Political Quotes

“Madam President, I rise to discuss the devastating impact that the House Republican budget would have on seniors, women, children, and families nationwide. On April 15, 2011, House Republicans passed H. Con. Res. 34, Chairman Ryan's budget. Under the guise of entitlement reform and deficit reduction, House Republicans would instead ensure that the elderly, the poor, pregnant women, and children will be unable to afford health care. The House Republican budget essentially ends the important entitlement programs Medicare and Medicaid as we know them, all while 72 percent of the budget cuts go to fund tax cuts for the rich. The budget claims $1.5 trillion in savings from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which are already savings that will happen. If you discount those savings, the House Republican budget cuts $4.3 trillion over 10 years, while spending $4.2 trillion on tax cuts for the wealthy, resulting in only $100 billion in deficit reduction. To be blunt, House Republicans are trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, the elderly, and our children while rewarding the wealthy. This budget changes Medicaid from a State-Federal matching program that can adjust to changes in unemployment, poverty, or aging of the population, to a capped amount of Federal funds per State--a block grant. The budget also repeals the health reform law.…”