Burgess Owens: “this fiscal year 1997 budget of the Republican majority continues the same extremism of the fiscal year 1996 budget.…”

“this fiscal year 1997 budget of the Republican majority continues the same extremism of the fiscal year 1996 budget. American people have rejected that extremism, but it goes on and on. It is an assault on the majority of the American people, starting with the poorest people who need Government most. The children, the elderly and the people with disabilities are attacked first. The Medicaid entitlement, the removal of the Medicaid entitlement, is the thrust of that attack, which is most dangerous. Are we going to take away the possibility of life itself from many people? The Medicaid entitlement, means-tested Medicaid entitlement, is probably one of the most noble actions of our Government. As my colleagues know, it is a prolife action in the most profound sense of the concept of prolife. It is for all life. But by taking away the Medicaid entitlement, we are going to condemn people to a situation where the funds will not be there to preserve life when it is needed. We are taking a step backward from the possibility of ever realizing universal health care. This is a step forward toward decentralized genocide.”