Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to call out Republicans for their budget plans that are deeply unpopular with the American people. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
The Republicans right now are struggling with a very basic idea: the truth sometimes hurts. In their case, the truth is that Republicans’ policies are deeply unpopular with the American people. Republicans are realizing that and it’s left them paralyzed.
Now that Republicans actually have to produce a bill, reality is catching up with them. No more bland words, no more “don't worry, we'll protect you.” The budget shows what they're actually up to.
Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office reported that no matter which scheme of Medicaid cuts Republicans are likely to choose, the result will be that millions will become uninsured.
Republicans can try any which way to make their bill work, but their numbers do not add up. There is no way for Republicans to accomplish their goal of massive tax giveaways without devastating millions of working and middle class people.
Even if Republicans pass a fraction of their proposed Medicaid cuts, it still means millions of people will lose their health care.
And for what? So that billionaires can get another tax break that they don’t need? At a time of high inflation and a possible recession? That is the definition of cruelty.
This is the fundamental problem Republicans are facing right now as their infighting continues: that their policies are deeply unpopular with the American people. Not just blue state Republicans, but purple and red state Republicans too.
Telling the American people that you want to axe their health care so that extremely rich people can pay less in taxes is a horrible message that hardly anyone in America agrees with.
But that is precisely what Republicans are trying to do, so it’s no surprise they’re eating their own tails trying to figure out how to proceed.
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