS ONE OF 11 MILLION CANCER
SURVIVORS I'M LIVING PROOF OF
THE VITAL GAINS MADE BY
RESERMING AT N.I.H.
WE CAN'T STOP NOW.
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE
HOLDING OUT HOPE THAT
TREATMENTS AND CURES ARE COMING
SOON.
OPPOSE THIS REPUBLICAN PATH TO
POVERTY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH, MR.
CHAFFETZ A MEMBER OF THE BUDGET
.
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS ABOUT
JOBS, ABOUT OUR ECONOMY AND
ABOUT THE PEOPLES' MONEY.
CONGRESS TALKS ABOUT ITS MONEY
AND THE WAY IT WANTS TO SPEND
THE PEOPLE'S MONEY.
NO, IT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND
NOT CONGRESS' TO GO AND ALLOCATE
AND HAND IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE EACH AND
EVERY TIME A DECISION IS MADE
ABOUT WHERE AND HOW TO SPEND
MONEY IS THEY ARE PULLING MONEY
OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS AND
HANDING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE.
25 CENTS, 25 CENTS OUT OF EVERY
DOLLAR SPENT IN THIS COUNTRY IS
SPENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THAT'S WRONG.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY
AND HAVE SYSTEMIC CHANGES AND
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS
BUDGET, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES IT
PUT US ON A PATH TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, BUT PAY OFF THE DEBT.
I RAN FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE I WAS
SICK AND TIRED OF WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
I WANTED TO BE PART OF THE
SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE
PROBLEM.
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR
NATIONAL DEBT, JUST 48 MONTHS
AGO WAS $8.67 TRILLION AND WITH
THE DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, IT ROSE TO
60%.
OVER $14 TRILLION, A RISE OF
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BUDGET IS
THAT IT IS AN ADULT CONVERSATION
THAT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO CHANGE TRAJECTORY, EVERYTHING
FROM ENTITLEMENT REFORM TO
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, IT CUTS
$6.2 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT
DECADE COMPARED TO THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET AND
ELIMINATES HUNDREDS OF
DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM.
WE CAN NO LONGER CONTINUE TO
BORROW, TAX AND SPEND OUR WAY.
WE HAVE TO REDUCE SPENDING.
WE HAVE TO PRODUCE A RESPONSIBLE
FEDERAL BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BUDGET DOES.
THAT'S WHY I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT.
AND I URGE THE PASSAGE OF THIS
BUDGET AND I YIELD BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I WOULD REMIND
MY COLLEAGUES THAT HOST
HARDWORKING AMERICAN WORKERS
PAID THEIR PAYROLL TAXES
INCLUDING MEDICARE CONTRIBUTIONS
AND SHOULD HAVE THE BENEFIT OF
THE BARGAIN AND KEEP THE
MEDICARE GUARANTEE.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
TONKO.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE FOR
YIELDING AND AS INDICATED IN THE
CHART THE REPUBLICAN ROAD TO
RUIN BUDGET WILL GIVE MONEY TO
THE MOST PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS
IN THE WORLD.
46 MILLION AMERICANS RELY ON
MEDICARE.
ON THE ROAD TO RUIN, SENIORS AND
DISABLED WILL LOSE GUARANTEED
HEALTH BENEFITS AND BE LEFT WITH
A VOUCHER.
BY DESIGN THE VOUCHER CANNOT AND
WILL NOT KEEP UP WITH RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THE PRIVATE MARKET VIEWS SENIORS
AND THE DISABLED AS A RISKY
INVESTMENT.
THAT'S WHY MEDICARE WAS CREATED
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AS A RESULT WHEN THE ROAD TO
RUIN HEALTH PLAN TAKES EFFECT
AND AS THIS CHART AGAIN TO MY
RIGHT REVEALS, SENIORS WILL SEE
THEIR HEALTH COSTS DOUBLE.
BY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES THEY
WHICH PAY MORE FOR THE SAME
COVERAGE MEDICARE PROVIDES
TODAY.
FACING DRAMATICALLY HIGHER
HEALTH COSTS WITH LESS HELP, OUR
SENIORS WILL BE FORCED INTO LIFE
AND DEATH DECISIONS, DO I BUY
GROCERIES OR BUY PRESCRIPTIONS,
DO I PAY RENT OR DO I PAY
MEDICAL BILLS?
NEVER FEAR, MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES SAY, YOU WILL GET THE
CONGRESS.
SAME CARE AS A MEMBER OF
AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, I KNOW
THAT CONGRESSIONAL HEALTH PLANS
COST ABOUT $9,000 THIS YEAR.
SENIORS WILL BE GETTING A RATION
OF $8,000.
10 YEARS FROM NOW FOR HEALTH
$20,000.
CARE THAT WILL COST OVER
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I MUST SAY
THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT
THAT SENIORS WILL GET THE SAME
COVERAGE AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS
IS NOT JUST REPUBLICAN RHETORIC,
IT IS A LIE.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
ESTIMATES THAT SENIORS WILL PAY
68% OF THEIR HEALTH COSTS UNDER
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ONLY PAY 28%
OF THEIR PREMIUM.
SENIORS WILL PAY MORE THAN
DOUBLE THE SHARE THAT MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS PAY AND MORE THAN
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THEY PAY TODAY
UNDER MEDICARE.
WE HAVE BALANCED THE BUDGET
BEFORE WITHOUT ENDING MEDICARE.
WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO
ON THE ROAD TO RUIN PLAN THAT
WOULD END MEDICARE.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, MR. MULVANEY.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
WE WILL BE HEARING
A LOT OF THINGS FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
CUTTING SPENDING AND JOBS.
