[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26262]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         BUDGET RECONCILIATION

  (Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, in this morning's 
Washington Post, one of the paper's columnists implied that I and other 
Members who oppose Medicare cuts are simply ``demonizing Republicans.''
  Well, Mr. Speaker, I hate to break it to you, but I am more concerned 
with the people who live in my district than the current image problems 
affecting the Republican Party. Truly, what concerns the people in my 
district is what Congress is considering doing this week.
  We are right now waiting to see the latest version of a bill that 
takes away food from children, makes it more difficult for young people 
to go to college, and slashes funding for foster parents.
  I know that many of my colleagues would like to spin this bill as a 
fine example of fiscal discipline; but rather than taking from 
children, why do we not think we should start with, oh, I do not know, 
honestly accounting for future deficit projections, or eliminating 
billion-dollar pork barrel projects for the chairmen of certain 
committees, or how about an open and competitive bid on huge government 
contracts.
  Five years ago, Mr. Speaker, this country had record surpluses. In 
half a decade, we have dishonest accounting, the largest deficit in 
history, and a budget reconciliation process that is conducted behind 
closed doors. Believing that America can do better is not a partisan 
attack.

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