Charles Rangel: “Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the state of the budget, so much has changed in the last several months. Our economy is…”

“Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the state of the budget, so much has changed in the last several months. Our economy is struggling, unemployment is up, and we are fighting a war against terrorism. But with the President's budget released this weekend, now with this resolution it is clear one thing has not changed, and I am sorry that my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), left the floor, because what this resolution is about, what this budget is about is that, in fact, the other side of the aisle, that the Republican majority in this House will stop at nothing to raid Social Security and raid Medicare. Despite their protestations over the last couple of years, they fundamentally do not believe in Social Security and Medicare. They take every opportunity to dismantle the current system which plays such a role in the lives of working families today. Social Security has been a lifeline and Medicare is a lifeline to health care for seniors and for people who have worked all their lives, who, in fact, will need that retirement security. The Republican majority would deny that retirement security. They would move to privatizing Social Security. They would talk about investing in the stock market. And, my God, look at what has happened in recent times with the stock market and with Enron and with a variety of other companies.…”