On the recordJuly 21, 2011
I rise today in opposition to the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011. Rather than taking a balanced approach that requires shared sacrifice, House Republicans have passed legislation that would gut essential services for average Americans while asking nothing of the wealthy and privileged. Such a misguided approach would cost countless American jobs while doing nothing to solve America's long-term deficit challenges. In my opinion, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act fails to measure up as a serious proposal to address the structural deficit that our Nation faces. It is misguided, and assumes that our Nation will pay no price if we fail to invest in our future. These are some of the assumptions of this bill. Highways will not buckle, pipes will not rust, bridges will not collapse, and there is no need to invest in the next generation of innovators to keep America's competitive advantage. This bill would gut the very funding we need to revitalize our economy and invest in the future. Cut, cap and balance would render Congress essentially powerless to address revenues, thereby pushing America further down the road of economic inequality by ensuring that the wealthy do not have to share in any sacrifice. And whatever might be said about this legislation, to call it balanced is a cruel irony. In fact, all of the sacrifice is demanded of the poor and working families.…





