Janice Schakowsky: “The Republican budget would turn the American Dream into a nightmare for millions of senior citizens-- eliminating…”

“The Republican budget would turn the American Dream into a nightmare for millions of senior citizens-- eliminating Medicare, threatening Social Security benefits, and turning Medicaid into a block grant. Those same proposals are now being discussed in the Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. Seniors are terrified, and they are speaking out against cuts--people like Debby from Wilmette, Illinois, a public school teacher whose husband was diagnosed with MS and was forced to sell his business at a loss. She says, ``My husband only gets $1,800 a month now. There is no way we will be able to keep our house and pay our bills. We are worried.'' Or Nirlean from Chicago, who lives on her Social Security check. ``Medicare helps with my medication. I'm living month to month, and I always run out of food before the next month. I really miss getting the cost-of-living increase, because my rent takes half my income.'' Let's listen to Debby and Nirlean and to millions of seniors. Let's reject benefit cuts. ____________________”