Maurice Hinchey: “Yesterday, as we know, was Valentine's Day, but the majority here in Washington is showing no love for the families…”

“Yesterday, as we know, was Valentine's Day, but the majority here in Washington is showing no love for the families throughout the district that I represent and all across the rest of this country. The new majority said they would cut wasteful spending. But instead they're slashing jobs for police officers, jobs for firefighters, jobs for teachers, and many other jobs, all across the country. They told us they would work to eliminate needless layers of bureaucracy, but instead they're cutting heating assistance for the elderly, food aid for young mothers and infants, and college aid for 15,000 students in the district that I represent and hundreds of thousands of other students all across the country. They said they would focus on the economy, but instead, they're eliminating energy research and development that we need to create green jobs and compete with other countries around the world. They're sending the workers home on 76 high-speed rail projects underway in 40 states, all very necessary. This hurts real people. It does nothing to address our long-term deficit, and middle class families are the ones who pay the price. The American people don't want more hidden cuts and budgets tricks. We need a plan. We need a solid, secure positive plan. The national debt we hold today was not created over the last 2 years, as some people are saying. The fiscal crisis we are facing today was inherited from the Bush administration.”