Washington, DC- (Thursday, March 29, 2012) –Today, Congresswoman Johnson released the following statement on the final passage of the House Republican budget plan that would end the Medicare guarantee and would provide huge tax cuts for the wealthy:

“Today, House Republicans passed their budget resolution, commonly known as the Ryan plan.  This plan would do damage to our current economy by ending the Medicare guarantee, raising seniors’ health care costs, and offering almost  a $400,000 tax break to millionaires.  Never have the GOP’s priorities been more clear.  The Republicans’ budget stands in stark contrast to an alternative plan supported by the Democratic Members of Congress, which seeks to preserve Medicare, foster economic growth, and protect the middle class.

Under  the GOP budget, 9.6 million students would see their Pell Grants cut in 2012. This budget would result in $430 million in cuts to the Head Start program, with 60,000 low-income children losing access to early childhood education. These are the Republicans’ objectives:  to provide huge tax breaks for the wealthy, balanced on the backs of working Americans, the elderly, and the poor.  House Democrats offered a plan that would provide tax breaks for the middle class, create jobs, and build a stronger economy for the future. 

Fortunately, this plan is a non-starter in the Senate, and I am sure that the GOP will be hearing from seniors throughout this country who oppose the Ryan plan.  I will continue to oppose these sorts of drastic cuts outlined in the Ryan plan, and will work with my colleagues to advance legislation that protects the American Dream and gets our country back on track. ”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.