John Spratt: “few would question the goals of H.R. 4946. Most of us see the need to provide assistance to those burdened by the costs…”

“few would question the goals of H.R. 4946. Most of us see the need to provide assistance to those burdened by the costs of long-term care. However, once again we are approaching an issue with fiscal impact in a vacuum, without a plan to guide us. Republicans claim that this bill is consistent with their budget resolution, because the resolution provided for some tax relief. But the House has already adopted tax bills totaling $43.145 billion through fiscal year 2007. The 2003 budget resolution provided for only $27.853 billion over five years. Attached is a table compiled by the House Budget Committee Democratic staff that documents these figures. There is no room for these tax cuts under the fiscal plan that is supposed to be our guide. Either these tax cuts are not real, and we are passing tax bills that will never become law; or the 2003 House Republican budget is not real, and we are about to tax cut our way even deeper into deficit, and spend even more of the Social Security Trust Fund surplus. We continue to consider legislation without any coherent Republican budget plan. The Republicans claim that their budget provides tight fiscal management. But then the Republican leadership again and again schedules legislation that violates their own budget. Mr. Speaker, as we speak, we are sliding deep into deficit.”