THEY HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING IF WE
CUT SPENDING WE ARE GOING TO
LOSE GOVERNMENT JOBS.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE ZANDI REPORT
THAT SUGGESTS IF WE CUT $60
BILLION AS WE DID A FEW WEEKS
AGO THAT WOULD COST US 500,000
JOBS.
I HAVE SEEN A SIMILAR REPORT
SUGGESTING THAT THAT SAME $60
BILLION CUT WOULD SHAVE 2
PERCENTAGE POINTS OFF OF G.D.P.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THOSE NUMBERS SORT
OF EXPOSE THE ABSURDITY OF THE
DEMOCRAT ARGUMENT.
IF YOU TAKE THE SAME NUMBERS AND
APPLY IT TO THE $800 BILLION
STIMULUS PROGRAM, THAT SHOULD
HAVE CREATED OR WOULD HAVE
CREATED 6.5 MILLION JOBS AND
ADDED 26% TO THE G.D.P.
IT'S JUST WRONG.
IT'S MISLEADING AND FOR THE
FIRST TIME MAYBE IN THIS
GENERATION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE STARTING TO ACCEPT THE FACT
THAT GOVERNMENT SPENDING DOES
NOT CREATE JOBS.
WE HAVE SEEN IT.
IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE LESSON FOR
US TO LEARN AS A NATION.
IF GOVERNMENT SPENDING CREATED
JOBS, I WOULDN'T HAVE 15%
UNEMPLOYMENT IN MY DISTRICT.
PEOPLE BACK HOME ARE STARTING TO
ACCEPT, STARTING TO LEARN AND
AGREE THAT WHAT CREATES JOBS IN
THIS NATION IS PRIVATE
INVESTMENT.
IT'S PRIVATE BESTES INVESTING IN
THEIR BUSINESS AND PRIVATE
INDIVIDUALS PUTTING PEOPLE TO
WORK.
WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER 20
YEARS HERE AND I HAVE ANOTHER
ONE THAT GOES BACK TO 40 YEARS
AND WORLD WAR II THAT SHOWS THE
ONLY THING THAT CREATES JOBS IN
THIS NATION IS PRIVATE
INVESTMENT.
YOU AREN'T GOING TO FIND A GRAPH
MORE DIRECTLY CORRELATED.
WHEN PRIVATE INVESTMENT GOES
DOWN, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE GOES
UP.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FACING AS A
NATION AND UNTIL WE RECOGNIZE
THE FACT THAT GOVERNMENT
SPENDING DOES NOT CREATE JOBS,
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MUDDLE
THROUGH TOO MANY FOLKS OUT OF
WORK.
THIS ALLOWS PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO
INVEST IN THIS COUNTRY AND
PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
I YIELD BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
OF COURSE THE
PRIVATE SECTOR IS THE ENGINE OF
OPPORTUNITY AND THE ECONOMY IN
THIS COUNTRY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW
THERE ARE SOME INVESTMENTS THAT
NO INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATION
TAKES ON BY THEMSELVES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM
AND SOME OF THE BIG
INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU HAVE 20%
UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT A
GREATER INVESTMENT IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS AND
BRIDGES DOESN'T HELP GENERATE
JOB CREATION, YOU SHOULD TELL
THAT TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR A JOB RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE
SAME FOLKS AT THE HERITAGE
FOUNDATION WHO SAID THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT WAS GOING
TO INCREASE JOBS ARE THE SAME
PEOPLE WHO BACK AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
PREDICTED THAT THOSE TAX CUTS
WERE GOING TO GENERATE ALL SORTS
OF JOBS IN THE COUNTRY.
HERE'S WHAT THEY PREDICTED IN
BLUE, CUT TAXES FOR FOLKS AT THE
TOP, JOBS WILL GO UP AND UP.
HERE'S THE REALITY.
HERE'S THE REALITY IN RED.
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
I WOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW A
BUDGET IS GOING TO PRODUCE JOBS.
WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET
THAT HAS THE RIGHT BALANCE
BETWEEN CUTS AND SHARED
SACRIFICE AND WILL GENERATE
JOBS.
AND WITH THAT, I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. BASS.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET THAT ENDS MEDICARE.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET ENDS THE
MEDICARE GUARANTEE IN 11 SHORT
YEARS.
IN 11 YEARS, RELIABLE CARE FOR
OUR SENIORS WILL BE REPLACED
WITH THE RISKY VOUCHER SCHEME.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN SUPPOSEDLY
GENEROUSLY GIVES SENIOR CITIZENS
A GIFT, $8,000 A YEAR VOUCHER.
SENIORS MUST IDENTIFY AN
INSURANCE CARRIER THAT WILL TAKE
IT.
THIS IS CALLED CHOICE.
SINCE THE REPUBLICANS ALSO WANT
TO REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, THERE IS NOTHING TO PROTECT
SENIORS FROM BEING EXCLUDED FROM
COVERAGE IF THEY HAVE A
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
THIS IS CALLED CHOICE.
DON'T KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE 55
YEARS AND OLDER WHO DON'T HAVE
SOME HEALTH-RELATED PROBLEM.
THERE IS NOTHING TO PROTECT
SENIORS FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES
CANCELLING THEIR COVERAGE IF AN
ILLNESS BECOMES TOO EXPENSIVE.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL
PROTECT TAXPAYERS FROM INCURRING
MASSIVE COSTS WHEN UNINSURED
SENIORS SHOW UP IN EMERGENCY
ROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH
UNTREATED DIABETES LEADING TO
KIDNEY FAILURE AND HEART DISEASE
AND HYPERTENSION LEADING TO
STROKES.
THIS ISN'T MUCH OF A CHOICE.
