On the recordMarch 23, 2015
I thank my colleague and leader of the Budget Committee. We are in this crazy situation where this bill would eliminate health care for 16.4 million Americans right now, most of whom have not had the ability to find affordable health care. It would raise their cost, raise their taxes, raise the deficit, and then at the same time this bill keeps the revenue and the cost savings from the Affordable Care Act. This is a pretty nifty trick, I have to tell you. So you lose your health care, but the revenue that is generated to pay for health services stays in the baseline. They are counting the revenue, they are counting the cost savings in this budget. They are counting the savings and taking away your health care. Not a good deal. I would suggest that is a very, very bad deal. This is not honest budgeting. It certainly is not a budget that puts middle-class families first or those who are working very hard--one job, two jobs, three jobs--trying to lift themselves up to get into the middle class for themselves and their families. It is not just irresponsible budgeting; it is irresponsible governing to create a document that hurts so many people in the priorities that are set--low-income people, middle-income people, those struggling hard and working hard to get into the middle class--but protects the interests of privileged Americans. This is a budget rigged for the wealthy and well-connected of the country, and I would urge a ``no'' vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER.…
