Cuts and Blood

CUTS AND BLOOD -- (House of Representatives - November 09, 2005)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, since Hurricane Katrina and Rita and the budget reconciliation talks began, practically all that we have heard in this House about budgets has been cut, cut, cut, and cut. And of course, Mr. Speaker, where I come from back in Chicago, if all that you do is cut, cut and cut, all that you get is blood, blood, and more blood. And, of course, the blood will be on the hands of those who have the knife.

Much of the debate in this House during the past 2 months has been around the majority's proposal to cut mandatory programs by $35 to $50 billion over the next 5 years. Just the idea of some of these Draconian measures is enough to send chills up and down one's spine because we are talking about programs that provide basic assistance to vulnerable, low-income families and individuals.

In essence and in reality, we are talking about Robin Hood in reverse; that is, take from the poor and give to the rich. We are talking about programs that provide help to people with disabilities, people who make use of the earned income tax credit, people who use Supplemental Security Income programs, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and individuals who are indeed elderly.

Some of the proposed cuts include $11.9 billion to Medicaid, and I can just imagine what this will do to the more than 20 hospitals, health centers, private physician practices in my district. Imagine the large number of children and poor people who will not be able to access adequate health care.

Student loans, $14.3 billion. Look at the number of students who will not be able to go to college, to get the education that we all know that they must have if they are to compete and survive in a highly technical, service-oriented economy. We think of all of those who would not be able to go to law school, medical school, who would not be in a position to provide the services that our country will need.

Child support, $4.9 billion. Imagine what will happen to the large number of children in my district being raised by single mothers and how difficult it will be for them to receive child support payments.

Foster care, $577 million. My district has one of the highest percentages of children in foster care in the Nation. Any reduction in these funds will seriously imperil our ability to provide and care for these children.

Food stamps, unimaginable. I mean, how can you think of cutting food stamps, with all of the individuals who are homeless, hungry, in many instances hopeless and helpless, individuals who are unemployed, laid off from their jobs and having difficulties with acquiring the basic necessities to sustain life.

Mr. Speaker, I am strongly in favor of our government operating on sound fiscal policies. I am in favor of reducing the deficit to the extent prudent and possible. I am in favor of rebuilding the areas damaged by Katrina and Rita, but I am not in favor of continuing to throw money away on a war that we never should have been in in the first place. I am not in favor of giving huge tax breaks and cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population. I am in favor of budget reconciliation, but not on the backs of the poor, needy, and most vulnerable sectors of our society.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I could do nothing less than oppose. As a matter of fact, it would be a dereliction of my duty and responsibility if I were to vote for the Budget Reconciliation Act that is before us. I will vote prudently and sensibly.

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