Mike Honda: “the Majority today is shortchanging middle and lower income families by giving $688 billion to the wealthiest 1 percent…”

“the Majority today is shortchanging middle and lower income families by giving $688 billion to the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. Imagine if we gave $688 billion to the poorest individuals in our nation? Why does this budget seem any less extreme? Our budget surplus is money that belongs to the American people. Let us also remember that the deficits and damage that will be caused by this plan will belong to all of us as well. Budgets are about choices. American families make these important choices everyday as they plan for the future. On behalf of the American people I urge my colleagues to think about our budget as families think about theirs--as if the lives of your children depended upon it. Imagine if you had not saved for your retirement, that you owed money on your credit cards and you could not afford health insurance and then you came into some extra money that could pay off most of these obligations. Would you spend the money on a new sports car or secure your family's future by living up to your obligations? Fiscal discipline and common sense tell us that we must take care of these important obligations to secure the future of this great nation--we have no greater obligation to the families of the United States of America. For their sake, I urge all of you not to buy the sports car by voting for the majority plan and instead meet your obligations by voting for the prudent and balanced alternative.”