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OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
I SEE THAT THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE HAS ARRIVED ON THE FLOOR,
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO YIELD TO
WHATEVER CAUSE THAT MIGHT BE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS.
AND THEY LOOK TO WASHINGTON AND
THEY SEE POLITICIANS WHO CAN'T
STOP SPENDING MONEY.
THEIR MONEY.
LISTEN, WE'RE BROKE.
WE NEED TO STOP THE OUT OF
CONTROL SPENDING SPREE THAT'S
GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE HOUSE HAS ACTED.
WE PASSED A BILL THAT RAISED
THE DEBT LIMIT, CUT SPENDING,
PUTS REAL REFORMS IN PLACE AND
REQUIRES THE CONGRESS TO SEND
TO THE STATES A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
BALANCE.
IT'S CALLED CUT, CAP, AND
WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
THE DEMOCRATS AROUND WASHINGTON
HAVE DONE NOTHING.
THEY CAN'T STOP SPENDING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE'S MONEY.
THEY WON'T AND THEY HAVE
REFUSED.
THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SAYS
THEY WON'T OFFER A PLAN 20 CUT
SPENDING OR A PLAN TO RAISE THE
DEBT LIMIT.
FRANKLY, THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.
MR. SPEAKER, WHERE'S THEIR
PLAN?
PRESIDENT OBAMA TALKS ABOUT
BEING THE ADULT IN THE ROOM.
WHERE IS HIS PLAN TO CUT
SPENDING AND RAISE THE DEBT
LIMIT?
HERE.
WE'RE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER
WE'RE FIGHTING FOR JOBS.
WE'RE FIGHTING FOR THE
COUNTRY'S FUTURE AND WE'RE
FIGHTING FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
I YIELD BACK.
RECLAIMING THE TIME,
MAY I INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME I
HAVE REMAINING?
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS APPROXIMATELY 12
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I'M VERY HAPPY THE SPEAKER
ARRIVED ON THE FLOOR TO MAKE
THAT POINT.
THE POINT HERE IS THAT WE
PASSED CUT, CAP AND BALANCE AND
WE'VE DONE OUR JOB, NOW THE
CHALLENGE IS FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES TO DO
THEIR JOB.
I WOULD PREFER THEY JUST ACCEPT
THE MODEL THAT'S BEEN MESSAGED
DOWN THAT HALLWAY OVER TO THE
SENATE AND I'D PREFER TO THE
PRESIDENT WOULD ENDORSE THAT
AND STEP UP IN THE NEXT FEW
MINUTES AND SAY, LET'S GET THIS
DONE.
THIS CAN BE DONE IN A VERY
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS AGREE.
AND INSTEAD, THE PRESIDENT AND
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE MAJORITY
IN THE SENATE SEEM TO WANT TO
INSIST UPON TAX INCREASES THAT
HAVE TO BE PART OF ANY PACKAGE
THAT MIGHT COME THROUGH.
THIS GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN
EGG IS THE FREE ENTERPRISE,
PRIVATE SECTOR GOOSE.
THIS GOOSE HAS TO LIVE OFF SOME
PROFITS.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE PROFIT IN
ORDER FOR THEIR TO BE JOBS.
I WOULD ADD TO THE SPEAKER'S
STATEMENT THE QUESTION, IT'S
BEEN ABOUT JOBS.
WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
THIS IS ABOUT JOBS.
BUT I THINK THAT WE FAIL TO
REMIND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT
JOBS HAVE TO -- THE WAGES ARE
WHAT PAY FOR JOBS.
NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY, I'VE
GOT A JOB BUT IT DOESN'T PAY.
THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM
SOMEWHERE.
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
IT SEEMS TO BE STATED AND
RESTATED THAT THE MONEY FOR
WAGES THAT PAY FOR JOBS HAS TO
COME OUT OF PROFIT.
NOBODY CAN OPERATE AT A LOSS
MAKE SOME MONEY.
SYSTEM OF COMPANIES HAVE TO
IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO BECAUSE OF
THE BURDEN OF TAXES, OR BECAUSE
OF THE BURDEN OF REGULATION, OR
THE BURDEN OF THE INDECISION
AND NOT KNOWING WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO NEXT
WHICH KEEPS A LOT OF CAPITAL ON
THE SIDELINES, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO EXPAND, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO DO NEW HIRES, IN FACT,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE
WAGES AND BENEFIT PACKAGES OF
INCREASES UNLESS THEY HAVE
PROFIT.
SO I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO
THINK, I WANT BUSINESSES TO
MAKE MONEY.
I WANT THEM TO MAKE MONEY AND I
WANT THEM TO EXPAND THE JOBS
AND I WANT THEM TO INVEST THAT
MONEY WITH CONFIDENCE THEY CAN
MAKE MORE.
IF IT GOES TO THEIR HEAD TOO
FAR AND THEY BECOME TOO
VERTICALLY INTEGRATED AR TOO
MONOPOLISTIC, THEN IT'S UP TO
THE MARKET TO HAVE SOMEONE SAY,
I CAN COMPETE AGAINST THAT, AND
PROVIDE A GOOD OR BETTER VALUE
AND MAKE MONEY DOING THAT, AND
THAT PROFIT TURN INTO JOBS.
I AM ONE WHO HAS MET PAYROLL
FOR OVER 1,400 -- FOR OVER
1,440 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.
I MADE IT EVERY WEEK ON TIME.
THERE WERE TIMES WE DIDN'T DO
WELL IN MY HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE I
PAID ME LAST.
I PAID THE EMPLOYEES FIRST, THE
INTEREST AT THE BANK SECOND
BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE THE
CAPITAL TO OPERATE.
YOU SET THOSE PRIORITIES BUT
JOBS COME FROM PROFIT.
LET'S HAVE A SCENARIO THAT
ALLOWS BUSINESSES TO INVEST AND
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE
AND CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE DOES
LAY OUT THE RIGHT SCENARIO.
