[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013

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                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 28, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H. Con. Res. 112) 
     establishing the budget for the United States Government for 
     fiscal year 2013 and setting forth appropriate budgetary 
     levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022:

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Chair, the Republican budget proposal, very similar to 
their draconian proposal from last year, fails the middle class, 
undermines our Nation's values, and destroys the social safety net. 
It's been said that this year's Republican budget is ``austerity on 
steroids.'' I would call that an understatement.
  In the name of deficit reduction, Republicans would end the Medicare 
guarantee, put Social Security on the fast track to benefit cuts, and 
slash critical job-creating investments in education, infrastructure 
and basic research. These deep cuts do not even go to reduce the 
deficit. Instead, they are used to pay for massive tax cuts for the 
wealthy and to continue our out of control defense spending. The 
Republican budget will provide an average tax cut of $394,000 to people 
making over $1 million and increases defense spending. This budget is 
just a grab bag of failed right-wing ideas and it's harmful to 
America's future.
  Senior citizens and people with disabilities in Medicare get a 
particularly bad deal under the Republican proposal because their plan 
ends the guarantee of Medicare. Medicare beneficiaries would be given a 
voucher to try to obtain health care coverage from private insurers--
there would be no guaranteed benefits and whether one could afford 
coverage would depend on what is available in the marketplace. What's 
more, the Republicans' voucher is designed to diminish in value over 
time, placing a growing cost burden on senior citizens and people with 
disabilities in the future. The Republican budget pays lip service to 
maintaining the traditional Medicare program, but those words amount to 
nothing. Traditional Medicare would become increasingly expensive as 
those with high health needs tried to stay there. Eventually, it would 
go into a death spiral with costs far exceeding the premiums it could 
realistically charge. Medicare as we know it would be gone--another 
Republican gift to the private insurance industry.
  In contrast, the Congressional Progressive Caucus has offered a 
balanced budget, entitled the ``Budget for All,'' which strengthens 
Medicare and Social Security, protects the middle class, makes job-
promoting investments for America's future, reins in defense spending, 
and ensures everyone pays their fair share in taxes. It includes a 
number of my proposals, including closing tax loopholes that allow 
lobbyists and lawyers to avoid paying Medicare taxes and putting a 
price on carbon pollution to prevent catastrophic climate change.
  My constituents deserve a budget that addresses our Nation's fiscal 
challenges, creates jobs, and protects Medicare and Social Security. 
The Congressional Progressive Caucus does just that. I urge my 
colleagues to support the Progressive Budget for All and reject the 
failed ideas in the Republicans' budget for the 1 percent.

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