On the recordMarch 24, 2015
I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Enzi in a thoughtful and important process, and I thank the Senator for his civility. I think we are going to have an interesting few days. To my mind, the basic issue surrounding this budget debate is whether we address the enormous needs facing a declining middle class and whether we come forth with ideas that create the jobs--the millions of jobs our people need--whether we raise the wages that millions of workers desperately need who today are working for $7.50 an hour, $8 an hour, whether we deal with the scandal of pay equity in this country where women are making 78 cents on the dollar compared to men, whether we make sure we do not cut Social Security at a time when there are so many vulnerable seniors out there whose entire income or almost their entire income is Social Security. In my view, we cannot balance the budget on the most vulnerable people in this country. We cannot cut the Meals on Wheels Program. We cannot cut Head Start. Essentially at a time when the middle class is shrinking, we cannot balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, the children, the sick, and the poor. On my side of the aisle in the Democratic Caucus, what people are looking at is massive wealth and income inequality taking place in America.…
