Pelosi Floor Speech on the Republican Budget Scam: "Here You Go Again"
Washington, D.C. – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to the Rule providing consideration for the Republican budget scam.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi highlighted how the Republican budget betrays hardworking Americans by ripping away Medicaid and SNAP — raising costs for those already struggling to make ends meet.
Watch Speaker Emerita Pelosi's remarks here.
Read key quotes from the Speaker Emerita Pelosi's remarks below:
Ranking Member Jim McGovern. I'd like to yield two minutes to the gentlewoman from California, the Speaker Emerita, a powerful leader in the Democratic Caucus and for the country, Ms. Pelosi.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his exuberant presentation of opposition to this budget. Thank you for all the amendments you proposed to improve upon it. Sadly, the Republicans didn't accept just one.
Here you go again. The last time the Republicans had a majority in the House and Senate, and President Trump was in the White House, they passed a terrible bill. It was a tax cut for the rich that gave eighty-three percent of the benefits to the wealthiest people, the top one percent in our country, and added $2 trillion to the national debt. This year, they are doubling down on that: $4 trillion to the national debt. And they call that fiscal sanity.
And they're doing it by steering taxpayer dollars from Medicaid to give additional tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. People think of Medicaid sometimes as a poor children's program, and that would be sufficient justification for it at all. But it is a middle-income benefit — people with seniors who need long-term health care need Medicaid. Just listen to your constituents. Hear what they have to say about what it means to their fiscal well-being. Listen to your constituents, the numbers are staggering.
By voting for this cruel bill, you are betraying hardworking Americans by raising costs for all those already struggling to make ends meet. The President said he was going to reduce the cost of living — he didn't. Reduce inflation — he didn't. Indeed, a vote for this budget is a vote against Medicaid, ripping away health care from children, people with disabilities, and seniors. And it is a vote against SNAP, as the distinguished [Ranking Member] indicated, taking food out of the mouths of babies. And you do that with glee.
While President Trump and Congressional Republicans are choosing to protect billionaires, we are led and unified by Hakeem Jeffries. We are united in our commitment to work for working families. That is why I urge a 'no' vote on this extreme measure. I thank the distinguished [Ranking Member] for his leadership and yield back my time.