“Republicans want to do away with traditional Medicare and replace it with a voucher program that would increase out of pocket costs for seniors.  That is simply wrong,” said Nadler.

“Make no mistake:  this is NOT an effort to cut the deficit, this is an effort to finish the work Republicans started more than thirty years ago to ‘starve the beast.’  To create artificial deficits through unpaid tax cuts to corporations and rich individuals, then use the deficit as an excuse to gut programs the Republicans never liked in the first place – like Medicare, Medicaid, education, and environmental protection,” said Nadler.  “Mr. Speaker, with one fatal swoop, the Republicans seek to undo all the good that America has accomplished for women, for kids, for seniors, and for the environment.”

“The Republican budget is nothing more than a bait and switch.  Republicans give the illusion of cutting the budget to reduce the deficit, while delivering nothing on actually reducing the deficit.  In this resolution, Republicans intend to cut $4.2 trillion in services and safety-net programs that directly help working families and create jobs, while spending $4.3 trillion on tax cuts to the rich,” said Nadler.  “That is why I voted against the Republican budget.”

Nadler’s complete statement follows:

STATEMENT OF U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JERROLD NADLER (D-NY 08)

H.Con.Res. 34, the Republican Budget Resolution

“On the heels of one the largest spending cut in history, the Republicans tell us they’re not done raiding our future.   

“The Republican budget is nothing more than a bait and switch.  Republicans give the illusion of cutting the budget to reduce the deficit, while delivering nothing on actually reducing the deficit.  In this resolution, Republicans intend to cut $4.2 trillion in services and safety-net programs that directly help working families and create jobs, while spending $4.3 trillion on tax cuts to the rich. 

“Make no mistake about it:  this is NOT an effort to cut the deficit, this is an effort to finish the work they started more than thirty years ago to “starve the beast.”  To create artificial deficits through unpaid tax cuts to corporations and rich individuals, then use the deficit as an excuse to gut programs the Republicans have never liked but could not get political support to eliminate – Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, education, environmental protection, infrastructure investment, job creation.

For seniors, Republicans say that Medicare no longer will be part of the social compact that says, “If you work hard, you will be cared for in your twilight years.”  Instead, Republicans say you get a voucher and should go it alone in the private insurance market. 

“For those who rely on Medicaid – no longer is your health coverage protected.  Instead, Republicans first will turn the program into an unguaranteed block grant, and then cut $771 billion in Medicaid payments to the states over ten years.

“For America’s children – the Republican budget resolution says NO to Head Start, NO to new teachers, NO to making sure schools are safe.

“And for our environment – the Republican vision is to end our ability to protect American’s water and air supply, leaving it to corporations to kindly not pollute.

“The winners?  Big oil, insurance companies, corporate CEOs, and the special interests.

“Mr. Speaker, I believe that cutting programs that deliver vital benefits to those still reeling from the weakened economy is wrong.  Cutting funding for transportation and education does not create jobs.  Cutting taxes for the richest 2 percent of Americans does not create jobs.  As if we needed more evidence that trickle-down economics does not work, we need only look to the earlier part of this decade to see how irresponsible tax cuts accomplish only two things:  to squander our future and run up the deficit.

“Not since President Hoover have we seen such gross detachment from the needs of Americans and the needs of our still recovering economy as we do with the latest Republican attack on the middle class.

“Mr. Speaker, with one fatal swoop, the Republicans seek to undo all the good that America has accomplished for women, for kids, for seniors, for the environment.  President Obama is correct:  the Republican budget is a sinister attack on the very ideals that make us who we are. 

“That is why I supported all three of the Democratic alternative budgets presented today.  While I might not agree with every single item, all of the alternative budgets continue investment in the proper areas and protect working families.  The same cannot be said of the Republican Budget, and I urge my colleagues to vote NO.”

                                                                                                  
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