I KNOW THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS
BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT HITTING
THIS AUGUST 2 DEADLINE THAT I
THINK IS NOT AS HARD A DEADLINE
AS TIM GEITHNER BELIEVES IT IS.
I THINK THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY IS PUTTING STATEMENTS
OUT THERE FOR THE PRESIDENT, I
THINK THE PRESIDENT IS
WILLFULLY SCARING SENIORS.
I THINK HE'S DOING SO WHEN HE
SAYS HE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT
MILITARY PENSIONS OR SOCIAL
SECURITY WOULD BE PAID ON TIME.
MR. SPEAKER, YES THEY CAN.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN
GUARANTEE THEY'LL BE PAID ON
TIME IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
YOU COULDN'T BE ANY MORE WRONG
THAN WHEN HE SAYS HE CAN'T
GUARANTEE IT.
YES, HE CAN.
DOESN'T HE KNOW THIS TRUTH, CAN
HE NOT UNDERSTAND HIS JOB?
HE SEEMS TO ASSERT HIS POWER
WHERE IT DOESN'T EXIST?
DOESN'T HE KNOW HE CAN EXERT
HIS POWER WHERE IT DOES EXIST.
I'LL TELL THIS ANECDOTE THAT
WAS PART OF A POLITICAL
COMMERCIAL, BUT BACK IN 1996,
WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS UP FOR
RE-ELECTION, THERE WAS A
COMMERCIAL THAT WAS RUN, IT WAS
HESTON.
THE FACE AND VOICE OF CHARLTON
HE LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AND
HE'S SPEAKING, PRESUMABLY TO
PRESIDENT CLINTON, WHEN HE
SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN YOU
SAY SOMETHING THAT'S WRONG, AND
YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S WRONG,
THAT'S A MISTAKE.
BUT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING
THAT'S WRONG AND YOU KNOW THAT
IT'S WRONG, THAT'S A LIE.
THAT WAS WHAT CHARLTON HESTON
SAID BACK IN 1996.
I REFLECT UPON THOSE WORDS
TODAY AND I MAKE THIS POINT
THAT I KNOW THE TRUTH.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO
KNOW THE TRUTH.
AND THAT TRUTH IS, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
CAN SET THE PRIORITIES ON HOW
TO SPEND THE $200 BILLION A
MONTH ON AVERAGE THAT COME IN
IN REVENUE STREAM.
ALL HE HAS TO DO IS STEP
OUTSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE, STEP
UP TO THE MICROPHONES IN THE
EAST ROOM OR OUTSIDE IN THIS
NICE, BEAUTIFUL, WARM
SUMMERTIME WE HAVE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. AND SAY, I'M
GOING TO SET THOSE PYRITIES.
IF WE CAN'T MAKE A DEAL WITH
SPEAKER BOEHNER WHO WAS JUST
HERE ON THE FLOOR AND HARRY
REID AND MITCH MCCONNELL AND
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO VOTE
IN THE SENATE AND THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE TO VOTE IN THE HOUSE,
HERE'S WHAT I'D DO, I'M GOING
TO MAKE SURE OUR TROOPS GET
PAID, FIRST.
ON TIME, EVERY TIME.
HE COULD SAY THAT.
AND HE COULD SAY, RIGHT BEHIND
THAT, RIGHT BEHIND THAT $11
MILLION A MONTH COMES $20
BILLION A MONTH OUT OF THE
FUNDING WE'LL HAVE WHETHER WE
BORROW OR NOT, I'M GOING TO
GUARANTEE WE SERVICE OUR DEBT,
$20 BILLION.
AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO
TAKE CARE OF THE NATIONAL
SECURITY ISSUES.
THOSE THINGS WILL CHANGE BUT
I'LL WORK THOSE PRIORITIES.
RIGHT BEHIND THAT, WE'LL PAY
SOCIAL SECURITY AND RIGHT
BEHIND THAT WE'LL PAY MEDICARE.
THE PRESIDENT STOOD UP AND SAID
THAT, WE WOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE
THAT HE ISN'T GOING TO BE IN
THE BUSINESS OF SCARING SENIORS
OR PUTTING DOUBT INTO THE MINDS
OF OUR MILITARY WHILE THEY'RE
DODGING BULLETS IN PLACES LIKE
AFGHANISTAN.
WE'D HAVE CONFIDENCE.
BUT INSTEAD HE SAYS HE CAN'T
GUARANTEE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE KNOW HE CAN.
WE KNOW HE CAN GUARANTEE.
WE SHOULD PUSH THAT ON HIM OUT
OF THIS HOUSE TO LET HIM KNOW
WHERE WE STAND, SO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A
MORAL STANDARD HERE.
ONE IS, TELL THE TRUTH.
THE SECOND MORAL STANDARD IS,
PAY OUR MILITARY, THE OTHER
MORAL STANDARD IS GUARANTEE THE
FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
I LAID OUT THE REST OF THESE
PRIORITIES, MR. SPEAKER AND
CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE IS AN
IMPORTANT POSITION TO STAND ON.
THE LEVERAGE THAT'S HERE NOW
MUST BE USED OR WE SHIRK OUR
RESPONSIBILITY.
HAD THE LEVERAGE BEEN STRONGER
BACK IN 1995, THAT EXTRA VOTE
IN THE SENATE THAT I SPOKE
ABOUT SOME MINUTES AGO WOULD
HAVE BEEN THERE, I BELIEVE AND
I BELIEVE THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN SENT
TO THE STATES AND I BELIEVE THE
STATES WOULD HAVE RATIFIED IT
AND IF THAT HAD BEEN PART OF
THE CONSTITUTION THE KAY I CAME
-- THE DAY I CAME HERE IN
JANUARY OF 2003 I WOULDN'T HAVE
HAD TO WALK AROUND ON THE FLOOR
AND FIND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE AND SAID,
WHERE'S THE BALANCED BUDGET AND
I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THE
ANSWER THAT I DID GET THAT DAY,
WE CAN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET,
IT'S TOO HARD.
