Janice Schakowsky: “Why did I vote against H.R. 3630 yesterday? I could list many reasons, but I only have 1 minute so here are three. One…”

“Why did I vote against H.R. 3630 yesterday? I could list many reasons, but I only have 1 minute so here are three. One, the bill extends unemployment insurance for some jobless Americans and then drastically cuts months off of benefits for others, and it makes all who are unemployed jump through demeaning hoops in order to get any benefits. Two, in order to reluctantly give the middle class a payroll tax break, it asks seniors and people with disabilities to pay more for Medicare, but it refuses to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay one more cent. Three, the bill threatens public health by preventing the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating dangerous mercury and other emissions, and then it goes a step further by threatening the public health by cutting the Prevention and Public Health Fund. H.R. 3630 is a political statement, not a serious proposal. What a statement to make--more support for dirty air and water, increased health care costs for middle-income people, and less help for those struggling to find jobs. ____________________”