On the recordJune 1, 2011
In just moments from now, we will have a new Democratic colleague from my home State of New York. The Democratic Congresswoman- elect hails from the most Republican district in my State, a district that John McCain won in 2008. Just one week ago, voters in her conservative-leaning district resoundingly rejected the Republican plan to end Medicare. Apparently, the Republican majority here in Washington didn't get the message. Voting to end Medicare once was not enough for them. The rule vote that we are about to take will, once again, deem the Ryan plan to end Medicare as enacted and will put us on a road to ruin where seniors will see out-of-pocket expenses skyrocket by at least $6,000 every year as Medicare is ended so as to continue the handouts of tens of billions of dollars to oil companies. In a few moments, after they've finished voting to end Medicare again, I hope that as my Republican colleagues congratulate our New York colleague on her election they will see her as yet another face and as yet another voice, an outspoken voice, to save Medicare.
