Pelosi Remarks at Press Conference on Defending Seniors against Republican Budget that Ends Medicare
Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats held a press conference this morning at the House Triangle to discuss the disastrous impact the Republican budget that ends Medicare would have on America's seniors. Below are the Leader's remarks:
"Good morning. How are you? Well, today we have a very special guest. Her name is Josephine Ball-Sivils, but she is not alone with being a special guest--each and every one of you, with your ‘Hands off my Medicare' signs is very special too.
"We'll be hearing from our Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, our [Assistant] Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn, the Chair of our Democratic Caucus John Larson, our Vice Chair Xavier Becerra, our Ranking Member on the Budget Committee Chris Van Hollen, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Congresswoman Doris Matsui of California, co-chairs of our Seniors Task Force, and Paul Tonko a fighter for Medicare from New York state.
"I name them because actually all of our Members would like to be down here to speak to you, and so these are the ones who won the prize to be with us, all together on an issue that is not an issue. It is a value. It is an ethic for our country to keep our bedrock promise to our seniors, to keep our promise of Medicare--a benefit they have earned through a lifetime of work.
"House Republicans are voting to break that promise, jeopardizing the health and economic security of America's seniors. Seniors know what the Republican budget means. All of you here that want hands off your Medicare know hands off means end what they're trying to do, end Medicare and shift health costs to seniors, no.
"Slashing support for seniors in nursing homes - hands off. Forcing seniors to pay twice as much for less coverage, no. Reopening the donut hole and raising prescription drug costs, no. Ending free preventive service like a regular check up, enacted in the health care, new health care law, no.
"This is about a wrong choice. A budget is supposed to be a statement of our national values, about what is important to us as a country, what our priorities are or where we should allocate our resources and make our decisions. The Republicans are making some bad choice decisions in that they end Medicare while giving tens of millions of dollars to Big Oil. They slash support for seniors in nursing homes while giving tax breaks to corporations that send jobs overseas. They cut education for our children and increase the cost of higher education for nearly 10 million Americans while giving tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country. This is a wrong choice for American seniors, America's children. It's a wrong choice for the American people.
"This budget - we have always said, judge every initiative that comes before us as to whether it creates jobs, as it reduces the deficit, strengthens the middle class, and continues the economic growth of our economy. This budget does none of the above, as it ends Medicare. Hands off our Medicare!
"A fighter for the strong, strong Medicare, Assistant Leader on the Democratic side of the House of Representatives, a champion for America's working people, Jim Clyburn."