VIDEO: Magaziner Speaks on House Floor Against Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) participated in debate on the floor of the House of Representatives, outlining his strong opposition to House Republicans’ reconciliation spending and tax bill.

View Rep. Magaziner’s remarks on the House floor here.

Read the full transcript of Magaziner’s remarks on the House floor below:

When we say that the Republican Party has turned into a cult, this is what we mean.

Our Republican colleagues are pushing a bill that would throw their constituents under the bus – A bill that flies in the face of everything they claim to stand for. All because Donald Trump wants a bill signing photo op by the 4th of July.

Our Republican colleagues know that this bill will cost 17 million Americans their health insurance. 

They know that nursing homes in their own districts will have to close down. 

They know that under this bill, $5 trillion of debt is being added that will be paid for by my children and your children and their children for generations to come, so that today's billionaires can get a tax break. 

They know that this bill is unpopular, and many of their vulnerable members will lose reelection over it.

But the cult leader has decided he wants his photo op on July 4th. And our Kool-Aid drinking colleagues are going along with it. They know this is wrong.

They still have a chance to do right by their constituents and their convictions. Vote no on this bill.

I yield back.

BACKGROUND: 

The House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as today on a budget reconciliation bill that makes over $1trillion in cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act and is estimated to cut 17 million Americans off of their health care, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In addition, the bill is expected to cut over $100 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the food assistance program that more than 40 million Americans rely on to put food on the table. 

Magaziner has repeatedly spoken out against the proposal, which makes deep cuts to programs that working Rhode Islanders rely on to pay for tax breaks that primarily benefit billionaires and the ultra-wealthy. 

Since April, Magaziner has participated in nine press conferences in Rhode Island and Washington and spoken on the House floor and in committee six times, all to call attention to the impacts of this legislation.