Sam Farr: “for the third time, I rise in strong opposition to the Deficit Reduction Act (S. 1932). This is a second chance to right…”

“for the third time, I rise in strong opposition to the Deficit Reduction Act (S. 1932). This is a second chance to right a wrong and I urge my colleagues to vote wisely. With a deficit of more than $300 billion in 2005, there is little question that something needs to be done about the federal budget. But S. 1932 is nothing more than smoke and mirrors because it will actually increase the deficit. Let me explain. I've heard loud and clear from my constituents that they do not support this slash and burn budget. They do not want over $11 billion in cuts to student loans or $6.4 billion in cuts to Medicare, particularly at this time when the prescription drug plan is failing miserably. We already have a shortage of doctors on the Central Coast who accept Medicare patients, and this Republican-drafted bill freezes physician payments for doctors who accept Medicare patients. This misguided attempt at deficit reduction will further exacerbate our physician shortage. This kind of penny-wise pound-foolish legislation translates into a greater strain on state and local resources. And when our state, county and local governments cannot pick up the slack, families and children will only be left with smoke and mirrors. I urge my colleagues to stand up for middle class Americans and defeat this bill.”