WE ARE FOOLING OURSELVES IF WE
THINK SENIORS WILL BE ABLE TO
WRITE A CHECK AND PAY THE
DIFFERENCE.
A MORE LIKELY SCENARIO IS
COVERAGE.
SENIORS WILL NOT HAVE MEDICAL
I OFTEN SAY YOU CAN JUDGE A
SOCIETY ABOUT HOW IT TREATS ITS
ELDERLY AND CHILDREN, AND THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN KICKS OUR
SENIORS TO THE CURB WHILE THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS WILL
CONTINUE TO GET WEALTH YEAR.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
AND PROTECT THE MEDICARE
BENEFIT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
FLAKE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THESE ARE SERIOUS
TIMES WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WITH
REGARD TO DEBT AND DEFICIT AND
SERIOUS TIMES CALL FOR A SERIOUS
BUDGET AND THIS IS A SERIOUS
BUDGET.
THIS IS ONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY
LEAD US OUT OF THE PROBLEMS
WE'RE IN.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
FOR THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WHO ARE SAYING THAT
THEY WANT TO PRESERVE MEDICARE
BY STICKING TO THE STATUS QUO,
AS I THINK IT WAS GEORGE WILL
WHO SAID ON SUNDAY, YOUR PROBLEM
ISN'T MR. RYAN, IT IS MR.
ARITHMETIC.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
YOU CAN'T DO IT.
FOR ALL OF THIS TALK ABOUT
PRESERVING MEDICARE AS IT
CURRENTLY IS MEANS THAT YOU ARE
CON SIGNING IT TO HISTORY.
IT WON'T SURVIVE.
YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT.
YOU HAVE TO CHANGE IT IN WAYS
THAT MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE AND
SOLVENT FOR THE LONG-TERM
FUTURE.
WHAT WE ARE HEARING NOW IS WE
NEED MORE INVESTMENT AND WE HAVE
TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SPENDING
LEVELS TO HAVE MORE INVESTMENT.
I WOULD REFER YOU TO THE
STIMULUS THAT WE JUST PASSED A
YEAR OR SO AGO.
WHAT GOOD HAS THAT DONE.
SURE, IT'S A LOT MORE INVESTMENT
OR SPENDING OR WHATEVER YOU CALL
IT, GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT OR
THE GOVERNMENT SPENDING, BUT
IT'S NOT ENABLING THE PRIVATE
SECTOR TO CREATE JOBS.
THE JOB OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE TO SET A
CONDUCIVE TAX AND REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT SO THE PRIVATE
SECTOR CAN PRODUCE JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BUDGET DOES.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT IT.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY, MR. PASCRELL.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
GENTLEMAN.
WE HAVE TWO CITIES
HERE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A CITY VERY
OPTIMISTICICALLY AND WE HAVE TO
GO BACK TO YOUR FIGURES.
WE HAVE HAD EXACTLY SIX QUARTERS
OF GROWTH IN THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE LAST
TWO QUARTERS OF THE LAST
ADMINISTRATION'S GROWTH WAS?
WASN'T VERY GOOD, WAS IT, MR.
RYAN?
THE POINT OF THE MATTER IS IS
THAT YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT
VISIONS OF AMERICA'S FUTURE, TWO
DIFFERENT CITIES ON THAT HILL.
YOU CONTINUE TO USE THE PAYROLL
TAX, WHICH PAYS FOR MEDICARE A
AND YOU CONTINUE TO SAY YOU'RE
GOING TO AND ALL THOSE UNDER 55
YEARS OF AGE ARE GOING TO GO TO
A NEW PLAN, YET YOU CONTINUE THE
PAYROLL TAX.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT LIKE -- THIS IS
EXACTLY LIKE, NOT SOMEWHAT LIKE,
WHAT YOU DID WITH THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE.
YOU ALLOWED SENIORS AND FORCED
SENIORS TO PAY PREMIUMS AND THEY
GOT NO BENEFITS.
YOU KNOW IT, I KNOW IT AND THE
TRUTH IS WHAT IT IS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
REMINDED TO ADDRESS HIS REMARKS
TO THE CHAIR.
SORRY, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS MISGUIDED BUDGET IS A
DOUBLING DOWN ON THE SAME FAILED
POLICIES THAT WE KNOW DON'T WORK
AND BROUGHT US TO THE BRINK.
WITH OUR RANKING MEMBER DID NOT
POINT OUT IS THAT THERE WAS A
LOSS OF 653,000 JOBS IN THOSE
EIGHT YEARS.
WHERE THERE WAS IN THE PREVIOUS
EIGHT YEARS, A GAIN OF 20.8
MILLION JOBS.
YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND USE THE
SAME POLICIES?
YOU TRIED IT IN PRIVATIZATION.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BRING
BACK AND GO BACK TO THE SAME OLD
PLAYBLOOK.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE REJECTED
PRIVATIZATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY
AND THEY REJECT THIS.
EVERY POLL, EVEN YOUR POLLS SHOW
THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO NOT
WANT TO DO AWAY WITH MEDICARE AS
IT IS.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS REMIND TODD
ADDRESS HIS REMARKS TO THE CHAIR
AND NOT TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
BODY.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
I KNOW THAT AMERICA
CAN AND WILL BECOME PROSPEROUS
AGAIN AND MILLIONS OF NEW
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS WILL BE
CREATED IF WE GO BACK TO OUR
FREE MARKET PRINCIPLES.
WE MUST END WASTEFUL GOVERNMENT
SPENDING.
