Budget Reconciliation

BUDGET RECONCILIATION -- (House of Representatives - November 16, 2005)

(Ms. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. LINDA T. SÁNCHEZ 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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