Leonard L. Boswell: “Today I voice my opposition to this resolution, House Resolution 93. It is merely a directive for change. Pressuring…”

“Today I voice my opposition to this resolution, House Resolution 93. It is merely a directive for change. Pressuring changes in the CPI does nothing more than politicize the entire CPI calculation in an attempt to avoid the hard choices required to balance our Nation's budget. This calculation should not be used as a political tool. If the CPI needs to be adjusted, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is already charged with that responsibility. There is no need to politicize this topic. I am committed to balancing the budget but not by forcing cutbacks on our seniors and our veterans, nor by placing hidden tax hikes on the middle class. Our seniors have already been subjected to large cuts in an effort to balance the budget and should not be singled out again with this politically motivated ploy. Hidden in all of the debate to change the CPI is a tax hike for every American. The end result of a politically motivated decrease in the CPI is especially damaging to our seniors and veterans, and that is unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to vote 'no' on this misguided attempt to inject politics into the calculation of the CPI.”