WE ARE FACED WITH TWO VERY
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WE CAN
LEAD OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS CLEAR WE CANNOT CONTINUE
ON THE MISGUIDED AND
IRRESPONSIBLE PATH ENDORSED BY
THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE OF BIG GOVERNMENT,
SPENDING, AND UNACCEPTABLY HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND IT HAS
THEY'VE HAD THEIR CHANCE TO
NOT WORKED.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD CONTROL
OF CONGRESS THEY LOST SEVEN
MILLION JOBS AND COST OUR --
RAISED OUR FEDERAL DEBT BY OVER
$5 TRILLION.
NOW IT'S OUR TURN AND WE WILL
DO BETTER.
THAT'S WHY THIS REPUBLICAN
BUDGET PLAN COMES AT JUST THE
RIGHT TIME BECAUSE WE CAN CAN
-- WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO
ACCEPT WHAT HAS BECOME STATUS
QUO, RATHER THAN LOCKING IN
RECKLESS SPENDING SPREES THAT
HAVE COST OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR
BUDGET PLAN CUT $6.2 TRILLION
IN WASTEFUL WASHINGTON SPENDING
OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
THE DEMOCRATS' PLAN WILL RAISE
THE DEFICIT BY OVER $9 TRILLION
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
WE WILL PUT THE PLAN ON A PATH
TO BALANCE.
THE PRESIDENT'S OWN FISCAL
COMMISSION SAID THAT WE NEED TO
LOWER TAX RATES AND BROADEN THE
TAX BASE IN ORDER TO STABILIZE
OUR NATION'S FINANCES AND GROW
OUR ECONOMY.
THE DEMOCRAT'S PLAN IGNORES
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WILL
IMPOSE JOB-CRUSHING TAX
INCREASES ON OUR COMMISM FEARLY
ONE MILLION NEW PRIVATE SECTOR
JOBS WILL BE CREATED UNDER OUR
PLAN TO LOWER TAXES AND EXPAND
THE TAX BASE AND OUR TOTAL
EMPLOYMENT WILL GROW BY AN
AVERAGE OF 1.2 MILLION JOBS A
YEAR OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
WE HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
WE CAN TAKE OPAW MA'S ODYSSEY
TO AMERICAN OBLIVION.
OR WE CAN ADOPT A PLAN THAT
RESTORES AMERICA'S PROMISE AN
PROSPERITY AND SECURITY FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THANK YOU, I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRE THE COMMITTEE WILL
RISE INFORMALLY TO RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER A
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER.
MADAM
SECRETARY.
THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO
INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE
SENATE HAS PASSED WITHOUT
AMENDMENT H.R. 1473, AN ACT
MAKING PROPINGS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE
OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 2011, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
THE
COMMITTEE WILL RESUME ITS
SITTING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN RESERVES, THE CHAIR
MARYLAND.
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN, MR.
MILLER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
REMARKS.
WE HAVE HEARD HOW
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET IS
COURAGEOUS AND BOLD.
BUT THIS IS NOT CRAMINGS OR
BOLD.
IT'S NOT COURAGEOUS TO THROW
HEAD START KIDS OUT OF THEIR
CLASSROOM AND CONTINUE
SUBSIDIES TO OIL COMPANIES WITH
THEIR RECORD PROFITS.
IT'S NOT BOLD TO CUT PELL
GRANTS AND RETAIN INCENTIVE FOR
COMPANIES TO SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS.
IT'S NOT BOLD TO MAKE FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS MORE
DEPENDENT, NOT LESS, ON
DANGEROUS DICTATORS AND FOSSIL
FUELS.
IT'S NEITHER BOLD NOR
COURAGEOUS TO END MEDICARE FOR
SENIORS SHIFTING THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS OF COSTS ONTO THE BACKS
OF THE ELDERLY TO PAY FOR TAX
CUTS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES.
FOR 45 YEARS, SENIORS HAVE
RELIED ON MEDICARE TO PROVIDE
HEALTH CARE IN THEIR RETIREMENT
YEARS.
THAT GUARANTEE.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET WITHIN
SENIORS WOULD NO LONGER BE
GUARANTEED COVERAGE FOR BASIC
HEALTH ITEMS LIKE DIABETES AND
CANCER SCREENING.
WHAT INSURANCE COMPANY IS GOING
TO WRITE AN INDIVIDUAL POLICY
FOR A 70-YEAR-OLD THAT'S
REMOTELY AFFORDABLE?
BECAUSE OF THIS, MORE SENIORS
WILL GO INTO DEBT AND THEY'LL
BE FORCED TO SELL THEIR HOMES
AND RELY ON THEIR CHILDREN TO
PAY FOR THEIR MEDICAL COSTS.
THAT'S NOT A DIGNIFIED
RETIREMENT, THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR
AMERICA.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
MEDICARE IS SUSTAINABLE FOR
SENIORS AND TAXPAYERS, BUT ONE
THING IS CERTAIN, THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET DOES NOT SAVE
MEDICARE, IT ENDS IT.
THIS IS NOT BOLD OR CRAINLS.
IT MIGHT BE EASY FOR THE
REPUBLICANS TO MAKE CUTS ON THE
BACKS OF THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD
HIGH PRICED LOBBYISTS BUT IT'S
NOT EASY FOR SENIORS ON WHOSE
BACKS THE BURDEN IS BEING
PLACED.
THE DEMOCRAT PLAN ASKS ALL
AMERICANS TO SHARE IN THE
DEFICIT AND DEBT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE
DOWN THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET TO
END MEDICARE AND VOTE FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC BUDGET THAT'S FAIR
AND BALANCED.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRE.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE SENIOR MEMBER
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
FROM INDIANA, MR. PENCE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA FOR
I THANK THE
TWO MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND SKI
EXTEND.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO REVISE AND
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS COUNTRY IS IN A LOT OF
TROUBLE.
