U.S. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga) gave a passionate statement today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representative defending Republican 2014 budget plan “Path to Prosperity.”
Price, who represents Georgia’s 6th congressional district, rejected Democrats’ accusations that the budget proposal, introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), cuts crucial programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security while giving breaks to the wealthiest individuals and corporations.
“The fear mongering coming from the other side is truly remarkable, so let’s try to set the record and the motive straight,” said Price, a Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee. “Republicans care about seniors staring at devastating reductions in Medicare under current law. Republicans care about workers and middle class folks fighting to make ends meet with increased gas prices and increased food prices and on and on.
“Republicans care about young people struggling to get started in careers and crashed by government rules and regulations. Republicans care about students getting out of school and not being able to get a job in their field. Because we care about seniors and workers and single moms and young people and students, because we care about all Americans we present this responsible, balanced budget.”
Price emphasized that the “Path to Prosperity” budget takes care of what most Americans expect from their government: getting spending “under control,” improving the economy to decrease unemployment, and “getting our debt crisis under control so that we can preserve the American dream.” Price maintains that the above goals are the foundation of the Republican budget plan.
The Georgia lawmaker specifically pointed out several misconceptions about the plan that have been mentioned earlier by Democratic congressmen.
Price underlined that money from closing tax loopholes would go towards reducing the deficit and anyone suggesting otherwise is “absolutely wrong.”
In addition, Price ensured that the budget would be balanced in 10 years without raising any taxes, contrary to what some on the left have stated.
Lastly, Price rejected the notion that the budget cuts in the GOP plan are “severe.” He pointed out that the proposal actually increases spending by 3.4 percent every year.
“Mr. Chairman, the “Path to Prosperity” ensures that we are honoring America’s most important priorities,” concluded Price. “Our budget saves and strengthens and secures Medicare, we protect the national security, it cares for the poor and the sick by repairing America’s safety net programs and we expand economic opportunities for all. We believe in the industriousness and ingenuity and the dreams of the American people. It’s time that we have a government that is worthy of the people that we represent.”
The vote on the GOP budget plan in the House is scheduled for Wednesday. The proposal is extremely unpopular among the Democrats as well as some more conservative Republicans hence it’s unlikely to pass.
Another Republican Georgia Congressman Paul Broun published an op-ed in the New York Times today explaining why he will be voting against the “Path to Prosperity.” Click here to read the story.
Click here to watch Rep. Price’s floor statement.
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