[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 26556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                       GOP BUDGET RECONCILIATION

  (Mr. MEEKS of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to tell my 
constituents and the American people that the raid is still in 
progress. The House Republican leadership continues its attempt to 
further raid the Nation's coffers and rob our citizens of important 
services.
  Last week, Republicans had to pull their budget reconciliation from 
the House floor, temporarily preventing a disastrous fiscal blow that 
will dig an even deeper deficit hole. This week they continue efforts 
to force through Congress over $50 billion in cuts to important 
programs, including student loans, Medicaid, child support and child 
support enforcement. Despite shameful attempts to disguise these cuts 
and services as necessary tough choices, the budget reconciliation 
funds an additional $70 billion in misguided tax cuts for the wealthy 
and neglects the billions needed for Hurricane Katrina reconstruction 
efforts.
  Democrats are holding Republicans accountable for enormously 
irresponsible spending that has managed to turn the surplus that the 
President inherited into an $8 trillion deficit. Fortunately, there are 
a few honest Republicans who know that the budget plan will make the 
national debt worse by adding an additional $20 billion to the already 
record-high deficit. They know they have lost their way with years of 
increased spending and indefensible tax cuts.
  I hope that they stand strong and may not do what is responsible or 
what is popular in their conference, but do what is right for the 
American people.

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