WE'RE FACING A FISCAL CRISIS OF
UNPRECEDENTED PROPORTIONS.
THEY SAY THE FIRST STEP TOWARD
ENDING AN ADDICTION IS
RECOGNIZING YOU'RE AN ADDICT.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, AFTER
SPENDING 10 YEARS HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., AFTER
WITNESSING RUNAWAY FEDERAL
SPEND BIG BOTH POLITICAL
PARTIES, ONE THING IS CLEAR.
WASHINGTON, D.C. IS ADDICTED TO
SPENDING.
IT'S HIGH TIME FOR CONGRESS TO
OWN UP TO ITS SPENDING
ADDICTION AND INSTITUTE
LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE BUDGET
AND SPENDING REFORMS THAT WILL
PERMANENTLY LIMIT THE SIZE AND
GOVERNMENT.
SCOPE OF THE FEDERAL
HAPPILY, THE BUDGET RESOLUTION
TODAY OFFERED BY THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN PAUL
RYAN OF THE COMMITTEE PUT OURS
NATION BACK ON A PATHWAY TOWARD
FISCAL SOLVENCY AND PROSPERITY.
THIS REPUBLICAN BUDGET
REPRESENTS A BOLD STEP TOWARD
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND
LIMITED GOVERNMENT.
CUTS $6.2 TRILLION IN SPENDING
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
REINS IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING
BELOW 20%.
INCLUDES TAX REFORMS TO
INCREASE COMPETITIVENESS FOR
AMERICAN COMPANIES AND ENSURES
THAT MEDICARE WILL BE SOLVENT
FOR FUTURE RETIREES.
IT EVEN ENDS THE ONE SIZE FITS
ALL APPROACH TO MEDICAID,
GIVING STATES MORE FLEXABILITY.
IT STANDS IN STARK CONTRAST TO
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WHICH
INCLUDES A $1.6 TRILLION TAX
INCREASE ON FAMILIES, SMALL
BUSINESSES AND FAMILY FARMS AND
ADDS $3 TRILLION TO THE
NATIONAL DEBT THIS BUDGET
FORCES CONGRESS TO LIVE WITHIN
OUR MEANS AND WE MUST SUCCEED
IN THIS CAUSE.
BECAUSE IF WE FAIL, THE
AMERICAN DREAM WILL FAIL.
WE WILL BURDEN OUR CHILDREN AND
OUR GRANDCHILDREN WITH A
MOUNTAIN RANGE OF DEBT, ROBBING
OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPERITY
AND LEAVING, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE NEXT
AMERICAN GENERATION WORSE OFF
THAN THE GENERATION THAT WENT
BEFORE.
THIS WE MUST NOT DO.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO OFFER
STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE RYAN
BUDGET RESOLUTION.
LET'S PUT OUR NATION ON A
PATHWAY TOWARD FISCAL SOLVENCY
AND PROSPERITY.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RESERVES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM M.D.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
WE D DO NEED TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT IN A PREDICTABLE,
RESPONSIBLE WAY.
AND SHARED SACRIFICE.
THAT WILL REQUIRE SPENDING CUTS
THE REASON THAT THE FISCAL
COMMISSION SAID THAT THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN WAS UNBALANCED
IS THEY TRY AND DO IT ALL ONE
WAY.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT DOESN'T
WORK.
I YIELD TWO AND A HALF MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
RYAN.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
WE'VE HEARD THIS AFTERNOON OUR
DEBT IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
IT'S A WARNING.
IT'S A FISCAL CRISIS OF
UNPRECEDENTED PROPORTIONS.
BUT HEAVEN FORBID TO TRY TO
SOLVE THOSE GREAT PROBLEMS THAT
OUR COUNTRY HAS RIGHT NOW, THE
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, WE ASK
THE WEALTHIEST IN THE COUNTRY
TO JUST PAY A FEW MORE THOUSAND
DOLLARS.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN
TREMENDOUS GAIN, YOU KNOW, CRY
ME A RIVER AND HERE WE HAVE
DAVID STOCKMAN, FORMER HEAD OF
THE O.M.B. UNDER RONALD REAGAN
TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET BEING
PRESENTED BY THE REPUBLICANS,
IT'S SIMPLY UNREALISTIC TO SAY
THAT RAISING REVENUE ISN'T PART
OF THE SOLUTION, IT'S A MEASURE
OF HOW FAR OFF THE DEEP END
REPUBLICANS HAVE GONE WITH THIS
RELIGIOUS CATCISM ABOUT TAXES.
-- -- CATECHISM ABOUT TAXES.
WE ARE ASKING FOR SHARED
SACRIFICES.
YOU'RE GETTING INTO MEDICARE,
MEDICAID, PELL GRANTS BUT THE
WEALTHIEST WALK AWAY WOULD
SACRIFICING ONE THING.
THREE WARS WE'RE IN, AND WE
CAN'T ASK THE WEALTHIEST TO PAY
A FEW BUCKS?
THIS ENDS MEDICARE.
THESE PEOPLE 55 AND UNDER,
WHOSE WAGES HAVE BEEN STAGNANT
FOR 30 YEARS, NOW WHEN THEY GET
INTO THE MEDICARE PROGRAM,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOUCHER
OR PREMIUM SUPPORT THAT
INCREASES BY 2.2%, INDEXED TO
C.P.I., OR 2.5%, AND THE G.D.P.
AND HEALTH CARE WILL GROW
BETWEEN 4% AND 5%, SO EVERY
SINGLE YEAR THAT THIS PERSON
THAT'S 55 IS IN MEDICARE,
THEY'LL LOSE 2% TO 3% GROUND IN
BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN
HEALTH CARE.
WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER
WHY MEDICARE STARTED IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
IT IS NOT A GOOD BUSINESS
PROPOSITION TO PROVIDE HEALTH
INSURANCE TO OLDER PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY OFF IT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THESE
FOLKS A VOUCHER THAT DOESN'T
KEEP UP WITH HEALTH CARE
INFLATION AND SEND THEM INTO
THE PRIVATE IS MARKET?
AND SOMEHOW THINK WE'RE DOING
THEM A FAVOR?
NO SHARED SACRIFICE.
AGAIN, WE'RE PUTTING THE BURDEN
ON THE MIDDLE CLASS PERSON WHO
HAS PAID INTO MEDICARE, DEPENDS
ON MEDICARE, HAS BEEN GETTING
WAGES THAT HAVE BEEN STAGNANT,
PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE BETWEEN 55 AND 65, SO
YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DRIVING
UP MEDICARE COSTS, NOW WE HAVE
SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE, INTO A MARKET THAT
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT
WHEN THEY DO TURN 65 THIS
BUDGET IS WRONG, WE NEED
BALANCE, WE NEED SHARED
SACRIFICE, AND WE NEED
INVESTMENT IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THIS BUDGET COMES UP SHORT.
DAVID STOCKMAN SAYS THE SAME
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD MYSELF ONE MINUTE
TO SIMPLY SAY, THERE'S A NEW
DEFINITION AND I WANT TO
EXPLAIN IT.
HERE'S WHAT A TAX CUT NOW
MEANS.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE
FORTHCOMING TAX INCREASES,
YOU'RE CUTTING TAXES.
THAT'S THE NEW MATH AROUND
HERE.
WHAT WE DON'T DO IS WE DON'T
SIGN UP FOR ALL THESE NEW TAX
INCREASES THAT ARE BEING
PROPOSED BY THE PRESIDENT IN
HIS BUDGET, THAT ARE COMING IN
THE FUTURE, AND SO BY NOT
SUPPORTING NEW TAXES, ALL OF A
SUDDEN WE'RE FOR TAX CUTS.
I WILL NOT YIELD.
WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS KEEP
REVENUES WHERE THEY ARE AND FIX
THE TAX CODE, CLEAR OUT THE
LOOPHOLES AND THE DUCKSES SO WE
LOWER THE RATES TO CREATE JOBS.
AND ECONOMIC DEPROTHE.
WITH THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM BUDGET
COMMITTEE, MR. LANKFORD, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OKLAHOMA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. LANK SPORD FEATHER THANK
YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN --
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE ON THE
SAME SUBJECT.
DO WE HAVE A DEBT AND DEFICIT
PROBLEM IN AMERICA OR A
SPENDING PROBLEM IN AMERICA?
WORDS LIKE BALANCED APPROACH,
INVESTMENT IN AMERICA'S FUTURE
AND THE OF THE-QUOTED SHARED
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT REDUCING
SACRIFICE CONFUSE THE ISSUE.
THE DEFICIT.
IT IS ABOUT REDUCING SPENDING
OFF THE DEBTS WE
HAVE.
THIS WOULD BE LIKE A MAN WHO
RAN UP A HUGE CREDIT CARD BILL
AND WENT TO HIS BOSS AND SAID,
I NEED A RAISE.
THE BOSS WOULD SAY, YOU DON'T
NEED A RAISE YOU NEED TO GET ON
A BUDGET.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL FROM THE
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS THAT TAX
REQUIREMENT CLOSER TO 22% OF
G.D.P.
TO CLOSE THE DEFICIT GAP, ALL
INCOME TAXES WILL HAVE TO
DOUBLE OR CORPORATE TAXES WILL
HAVE TO INCREASE FIVE-FOLD, A
TAX INCREASE ON THE WEALTHY MAY
MAKE SOME PEOPLE FEEL BETTER
THAT THEY'RE STICKING IT TO THE
MAN BUT HISTORICALLY TAX
INCREASES ONLY LEAD TO MORE
GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND
ULTIMATELY IT WILL NOT SOLVE
THE DEBT CRISIS.
WASHINGTON LIKES HANDING OUT
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY FOR NOBLE
CAUSES.
HERE'S A NOVEL IDEA.
HOW ABOUT DEALING WITH OUR
EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM, WE SPEND
TOO MUCH.
IN 2009, 140,000 NEW FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED.
DURING THE PREVIOUS 10 YEAR,
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN
EMPLOYMENT IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
THE NUMBER OF FEDERAL
CONTRACTORS INCREASED 25% SINCE
2006.
IN FOUR YEAR, DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING HAS INCREASED 25%.
IN THAT SAME FOUR YEAR,
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SPENDING
HAS INCREASED BY 50%.
NONE OF THAT INCLUDES THE
SPECIAL TARP OR STIMULUS
FUNDING, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE
COST TO TAXPAYERS EVEN HIGHER.
WE CANNOT SPEND OUR WAY TO
PROSPERITY.
WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO GETTING
A HANDLE ON OUR DEBT AN DEFICIT
AND OUR BASIC SPENDING.
THE REASON THE HOUSE BUDGET HAS
GAINED SO MUCH TRACTION IS IT
DOES WHAT AMERICANS KNOW IN
THEIR GUT MUST BE DONE.
IT CUTS SPENDING.
FINALLY, SOMEONE IS SAYING WHAT
MANY HAVE FELT, WE CANNOT SOLVE
THE BUDGET PROBLEMS QUICKLY
WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SPENDING
.
CHANGES.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THIS IS SIMPLE
MATH.
