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The Truth About The Republican Budget

Floor Speech

Date: April 8, 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending

Mr. Speaker, I rise to stand up for the middle class, the working poor, and the poor of this great Nation. They deserve honesty and a fair shake from their government.

I'm here to tell the American people the honest truth that the Republican budget of fiscal year 2011 would destroy 700,000 jobs and derail our economic recovery. Their plan, H.R. 1, would cut funding for government programs with the precision of a chain saw.

The Republicans are ignoring the fact that the policies of the 111th Congress and of our President saved America from an economic free fall. These same policies have been responsible for the unemployment rate falling to 8.8 percent last month, a 2-year low. I think last month was the 14th straight month of jobs being created as opposed to jobs being cut.

Instead of funding programs that are helping our economy, these Republicans are poised to shut down the government. Today, every Republican in unison speaks about this shutdown in hushed and somber tones so as not to appear to be gloating. But they really don't care about you, the middle class, and they don't care about how a shutdown will affect you. And they all, in unison, cast blame on Harry Reid. He's going to be the whipping boy that we hear on FOX News tonight.

Mr. Speaker, a recent study found that more than 40 percent of House freshmen are millionaires. They have net worths of up to $40 million. And some of these freshmen, who have yet to become millionaires--they're wannabes--but they enjoy a median estimated wealth for these House freshman of $570,000 each. In contrast, according to the U.S. census, the median estimated wealth for the average American is $120,000. It's a big contrast.

Instead of funding problems that are helping our economy, they're poised to shut down the government. Today, for minorities, the median estimated wealth is $27,000. And what the Republicans are doing is trying to get us out of this budget turmoil that we're in on the backs of the middle class and the poor. It's wrong.


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