WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) took to the House Floor as Republicans continued dragging the economy into a recession. She called out House Republicans for voting to hike costs on working families, gut essential government services, and hand more tax breaks to billionaires. Below is a transcript of her remarks: 

"Remember when the GOP promised to lower the cost of living? It really wasn’t that long ago.

"But now, today, we have a tax on cars. We have a tax on coffee. We have a tax on the eggs we are importing to fill the empty shelves. We have a 125% tax on clothes and toys and electronics. What does this all add up to? It adds up to [a] $4,600-a-year tax on American families.

"And while Trump shrugs at all those rising costs, he certainly wants us to know this — while all this was happening to American families, he wants us to know that he won his senior golf tournament. 

"So what are House Republicans doing? Are they voting to cancel these taxes? No. They’re carving them into stone — prohibiting us from repealing them, no matter how painful they get. And then, they’re pushing costs even higher. Today, they are voting to raise overdraft fees.

"After crashing the economy, eliminating jobs, destroying people’s retirement savings, they’re making it more expensive to be short on money. By $225 a year. Per family. All so the banks can pocket more.

"You know, priorities. 

"And later today, Republicans will be back on their tax plan. That one where they take deserving taxpayer dollars and give it to the billionaire class in the form of tax cuts for them. By defunding Medicaid — the largest health care program in our country. By defunding food programs that feed 15 million children. By dismantling Social Security, firing veterans, closing and cutting public schools, abandoning special needs children. 

"All to help the rich get richer. Because that’s who they work for. We’re going to continue to work and vote for working people. And we will vote NO on this budget."

To watch the full speech, click HERE.  

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