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MEETINGS FROM 12:30 TO 2:1
AND AND THEN DEBATE ON
REPEALING OIL AND GAS
COMPANY TAX BREAKS.
THAT VOTE IS SCHEDULED FOR
6:15.
THIS IS LIVE SENATE COVERAGE
NOW ON C-SPAN2.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN DR. BARRY BLACK
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
MERCIFUL GOD, OUR SHELTER IN THE
TIME OF STORM.
USE OUR LAWMAKERS TO BRING HELP
TO OTHERS.
CREDIT TO THEMSELVES.
AND HONOR TO YOU.
EMPOWER THEM TO CERTIFICATES
VEER THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES,
NEVER FORGETTING THAT YOU
CONTINUE TO DIRECT THEIR
DESTINY.
LORD, GUIDE THEM TO BE AT PEACE
WITH THEMSELVES, WITH OTHERS AND
WITH YOU.
MAY THEY STRIVE TO LIVE FOR YOUR
GLORY, KNOWING THAT THOUGH YOUR
WILL MAY BE HINDERED, IT WILL
ULTIMATELY PREVAIL.
GIVE THEM AND ALL OF US WHO WORK
WITH THEM YOUR STRENGTH TO
ENDURE AND YOUR COURAGE TO
TRIUMPH IN THINGS WE ATTEMPT FOR
THE GOOD OF THIS LAND WE LOVE.
WE ASK THIS IN YOUR RIGHTEOUS
NAME.
AMEN.
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
MAY 17, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3,
OF THE STANDING RULES
OF THE SENATE,
I HEREBY APPOINT
THE HONORABLE JEANNE SHAHEEN
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER
THE NOMINATION OF SUSAN CARNEY
OF CONNECTICUT TO BE A UNITED
STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE FOR THE
SECOND CIRCUIT.
THERE WILL BE TWO HOURS OF
DEBATE.
ROLL CALL VOTE ON CONFIRMATION
OF THE CARNEY NOMINATION WILL
BEGIN SHORTLY AFTER NOON TODAY.
THERE'S A CELEBRATION GOING ON
IN THE ROTUNDA, AND WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T INTERFERE
WITH THAT, SO WE'LL HOLD THE
VOTE OPEN AND MAKE SURE THAT ANY
STRAGGLERS CAN VOTE.
FOLLOWING THE VOTE, THE SENATE
WILL RECESS UNTIL 2:15 TO ALLOW
FOR OUR WEEKLY CAUCUS MEETINGS.
AT 2:15, THE SENATE WILL BEGIN
THE MOTION TO PROCEED ON S. 940,
THE CLOSE BIG OIL'S TAX
LOOPHOLES ACT, FOUR HOURS OF
DEBATE.
THERE WILL BE A ROLL CALL VOTE
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:15 THIS
EVENING, AND A MOTION TO PROCEED
TO THE BILL WITH A 60-VOTE
THRESHOLD.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SENATE WILL
DEBATE THE MOTION TO PROCEED
WITH THE REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE
TO CLOSE THE BIG OIL TAX AND
LOOPHOLES ACT WHICH IS S. 953,
OFFSHORE PRODUCTION AND SAFETY
THAT WILL BE TOMORROW.
THERE WILL BE A ROLL CALL VOTE
ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO THAT
THAT ALSO, OF COURSE, WILL HAVE
A 60-VOTE THRESHOLD.
I'M TOLD THAT H.R. 1231 IS DUE
FOR A SECOND READING.
THE CLERK
WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL
FOR THE SECOND TIME.
H.R. 1231, AN ACT TO
AMEND THE OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF LANDS ACT AND SO FORTH AND
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WOULD OBJECT TO ANY FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS AT THIS TIME.
THE BILL
WILL BE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR
UNDER RULE 14.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AS WE
LEARNED TODAY FROM ARTICLES
AROUND THE COUNTRY -- AND I'LL
REFER JUST BRIEFLY TO ONE IN
"USA TODAY" -- AND I QUOTE --
"AS GAS PRICES WHOEVER NEAR A $4
A GALLON PRICE, NEARLY 7 IN 10
AMERICANS SAY THE HIGH COST OF
FUEL IS CAUSING FINANCIAL
HARDSHIP FOR THEIR FAMILIES, A"
USA TODAY "GALLUP POLL FINDS.
MORE THAN HALF SAY THEY HAVE
MADE MAJOR CHANGES TO COMPENSATE
FOR THE HIGHER PRICES, RANGING
FROM SHORTER TRIPS TO CUTTING
BACK ON VACATION TRAVEL.
THEY SAY THEIR STANDARD OF
LIVING IS JEOPARDIZED."
IT GOES ON TO INDICATE THAT THE
SITUATION INVOLVING GAS PRICES
IS VERY, VERY FOCUSED.
AND IN THE LIVES OF SOME,
DRASTIC.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE OTHER ISSUE
THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FACE --
AND THEY SHOULD -- IS WE HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT -- RAISING
THE DEBT CEILING.
WE CAN ONLY DO THAT, DEMOCRATS,
REPUBLICANS AGREE BY DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT BRINGING DOWN
THE DEFICIT, AND IT HAS TO BE
SOMETHING THAT'S MEANINGFUL.
A PLACE TO START IN THAT REGARD
WOULD BE TO FOCUS ON THESE GAS
PRICES, HOW CONCERNED PEOPLE
ARE, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT,
THE DEFICIT.
WE HAVE A BILL THAT WE'LL VOTE
ON THIS EVENING THAT SAYS THE
SUBSIDIES GIVEN TO OIL
COMPANIES, THE FIVE BIG OIL
COMPANIES, LAST QUARTER WHICH
PROFIT -- WE'RE SAYING THAT
THOSE SUBSIDIES ARE NO LONGER
NECESSARY.
WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS A
NUMBER OF EXECUTIVES FROM THESE
COMPANIES WHO HAVE SAID THEY'RE
NOT NECESSARY.
THEY'RE NOW TRYING TO JUSTIFY
THESE, WELL, IF WE DON'T DO
THIS, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE GAS
PRICES TO GO UP.
WE HAD A REPORT BY CONGRESSIONAL
REFERENCE SERVICE, INDEPENDENT
BODY, WHO QUOTED IN THREE
DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT PLACES IN
THAT REPORT THAT IT WON'T AFFECT
GAS PRICES AT ALL.
THEY SAID IT IN DIFFERENT WAYS,
BUT THEY SAID IT.
SO, NUMBER ONE, OF COURSE WE
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE
EXORBITANT GAS PRICES, AND THE
BEST WAY TO START WITH THAT IS
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FIVE
BIG OIL COMPANIES GETTING
SUBSIDIES THEY DON'T NEED.
THE OTHER WAY TO DO IT, THE
OTHER THING WE HAVE TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT ARE THE HUGE
DEFICITS THAT WE'VE HAD, AND WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH OF THOSE TO
SOME DEGREE TODAY BY DOING
SOMETHING THIS EVENING WHEN WE
VOTE ON TAKING AWAY THOSE HUGE
SUBSIDIES THE OIL COMPANIES NO
LONGER NEED.
PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
LAST WEEK, AS
GAS PRICES CONTINUED TO CLIMB,
SQUEEZING FAMILY BUDGETS AND
PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON ALREADY
STRUGGLING BUSINESSES, DEMOCRATS
HERE IN CONGRESS SPRANG INTO
INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY DOING
SOMETHING ABOUT HIGH GAS PRICES,
OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS STAGED
WHAT ONE OF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ACCURATELY DESCRIBED
AS A DOG AND PONY SHOW.
THEY ROUNDED UP WHAT THEY
BELIEVED WERE A FEW
UNSYMPATHETIC VILLAINS WHO THEY
COULD BLAME FOR HIGH GAS PRICES,
HOPING NOBODY WOULD NOTICE.
THEY DON'T HAVE A PLAN OF THEIR
PRICES.
THAT'S BEEN THE DEMOCRATIC
STRATEGY FROM THE BEGINNING.
BLAME THIS CRISIS ON SOMEBODY
ELSE AND SEE IF THEY CAN'T RAISE
TAXES WHILE THEY'RE AT IT.
THEY HAVE BEEN SO SHAMELESS
ABOUT IT, IN FACT, THEY HAVEN'T
EVEN PRETENDED THEY'RE DOING
ANYTHING TO LOWER GAS PRICES,
READILY ADMITTING THE BILL WE'LL
VOTE ON TODAY WON'T LOWER GAS
PRICES BY A PENNY.
AS THE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN OF
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE PUT IT
JUST LAST WEEK, THAT'S NOT THE
WELL, I WOULD SUBMIT THAT FOR
MOST AMERICANS, HIGH GAS PRICES
IS, IN FACT, THE ISSUE, AND THIS
WEEK, DEMOCRATS WILL SHOW ONCE
AGAIN HOW LITTLE THEY CARE ABOUT
IT WHEN WE TAKE UP AN ENERGY
PLAN THAT SEVERAL MORE OF THEM
HAVE ADMITTED WILL DO ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING TO LOWER THE PRICE OF
GAS AT THE PUMP.
ONE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR, A MEMBER
OF THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP TEAM,
CALLED THE BILL A GIMMICK.
ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
CALLED IT LAUGHABLE.
I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT WITH
AMERICANS LOOKING FOR REAL
RELIEF, SYMBOLIC VOTES LIKE THIS
THAT AIM TO DO NOTHING BUT PIT
PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER WILL
ONLY FRUSTRATE THE PUBLIC EVEN
MORE.
AMERICANS REALLY AREN'T
INTERESTED IN SCAPEGOATS.
THEY JUST WANT TO PAY LESS TO
FILL UP THEIR CARS.
THAT'S WHY THIS DEMOCRATIC BILL
TO TAX AMERICAN ENERGY IS AN
AFFRONT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
AND SO IS THE PRESIDENT'S
ANNOUNCEMENT OVER THE WEEKEND
THAT HE NOW PLANS TO LET THESE
SAME ENERGY PRODUCERS LEASE
LANDS THROUGHOUT THE U.S. THAT
HIS ADMINISTRATION HAD
PREVIOUSLY BLOCKED OFF.
NOW, THE ADMINISTRATION KNOWS
PERFECTLY WELL THAT LEASING, THE
ACT OF LEASE SOMETHING JUST THE
START OF THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS, WHICH IS WHY ITS ONLY
HOPE IS THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
DON'T PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE
DETAILS OF THE PLAN.
PERMITS, MADAM PRESIDENT,
PERMITS ARE WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
AND BY REFUSING TO ISSUE PERMITS
IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY, THE
ADMINISTRATION IS SHOWING ITS
TRUE COLORS IN THIS DEBATE.
IF THE ADMINISTRATION WERE
SERIOUS ABOUT INCREASING
DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION, IT
WOULD INCREASE LEASES AND, MOST
IMPORTANTLY, IT WOULD INCREASE
PERMITS.
IN THE END, THE ONLY THING
DEMOCRATS WILL ACTUALLY ACHIEVE
THIS WEEK IS TO MAKE REPUBLICAN
ARGUMENTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE
ENERGY LEGISLATION SEEM EVEN
STRONGER THAN THEY ALREADY ARE.
BY PRETEND TO GO WANT AN
INCREASE IN DOMESTIC ENERGY
PRODUCTION, THE PRESIDENT IS NOT
ONLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE U.S.
HAS VAST ENERGY RESOURCES OF ITS
OWN WAITING TO BE TAPPED, HE'S
ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT TAPPING
THESE RESOURCES WOULD AT SOME
POINT HELP DRIVE DOWN THE PRICE
OF GAS AT THE PUMP.
HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG.
NOW THE PRESIDENT IS
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT SUPPLY
MATTERS, AND AMERICAN SUPPLY
MATTERS EVEN MORE.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT SEEMS TO
BE STANDING BETWEEN REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS AT THIS POINT IS
THE DEMOCRATS DON'T SEEM TO HAVE
THE POLITICAL WILL TO FOLLOW
THROUGH ON THEIR CONCLUSIONS,
AND IN THIS, TODAY'S DEMOCRATS
ARE NO DIFFERENT FROM THEIR
PREDECESSORS.
LITERALLY FOR DECADES, DEMOCRATS
FROM JIMMY CARTER TO PRESIDENT
OBAMA HAVE SOUGHT TO DEFLECT
ATTENTION FROM THEIR OWN
COMPLICITY IN OUR NATION'S
OVERDEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL.
EVERY TIME GAS PRICES GO UP,
THEY PAY LIP SERVICE TO THE NEED
FOR DOMESTIC EXPLORATION WHILE
QUIETLY SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO
EXPRESS IT -- SUPPRESS IT, BUT
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ENERGY POLICY
PUTS THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION
IN A WHOLE NEW CATEGORY.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE
PRESIDENT HAS MOUNTED NOTHING
SHORT OF A WAR ON AMERICAN
CANCELING DOZENS OF LEASES,
IMPOSING A MORATORIUM OFF THE
GULF COAST, ARBITRARILY
EXTENDING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS
AND INCREASING PERMIT FEES.
ON THE CRUCIAL ISSUE OF PERMITS,
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HELD THEM
UP IN ALASKA, THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
WEST, AND PARTICULARLY OFFSHORE.
EVERY ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS HAS
HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON FUTURE
PRODUCTION AND ON FUTURE JOBS.
SINCE EVERY PERMIT THE
ADMINISTRATION DENIES IS ANOTHER
JOB CREATION OPPORTUNITY DENIED.
SO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS
DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IT
CAN TO KEEP OUR DOMESTIC ENERGY
SECTOR DOWN AND TO STIFLE THE
JOBS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.
UNTIL NOW, THE PRESIDENT HAS
STUCK TO ATTACKING REPUBLICANS
FOR BEING STUCK IN THE PRESENT
WITHOUT PREPARING FOR THE
FUTURE, BUT THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A DISINGENUOUS ARGUMENT.
IT IGNORES HISTORY, SINCE WE
HAVE REPEATEDLY SUPPORTED
ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND RENEWABLE
ENERGY AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE
ENERGY LEGISLATION THAT COMMITS
US TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLEANER
TECHNOLOGIES, AND IT IGNORES
SCIENCE.
