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Proposing A Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution

Floor Speech

Date: April 12, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Entitlements and the Safety Net Economy and Fiscal Government Budget and Spending

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

First, the Republicans passed a tax scam that blows a $2 trillion hole in the budget and gives 83 percent of its tax cuts to the wealthiest among us and corporate CEOs.

Then they offer a budget that would fill that gap by cutting more than $2 trillion in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and even programs like Meals on Wheels. And now, they want to amend our Constitution to require a balanced budget.

We know how the Republicans plan to balance the budget--on the backs of seniors. We have seen this movie before--budget after budget that cuts Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; budgets that leave seniors without their earned benefits or access to long-term care; budgets that privatize the Veterans Administration and Medicare; providing vouchers and not health benefits; that raise the age of eligibility for Medicare and Social Security; that cap and slash Medicaid, the largest source of long-term care. And no wonder seniors groups are raising the alarm.

Under this resolution, the AARP says: ``Social Security and Medicare would cease to provide a predictable source of financial and health security in retirement.''

The Alliance for Retired Americans calls it ``irresponsible'' and ``extremely harmful to older Americans.''

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare says it ``would force severe cuts in Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other vital Federal programs.''

The Strengthen Social Security Coalition says: ``We regard a vote for the balanced budget amendment as a vote to cut Social Security, as well as Medicare and Medicaid.''

When Paul Ryan announced his retirement yesterday, he said before he leaves, he hopes that he is going to be able to go after these retirements and entitlements and cut them: Social Security and Medicare. This has already been announced. This is the future if we let it happen. We need to vote ``no.''

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