IF IT WAS TOO HARD IN JANUARY
OF 2003, HOW HARD IS IT NOW?
IT'S A LOT HARDER.
YES, WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THE STATES DO THAT THE QUESTION
BECOMES, WE SEND A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE STATES,
DO THEY RATIFY IT?
A LOT OF THEM WOULD, RIGHT
AWAY.
SOME OF THEM WOULD HOLD A
SPECIAL SESSION TO RATIFY A
BALANCED BUDGET TO SEND THAT
MESSAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THEN YOU GET TO SOME STATES
THAT DECIDED THEY WANT TO DO
IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING,
CALIFORNIA AND ILLINOIS COME TO
MIND.
A LOT OF STATES WENT TO
AUSTERITY, THEY SAID, WE'RE
GOING TO BORROW MONEY AND ASK
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BAIL
US OUT.
THOSE STATES, IF THEY'RE NEEDED
FOR RATIFICATION, THEY'LL HAVE
TO BE A CHANGING OF THE
POLITICAL GUARD WITHIN THEIR
STATE LEGISLATURES.
THAT MEANS, CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSERVATIVES WILL STEP UP,
STEP OUT OF THEIR HOME, ADVANCE
THEMSELVES AS CANDIDATES TO RUN
FOR STATE LEGISLATURES ON THE
AGENDA OF, I WILL GO THERE AND
PUSH THE BALANCE TO RATIFY A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR A
BALANCED BUDGET.
THOSE CANDIDATES THAT STAND ON
THAT POSITION WILL BE ELECTED
IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS IN THE
STATES WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED AND
OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, WE HAVE
A CHANCE THAT THE STATE
LEGISLATURES WOULD RATIFY, 3/4
OF THEM, RATIFY A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT.
IF THAT HAPPENS, IT WOULD BE A
WONDERFUL GIFT FOR OUR
POSTERITY.
IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS WE COULD DO IN A
GENERATION, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
URGE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WEIGH IN ON THIS AND DEMAND
THAT THE SENATE AND THE
PRESIDENT EMBRACE CUT, CAP, AND
BALANCE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
GOHMERT, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON RIGHT
NOW.
ONE OF THEM SHOULD BE THE
BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY.
THIS BODY, THIS WEEK, PASSED
WHAT MANY HAVE SAID WAS TRULY
HISTORICAL.
A TRULY HISTORIC BILL PASSED
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
IT WAS NOT EXACTLY WHAT I
WANTED.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS TOO MUCH IN
IT IN THE WAY OF DEBT CEILING
INCREASE.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
IN THE WAY OF BUDGET CUTS.
BUT WHAT WE FOUND IN THE CUT,
CAP, AND BALANCE BILL WAS THAT
IT INCLUDED A PROVISION THAT
BEFORE THE DEBT CEILING WOULD
EVER BE INCREASED AGAIN, WE
WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASS
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WITH 2/3 AND PASS THE SENATE
WITH 2/3 WHICH WOULD NOT SEND
IT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HIM TO
VETO AS APPARENTLY HE WANTS TO
DO, BUT IT WOULD SEND IT TO THE
STATES, DIRECTLY.
THERE'S NO PROVISION FOR THE
PRESIDENT TO SIGN A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AT THE
-- AFTER IT PASSES THE HOUSE
AND SENATE WITH 2/3 OF THE
VOTE.
IT GOES TO THE STATES.
IF 3/4 RATIFY IT, IT'S PART OF
THE CONSTITUTION.
BUT IN ORDER TO GET THE DEBT
CEILING RAISED, WE WOULD HAVE
TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
PASS THE 2/3 -- WITH 2/3 IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE.
THAT SEEMED LIKE AN APPROPRIATE
THING TO DO.
BECAUSE AS MANY OF US HAVE
SAID, THE ONLY WAY WE'RE VOTING
FOR A DEBT CEILING INCREASE IS
IF THERE IS A REAL GAME CHANGER
AS PART OF THAT THAT WE CAN'T
GET ANY OTHER WAY THAT WILL SET
THIS COUNTRY ON THE COURSE TO
BEING FULLY FISCALLY
.
RESPONSIBLE.
ONE OF THE REASONS SO MANY OF
US ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
RAN FOR CONGRESS WAS TO COME
TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
LIBERTIES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WE'VE HAD GROWING UP WILL
BE AVAILABLE TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
THE ONLY REASON THAT I WAS BORN
IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE
HISTORY OF MANKIND WAS BECAUSE
PRIOR GENERATIONS DID SMART
THINGS, DID THINGS THAT THE
BIBLE WOULD SAY ARE BLESSED
THINGS.
THEY DID THINGS TO CAUSE FUTURE
GENERATIONS TO BE BLESSED.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE I DESERVED
IT.
I'D DONE NOTHING IN MY MOTHER'S
WOMB TO DESERVE TO HAVE THE
LIBERTIES AND OPPORTUNITIES I
HAD, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE PRIOR
GENERATIONS SACRIFICED.
SO MANY LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES
SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE HAVE AN OPEN PROCESS.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
WE GOT PEOPLE IN THE GALLERY,
MR. SPEAKER.
WE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE FREE TO
COME TO THE U.S. CAPITOL
BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ACROSS
CAPITOL HILL, MEMBERS THAT HAVE
THEIR TELEVISIONS ON.
PEOPLE DON'T COME TO THE FLOOR
LIKE THEY ONCE DID TO LISTEN TO
SPEECHES HERE BECAUSE THEY CAN
SIT IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN
OFFICE AND DO OTHER WORK AND
HAVE C-SPAN ON AND LISTEN.
THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 30
YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A HELPFUL
THING.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THE
FLOOR, NOT JUST AROUND CAPITOL
HILL, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND MOST OF US CAME HERE TO TRY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES ARE AFFORDED TO
OTHERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
MOTIVATIONS.