SINCE EVEN IF A MILLION ELECTRIC
VEHICLES ARE SOLD HERE BY 2015,
THEY STILL WOULD ONLY ACCOUNT
FOR LESS THAN ..5% OF THE ENTIRE
U.S. VEHICLE FLEET.
HOWEVER MUCH WE DESIRE IT, THE
TRANSITION FROM OIL WILL TAKE
DECADES AND SERIOUS ENERGY
POLICY MUST ACCOUNT FOR THAT.
WITH THIS LATEST GAMBIT, THE
PRESIDENT MAY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED
THE WISDOM OF OUR APPROACH, BUT
HIS PLAN TO ALLOW A FEW LEASE
SALES WITHOUT CORRESPONDING
PERMITS FALL SHORT.
ENERGY PRODUCERS MIGHT END UP
WITH A LOT OF EXPENSIVE LAND,
BUT THE REST OF US WOULD HAVE
NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT.
A BETTER APPROACH TO THIS CRISIS
IS THE REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE
TOMORROW.
OUR BILL WOULD RETURN AMERICAN
OFFSHORE PRODUCTION TO WHERE IT
WAS BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION
LOCKED IT UP, REQUIRE FEDERAL
BUREAUCRATS TO PROCESS PERMITS,
TO MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR
THE OTHER -- PROCESS THE PERMIT,
MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER, RATHER THAN SITTING ON
THE PERMIT.
SAFETY.
OUR PLAN NOT ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES
THE IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, IT DOES
SOMETHING ABOUT IT WHILE
ENSURING ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY.
IF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS PARTY
ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT
LOWERING GAS PRICES, MAKING US
LESS DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN OIL
AND CREATING THE THOUSANDS OF
JOBS THAT AMERICAN EXPLORATION
HAS PROVEN TO PRODUCE, THEY
WOULD EMBRACE OUR PLAN AND STOP
PRETEND TO GO CARE ABOUT A
CRISIS THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO
CREATE, AND THEIR LATEST PUBLIC
RELATIONS EFFORTS
NOTWITHSTANDING, CONTINUE TO
IGNORE.
ANOTHER
MATTER, THIS WEEK, WE
COMMEMORATE NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
2011 AND HONOR THE SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE OF THE MANY MEN AND
WOMEN IN FEDERAL, STATE AND
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS
AMERICA.
WASHINGTON WELCOMES THOUSANDS OF
POLICE OFFICERS WHO HAVE COME TO
CELEBRATE NATIONAL POLICE WEEK.
THEY WILL HONOR THEIR FALLEN
FELLOW OFFICERS AND REDEDICATE
THEMSELVES TO THEIR MISSION OF
SERVING AND PROTECTING THEIR
NEIGHBORS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AMONG THE VISITORS ARE HUNDREDS
OF OFFICERS FROM MY HOME STATE
OF KENTUCKY.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY WELCOME
THEM TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL AND
EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THEM FOR
BRAVELY LAYING THEIR LIVES ON
THE LINE TO PROTECT TOWNS SMALL
AND LARGE ALL ACROSS THE
COMMONWEALTH.
APPROXIMATELY 900,000 PEACE
OFFICERS -- POLICE OFFICERS ARE
SERVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
EVERY YEAR 140 TO 160 ARE
TRAGICALLY KILLED IN THE LINE OF
DUTY.
2011 HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A
DIFFICULT YEAR AS 69 LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NATIONWIDE
HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE LINE OF
CUTE JOY FAR COMPARED WITH 59 AT
THIS POINT A YEAR AGO.
TO RECOGNIZE THOSE POLICE
OFFICERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN
THE LINE OF DUTY AND THEIR LOVED
ONES, I WAS PLEASED TO COSPONSOR
A RESOLUTION DESIGNATED MAY 14,
2011, AS NATIONAL POLICE
SURVIVORS' DAY.
THIS RESOLUTION WHICH PASSED THE
SENATE UNANIMOUSLY CALLS UPON
THE NATION TO HONOR THE FAMILIES
OF FALLEN LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS AND TO PAY RESPECT TO
THE COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO
HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
WHILE SERVING TO KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE.
IN MY STATE, IN THE TOWN OF RICH
MOPPED, THE KENTUCKY LAW
ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL MONUMENT
STANDS AS A PERMANENT REMINDER
OF THE HIGH COST OF PROTECTING
THE PEACE.
AT A SOLEMN CEREMONY LAST WEEK
24 NAMES WERE ADDED TO ITS ROLES
BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 485.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN
ME IN SAYING THE U.S. SENATE HAS
THE DEEPEST ADMIRATION AND
RESPECT FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN
EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA.
WE RECOGNIZE THEIRS IS BOTH AN
HONORABLE JOB AND A DANGEROUS
ONE.
THEY BRAVELY RISK THEIR LIVES
FOR OURS.
AMERICA APPRECIATES EVERYTHING
THEY DO AND AMERICA IS GRATEFUL
TO THEM AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE HERE A
LIST OF 24 NAMES THAT WERE ADDED
TO THE KENTUCKY LAW ENFORCEMENT
MEMORIAL MONUMENT THIS YEAR AND
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
NAMES OF THOSE HEROES APPEAR IN
THE RECORD FOLLOWING MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
AND, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE
OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
I REQUEST THAT
THE QUORUM CALL BE SUSPENDED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE LEADERSHIP
IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING NOMINATION, WHICH THE
CLERK WILL REPORT.
NOMINATION, SUSAN L.
CARNEY OF CONNECTICUT TO BE
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER THERE WILL BE TWO
HOURS OF DEBATE EQUALLY DIVIDED
AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT, MR. LEAHY
OR THE SENATOR SENATOR GRASSLEY.
I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM AND I ASK
THAT THE TIME BE CHARGED TO BOTH
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
A SENATOR: THANK YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I RISE TODAY --
THE
SENATE IS IN A QUORUM CALL.
I AM SORRY,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WSM.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I RISE TODAY TO VOICE MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE NOMINATION OF
SUSAN CARNEY TO SERVE AS AN
APPEALS COURT JUDGE ON THE
SECOND CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS,
ONE OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED
FEDERAL CIRCUIT.
AND I HOPE THAT THE UNITED
STATES SENATE WILL MOVE SWIFTLY
TO CONFIRM HER TO FILL ONE OF
THE OPEN SEATS ON THIS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT COURT.
MS. CARNEY HAS TRULY IMPRESSIVE
CREDENTIALS FOR APPOINTMENT TO
THE FEDERAL BENCH.
SHE GRADUATED COUPLE LAUD FROM
HARVARD AND MAGNUM MUM LAUD FROM
FROM -- SHE THEN WENT TO CLERK
FOR JUDGE LEVIN CAMPBELL.
SHE SERVES AS DEPUTY GENERAL
COUNSEL FOR YALE UNIVERSITY.
ONE OF COUNTRY'S GREAT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
AND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS AN
YALE.
IN HER CAPACITY AT YALE SHE
ADVISES THE UNIVERSITY ON A WIDE
RANGE OF LEGAL ISSUES, SOME OF
THEM COMPLEX AND CHALLENGING,
RELATING TO INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY, INTERNATIONAL
TRANSACTION AND COMMERCIAL
MATTERS.