WHEN YOU WENT FROM THE CLINTON
RATES FOR THE FOLKS AT THE VERY
TOP AND YOU DROPPED THE TAX
RATE, WE ENDED UP LOSING A LOT
OF JOBS BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY,
YOU ALSO LOSE REVENUE.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU SHIFT
THE BURDEN ON TO OTHER PEOPLE,
WHETHER YOU DO IT BY CUTTING
MEDICAID, WHETHER YOU DO IT BY
TERMINATING THE MEDICARE
GUARANTEE OR BY CUTTING
EDUCATION.
THAT'S JUST MATH.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS TO THE
GENTLEMAN, MR. RYAN, FOR THE
PURPOSES HE WANTS TO ASK A
QUESTION.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A
QUESTION, WHEREIN THIS BUDGET IS
THE SACRIFICE THAT IS BEING MADE
BY THE TOP 1% OF THE PEOPLE?
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY -- THE
WEALTHIEST 1%.
FIRST OF ALL, WE
SHOULD GO TO CORPORATE WELFARE.
LET'S STOP SUBSIDIZING WEALTHY
INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS.
YOU ARE LOWERING THE
CORPORATE INCOME TAX.
WHAT SACRIFICE IS BEING MADE?
LIKE THE FISCAL
COMMISSION WE BELIEVE IT IS
BETTER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH TO
BROADEN THE TAX BASE AND LOWER
THE TAX RATE.
IF I CAN CONTINUE ON THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
MR. SPEAKER, LET
ME SAY, THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO
THE TAX CODE.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD HIMSELF -- YIELD
ADDITIONAL TIME?
I YIELD MYSELF
TIME.
THERE ARE TWO PARTS OF THE TAX
CODE, CORPORATE TAX CODE AND
NEED TO CLEAN UP THE CORPORATE
TAX CODE AND WE AGREE WITH THE
FISCAL COMMISSION.
WE DON'T THINK YOU NEED A STUDY
TO DECIDE TO GET RID OF THE TAX
BREAKS THAT REWARD CORPORATIONS
FOR SHIPPING AMERICAN JOBS
OVERSEAS.
YOU DON'T NEED TO STUDY THE
QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE GET
RID OF BIG TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES TO
THE OIL COMPANIES.
YES, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE
CORPORATE TAX CODE, BUT IN THE
OTHER PART OF THE TAX CODE, THE
INDIVIDUAL TAX CODE, WHAT THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN DOES IS ACTUALLY
GIVE THE FOLKS AT THE VERY TOP
ANOTHER 30% BREAK.
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GOING
BACK TO THE CLINTON RATES, THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN GIVES YOU
ANOTHER 30-CENT BREAK.
THEY SAY WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS
IN A REVENUE-NEUTRAL WAY.
THE RESULT IS MIDDLE-INCOME
TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE
TO GIVE FOLKS AT THE TOP ANOTHER
BIG BREAK.
WITH THAT I YIELD 2 1/2 MINUTES
TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT
THIS SUBJECT, RANKING MEMBER OF
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE,
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
MR. LEVIN.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES.
WE DO NOT NEED TO
TEAR UP WHAT AMERICA HAS DONE IN
THE FUTURE.
THE PAST IN ORDER TO BUILD FOR
WE SHOULD NOT CONFRONT PRESENT
AND FUTURE PROBLEMS INCLUDING
THE NATION'S DEFICIT AS WE MUST
BY REPEALING AMERICA'S PAST.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET TRIES TO
TEAR UP AND REPEAL 75 YEARS OF
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE AND THE
SUPREME EXAMPLE IS MEDICARE.
IT TEARS IT UP.
IT REPEALS IT.
AND CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HAVE
HEARD TODAY, THEY WOULD NOT SAVE
MEDICARE, BUT END IT.
THEY WOULD NOT CHANGE IT, BUT
THEY WOULD END IT.
OUR NATION WOULD BE A DIFFERENT
NATION WITHOUT IT.
MILLIONS TODAY WOULD BE LESS
HEALTHY WITHOUT MEDICARE.
ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS WROTE TO
ME RECENTLY TO SAY, MEDICARE
SAVED HER LIFE AND HER LIFE
SAVINGS WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH BREAST CANCER AND THERE ARE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE
HER IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO
DO IS TO GIVE SENIORS A VOUCHER
FOR HEALTH CARE AND -- AN
UNDERFUNDED VOUCHER FOR 10
YEARS.
IT WOULD DOUBLE HEALTH CARE
COSTS FOR SENIORS.
A VOUCHER THAT IN 20 YEARS WOULD
PAY ONLY A THIRD OF SENIOR
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE FOR
ANYONE WHO VOTES FOR THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE
SAVINGS?
TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY.
THE AVERAGE INCOME OF THE BOTTOM
90% OF THE FAMILIES IN AMERICA
HAS FALLEN IN THE LAST DECADE.
THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE FOR THE
WEALTHY.
THE TOP 1% HAVE SEEN THEIR
INCOMES CLIMB BY MORE THAN A
QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
IF WHAT WE HAVE BUILT IN OUR
NATION NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED, FIX
IT, DON'T DESTROY IT.
WE MUST ADDRESS THE DEFICIT
WITHOUT DEEPENING DEFICITS AND
AVAILABILITY FOR OUR SENIOR
CITIZENS OF JOBS, HEALTH CARE
AND EDUCATION.
THE CHOICE TODAY COULD NOT BE
MORE DECISIVE.
A VOTE AGAINST THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET IS A VOTE FOR BASIC
AMERICAN VALUES.
VOTE NO.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO
THE GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE,
MS. BLACK.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED.
