February 26, 2025

Chairman Aguilar: Republicans vote to take away health care from more than 10 million Californians to pay for tax cuts for billionaire

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar spoke on the House floor ahead of House passage of the Republican Budget, which will cut $880 billion from Medicaid to help pay for tax giveaways for billionaires and corporations. 

CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: I rise in opposition to this Republican Budget. House Democrats came to Congress ready to work with our Republican colleagues to lower the cost of eggs, take on price gouging, expand the Child Tax Credit, build more housing—and put the pocketbooks of working families first.

This is what the American people told us was their top priority and these are the issues that drive our Caucus. Instead, Madam Chair, they have turned their attention to the only policy priority that they really care about: ensuring billionaires pay less. 

My constituents can’t afford eggs at the local grocery store while my Republican colleagues are fighting amongst themselves about who to hand out tax breaks to—corporations or individuals. Tesla pays zero dollars in federal taxes while teachers and firefighters in San Bernardino are paying more than their fair share. Here is the reality, Madam Chair, my Republican colleagues are going to take away health care from more than 10 million Californians to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. 

This is not going to make the cost of eggs cheaper or housing less expensive. But it is going to put children and seniors who need health care at risk. House Democrats believe that the people who work for a living ought to get a little breathing room and the wealthy and well-connected shouldn’t get special treatment. The Republican Budget is not good for the economy, it’s not good for the country and it’s a betrayal of the middle class. I urge a NO vote.

Watch Chairman Aguilar’s speech here.

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