December 8, 2006

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. Today’s legislation is a perfect example of the reckless priorities that voters rejected in giving Democrats control of both the House and Senate. Adding another $45 billion to the deficit is a fitting last act from Congressional Republicans. They’ve added trillions to the debt in the last six years and have no remorse about adding a few billion more on the way out the door.

This bill destroys our environment with expanded offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, and though not in this bill, California is the next logical target. It expands school vouchers for Washington, D.C. as part of the Republican crusade to shift money to private and religious schools and undermine public education. On the healthcare front, this bill wastes a billion dollars on health savings accounts for the rich. It also expands the Medicare Advantage program, adding to the $5.2 billion in annual overpayments taxpayers already cough up to private insurers.

I am glad that this bill includes a temporary update for physicians, giving us a little breathing room heading into next year. But we're still going to have to do some very heavy lifting in order to dig ourselves out of the $250 billion hole Republicans created by kicking the can down the road the last few years. In the next Congress, I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle work with me to address this problem once and for all. 

Tax breaks for the rich and new oil for Cheney and the gang…looks like Republicans really won one for the Gipper today.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose this fiscally irresponsible package and hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in rejecting this bill.