Xavier Becerra: “For more than 200 years, America has worked hard to earn a reputation around the world that, when the going gets tough…”

“For more than 200 years, America has worked hard to earn a reputation around the world that, when the going gets tough, America gets going. We could lead in tough times. We could withstand adversity. We were prepared to sacrifice. Then, as our country matured, we were prepared, not only to do all those tough things, but to do them the right way, and we were able to somehow figure out where the sweet spot was for prosperity in America--building the middle class: the GI Bill for our troops, Social Security and Medicare for our seniors, the best universities for our kids. As we invested in the middle class, our prosperity bloomed. Fast-forward to the Bush recession and to the tough times we find ourselves in today. Americans are hanging tough, fighting to hold onto their jobs and their homes. But is everyone in America sharing in the sacrifice? This proposal gives millionaires $139,000 in tax breaks each year. On top of that, it gives the 6,600 wealthiest Americans a tax break equal to $23 billion. Perhaps the most sinister provision in this proposal is the more than $100 billion that it diverts from the Social Security trust fund and then borrows money from places like China to replace those dollars. Everyone in America is ready to sacrifice. Everyone in America should be ready to sacrifice. This bill doesn't ask all Americans to sacrifice. The day should come, as the days have come, when all of us are prepared to sacrifice.”