A LOT OF NOBLE MOTIVATIONS FOR
RUNNING FOR CONGRESS, BUT I
THINK MOST OF US CAME HERE FOR
THAT PURPOSE.
WE DISAGREE ON THE WAY TO DO
IT, BUT IT IS SHOCKING THAT
THERE COULD BE SO MUCH
DISAGREEMENT OVER THE ABSOLUTE
HISTORIC UNWAVERING PRINCIPLE
THAT ANY NATION THAT
CONTINUALLY SPENDS MORE THAN IT
BRINGS IN TO ITS GOVERNMENT
WILL CEASE TO EXIST AS A
GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S NO HISTORIC ELEMENT
CONTRARY TO THAT.
YOU CAN'T FIND IT.
IF A COUNTRY, IF A GOVERNMENT
KEEPS SPENDING MORE THAN IT
BRINGS IN IT'S GOING TO CEASE
TO EXIST.
THE ONLY QUESTION REMAINS, WHEN
DOES THAT HAPPEN?
NOW, THERE ARE MOVEMENTS AROUND
THE WORLD TO TRY TO END THE
DOLLAR BEING THE WORLD RESERVE
CURRENCY.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE DOLLAR IS
GOING TO FALL FARTHER THAN IT
EVER HAS AND MAY NOT RECOVER.
THAT'S WHY I THINK SOME
COUNTRIES WANT TO SEE THAT
HAPPEN.
PROBABLY WHY GEORGE SOROS WANTS
TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT WE'RE ALSO TOLD THAT OUR
RATING OF OUR INDEBTEDNESS, OUR
BONDS MAY BE DOWNGRADED IF WE
DON'T GET OUR INDEBTEDNESS
UNDER CONTROL, AND IT ONLY
MAKES SENSE THAT THAT WOULD
HAPPEN IF WE DON'T GET OUR
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL.
IT SHOULD BE A NO-BRAINER.
BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S MALADY
THAT EXISTS HERE IN WASHINGTON.
THERE ARE APPARENTLY SOME
FOLKS, AND UNDER THE RULES OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, I
CERTAINLY CAN'T SAY THERE'S
ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE
THAT HAS NO BRAIN.
WE KNOW BIOLOGICALLY YOU HAVE
TO HAVE A BRAIN, BUT IT IS
POSSIBLE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A
BRAIN AND NOT USE IT FULLY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU EXPLAIN
THE VOTE THAT TOOK PLACE RIGHT
THROUGH THAT DOOR AND DOWN THAT
HALL IN THE SENATE TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN
THAT.
IT'S NOT THAT THE SENATE TODAY
HAD TOO MUCH WORK TO GET DONE,
TOO MANY BILLS TO TARIK UP THAT
THEY JUST -- TO MANY BILLS TO
TAKE UP THAT THEY JUST DIDN'T
TAKE THE TIME TO HELP THE
COUNTRY FROM CEASING TO EXIST
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STOP
SPENDING.
WHY IS THAT?
THERE'S TOO MANY BILLS TO TAKE
UP.
THEY HAVE NO BILL TO DEAL WITH
THE FINANCIAL ISSUES OF THIS
COUNTRY.
THERE IS NO BILL DOWN THERE
THAT IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO
THE FLOOR THAT WILL SAVE THIS
COUNTRY FROM ITS OWN
GOVERNMENT'S STUPIDITY.
NOT ACCORDING TO THE HOUSE
RULES THAT THERE'S ANYBODY
STUPID HERE IN THE HOUSE OR
SENATE, BUT AS A GROUP
SOMETIMES WE DO VERY STUPID
THINGS AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT
WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY, WHAT
HAS HAPPENED TODAY FROM AN
HISTORIC STANDPOINT IS A
STATEMENT THAT ALTHOUGH NOBODY,
ACCORDING TO THE HOUSE RULES,
IN A BODY IS STUPID, A BODY CAN
DO A STUPID THING.
SO EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO
OTHER BILLS BEING BROUGHT TO
THE SENATE FLOOR TO TAKE UP AND
VOTE ON TODAY, EVEN THOUGH
THERE ARE BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN
FILED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS VERY
ISSUE, THERE'S A CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE BILL IN THE SENATE
THAT'S BEEN FILED TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE.
MANY HAVE SIGNED ON TO BILLS
THAT WILL ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
THEY'RE DOWN THERE, BUT THEY
ARE NOT BRINGING THEM TO THE
FLOOR, SO NOT AN OVERWHELMING
AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE ON
THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY.
SO THEY BRING UP THE CUT, CAP
AND BALANCE BILL.
NOT FOR DEBATE.
WHY WOULD ANYBODY BE AFRAID OF
DEBATING A BILL THAT SO MANY
BELIEVE COULD HELP US SAVE THE
COUNTRY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?
WHY WOULD YOU BE AFRAID TO
BRING THAT UP?
WELL, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK
ABOUT IT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO
HAVE A DEBATE ON THE HOUSE OR
THE SENATE FLOOR ON SOME BILL
THAT SO MANY BELIEVE WILL HELP
US SAVE THE COUNTRY FROM FUTURE
GENERATIONS, YOU MAKE A
PROCEDURAL MOVE CALLED A MOTION
TO TABLE AND THAT IS WHAT
HAPPENED IN THE SENATE TODAY.
WHAT COURAGE THAT TOOK.
IT MUST HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF
COURAGE.
AND I'M NOT KIDDING ABOUT THAT.
WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE SO
MANY PEOPLE IN THE SENATE BODY
WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT A
GAME-CHANGER, WHO WANT TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE WITH
ALL THEIR HEART COULD SET US ON
A COURSE TO FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY, THAT COULD SAVE
THE COUNTRY FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS, YOU KNOW PEOPLE
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, IT TAKES
A LOT OF COURAGE TO STAND UP
AND SAY, I MOVE TO TABLE THAT
BILL.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
MOTIVATION IS THAT WOULD CAUSE
SOMEONE TO STAND UP AND SAY, I
MOVE TO TABLE, I SECOND THAT.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD MOVE
TO TABLE.
I DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVATION,
BUT I KNOW IT TAKES COURAGE
WHEN RIGHT AT HALF OF THE 100
PEOPLE IN THE SENATE WANT TO
TAKE THIS BILL UP AND TALK
ABOUT IT AND DEBATE IT AND
MAYBE AMEND IT -- BECAUSE I
WOULD LOVE TO AMEND IT.
I'D LOVE TO KNOCK DOWN THE $2.4
TRILLION IN DEBT CEILING
INCREASE.
CUTS.
I'D LOVE TO RAISE THE AMOUNT OF
A NUMBER OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO
TIGHTEN UP IN THAT BILL.
BUT IT'S THE BEST BILL WE HAD
AVAILABLE.
BUT WHAT A GREAT IDEA.
BRING IT TO THE FLOOR.
LET'S AMEND IT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.
LET'S GET IT DONE.
AND THE THING IS WHEN YOU'RE IN
THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE OR
THE SENATE AND YOU DON'T LIKE A
BILL AND YOU BRING IT TO THE
FLOOR ON AN OPEN RULE, YOU CAN
AMEND IT ON THE FLOOR.
YOU CAN HAVE THE DEBATE ON
WHETHER OR NOT IT OUGHT TO BE
AMENDED.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THAT AND
WE VOTED FOR AND AGAINST A LOT
OF AMENDMENTS THIS WEEK THAT
MANY OF WHICH I DIDN'T THINK
NECESSARILY WE NEEDED TO VOTE
ON BUT THAT'S PART OF THE
PROCESS.
WHY WOULD ANYONE IN THE SENATE
BE AFRAID OF HAVING THAT
PROCESS ON THE CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE BILL?
I DON'T GET IT.
I KNOW IT TOOK COURAGE TO MOVE
TO TABLE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT
AMERICA, ALL THE POLLS SHOW
AMERICA IS CONCERNED ABOUT ITS
FUTURE.
POLL AFTER POLL SHOWS THAT
AMERICAN ADULTS AROUND THE 70
PERCENTAGE AREA BELIEVE THAT
THE NEXT GENERATION WILL NOT
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR
GENERATION HAD.
YOU KNOW THOSE FEELINGS ARE OUT
THERE IN AMERICA AND YOU KNOW
THAT THERE'S A GROUP THAT WANTS
TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS IN WASHINGTON SO WE
HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY THAT COMES IN AND NOT
SPEND MORE THAN THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT FEELING'S OUT.
YOU KNOW THIS IS A BILL THAT
COULD CHANGE THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO EVEN
ALLOW IT TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO
TALK ABOUT IT?
IT TOOK COURAGE TO MOVE TO
TABLE.
AND HERE ARE THE COURAGEOUS
SENATORS THAT VOTED TO TABLE
WHICH MEANS TO PREVENT DEBATE
ON THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE
BILL IN THE SENATE -- IT TRULY
TOOK COURAGE IN THE CASE OF 60,
70 -- 60%, 70% OF AMERICANS
WANT US TO GET OUR FINANCIAL
HOUSE IN ORDER AND THERE IS A
BILL THAT WE MANDATE THAT WE DO
IT.
IT TAKES COURAGE TO PREVENT
THAT BILL FROM COMING TO THE
FLOOR, NOT FOR A VOTE ON THE
BILL, BUT JUST TO DEBATE THE
BILL, TO TALK ABOUT IT.
IN FRONT OF GOD AND EVERYBODY
ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
IT TOOK COURAGE.
I DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVATION FOR
ALL THESE PEOPLE VOTING TO
PREVENT DEBATE AND PREVENT THE
BILL FROM COMING TO THE FLOOR.
I JUST KNOW THAT THESE PEOPLE
HAD COURAGE TO PREVENT WHAT THE
MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AND
DEBATED AND VOTED ON AND THESE
ARE THE SENATORS WITH THAT
COURAGE TO PREVENT WHAT THE
MAJORITY AMERICAN PEOPLE WANTED
DONE.
FROM HAWAII, SENATOR AKAKA.
FROM MONTANA, SENATOR BAUCUS.
FROM ALASKA, BEGICH.
FROM COLORADO, SENATOR BENNETT.
FROM NEW MEXICO, SENATOR
BINGAMAN.
FROM CONNECTICUT, BLUMENTHAL.
CALIFORNIA, SENATOR BOXER.
FROM OHIO, SENATOR BROWN.
WASHINGTON STATE, SENATOR
CANTWELL.
SENATOR CARDIN.
FROM DELAWARE, SENATOR CARPER.
FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SENATOR
CASEY.
FROM NORTH DAKOTA, SENATOR
CONRAD.
FROM DUANE, SENATOR ***.
SENATOR DURBIN.
SENATOR FEINSTEIN.
FROM MINNESOTA, SENATOR
FRANKEN.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SAID
WE WILL NOT ALLOW THE DEBATE ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE THAT
MIGHT LEAD TO A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT BEING PASSED, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO COME
TO THE SENATE FLOOR.
LET ME GO THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE SENATORS.
CAROLINA.
SENATOR HAGGAN FROM NORTH
SENATOR HARKIN FROM THE STATE
OF IOWA.
SENATOR INWAY FROM HAWAII.
SENATOR JOHNSON FROM SOUTH
DAKOTA.
SENATOR KLOBUCAR FROM
MINNESOTA.
SENATOR LANDRIEU FROM
LOUISIANA.
SENATOR LAUTENBERG FROM NEW
JERSEY.
SENATOR LEAHY FROM VERMONT.
MICHIGAN.
SENATOR LIEBERMAN FROM
CONNECTICUT.
