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Meets with Business Leaders from Largest City in Prince George's County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, August 23, 2004
BOWIE - On Monday, August 23, Congressman Steny Hoyer spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce. Hoyer was joined by local and state officials and business leaders from Bowie and discussed with the Chamber the views of its members and the community, and how they can work together to help solve the many challenging issues that face business owners and impact the quality of life in the Bowie community.
As the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fourth largest city in the State of Maryland, the city of Bowie plays a major role in the economic strength and overall quality of life in the County. Congressman Hoyer keeps in regular contact with the Bowie and Greater Prince George's County business community and values meeting with local leaders to discuss their needs and successes and to build upon the strong partnerships he has developed with local business community leaders over the years. This year, Congressman Hoyer has met with the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, the Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation, the Prince George's County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Prince George's Business Roundtable. Following are a portion of Congressman Hoyer's remarks as prepared for delivery.
"It's such a pleasure to be here with my friends in Bowie. Over the years we have had a great partnership working together to improve the quality of life for our neighbors throughout the 5th Congressional District.
"Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, you cannot be pleased with what you see in Washington today. For the first time in thirty years, it appears that we will not adopt a budget resolution - or blueprint - when the same political party controls both chambers of Congress and the White House. The fact is, the Republican Party right now is greatly divided over the issue of tax cuts and the degeneration of our nation's fiscal health.
"Recently, the Chairman of the Budget Committee said: 'we don't believe you should have to pay for tax cuts.' And the House Majority Leader, said this spring that: 'nothing is more important at a time of war than tax cuts.'
"Now, I submit to you, as practical business leaders in this community who know a thing or two about budgets and balance sheets, that Members of Congress are just not being honest with the American people when they say that we can have it all - enormous tax cuts, as well as a first-rate education system and preeminent military, a secure homeland, and healthy social security and Medicare programs. The arithmetic just does not add up.
"And today, we are reaping what we have sown over the last few years. The projected 10-year budget surplus that George W. Bush inherited when he took office - $5.6 trillion - is gone. Two weeks ago, the Administration projected a record budget deficit of $445 billion for fiscal year 2004, eclipsing last year's record deficit by nearly $75 billion. And when you consider the effects of the President's stated fiscal agenda, deficits could hover close to $400 billion for several years.
"These deficits will cost us the ability to deal with the retirement of the baby boomers, and will threaten Social Security and Medicare. These deficits will eat away the resources we need to invest adequately in education and health care for our people. And they will irresponsibly and immorally force our children and grandchildren to pay this generation's bills. It is imperative that your public officials - Democrats and Republicans - put aside partisan differences and arrest failed ideologies.
"I know that members of the chamber are particularly interested in hearing about Social Security and health care issues. President Bush promised that he would not use the Social Security trust fund to balance the budget. But the 75-year cost of Republicans' tax cuts are more than three times the cost of the upcoming Social Security shortfall. Even Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is concerned that Social Security benefits are threatened by the long-term deficits brought on by the Bush Administration's policies.
"Furthermore, 183,000 have joined the ranks of the uninsured in Maryland since 2001. With millions of jobs lost over the past three years, more Americans are losing their employer-based health insurance and finding it harder to afford their health care premiums. Today, 43 million Americans have no health insurance, including 730,000 in Maryland. Millions more are underinsured or anxious about losing their coverage.
"We know that the majority of the growing numbers of uninsured come from working families. The unfortunate reality is that spiraling healthcare costs have made it harder and harder for employers, including small businesses, to afford the cost of providing coverage for their employees and retirees.
"At the same time, states like Maryland are having a tougher time providing public coverage through Medicaid and S-CHIP. And even individuals that do have access to insurance coverage, are finding it harder to afford the cost of the rising premiums, so are choosing to go without coverage.
"We know that such great numbers of uninsured only increases healthcare costs for the rest of Americans. I have supported real solutions that would expand access to health coverage for more Americans, and would make health insurance more affordable for small businesses. Democrats have offered proposals to help segments of the populations that need the most help.
"I applaud your efforts to promote an understanding of and an appreciation for the issues of concern to your members and the business community. I value our shared commitment to establish a strong dialogue between the business community and your government. And, I look forward to working with you as a continuing partner to bring the city of Bowie and Prince George's County whatever resources I can from the federal government to improve the quality of life for the business community and all Prince George's County residents."
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