Schwartz on GOP 2012 Budget

from the inbox:

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, Vice Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the Republican budget proposal. Today the Pennsylvania Congresswoman is participating in the Budget Committee markup of the proposed Republican Budget for fiscal year 2012.

“The federal budget is a statement of our priorities and our values as a nation. We need sensible, responsible and targeted plans to fix the nation’s budget challenges. To succeed, the solution must include strategic spending cuts, smart tax policy reform and future economic growth. We should not fix our budget problems by failing to meet our obligations to our seniors, our children, or our future.

“The Republican budget proposal ends Medicare as we know it and slashes Medicaid by $1 trillion. Every day, 48 million seniors count on Medicare for their lifesaving medications, doctor visits and hospital care. And six million seniors and disabled Americans depend on Medicaid for their long-term or nursing home care.

“Risking the health security of our seniors is the absolute wrong approach to solving our nation’s budget problems. Privatizing Medicare means no more guaranteed health benefits; higher premiums for less coverage; discrimination based on income, illness or age; and more uncertainty if serious illness or need for long-term care occurs.

“The Republican budget proposal fails America.

“Privatizing Medicare and capping Medicaid won’t reduce costs; it just shifts the financial burden to our seniors and our families.

“Slashing spending from education, innovation and infrastructure won’t foster economic growth; it just makes us less prepared to compete in the global marketplace.

“Tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans won’t reduce our deficit; they just add to our already mounting debt.

“This budget is a blatant attack on our seniors, children, middle class families and future economic growth.

“We can—and must—do better.”