On the recordApril 7, 2011
I thank the ranking member, and I thank the Members on this floor today. I believe that this is one of the most serious debates that we will have in the history of this Congress. It is whether or not America belongs to all people and not special interests. Coming from the State of Texas, I can tell you that statistics will say that we probably have the highest number of men and women serving in the United States military, a large number of bases, a large number of veterans; and we well know the values of those men and women who sacrifice and leave their families and go overseas. But I said yesterday on the floor of the House, we have values. As my colleagues have said, can we say it one more time? We will support a clean CR to pay our troops, to pay their families, to keep the doors of our hospitals open, to provide Medicare for our seniors and Medicaid and education for our children. But, no, friends on the other side are strangled by special interests, picket signs and loud shouts about ``shut it down.'' The President has already said he will veto this silly legislative initiative. Why are we in the midst of a serious budget debate? By the way, the Ryan budget that has been put out by the Republicans will deny 66 percent of citizens, of seniors, off of Medicare. They will be off. We will not balance the budget under the Ryan budget until 2040. It will cause $8 trillion more debt. It's hard for America to understand this complicated process.…
