Janice Schakowsky: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. First, the Republicans passed a tax scam that blows a $2 trillion hole in the budget…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. First, the Republicans passed a tax scam that blows a $2 trillion hole in the budget and gives 83 percent of its tax cuts to the wealthiest among us and corporate CEOs. Then they offer a budget that would fill that gap by cutting more than $2 trillion in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and even programs like Meals on Wheels. And now, they want to amend our Constitution to require a balanced budget. We know how the Republicans plan to balance the budget--on the backs of seniors. We have seen this movie before--budget after budget that cuts Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; budgets that leave seniors without their earned benefits or access to long-term care; budgets that privatize the Veterans Administration and Medicare; providing vouchers and not health benefits; that raise the age of eligibility for Medicare and Social Security; that cap and slash Medicaid, the largest source of long-term care. And no wonder seniors groups are raising the alarm.…”