Jim Costa: “I strongly oppose this rule that enables a reckless Republican budget resolution to go forward. Let me tell you why.…”

“I strongly oppose this rule that enables a reckless Republican budget resolution to go forward. Let me tell you why. Republicans claim to be lowering costs, but their plan, in my view, does just the opposite. Let me bring it all home. In California's 21st Congressional District which I have the honor and privilege to represent, the wonderful people in the San Joaquin Valley, 456,532 people could lose their Medicaid under this rule and budget resolution. Under this rule and resolution, 131,000 people could lose their SNAP benefits. Over 25,000 people could lose coverage through the Affordable Health Care Act. We have made remarkable progress as a result of the Affordable Health Care Act, reducing the number of people without insurance in our constituency to less than 10 percent. That would be changed. There would be $3 million in energy and conservation funds that would be withheld from farmers in my district. If you want to put the American people first, we must reject this debacle and begin on a real bipartisan basis to pass a budget that fits the American people.”