[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 186 (Monday, November 20, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H13355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BUDGET EFFECTS ON CALIFORNIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Pelosi] is recognized 
during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I, too, am very pleased that we now have a 
framework within which to debate the issue of the budget. Who we tax 
and how we spend that money is what we will be seeing debated in the 
next 3 weeks.
  I am very proud and pleased that President Clinton held firm in 
saying, yes, we want a balanced budget, we want to balance it 
financially, but we must balance it in terms of values as well.
  I oppose the Republican proposal that is on the floor now for two 
reasons. First, because of its priorities; and second, because of the 
unfairness in the tax situation in it.
  This morning, however, Mr. Speaker, in this morning hour is usually 
the time when we try to convey some information to our colleagues, in 
addition to our point of view. I want to say why I find the Republican-
Gingrich proposal to be so harmful to my home State of California. I 
point out the harm to California because that is the State I represent, 
but other Members must look to their own States to see the impact that 
this budget will have on individuals, on the State budgets, and on the 
economies of their own States.
  I have this chart which indicates, Mr. Speaker, that in California, 
we will have, at a minimum, at a minimum, a $72 billion cut in funds 
that go to California, to individuals, and I will explain in what 
proportion.
  By comparison, our State budget is around $55 billion a year. The 
cuts that this budget will give to California are more than, by almost 
a half again, the budget of California; over $36 billion in Medicare 
cuts, affecting 3.6 million beneficiaries; 16, almost $17 billion in 
Medicaid cuts.
  In California, 26 percent of the children of California depend on 
Medicaid for their guaranteed health services. Two point three million 
of those children will be drastically affected, severely affected by 
this.
  I just want to say, Mr. Chairman, in closing, in addition to that, 2 
million people will suffer because of the $3.5 billion cut in the 
earned income tax credit.
  I urge my colleagues, look to your own States, see the severe impact 
that this will have on your people, on your budget, and on your 
economy.

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