On the recordMarch 19, 2013
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this ill-conceived budget. For working families this project could mean a tax hit of $2,000, making it harder for families to afford rent and put food on the table. The GOP plan also shortchanges seniors, ending Medicare in 10 years. Equally problematic, the Affordable Care Act would be repealed, reducing health care assistance to 176,000 families in my district and preventing 68,000 young people in my part of New York from staying on their parents' insurance. We can also expect our economy to take a hit with 2 million jobs vanishing next year alone. Is this what we need to get this economy growing again? And for small businesses, this budget will mean losses. Sixteen thousand small firms in my district will lose tax assistance when purchasing health care, and thousands of would-be entrepreneurs around the country will see technical assistance and other services dry up, preventing the creation of new startups and blocking job creation. Mr. Chairman, budgets should be about priorities. The American people rejected these flawed priorities last year when they voted to reelect President Obama. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' so we can approve a budget that is balanced, that is fair, that will create jobs, and that will move our Nation forward, together.