SENATOR MANCHIN FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
SENATOR MCCASKILL FROM
MISSOURI.
SENATOR MENENDEZ FROM NEW
JERSEY.
SENATOR MERKLEY FROM OREGON.
SENATOR MIKULSKI FROM MARYLAND.
SENATOR MURRAY FROM WASHINGTON.
HAVE THIS DEBATED ON THE SENATE
THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO NOT
FLOOR.
THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY, WE
ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW DEBATE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE
CHANCE THAT YOU MIGHT GET THIS
BILL PASSED THAT COULD SAVE
AMERICA FROM FUTURE
GENERATIONS, FURTHER COURAGEOUS
SENATORS, SENATOR NELSON FROM
FLORIDA.
SENATOR NELSON FROM NEBRASKA.
SENATOR PRYOR FROM ARKANSAS.
SENATOR REED FROM RHODE ISLAND.
SENATOR REID FROM NEVADA.
SENATOR ROCKEFELLER FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
SENATOR SCHUMER FROM NEW YORK.
SENATOR SHAHEEN FROM NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
SENATOR STABENOW FROM MICHIGAN.
SENATOR UDALL FROM COLORADO.
SENATOR UDALL FROM NEW MEXICO.
SENATOR WARNER FROM VIRGINIA.
SENATOR WEBB FROM VIRGINIA.
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE FROM RHODE
ISLAND.
SENATOR WYDEN FROM OREGON.
IT TOOK A STAND TO VOTE IN THE
SENATE THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW
DEBATE ON THIS FLOOR OVER A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT.
DESPITE THE VAST MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE
TO GET OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN
ORDER, KNOWING THAT A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD FORCE
THIS BODY AND THE SENATE BODY
TO DO JUST THAT, KNOWING THAT
THAT WOULD PREVENT THE WHITE
HOUSE FROM EVER DEMANDING THAT
WE SPEND $3.8 TRILLION WHEN
WE'RE ONLY BRINGING $2.1
TRILLION OR $2.2 TRILLION,
KNOWING IT WOULD FORCE CONGRESS
AND THE GOVERNMENT TO LIVE
WITHIN THEIR MEANS, THEY HAD
THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND SAY
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT
DEBATE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
ALLOW THE RISK THAT YOU MIGHT
PASS A BILL THAT FORCES US TO
BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
IT TOOK A COURAGEOUS STAND, AND
.
THEY STOOD AND TOOK THAT STAND.
NOW, TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES STAND BEFORE
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND SAY, I
CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT SENIORS
WILL GET THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY
CHECKS JUST REQUIRES A LITTLE
BIT OF RESEARCH TO FIND OUT
THAT APPARENTLY THE PRESIDENT,
JUST LIKE ALL OF US IN
CONGRESS, WE RELY ON OUR
STAFFS, WE RELY ON THOSE AROUND
US TO GET US INFORMATION SO WE
CAN SPEAK TRUTHFULLY FROM THE
INFORMATION WE GLEAN FOR
OURSELVES, OUR STAFF HELPS US
GATHER, AND THAT TELLS YOU,
THOUGH, THAT WHOEVER IS HELPING
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT GIVING HIM
TRUTHFUL, ACCURATE INFORMATION.
BECAUSE THE FACT IS, THE
PRESIDENT IS THE ONLY PERSON IN
THIS COUNTRY WHO CAN GUARANTEE
THAT SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS
WILL GO OUT JUST AS THE LAW
REQUIRES.
I CAN GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY
IS THERE, AND THAT THEY'LL BE
GOOD EVEN IF THIS CONGRESS DOES
NOTHING FOR THREE YEARS, EVEN
IF EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS APART,
WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT THE
SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND HAS
RIGHT NOW $2.6 TRILLION IN
TREASURY NOTICE IN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND THAT CAN BE
CONVERTED TO CASH, THAT CAN
ONLY, BY LAW, ONLY BE USED FOR
EXPENSES.
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND
SO, THE ONLY REASON THAT I OR
ANYONE ELSE HERE IN THE HOUSE
COULD NOT ABSOLUTELY 100%
GUARANTEE THAT SENIORS WILL GET
THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS IS
BECAUSE THERE'S ONE ELEMENT
THAT COULD PREVENT THAT ON THE
SECOND OR THIRD OF AUGUST AND
THAT'S IF THE PRESIDENT OR
TIMOTHY GEITHNER ORDERED THAT
THE CHECKS WOULD NOT GO OUT.
KNOWING, WELL I DON'T KNOW IF
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS, HE MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACCURATE
INFORMATION, BUT I KNOW TIMOTHY
GEITHNER KNOWS THERE'S $2.6
TRILLION IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUND.
THAT IN 1985, THERE WAS A
SHORTFALL, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH
CASH TO PAY SOCIAL SECURITY
PAYMENTS AND SO THEY SOLD SOME
OF THE TREASURY NOTICE TO GET
CASH TO MAKE SURE ALL THE
SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS WERE
PAID.
1985.
SOME WERE APPARENTLY CONCERNED
THAT THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN
LEGAL SO IN 1996, A REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY IN CONGRESS PASSED A
LAW THAT BASICALLY SAYS, HEY,
THERE'S A SHORTFALL THEN SINCE
THERE ARE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN TREASURY NOTES IN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND, THEN THE
ADMINISTRATION CAN SELL THOSE
TREASURY NOTICE JUST ENOUGH TO
MAKE UP THE SHORTFALL AND
ASSURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY
CHECKS WILL GO OUT.
THEY MADE THAT A MATTER OF LAW
SO THAT THE ADMINISTRATION MAY
DO THAT.