MS. CARNEY'S TIME AT YALE HAS
EXPOSED TO HER A BROAD ARRAY, A
DIVERSE SWATH OF FEDERAL LAW
GIVING HER A BREADTH OF
EXPERIENCE THAT TRULY QUALIFIES
HER TO SERVE ON THE SECOND
CIRCUIT, WHICH HANDLES FEDERAL
APPEALS ON LEGAL ISSUES ARISING
WITHIN NEW YORK, VERMONT, AND
CONNECTICUT.
IN VARIOUS MATTERS MS. CARNEY
HAS ADVISED YALE IN REACHING
VERY SUCCESSFUL RESULTS AND THAT
EXPERIENCE WILL SERVE HER WELL
ON THE BENCH, HER EXPERIENCE AS
AN ADVOCATE HAS GIVEN HER A
PERSPECTIVE THAT WILL GIVE HER
THE KINDS OF QUALITIES A RESPECT
FOR OTHER ADVOCATES WHO COME
BEFORE THE COURT, A RESPECT FOR
THE LEGAL PRINCIPLES AT STAKE,
FOR THE FACTUAL FINDINGS OF
COURTS BELOW, AND OF ALL THE
CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE SO
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ABILITY
AND INTEGRITY ON THE FEDERAL
COURT OF APPEALS.
SHE SPENT 17 YEARS WORKING AS A
PRIVATE PRACTICE ATTORNEY IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND BOSTON,
AND, THERETO, SHE REPRESENTED A
WIDE ARRAY OF CLIENTS ON MAJOR
ISSUES INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE,
MAJOR LEAGUE BEARABLE BASEBALL
ASSOCIATION.
IN THE TENNESSEE COURT THE NLRB
DETERMINED THAT STRIKING
EMPLOYEES COULD NOT BE REPLACED
AND THE D.C. CIRCUIT ISSUED A
SIMILARLY POSITIVE VERDICT.
AS IMPRESSIVE AS HER COMMERCIAL
AND PRIVATE LITIGATION IS, HER
SERVICE WORK.
SHE ENGAGED IN SUCH WORK
THROUGHOUT HER TIME AS LAWYER
OFFERING FREE LEGAL COUNSEL TO
PRO BONO CLIENTS AND EVEN
VOLUNTEERING AS A TUTOR.
HER COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
AS WELL AS APPROPRIATE LEGAL
REPRESENTATION FOR ALL CLIENTS
DEMONSTRATE A REAL RESPECT FOR
THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE
FAIRNESS SHALL THE FUNDAMENTAL
FAIRNESS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM
THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE AND IS
BROADLY SHARED BY MEMBERS OF THE
FEDERAL BENCH.
HER NOMINATION COMES AT A
PARTICULARLY PRESSING AND
CHALLENGING TIME FOR THE SECOND
CIRCUIT.
THE VACANCY THAT SHE'S SLATED TO
FILL HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A
JUDICIAL EMERGENCY.
THE VACANCY HAS EXISTED SINCE
THERE ARE TWO OPEN SEATS ON THIS
COURT FROM CONNECTICUT, WHICH IS
UNDERSTAFFED.
SO THE ARRIVAL OF SUSAN CARNEY
TO THE SECOND CIRCUIT WILL HAVE
IMMEDIATE IMPACTS.
IT WILL HELP IMMEDIATELY TO
ADDRESS THE UNDERSTAFFING
PROBLEM AND THE WORK BURDEN THAT
HAS ACCUMULATED AS A RESULT OF
IT AND IT WILL ENSURE THAT THIS
CASELOAD CAN BE ADDRESSED
QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
WE HEAR IN THIS BODY THE FAMOUS
SAYING THAT JUSTICE DELAYED IS
JUSTICE DENIED.
TRULY IT IS OFTEN JUSTICE DENIED
IF IT IS DELAYED.
AND IN PRACTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES,
PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR DAY
IN COURT, WHICH INCLUDES A DAY
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS.
IN THE FEDERAL COURTS THAT
RIGHT.
IT IS NOT DISCRETIONARY.
AND TO DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF THAT
RIGHT IS TRULY A DENIAL OF
JUSTICE.
I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED SINCE I HAVE
COME TO THE SENATE BY THE GOOD
FAITH THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN BY
BOTH SIDES IN WORKING TO ADDRESS
THIS GROWING JUDICIAL VACANCY
SOME HAVE THOUGHT IT AN EPIDEMIC
IN.
IN MANY CIRCUITS ITS BEEN
EMERGENCY.
AND IT HAS BEEN SPURRED BY
RESPECTED FIGURES FROM ACROSS
THE SPECTRUM, FROM CHIEF JUSTICE
ROBERTS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL
HOLDER AND THE SENATE HAS BEEN
MOVING VERY RESPONSIVELY AND
RESPONSIBLY TO ADDRESS THIS
ISSUE AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS
NOMINATION OF SUSAN CARNEY AND
OTHERS THAT WILL FOLLOW AS SOME
HAVE PRECEDED IT, WILL LEAD TO A
NEW ERA IN ADDRESSING THE
JUDICIAL VACANCY PROBLEM
THROUGHOUT OUR FEDERAL COURTS
MUCH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT
US TO WORK TOGETHER JUST AS THEY
EXPECT THE KOWTS TO GIVE THEM
JUSTICE AND SO FAR I'VE BEEN
ENCOURAGED TO SEE MEMBERS OF
BOTH PARTIES WORKING WITH THE
SENATE TO ACT EXPEDITIOUSLY ON
THESE NOMINATIONS.
SOME OF THEM VERY LONG DELAYED.
AND I HOPE THAT THE SENATE WILL
CONTINUE THIS TREND WITH THE
SWIFT CONFIRMATION OF SUSAN
CARNEY TO THE SECOND CIRCUIT.
ON THE ISSUE OF EMERGENCIES, I'D
MADAM PRESIDENT.
OVER THE LAST DECADE WHAT WE'VE
SEEN IS A PATTERN OF RISING
PROFITS ON PART OF OIL
COMPANIES, THE EMERGENCY FOR
CONSUMERS IS ONE OF RISING
PRICES NOW.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO ASSURE FUNDAMENTAL
FAIRNESS IN OUR TAX CODE BY
ELIMINATING, IN EFFECT, THE TAX
SUBSIDIES AND LOOPHOLES AND
GIVEAWAYS THAT ARE SUCH AN
OFFENSE TO THE JUSTICE AND
FAIRNESS OF OUR SYSTEM.
IN SPITE OF THE BIG FIVE OIL
COMPANIES EARNING MORE
THAN $1 TRILLION IN PROFITS,
THEY HAVE ENJOYED TENS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THESE
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES.
THEY ARE UNCONSCIONABLE.
THEY ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
THEY MUST END.
AND THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE GOING TO
CONSIDER LATER TODAY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT IT IN THE
INTEREST OF CONSUMERS, BUT MORE
IMPORTANT, IN THE INTEREST OF
TAXPAYERS TO REPAIR A PART OF
OUR DEFICIT WHILE FAMILIES AND
BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT PAYING
MORE THAN $4.25 A GALLON,
PUTTING A STRAIN ON ALL OF OUR
FAMILY BUDGETS.
