Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On How Republican Budget Proposals Would Harm American Families And Benefit The Wealthy

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the ways in which Republican budget proposals would harm Americans. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Later today, I’ll join a number of Senate Democratic Colleagues to talk about a new report that throws a spotlight on the dangerous ways the Republican budget proposals would harm average Americans.

As has been the case so many times this year, this report tells a story of contrasts: on the one hand, Democrats and President Biden have spent the last two years reducing the federal deficit, lowering drug costs, lowering people’s energy bills, and making sure the wealthiest pay their fair share.

But here are just a few of the things the Republican budget proposals would do. Listen to this. The American people aren’t going to like it. Republican proposals would push millions of Americans off Social Security benefits, and raise the retirement age to 70.

Republican proposals would privatize Medicare, which would gut seniors’ benefits, threatening their access to guaranteed services, and force those who are able to remain on Medicare to pay higher premiums.

Republican proposals would cut Medicaid by $2.2 trillion and end coverage for tens of millions of Americans, especially people with disabilities, seniors, families living on lower incomes. A large part of Medicaid goes to help people who are in nursing homes and assisted living. And that takes a huge burden for 30, 40, 50-year-olds who want to care for their parents, but those high costs are something beyond their budgets.

And, Republican proposals would narrow health care eligibility for veterans and cut VA mandatory funding.

And so much more, so much more. These proposals are anathema, I believe to the American people for sure, but even to most Republicans.

That is why we Democrats keep insisting that Speaker McCarthy answer the one question we’ve all been asking and gotten no answer to. The question we’ve been asking Speaker McCarthy is where is your plan?

We believe a plan this drastic will not get the votes in the Republican conference in the House.

So Speaker McCarthy: show us your plan. Speaker McCarthy: show us your plan.

Republicans love to tout themselves as the party of the average American. But actions speak louder than words: when Republicans help tax cheats, call for putting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid on the chopping block, and cut taxes for billionaires and mega corporations, there’s no question where they truly stand. With the wealthy. With the very well-connected. And with the biggest of corporations.

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