WHAT I'VE BEEN PROPOSING THAT
WE SHOULD MAKE AS PART OF THE
PRIORITIZATION BILL TO BRING
BEFORE THE HOUSE AND PASS IT,
BRING BEFORE THE SENATE AND THE
SAME COURAGEOUS PEOPLE HANDLED
THAT TOO, BUT IT WOULD SAY, NOT
THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS A GROUP
OF BILLS WITH OTHERS THAT MUST
BE PAID, BECAUSE BY LAW, SOCIAL
SECURITY IS SEPARATE.
BY LAW, IT IS PAID WITH SOCIAL
SECURITY PAYROLL TAXES AND BY
LAW, IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CASH
TO DO THAT SOME MONTH, YOU MAY
TAKE THE TREASURY NOTICE, SELL
JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE UP THAT
SHORTFALL AND SINCE THE UNITED
STATES BONDS AND TREASURY
NOTICE ARE STILL ABOUT THE MOST
DESIRABLE FINANCIAL BOND NOTE
TO BE PURCHASED IN THE WORLD,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
ALTERNATIVES, GREECE, PORTUGAL,
SPAIN, FRANCE, NOT A LOT OF
GOOD CHOICES, SO THEY'RE BUYING
OUR NOTES.
AND THEY WOULD -- THAT WOULD
CONTINUE.
AT LEAST UNTIL WE QUIT PAYING
OUR BILLS, PROBABLY.
BUT I THINK THE LAW OUGHT TO BE
CHANGED TO SAY NOT MAY, BUT
MUST.
SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, NO
PRESIDENT WOULD EVER HAVE TO GO
BEFORE THE -- COULD NOT EVER GO
BEFORE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND
SAY, I CAN'T GUARANTEE SOME OF
YOUR CHECKS WON'T GO OUT.
BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE PERSON IN
AMERICA THAT CAN -- IS THE
OBVIOUSLY PERSON IN AMERICA, HE
AND HIS SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY, THAT CAN STOP THEM
FROM GOING OUT AND IF WE MAKE
THAT MAY A MUST OR SHALL, THEN
HE HAS NO OPTION.
THEN, WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT
SOCIAL SECURITY WILL NOT BE
INTERRUPTED.
BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD KNOW THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAS NO OPTION.
HE CANNOT INTERRUPT THE MONEY
THAT'S THERE FROM GOING TO
SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS.
IT HAS TO GO OR HE VIOLATES THE
LAW.
THAT CAN BE GROUNDS IF HE
STEPPED IN, HECK IF HE STEPPED
IN EVEN NOW AND SAID, LOOK THE
MONEY IS THERE IN THE TRUST
FUND, I WANT TO MAKE A
POLITICAL ISSUE OUT OF THIS, I
NEED A CRISIS IN ORDER TO DO
THAT, SO I'M GOING TO STEP IN
AND PREVENT THE SOCIAL SECURITY
CHECKS FROM GOING OUT THIS
MONTH, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE
ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT.
THAT IS JUST IRRESPONSIBLE.
I THINK IT'S TOTALLY
INAPPROPRIATE FOR A PRESIDENT
TO SCARE OUR SENIORS.
I ALSO THINK IT'S INAPPROPRIATE
IF SCARE OUR MILITARY, THAT'S
WHY I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR
MONTHS A BILL TO ENSURE THAT
PEOPLE IN HARM'S WAY NEVER HAVE
TO HAVE IT CROSS THEIR MIND
THAT THEIR CHECK MAY NOT GO
HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO HAVE
THAT CROSS THEIR MIND.
NEVER BE A THOUGHT.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, A
MONTH OR SO AGO, AS I
ACCOMPANIED THE BODY OF ONE OF
OUR HEROES FROM NEW YORK TO
GLADEWATER, TEXAS.
THE FAMILY, THE MILITARY MEMBER
SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT
THEIR CHECK WON'T BE THERE.
IF THERE'S A SHUT DOWN, THE
GOVERNMENT IS NOT -- DECIDES,
WELL, WE'VE GOT MONEY HERE BUT
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY OUR
BILLS, WELL WE OUGHT TO MAKE
SURE THAT A NUMBER OF THINGS
GET DONE.
WE KEEP BEING TOLD THAT GEE,
WHAT IF WE DEFAULT?
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY,
UNEQUIVOCALLY, NO REASON WE
WOULD DEFAULT ON OUR DEBT
UNLESS FOR SOME STRANGE REASON,
THE PRESIDENT AND THE TREASURY
SECRETARY, EITHER OR, DECIDE
THAT THEY WANT TO CREATE AND
INSTIGATE SUCH A FINANCIAL
CRISIS THAT THEY GET WHATEVER
THEY WANT, THAT'S THE ONLY
REASON THERE'D BE A DEFAULT AS
STEVE MOORE FROM "THE WALL
STREET JOURNAL" SAID YESTERDAY,
THERE'S NOTHING THAT MAGIC
ABOUT AUGUST 2.
THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE
PRESIDENT OR TIME GEITHNER
WOULD BE INSANE ENOUGH NOT TO
PAY WHAT WE OWE AS IT COMES
DUE.
I MEAN, IT'S ONE THING FOR
SECRETARY GEITHNER NOT TO PAY
HIS TAXES FOR FOUR YEARS IN A
ROW.
IT'S QUITE ANOTHER TO PUT A
NATION AT RISK BY REFUSING TO
SEND OUT THE PAYMENTS FOR THE
DEBTS AS THEY COME DUE FOR THE
U.S.
AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED
THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE
UNITED STATES OWES TO THE
UNITED STATES.
SO THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T
PAY ITSELF, WHAT ARE WE GOING
TO DO?
SEND OUT A NOTICE THAT WE'RE --
THE UNITED STATES DIDN'T PAY
THE UNITED STATES SO WE'RE
DEADBEATS NOW?
COME ON.
THERE IS SO MUCH POLITICAL
GAMESMANSHIP GOING ON AND WE
WERE SENT HERE TO DEAL WITH THE
CRITICAL ISSUES OF THIS COUNTRY
AND BEING FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE IS ONE OF THOSE
THINGS.
