Victor Fazio: “far from wasting our time on the floor today, we have accomplished seemingly two major improvements in a bill that is…”

“far from wasting our time on the floor today, we have accomplished seemingly two major improvements in a bill that is seriously flawed in many ways. I hear the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Kasich] and the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] saying that they are going to support this motion. I hope that means that when we go to conference on this package of spending cuts, we will not entertain the increase in the age to be eligible for Medicare to the age of 67. It is very clear that in this country we have a major problem with many people in their fifties who have been downsized, let out of their job, where their health benefits were real and decent, and suffer because there is no bridge to retirement. We only make the gap broader for those people if they are not given at least the age of 65 to look forward to. In addition, Mr. Speaker, it is unconscionable to say that people who are transitioning from welfare to work will not be covered by the same statutes that protect workers. To have a sexual harassment claim not to be viable, not to be of legal standing simply because someone is transitioning from welfare is unbelievable. I am very pleased the Republicans have agreed.”