Janice Schakowsky: “There is a lot of talk and legalese about what is going on today, but the reality is what the Republicans are trying to…”

“There is a lot of talk and legalese about what is going on today, but the reality is what the Republicans are trying to do underneath all of that legalese language is to enshrine in law the Republican Ryan budget. By voting for the rule, what you do is to put into force that budget. What does that budget do? It ends Medicare. Now, there are people who resent that term--that oh, no, we're really going to save it. Well, I'm going to tell you, when you take away the guaranteed benefits of Medicare--that's what seniors get right now--for people 55 and under, they are thrown into the not-so-loving arms of the insurance companies, and their costs will increase out of their own pockets by about $6,000. That's what the bill does. The bill also turns Medicaid upside down, which is not only the health care plan for poor children in the United States but also the largest payer for nursing homes and home health care. That is the single biggest part of Medicaid--paying for nursing home care and home health care. So it's another slap at the seniors. The other thing that the legislation does is to offer more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. It lowers the tax rates for corporation, many of which aren't even paying any taxes right now, a couple of which got tax refunds from the government. You've got major companies paying fewer taxes than ordinary Americans. That's what this does. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.”