THE BIG OIL COMPANIES CONTINUE
TO RAKE IN THESE BIG PROFITS AND
CONTINUE TO PUT A DENT IN OUR
FISCAL SITUATION.
THE COMPANIES MAKE OVER
OVER $30 MILLION IN PROFITS IN
THE FIRST-QUARTER OF THIS YEAR
ALONE REPRESENTING A 50%
INCREASE IN PROFITS FROM LAST
YEAR.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF THIS
DEBATE IS THAT BIG OIL DOESN'T
NEED THESE SUBSIDIES.
THEY DON'T NEED THE HELP OF
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS TO DO
EXPLORATION OR ANY OF THE OTHER
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN
PRODUCING THE PROFITS THAT THEY
ENJOY SO ABUNDANTLY.
ENDING THESE SUBSIDIES, DESPITE
CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY, WILL NOT
INCREASE PRICES AT THE PUMP AND,
INDEED, WILL PROVIDE FOR BASIC
FAIRNESS SO THAT AMERICANS NO
LONGER HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE
GIVEAWAYS AND TAX BREAKS TO SOME
OF THE MOST PROFITABLE COMPANIES
IN THE WORLD.
PEOPLE IN MY HOME STATE OF
CONNECTICUT AND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT
REDUCING OUR DEBT RAP OUR
WE -- DEBT AND OUR DEFICIT.
WE CAN'T DO IT IF WE HAVE THIS
PLETHORA OF SUBSIDIES AND
GIVEAWAYS AND BREAKS TO SPECIAL
INTEREST AND CORPORATIONS, LIKE
BIG OIL, THAT SIMPLY DON'T NEED
IT.
ORDINARY AMERICANS IN
CONNECTICUT AND ELSEWHERE ARE
STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR
HOMES, FIND JOBS, KEEP THEIR
FAMILIES TOGETHER, AND THEY
REGARD THESE SUBSIDIES AS
OFFENSIVE TO FUNDAMENTAL
FAIRNESS AND THEY ARE RIGHT AND
I URGE THIS BODY TO ACT LATER
TODAY IN ELIMINATING THOSE
LOOPHOLES AN SUBSIDIES.
I THANK -- AND SUBSIDIES.
I THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
MADAM CHAIRMAN?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MAD A.M. CHAIRMAN --
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I UNDERSTAND
THAT I HAVE 10 MINUTES AS IF IN
MORNING BUSINESS.
I WOULD MAKE THAT REQUEST.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
FIRST OF ALL --
FIRST AWFUL WE ARE
GOING TO VOTE ON A BILL TO
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE TAXES ON
AMERICA'S OIL OIL AND GAS COMPANIES.
I WOULD ONLY SUGGEST THAT IT'S
NOT GOING TO PASS.
I CAN RECALL WHEN THE SENATOR
FROM VERMONT, JUST A FEW MONTHS
AGO, HAD A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE
DONE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING,
PASSED THE TAX INCREASES ON
THESE OIL OIL AND GAS COMPANIES.
I REMEMBER COMING TO THE FLOOR
AT THAT TIME AND -- AND -- AND
GIVE THE ARGUMENT AGAINST IT
AND -- AND THE -- AND IT ENDED
UP WE HAD A VOTE ON IT.
THE VOTE WAS -- I HAD 61 VOTES
AGAINST IT TO 30, HOWEVER IT
WORKED OUT THAT WERE FOR IT.
AFTERWARDS, I HAVE TO SAY THIS
ABOUT SENATOR SANDERS, HE CAME
UP AND SAID I THINK THAT WAS
PROBABLY ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST
DEBATES AND MORE HONEST DEBATES
THAT I'VE SEEN DURING THE YEARS
I HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, AND I AGREED WITH THAT.
IT'S JUST THAT THE IDEA THAT YOU
CAN SOMEHOW TAX THESE PEOPLE AND
ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING, LET ME --
LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
SERVICE -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
C.R.S., THAT'S NONPARTISAN, IT'S
WITH.
THEY LOOK AT US.
WE IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE
LARGEST RECOVERABLE RESERVES OF
OIL, GAS AND COAL OF ANY COUNTRY
IN THE WORLD.
THERE'S NO REASON IN THE WORLD
WE CAN'T BE COMPLETELY
INDEPENDENT OF THE MIDDLE EAST.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS EXPLORE OUR
OWN RESOURCES, OIL, GAS AND
COAL.
NOW, THIS SAME CONGRESSIONAL
RESEARCH SERVICE HAS LOOKED AT
THE ISSUES AND HAS TOLD US THAT
RAISING TAXES ON ENERGY
COMPANIES WILL DO TWO THINGS.
IT WILL DECREASE SUPPLY, IT WILL
INCREASE DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN -- FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS VOTE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS
AFTERNOON, IF IT WERE
SUCCESSFUL, THAT WOULD INCREASE
THE -- DECREASE THE SUPPLY AND
INCREASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON THE
MIDDLE EAST.
NOW, HOW DO -- IN ADDITION TO
THE C.R.S., LET'S GO BACK TO THE
1970'S UNDER THE CARTER
ADMINISTRATION WHEN THEY HAD THE
WINDFALL PROFIT TAX.
IN THE WINDFALL PROFIT TAX, THE
SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED.
IT DECREASED SUPPLY AND
INCREASED DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN
COMPETITION.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND THE
INTERESTING THING -- I KNOW MY
WIFE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PRICE OF
GAS AT THE PUMPS, BUT SHE IS
CERTAINLY VERY LOUD AND CLEAR IN
THAT POSITION.
NOBODY IS SAYING THAT BY
INCREASING THE TAXES, THE VOTE
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS
AFTERNOON ON OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES, THAT SOMEHOW THAT'S
GOING TO HAVE THE EFFECT OF
LOWERING PRICES AT THE PUMP.
IT WILL RAISE PRICES AT THE
PUMP.
IN FACT, I THINK THE -- SEVERAL
OF THE MEMBERS HAVE COME DOWN,
SENATOR MENENDEZ, THE SPONSOR OF
THE ENERGY LEGISLATION, HE SAID
-- QUOTE -- "NOBODY HAS MADE
THE CLAIM THAT THIS BILL IS
ABOUT REDUCING GAS PRICES."
IF IT'S NOT ABOUT REDUCING GAS
PRICES, WHAT IS IT FOR?
AND THE ANSWER OF THAT ONE IS
THEY SAY OH, IT'S AS -- AS THE
GENTLEMAN, THE SENATOR FROM
CONNECTICUT JUST STATED, THIS IS
GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO BE REDUCING THE
DEFICIT.
WELL, OUR PROBLEM IS THE --
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS DEMOCRAT
SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE, THE FIRST TWO YEARS HE
HAD A LARGE MAJORITY, THE
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE, THEY INCREASE IN HIS
THREE YEARS OF BUDGETS THE
DEFICIT BY OVER $5 TRILLION.
I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO THE
FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE BACK IN 1995, BACK DURING
THE CLINTON YEARS, AND SAYING
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
THIS IS A $1.5 TRILLION BUDGET.
