Watching, but there are a significant number of people in my whole state of florida on Social Security and on medicare. As i said, my mother is one of them. Im an enormous supporter of these programs. I also look at these programs and i look at the number of people going into it and how long they are going to live, and the math tells you these programs are going to have some big problems in the years to come which threaten not just to take them down but threaten to trigger a debt crisis in america. So we have to deal with the spending side and create a more disciplined way of spending in the future years to bring some certainty, but we also have to grow the economy. In essence, if you just take a stagnant economy, no cuts in the world are going to get you there. You cant just simply cut your way and cant simply tax your way. The only solution to our debt problem and it happens to be good for america all around is the combination of discipline on future spending combined with rapid, rob
Senators come to the floor to talk about the budget resolution and tax reform. We would hear from senators merkley and murray and later senator jack reed of maryland. Our nation was founded on a principle encapsulated in the first most important words of the constitution we the people. Our founders wanted us to have a nation that didnt work for the powerful and privileged but for the people by the people and for the people as president lincoln so eloquently described the nation mocks by hand for the privileged i am for the people. Tomorrow a bill this coming to the floor that couldnt be more of a powerful bill than weve seen on the floor of the senate beforere. The fundamental values in the constitution, this bill is a budget bill and it at its heart it says we are going to do 5 trillion of tax cuts almost completely for the richest americans by cutting programs that make america work for working americans. It says im not going to do anything for the rich and powerful but why, i ask yo
Consent that my intern be granted privileges of the floor for the balance of the day. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Merkley thank you, mr. President. Our nation was founded on a principle encapsulated in the first three and most important words of our constitution we the people. Our founders wanted to have a nation that didnt work for the benefit of the powerful and the privileged, but for decisions by the people, for the people, as president lincoln so eloquently described our nation. Not a nation by and for the powerful, not a nation by and for the privileged, but by and for the people. Tomorrow, a bill is coming to the floor that couldnt be more of a buy and for the powerful bill than we have seen on the floor of the senate before. A bill completely contrary, the fundamental values embedded in our constitution. Now, this bill is a budget bill, and at its heart it says were going to do 5 trillion of tax cuts almost completely for the richest americans, and were going t
This Week in Washington: Congress passes six appropriations bills including skinny health package; House Ways and Means Committee reports bill to block CMS nursing home minimum staffing.
This Week in Washington: Senate Finance Committee chairman sends letters concerning MA marketing practices; Senate Committee on Aging holds hearing on assisted living facilities; CMS.