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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 21, 2002 Baca blasts passage of Republican budget resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives passed a budget that will spend $1.8 trillion from the Social Security trust fund. "Over the past several years, both parties in Congress have voted five times to put the Social Security trust fund in a lock box," said Rep. Joe Baca (CA-42). "The Republican budget resolution will break last year's bipartisan promise to protect Social Security by raiding the Social Security surplus in order to project a balanced budget." The House Republican Budget is a five-year plan that fails the test of a real 10-year budget plan. Instead of protecting Social Security, this budget raids $1.8 trillion from the trust fund for the next ten years. And it does not provide for a serious Medicare prescription drug plan for all seniors as promised by House Republicans. "How are seniors going to pay for healthcare, housing, and prescription drugs and still be able to eat?" said Rep. Baca. "We must do right by them. Social Security provides the safety net that allows our seniors to live independently with dignity." "Protecting Social Security is the Democrats' number one priority. American working families have earned the right to a secure retirement. Let's not gamble with Social Security just before the Baby Boomers retire in 2008." "We are fighting for our parents and our grandparents who have worked so hard. This raid on Social Security will devastate families who are counting on Social Security to be there when they retire." "This Republican budget fails to balance the budget, fails to protect Social Security and fails to provide adequate funding for Medicare prescription drugs," said Rep. Baca. "And, it does not come close to meeting the needs of retirees who are less likely to have private pension benefits. We need a budget that is inclusive of all Americans." # # # |
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