[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Madam Speaker, both sides here have agreed to serious 
budget cuts. The choice is between responsible cuts and extreme cuts 
that endanger our fragile recovery, cost jobs, and hurt seniors. And 
because Democrats are fighting to stop the Republican extreme cuts, 
Republicans are threatening to shut the government down.
  Their proposal cuts investments in projects like high-speed rail by 
$1.5 billion, which could have a serious impact on jobs in the St. 
Louis region I represent. And their proposal lacks the common sense and 
courage to end taxpayer giveaways to Big Oil, millionaires, and 
companies sending jobs overseas. But most shockingly, as the Wall 
Street Journal has noted, the proposed budget would drastically cut 
Medicare and Medicaid, throwing our seniors into crisis. The AARP has 
said the proposal would ``deny vulnerable seniors access to long-term 
care and force deep cuts in quality and safety in nursing homes, 
leaving more seniors at risk.''
  The Republican extreme cuts are not the solution. I urge my 
Republican colleagues to get serious. It's time to roll our sleeves up 
and work together to solve the Nation's problems, not create more 
problems by shutting the government down.

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