NOW, I DOUBT THAT VERY MANY
PEOPLE ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE
BACK OF THEIR DOLLAR BILLS AND
I KNOW THEY'RE HAVING MORE AND
MORE TROUBLE GETTING THOSE
DOLLAR BILLS, BUT IF YOU LOOK
AT THE BACK OF THE DOLLAR BILL,
ON EITHER SIDE, YOU SEE THE TWO
SIDES OF THE UNITED STATES
GREAT SEAL.
THAT WAS ADOPTED INITIALLY IN
THE FIRST VERSION AROUND THE
TIME OF THE REVOLUTION.
AND THE EAGLE HAS CHANGED A
LITTLE BIT OVER THE CENTURIES,
MAINLY, BASICALLY CHANGED AND
BASICALLY THIS BY 1790.
SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT E
PLURIBUS UNUM, LATIN MEANING
OUT OF MANY ONE, IT'S ON THE
LIGHT FICTSTURE HERE, COME FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE COME
FROM MANY AND BECOME ONE.
IT'S NOT THE NATIONAL MOTTO,
IT'S PART OF THE GREET SEAL,
HAS BEEN SINCE THE REVOLUTION.
IT'S ON THE RIBBON THAT RUNS
THROUGH THE EAGLE'S MOUTH.
YOU'VE GOT 13 STARS THAT CAUSE
US TO REMEMBER THE 13 ORIGINAL
STATES.
YOU'VE GOT A PYRAMID,
SYMBOLIZING THIS MASTERFUL,
HUGE WORK AND ABOVE THE PYRAMID
IS AN EYE IN A TRIANGLE WITH A
GLOW AROUND IT.
THE EYE WAS PUT IN THE GREAT
SEAL BACK IN THE 1700'S TO
SYMBOLIZE THE EYE OF GOD.
THE ALL-SEEING EYE OF GOD.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S THE HALO,
THE GLOW AROUND IT.
AND ABOVE THOSE WORDS IN LATIN
ARE THE WORDS ANNUIT COLETIS.
ALSO ABOVE ONE OF THE DOORS IN
THE SENATE.
SO EVERY SENATOR CAN LOOK UP
AND IF THEY KNOW WHAT THE LATIN
MEANS, THEY SHOULD BE DEEPLY
TOUCHED AND REMINDED HOW
IMPORTANT OUR JOB IS BECAUSE
ANNUIT COEPTIS ON THE BACK OF
THE DOLLAR BILL, EVERYWHERE IN
AMERICA, MEAN THIS IS, HE, GOD,
HAS SMILED ON OUR UNDERTAKING.
THE REASON THAT THE SENATE
DESIRED TO HAVE THAT ABOVE ONE
OF THE DOORS IS SO SENATORS
WOULD BE REMINDED THAT AT THIS
COUNTRY'S INCEPTION, HE, GOD,
SMILED ON OUR UNDERTAKING.
AND I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER
TODAY, AS THE ALL-SEEING EYE OF
GOD SYMBOLIZED HERE LOOKS AT
WHAT IS GOING ON, WITH OUR
FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY AND
OUR REFUSAL TO EVEN DEBATE
BECOMING FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE IN THE SENATE, IF
HE, GOD, CONTINUES TO SMILE ON
OUR UNDERTAKING.
SOME BANK, FOR A JOKE ONE TIME,
IT SED, IN GOD WE TRUST, ALL
OTHERS, WE TAKE CASH.
BUT IN GOD WE TRUST IS OUR
NATIONAL MOTTO.
AS I MENTION TODS PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU, AS HE CAME
DOWN THE AISLE, BEFORE HE TOOK
THE PODIUM TO SPEAK HERE, I
SAID, KEEP IN MIND, THE ENTIRE
TIME YOU'RE ADDRESSING US, OUR
NATIONAL MOTTO IS ABOVE YOUR
HEAD.
HE SAID, I'VE ALREADY THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT.
WELL, EVERYBODY IN THIS BODY
OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
OUR TRUST IS IN GOD.
BUT DOES HE HAVE ANY TRUST IN
US?
AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN DONE,
SPENDING SO MUCH MORE THAN THE
AMOUNT WE'VE BEEN ENTRUSTED
WITH AS STEWARDS.
WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER.
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS ONE MINUTE
REMAINING.
TO CLOSE, I WANT
TO FINISH WITH A SHORT PRAYER
THAT WAS PRAYED BY THE U.S.
SENATE CHAPLAIN IN THE 1940'S.
PETER MARSHALL.
HE PRAYED IN THE SENATE IN THE
1940'S, OH, CHRIST, THAT WE MAY
FEEL IN OUR HEARTS THE
SYMPATHIZING JESUS.
THOU HAS WORKED -- WALKED THIS
EARTHLY VEAL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT
IS TO BE TIRED, TO FEEL THE
SHARP STABS OF PAIN OF HUNGER
OR THIRST, YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS
LIKE TO BE LONELY, YOU REMEMBER
THE FEEL OF TEARS RUNNING DOWN
THY CHEEKS.
WE THANK THEE THAT YOU WERE
WILLING TO COME TO EARTH AND
SHARE WITH US THE WEAKNESS OF
THE FLESH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THAT WE ARE
EVER CALLED UPON TO BEAR.
WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL ABLE
TO DO MORE THAN WE ASK OR
EXPECT SO BLESS US EACH ONE,
NOT ACCORDING TO OUR DESERVING
BUT ACCORDING TO THE RICHES AND
GLORY OF CHRIST JESUS, OUR
LORD, AMEN.
FROM THE SENATE HISTORY.
WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR REMINDS MEMBERS TO
REFRAIN FROM IMPROPER
REFERENCES TO THE SENATE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS SEEK
RECOGNITION?
I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE
ADJOURN.
THE
QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION TO
ADJOURN.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
ACCORDINGLY, THE HOUSE STANDS