THAT WAS THE BUDGET TO RUN THE
ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THIS LAST BUDGET BY PRESIDENT
OF $1.65 TRILLION, JUST THE
DEFICIT, JUST THE DEFICIT.
NOW, LET'S DO OUR MATH.
365 DAYS IN THE YEAR.
IT WORKS OUT TO BE $4 BILLION A
WE HAVE A PRESIDENT AND HIS
MAJORITY GIVING US A $ -- GIVING
US A $4 BILLION A DAY DEFICIT,
AND THIS SAYS IT'S GOING TO CUT
THE DEFICIT BY $2 BILLION.
SO WE CAN TAX ALL THESE OIL
COMPANIES, COME UP WITH ENOUGH
MONEY TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY
BY $2 BILLION.
THAT'S WORTH ONE HALF DAY
DEFICIT OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
I KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT AND
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE DUPED
INTO -- INTO DOING IT.
BY THE WAY, I HAVE TO SAY THAT
FORTIFYING ME WAS THIS MORNING'S
EDITORIAL IN THE "USA TODAY."
THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW LUDICROUS
THIS WHOLE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN
INCREASE TAXES ON OIL AND GAS
COMPANIES, AND THEY SAY -- QUOTE
-- "IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE SORT
OF POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP THAT
SUBSTITUTES FOR SERIOUS AND
DEFICIT REDUCTION."
THEY GO ON TO SAY -- QUOTE --
"DID YOU IN THE INITIATIVE, IT'S
ALSO GOVERNMENT AT ITS ARBITRARY
WORST, FURTHER COMPLICATING THE
TAX CODE BY SINGLING OUT FIVE
COMPANIES -- EXXONMOBIL,
CHEVRON, CONOCOPHILLIPS, SHELL
AND B.P. -- FOR SPECIAL TAXES
NOT PAID BY SMALLER ENERGY
SO WE HAVE A LITTLE CLASS
WARFARE GOING WITH IT.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE ONLY
YESTERDAY THE SAME "USA TODAY"
WAS CRITICIZING ME IN THEIR
EDITORIAL POLICY BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO PASS A CAP-AND-TRADE TAX
INCREASE.
AND SO THE SAME PAPER THAT
YESTERDAY WAS CRITICAL OF A
POSITION THAT I'VE TAKEN IS NOW
VERY STRONGLY IN POSITION OF THE
POSITION I'VE TAKEN IN -- IN
AVOIDING ANY ADDITIONAL TAXES ON
THE ENERGY COMPANY OR ANYBODY
ELSE.
NOW, THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY,
BECAUSE I AM GOING TO STAY
WITHIN MY TIME FRAME, IS IF
PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE DEFICIT,
THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE
THIS IS ONE HALF A DAY'S DEFICIT
THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF HERE IF
THEY PASS THESE TAX CREEFS,
WHICH THEY WON'T.
BUT THEY SAY THERE ARE ONLY TWO
WAYS TO HANDLE THE DEBT.
THAT ONE WOULD BE TO DECREASE
TAXES.
I SUGGEST THERE'S A THIRD WAY,
AND THAT WAY IS TO GO AFTER ALL
THESE REGULATIONS THAT WE
CURRENTLY ARE -- ARE OPERATING
UNDER RIGHT NOW AS A RESULT OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
CAP-AND-TRADE REGULATIONS,
GREENHOUSE GAS REGULATION,
BOILER REGULATION.
THE OZONE.
THE OZONE COULD CREATE OVER 600
THE COST OF THAT IS $90 BILLION.
IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF THE COSTS
OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
REGULATIONS, GREENHOUSE GAS
REGULATIONS, $300 BILLION TO
TO $400 BILLION A YEAR, BOILER
MACK, $1 BILLION.
UTILITY, $184 BILLION.
ADD IT ALL UP, IT'S $1 TRILLION.
IF YOU TAKE THE TRILLION
DOLLARS, THAT IS 7% OF THE
THE $14 TRILLION THAT WE WOULD
SAVE -- THE G.D.P. WOULD AMOUNT
TO.
WHAT THEY SAY, AND C.R.S. SAYS
THIS ALSO, FOR EVERY 1% INCREASE
IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OR INCREASE
IN G.D.P., THAT TRANSLATES IN
NEW REVENUE $50 BILLION OF EACH
THIS IS 7%.
THAT WOULD BE $350 BILLION.
IF YOU WANT TO GO AFTER THE
DEFICIT AND AFTER DEFICIT
SPENDING IN THE DEBT, LET'S GO
AFTER THE REGULATIONS, TOO.
DON'T LET THEM OUT.
BUT TO THINK THAT WE CAN TAX OIL
AND GAS COMPANIES AND SOMEHOW
COME UP WITH $2 BILLION TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT, THAT'S ONE
DAY'S DEFICIT UNDER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION, AND THIS BODY'S
NOT GOING TO PASS IT.
WITH THAT, I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I CONGRATULATE THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA IN MAKING A PERFECTLY
OBVIOUS AND COMPELLING POINT,
WHICH THE PROBLEM IS HIGH
GASOLINE PRICES.
AND WHY IS THE DEMOCRATIC
SOLUTION TO RAISE THEM MORE?
WHICH IS ALL THAT THEIR TAX
WOULD DO.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN FOR DEALING
WITH HIGH GASOLINE PRICES IS TO
FIND MORE AMERICAN ENERGY AND
USE LESS.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLAN SEEMS TO BE
TO FIND LESS AND TAX MORE.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE
WE NEED TO USE LESS, WE AGREE
WITH THAT, AND THERE ARE A
VARIETY OF WAYS TO DO THAT,
THROUGH CONSERVATION, ELECTRIC
CARS, WHICH I FAVOR.
FINDING RESEARCH FOR CROPS --
FOR ALTERNATIVE FUELS FROM CROPS
THAT WE DON'T EAT, ALL THAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO
FIND MORE AMERICAN ENERGY AND
NATURAL GAS OFFSHORE, ON FEDERAL
LANDS AND IN ALASKA.
THAT WON'T COMPLETELY SOLVE THE
PROBLEM OF HIGH GASOLINE PRICES,
BUT IT WILL HELP.
IF LESS OIL FROM LIBYA IS A
FACTOR IN RAISING GASOLINE
PRICES, MORE OIL FROM THE UNITED
STATES WOULD BE A FACTOR IN
LOWERING GASOLINE PRICES.
WE STILL, AFTER ALL, ARE THE
THIRD LARGEST PRODUCER OF OIL IN
THE WORLD.
SO I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA FOR AN EXCELLENT POINT.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL IS TO
FIND LESS AMERICAN ENERGY AND TO
TAX MORE.
NOW, TODAY, MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D
SUBJECT.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
EVENTS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS
THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE DECISION
BY THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD COUNCIL TO FILE A
COMPLAINT AGAINST THE BOEING
COMPANY ALLEGING BASICALLY THAT
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE EXPANDING
THEIR PRODUCTION OF AIRLINERS AT
A NEW PLANT IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
WHICH IS A RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE,
IS PRIMA FACIE AND EVIDENCE OF
AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE.
