Mike Levin: “we have heard the siren song again, but let us look at the facts. First of all, as to veterans, this is undeniable, and…”

“we have heard the siren song again, but let us look at the facts. First of all, as to veterans, this is undeniable, and I want to read it: The reconciliation instructions in the Republican plan require $14.6 billion in unspecified reductions in veterans' benefits. This $14.6 billion cut represents a cut of 3.8 percent in mandatory spending below the levels in current law, and we are doing this on this day. Secondly, as to the income figures, for families with incomes below $75,000, they are not going to receive this big boon as stated in terms of the dividend tax cut. They will receive an average tax benefit of $42. And for the families that are in the middle 20 percent, the average is not in the thousands under the tax cut of the Republicans, but only $246. So what has happened here? A party that once said they had the mantle of fiscal responsibility, they are sacrificing that on the altar of irresponsible tax cuts; deficits not as far as the eye can see, but further than the eye can see. In the long run, all will be hurt except the very wealthy as interest rates go up, and, therefore, it impacts on our houses and our cars and everything we buy; in the short run, kids and their education, veterans, as I mentioned, people who need health care, and all of us who need homeland security. This is an irresponsible budget and digs a deeper and deeper hole of deficits. We have some sound alternatives. Let us vote for them.”