On the recordJune 1, 2011
I thank the gentleman from Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule. From the retirees that I serve in south Florida to the middle class families of western New York, the American people have overwhelmingly rejected the reckless Republican budget. The Republican budget ends Medicare and replaces it with a coupon, a coupon that fails to even approach the cost of private health insurance. It guts Medicaid, depended on by millions of impoverished children, nursing home patients, seniors who need home health services, and disabled Americans. Its hatchet job on our budget will destroy 2.1 million jobs when we cannot afford higher unemployment. This plan is opposed by the Senate, the President, and, most importantly, the American people. Yet today Republicans will vote to deem and pass the Ryan budget. The distinguished Rules Committee chairman, who decried deem and pass during the health care reform debate and claimed ``process is substance,'' has apparently had a stunning change of heart. We were told that using deem and pass to extend health care coverage to the uninsured is an abomination. Apparently, we learned today it should be reserved for slashing benefits to seniors. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this rule. The American people want a bipartisan budget that responsibly reduces the deficit, creates new jobs, and protects Medicare and Medicaid for disabled and elderly Americans. Not this Republican budget.