THIS IN EFFECT ESTABLISHES FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE
TAFT-HARTLEY ACT WAS PASSED IN
1947 THE IDEA THAT IT IS AGAINST
THE FEDERAL LAW FOR A COMPANY
THAT IS PRODUCING IN A UNION
STATE TO MOVE -- TO EXPAND ITS
FACILITIES IN A RIGHT-TO-WORK
STATE OF WHICH THERE ARE 22.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE
FIRST NEW PLANT IN 40 YEARS TO
BUILD LARGE AIRPLANES.
THE BOEING COMPANY BUILDS MOST
OF ITS PLANES IN WASHINGTON
STATE.
IT'S THE NATION'S LARGEST
IT HAS 170,000 EMPLOYEES AROUND
THE WORLD.
155,000 OF THEM ARE EMPLOYEES IN
THE UNITED STATES.
THESE ARE GOOD JOBS.
BUT AT THE HEARING ON THURSDAY,
THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF BOEING
SAID THAT BOEING EXPECTS TO LOSE
THE APPEAL OF THE GENERAL
COUNSEL'S -- WELL, OF THE
DECISION OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL
WHEN IT'S HEARD BEFORE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE ON JUNE 15,
AND THEN THEY EXPECT TO LOSE THE
APPEAL OF THAT DECISION TO THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
BECAUSE HE ASSUMES THAT THE
GENERAL COUNSEL IS FOLLOWING THE
SAME VIEW OF THE LAW THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S APPOINTEES ON THE
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
AND THEN HE EXPECTS TO WIN THE
CASE WHEN IT GOES TO THE UNITED
STATES COURT OF APPEALS OR
PERHAPS EVEN TO THE SUPREME
BUT THAT TAKES, MADAM PRESIDENT,
TWO TO FIVE YEARS FOR ALL THAT
SO I ASK WHAT HAPPENS TO
AMERICAN JOBS IN THE MEANTIME?
WELL, FIRST, THIS COMPLAINT
AGAINST BOEING WILL SLOW THE
NUMBER OF GOOD NEW JOBS INTO MY
STATE OF TENNESSEE, WHICH HAS A
9% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND HAS HAD
FOR TWO YEARS.
I'VE WATCHED OUR STATE GROW OVER
THE LAST 30 YEARS, FROM THE TIME
I WAS GOVERNOR.
WE HAD A HEARING LAST WEEK THAT
SENATOR HARKIN CALLED, CHAIRMAN
OF THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND
LABOR COMMITTEE, ABOUT
MIDDLE-CLASS INCOMES, AND WHAT I
SAID AT THE HEARING WAS THE
EFFECT ON MIDDLE-CLASS INCOMES
IN TENNESSEE, THE STATE I KNOW
THE MOST ABOUT, IS THAT 30 YEARS
AGO WE WERE THE THIRD POOREST
STATE, AND THEN BECAUSE THE AUTO
INDUSTRY CHOSE TO COME TO OUR
STATE, PARTLY BECAUSE IT WAS A
CENTRAL LOCATION IN THE
POPULATION MARKET AND PARTLY
BECAUSE IT'S A RIGHT-TO-WORK
STATE WITH A DIFFERENT SORT OF
LABOR ENVIRONMENT IN IT THAN
OTHER STATES, BECAUSE THE AUTO
INDUSTRY CAME TO TENNESSEE,
MIDDLE INCOMES HAVE GONE UP.
A THIRD OF OUR MANUFACTURING
JOBS.
NISSAN IS THERE, GENERAL MOTORS
THERE.
TO TENNESSEE.
THEY LIKE THE ENVIRONMENT.
THEY LIKE THE ROAD SYSTEM.
THEY LIKE THE CENTRAL LOCATION,
BUT THEY LIKE THE RIGHT-TO-WORK
LAW.
AND FOR SUDDENLY ANY SUPPLIER OR
ANY MANUFACTURER WHO WANTS TO
CREATE A NEW FACILITY IN ONE OF
THE 22 RIGHT-TO-WORK STATES,
INCLUDING TENNESSEE, ACCORDING
TO THIS COUNCIL, IS GOING TO
HAVE TO THINK TWICE BECAUSE THAT
COMPANY -- WHICH COULD BE A
SMALL COMPANY -- MAY NOT WANT TO
SPEND TWO TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
BOARD.
SO I THINK THIS COUNCIL KNEW
EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING.
HE WAS TRYING TO FREEZE JOB
EXPANSION IN THE UNITED STATES
AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED JOB
EXPANSION IN THE UNITED STATES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE IS AN
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE TO THIS.
IF JOBS CAN'T MOVE INTO
TENNESSEE AND OTHER TRITE WORK
STATES BECAUSE OF THE BOEING
COMPLICATE THEY MAY NOT MOVE
INTO THE STATES THAT DON'T HAVE
A RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW.
ACCORDING TO THE C.E.O. OF
BOEING, HE SAID AND YOU INTENDED
CONSEQUENCE, HE MEANS OF THE
BOEING COMPLAINT, IS THAT
FORWARD THINKING CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS ALSO WOULD BE RELUCTANT
TO PLACE NEW PLANTS IN UNIONIZED
STATES LESS THEY BE FOREVER
RESTRICTED FROM PLACING FUTURE
PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO IF YOU WANT TO PUT A PLANT
IN, SAY, MICHIGAN, WHICH IS A
UNIONIZED STATE, YOU MIGHT NOT
DO THAT BECAUSE UNDER THE
GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE NLRB'S
RULE OF LAW, YOU THEN COULDN'T
MOVE TO SOUTH CAROLINA OR TO
TENNESSEE OR TO ARKANSAS OR TO
ANY OTHER STATE WITH A
RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW.
WELL, IF YOU CAN'T GO TO A
UNIONIZED STATE AND IF YOU CAN'T
GO IT A RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE,
WHERE DO YOU GO IF YOU WANT TO
YOU GO OVERSEAS, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
THIS ACTION BY THE NLRB GENERAL
COUNCIL IS THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT ACTION THAT I CAN
IMAGINE THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO CREATE GOOD, NEW
JOBS IN TENNESSEE AND THAT WOULD
MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT
MANUFACTURING JOBS WOULD GO
OVERSEAS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
PRESIDENT -- THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES ASKED THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BOEING,
MR. CHURNY, TO CHAIR THE EXPORT
I PRESUME THAT MR. OBAMA WOULD
LIKE MR. McNERNI TO DO IS
JOBS.
BUT WHAT THE NLRB RULING WILL DO
IS CAUSE THE EXPORT OF JOBS, NOT
THE EXPORT OF AIRPLANES.
BOEING HAS 170,000 EMPLOYEES.
MOST OF THEM TODAY ARE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
BUT BOEING SELLS ITS AIRPLANES
EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND
BOEING CAN MAKE ITS AIRPLANES
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
AND SO THERE MAY BE OTHER
COUNTRIES WHO COME TO BOEING AND
TO OTHER MANUFACTURERS IN THE
UNITED STATES WHO SAY, WE WANT
YOU TO MAKE IN OUR COUNTRY WHAT
YOU SELL IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND AFTER THIS NLRB DECISION,
THEY MAY BE MORE TEMPTED TO DO
THAT.
