Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) voted to protect the Medicare guarantee, create jobs, invest in education, infrastructure and innovation by supporting the Democratic budget and voting no on the Republican budget.

“We need a fair approach to get people back to work, while reducing our deficit with reasoned cuts,” Frankel said. “Creating jobs and protecting Medicare are two of my top priorities. That’s why I supported the Democratic budget and voted against the job-cutting Republican budget that increases health care costs for seniors. South Floridians sent me to Congress to get something done, to solve problems not create them."

The Republican budget ends the Medicare guarantee and shifts health care costs to seniors, including raising the cost of prescription drugs for many seniors. The Democratic budget preserves Medicare, Medicaid and protects Social Security from privatization. In Florida’s 22^nd congressional district there are more than 141,000 seniors.

When it comes to the economy, the Republican budget would cost 750,000 jobs this year according to the Economic Policy Institute, while the Democratic alternative budget will generate 1.2 million more jobs, stop across-the-board cuts known as the sequester and job losses from those cuts. In addition, the Republican budget would slash education funding and double student loan interest rates and cut investments in transportation. The Democratic alternative would invest in education, prevent a hike in student loan rates and make investments in key transportation priorities.

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