I STAND HERE AS A
PROUD MEMBER OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE SUPPORTING OUR BUDGET
THAT WAS INTRODUCED ON TIME AND
TAKES REAL STEPS TO GET THE
COUNTRY'S FINANCES BACK ON
TRACK, FOCUSING ON REAL ECONOMIC
GROWTH AND JOB CREATION.
LATELY, WE HAVE HEARD A LOT OF
SCARE TACTICS ABOUT THIS BUDGET
AND FIRST IT CAME FROM THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE AND YESTERDAY
WE HEARD THOSE SAME REMARKS BY
THE PRESIDENT.
BUT MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T WANT
TO HEAR THE SAME OLD PARTISAN
ATTACKS AND RHETORIC.
THEM THE TRUTH.
THEY WANT WASHINGTON TO TELL
THE TRUTH IS THIS ABOUT OUR
BUDGET.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S A JOBS BUDGET.
IN THE FIRST YEAR THIS BUDGET
CREATES ONE MILLION NEW JOBS.
NUMBER TWO, IT CUTS 6 -- $6.2
TRILLION IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
NUMBER THREE, IT ELIMINATES
DUPLICATIVE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS.
NUMBER FOUR, PRESERVES MEDICARE
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
NUMBER FIVE, PUTS CAPS ON
SPENDING FOR THE COMING YEAR AND
THE NEXT DECADE.
AND NEXT, IT TAKES US ON A PATH
TO PAY DOWN OUR DEBT.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE GETTING THIS
COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK AND I'M
PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY AS PART
OF THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY THAT
WILL LEAD WHERE THE PRESIDENT
HAS FAILED AND RESTORE AMERICA'S
FUTURE, GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLELADY YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN
RESERVES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE DISTINGUISHED
RANKING MEMBER OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMITTEE, MS.
VELAZQUEZ.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED.
I RISE IN STRONG
MEAN-SPIRITED BUDGET.
OPPOSITION TO THIS ILL-CONCEIVED
MR. CHAIRMAN, ALL OF US
RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT, BUT IT MUST BE DONE
RESPONSIBLY.
THIS BUDGET FAILS THAT TEST.
CUTTING SERVICES THAT WE NEED IN
FAVOR OF TAX BREAKS FOR THE
WEALTHY.
FOR NEW YORKERS THIS CUT WILL BE
PARTICULARLY UNFAIR.
$10 BILLION WILL BE TAKEN FROM
LOW-INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMS,
RENTAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE
REDUCED MAKING IT HARDER FOR NEW
YORKERS TO FIND AFFORDABLE
APARTMENTS.
THIS AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE
FACING THE FIRST -- THE WORST
HOUSING CRISIS EVER.
HOUSING IS JUST ONE AREA WHERE
THIS BUDGET FAILS OUR COUNTRY.
WITH MEDICAID SPENDING REDUCED
BY $735 BILLION, MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS WILL FIND IT HARDER TO
AFFORD HEALTH CARE.
INSTEAD OF TACKLING RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS, THIS BUDGET
ENDS MEDICARE AS WE FOE IT.
MEDICARE IS A PROMISE TO
AMERICA'S SENIORS.
WHETHER WE HONOR THAT PROMISE
DEFINES US AS A NATION.
JUST AS SENIORS WILL FACE TOUGH
TIMES, THIS BUDGET WILL ADDRESS
ITS HARDSHIP ON YOUNG PEOPLE,
HEAD START, CHILD CARE AND
NUTRITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WILL BE CUT.
26,000 COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM NEW
YORK'S 12TH DISTRICT WILL SEE
TUITION ASSISTANCE REDUCED.
BEYOND SLASHING SOCIAL SERVICES,
THIS BUDGET UNDERMINES OUR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
SMALL BUSINESS LENDING WILL DROP
BY $3 BILLION, DEPRIVING 5,000
FIRMS OF CAPITAL THEY NEED TO
CREATE JOBS.
IF THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING
TO CREATE JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY,
12,000 ENTREPRENEURS AND 9,000
VETERANS, THOSE COMING BACK FROM
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ WILL LOSE
BUSINESS COUNSELING SERVICES TO
HELP THEM LAUNCH OR EXPAND THEIR
BUSINESSES.
MR. SPEAKER, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE
NEED A SERIOUS THOUGHTFUL
DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO CUT
SPENDING.
VOTE NO AGAINST THIS BILL.
THE GENTLELADY'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND
RESERVES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA,
MR. NUNEZ.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THIS STOPS THE
EFFORTS OF DEMOCRAT LEADERS TO
TRACK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON A
HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TRIP.
THIS IS A TRIP, ONE-WAY TICKET
TO BANKRUPTCY.
HOWEVER, IF YOU SUPPORT THE RYAN
BUDGET, YOU WILL HELP THIS
GOVERNMENT RECOVER FROM A
DEBILITATING AND
LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS THAT
PUT EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF A
LEFT-WING AGENDA.
WE HAVE TWO CHOICES.
WE CAN LOOK FORWARD AND PAVE THE
PATH TO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OR
WE CAN BECOME THE WORLD'S MOST
HEAVILY TAXED NATION IN A
DANGEROUS ZONE OF BANKRUPTCY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THROUGHOUT MODERN
HISTORY, SOCIALISTS HAVE BEEN
SEARCHING FOR THE LAST EXIT TO
UTOPIA, OF BIG GOVERNMENT
COLLECTIVISM.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE SOCIALIST
UTOPIAN IN THIS TOWN THAT
SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
SPENDING PLAN, THIS LAST EXIT TO
UTOPIA WILL REMAIN A MYSTERY, A
RELIC OF 1960'S RADICALS.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
REPUBLICANS
ORIGINALLY SOUGHT THE CREATION