NOW, FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE
OTHER TRENDS SUGGESTING THAT --
THAT MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
AROUND THE WORLD MAY BE MORE
LIKELY IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO
MAKE HERE WHAT THEY SELL HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES.
THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT CARTER
SAID TO US GOVERNORS 30 YEARS
GOVERNORS GO TO JAPAN PERSUADE
THEM TO MAKE IN THE UNITED
STATES WHAT THEY SELL IN THE
UNITED STATES.
OFF I WENT TO TOKYO AND I ASKED
NISSAN TO COME TO TENNESSEE.
THEY CHOSE US BECAUSE OF OUR
EDUCATION AN RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW
JUST AS MANY OTHER AUTO JOBS
HAVE DONE THAT.
NISSAN TELLS ME THAT SOON THEY
WILL BE MAKING 85 OPINION OF
WHAT THEY SELL IN THE UNITED
STATES, THEY'LL BE MAKING IT IN
THE UNITED STATES.
30 YEARS AGO THEY WERE MAKING
ALMOST NONE OF WHAT THEY SOLD IN
THE UNITED STATES HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THEY'RE MAKING IT IN JAPAN.
WE WERE WORRIED THEN JAPAN WAS
GOING TO TAKE US OVER.
BUT THAT'S CHANGED.
NOW THEY'RE MAKING HERE WHAT
THEY SELL HERE.
THE ECONOMIST ARTICLE THIS WEEK
SAYS THAT THERE MAY BE A -- A
MANUFACTURING RENAISSANCE
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHINA, WHERE
THEY'RE MAKING THINGS TODAY, IS
A LOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN
JAPAN 30 YEARS AGO.
IT'S CHINA BECOMES MORE
PROSPEROUS, WAGES WILL GO UP.
AS JAPAN BECAME MORE PROSPEROUS
30 YEARS AGO, WAGES WEREN'T UP.
AND SO -- WENT UP.
SO IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY WAGES
WAS 70% OR 80% IN WHAT A
SUPPLIER MAY SPEND TO MAKE A
PART IN AN ASSEMBLY PLANT, IT
GETS TO BE LESS IMPORTANT AND
PEOPLE LOOK AT OTHER THINGS AND
SO MANUFACTURERS WOULD LOOK AT A
VARIETY OF ACTIONS BY A
GOVERNMENT BEFORE THE
MANUFACTURER DECIDES WHERE TO
MAKE THE AIRPLANE OR WHERE TO
MAKE THE CAR OR WHERE TO MAKE
THE APPLIANCE THAT MIGHT BE SOLD
IN A COUNTRY.
WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
PLENTY OF INCENTIVES NATURALLY
TO MAKE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE
UNITED STATES BECAUSE THE
COUNTRY THAT -- THAT HAS PRO --
PRODUCES 25% OF ALL THE MONEY IN
THE WORLD WHICH WE DO IS GOING
TO BE BUYING A LOT OF STUFF
UNLESS WE DO OUR BEST TO THROW A
BIG, WET BLANKET ON MAKING HERE
WHAT WE SELL HERE WHICH IS
PRECISELY WHAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN DOING.
WE HAVE A HIGH CORPORATE INCOME
NOW GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE
CREDIT.
HE SAID, MAYBE WE WANT TO CHANGE
THAT, WELL, WE SHOULD.
BECAUSE IT MAKES IT BETTER FOR
MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE THINGS
OVERSEAS.
THE HEALTH CARE LAW TAKES THE
PROFITS AWAY FROM COMPANIES THAT
THEY MIGHT USE TO CREATE NEW
JOBS HERE.
I'VE HAD HEADS OF RESTAURANT
COMPANIES HERE THEY'RE NOT GOING
TO INVEST ANYMORE IN THE UNITED
STATES BECAUSE THE HEALTH CARE
TAXES TAKE AWAY ALL OF THEIR
PROFITS, REGULATIONS THAT MAKE
CREDIT HARDER TO GET, REGULATION
THAT'S DRIVE UP ENERGY AN
GASOLINE PRICES, ALL OF THIS
MAKES IT HARDER TO MAKE HERE
WHAT MANUFACTURERS SELL HERE.
AND NOW WE HAVE A REGULATION
FROM THE NATIONAL LABOR
RELATIONS BOARD THAT MAY AFFECT
THE LAW FOR TWO TO FIVE YEARS
THAT SAYS PRIMA PATIENTA
EVIDENCE OF UNFAIR LABOR
PRACTICES THAT A COMPANY
PRODUCING IN A UNION STATE MOVES
TO A RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE.
THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON EVERY
MIDDLE-INCOME TENNESSEANS AND
EVERY MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICAN.
AS THE BOEING CHIEF EXECUTIVE
SAID, IT COULD BE JUST AS MUCH
OF A DISINCENTIVE TO A STATE
LIKE MICHIGAN OR ILLINOIS OR
SOME OTHER STATE THAT DOES NOT
HAVE A RIGHT TO RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW,
BECAUSE IF -- WHY WOULD YOU PUT
A PLANT IN MICHIGAN IF LATER YOU
WOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO PUT IT IN
IF GENERAL MOTORS HAS PLANTS IN
NONRIGHT-TO-WORK STATES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO
EXPAND IN AMERICA, SO WHERE ARE
THEY GOING TO EXPAND?
THEY CAN EXPAND OVERSEAS.
THEY CAN BE MAKING THERE WHAT
THEY SELL THERE INSTEAD OF MAKE
IT HERE.
SOME OF MY FRIEND ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE LIKE TO TALK
ABOUT OUTSOURCING JOBS.
THIS IS THE MOTHER OF ALL
OUTSOURCING JOBS PLANS, THE IDEA
THAT'S PRIMA FACIA EVIDENCE FOR
A COMPANY THAT EXPANDS IN A
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE THAT THAT'S
AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, FOR THE
NEXT TWO TO FIVE YEARS WE HAVE
THE UNHEALTHY SITUATION FOR JOBS
THAT ANY MANUFACTURER WHO WANTS
TO EXPAND WILL HAVE TO THINK
TWICE ABOUT EXPANDING IN A
RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE AND THEN
THINK AT LEAST ONCE ABOUT COMING
IN THE FIRST PLACE TO A STATE
THAT DOESN'T HAVE A
RIGHT-TO-WORK LAW.
AND THE ONLY OTHER OPTION I CAN
SEE FOR THOSE JOBS IS TO MAKE
THEM OVERSEAS.
THAT WILL NOT ONLY SLOW JOB
GROWTH IN THE UNITED STATES
WHERE WE DESPERATELY NEED IT,
BUT IT WILL BE SPEEDING UP THE
SENDING OF AMERICAN JOBS
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK CONSENT
TO PLACE IN THE RECORD TWO
ARTICLES.
ONE BY GEORGE WILL THIS WEEK ON
THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOEING PLANT
AND THE ACTION OF THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD COMPLAINT
AND THE SECOND AN ARTICLE FROM
"THE ECONOMIST" MAGAZINE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR AND
I NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT THE QUORUM CALL TIME BE
EQUALLY DIVIDED.
WITHOUT
OBJE
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALLDISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.