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WHO IS SUCH AN OUTSTANDING AND
REALLY RELENTLESS VOICE ON JOB
CREATION, ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN
OUR COUNTRY, FOR JOINING US
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU,
REPRESENTATIVE KAPTUR AND THANK
YOU FOR KICKING US YOU HAVE ON
A WONDERFUL HOUR OF DISCUSSION
FOR A PLAN TO REVITALIZE OUR
ECONOMY AND GROW THE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR WORKING
FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS USHERED
FORWARD A WONDERFUL PACKAGE
AMERICAN JOBS
PROGRAM THAT WILL ENABLE US, AS
AN AMERICAN SOCIETY, TO RESPOND
TO THE CRISES FOR JOBS AND THE
CRISES FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY,
ALL OF WHICH ARE INCREDIBLY
VALUABLE TO THE FUTURE OF THIS
COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO INVEST, I BELIEVE,
IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO
PROVIDE FOR THE TOOLS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL FOR A MODERN DAY
ECONOMY AND MODERN DAY
MANUFACTURING.
THIS PROPOSAL STANDS IN SHARP
CONTRAST TO THE WORK DONE A
DECADE AND A HALF AGO, A DECADE
AGO.
WHAT WHAT WAS -- WHAT WAS DONE
THEN WAS THIS SPENDING FRENZY
THAT PAID FOR TAX CUTS FOR
MILLIONAIRES AND PAID FOR TAX
CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES AND
FOUGHT WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN AND OFFERED A
PHARMACEUTICAL PLAN FOR THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM, ALL WITHOUT
HAVING A PAYMENT MECHANISM.
THIS SPENDING FRENZY,
WHICH WAS TREMENDOUS, THERE WAS
A HUGE BILL FOR THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC, HAD BEEN DONE OFFBUDGET
AND HAD NO FUNDING SOURCES.
THERE WERE NO PAY-FORS AS
THEY'RE ADDRESSED TODAY.
THE CONTRAST HERE WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL WORK
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PROPOSAL, IS
LAST AN OFFERING FOR RELIEF FOR
AMERICA'S WORKING FAMILIES.
FOR HER MIDDLE CLASS STRATA
WITH A PAYROLL TAX, -- PAYROLL
TAX EXTENDER, PAYROLL TAX
REDUCTION EXTENSION.
THAT ENABLES BOTH EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES TO REALIZE A SAVINGS
THAT THEN ALLOWS US TO PUT
TOGETHER A BALANCED APPROACH ON
ASSISTING THE ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION OF OUR WORKING
FAMILIES AND MIDDLE CLASS AND
PROVIDING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL GOING FORWARD.
OUR MANUFACTURING
CONCEPTS IN PROVIDING AN
INDUCEMENT OF AN IDEAS ECONOMY
INTO THE EQUATION OF SUCCESS
FOR THIS COUNTRY.
THAT ALL REQUIRES INVESTMENT.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THIS PLAN
THAT IS VERY BALANCED AND PAID
FOR, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN
COMPETE IN THAT DEMROBAL
MARKET, IF WE'RE GIVEN THE
APPROPRIATE REVENUES TO INVEST
IN A MODERN MANUFACTURING
CONCEPT.
KEEP IN MIND, CERTAIN SECTORS
WERE TOTALLY AVOIDED BY THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
NO FOCUS ON AGRICULTURE, NO
FOCUS ON MANUFACTURING, A FOCUS
ON THE SERVICE SECTOR OF THE
ECONOMY, BUT NARROWLY ON THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES.
WE ALL KNOW THE SAGA THERE,
THAT AVOIDANCE OF THE WATCHDOG,
TURNING OUR BACKS SO THERE
COULD BE THIS LAISSEZ-FAIRE
APPROACH BROUGHT AMERICA'S
ECONOMY TO ITS KNEES.
WE SAW THE DISPLACEMENT OF 8.2
MILLION JOBS.
THAT WAS PAINFUL AND IMPACTED
PEOPLE IN TREMENDOUSLY PROFOUND
MEASURE AND PEOPLE LOST THEIR
LIFETIME SAVINGS THROUGH THOSE
FAILURES.
HOUSING VALUES WENT DOWN THEY
PLUMMETED AND AGAIN, 8.2
MILLION JOBS WERE LOST.
AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO HERE, REPRESENTATIVE KAPTUR,
AS YOU TALKED ABOUT AN
EXTENSION OF THE PAYROLL TAX
HOLIDAY, TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE
FOR SAVINGS FOR OUR FAMILIES
BUT FOR INVESTMENTS IN A MODERN
WORLD MANUFACTURING MODEL THAT
ENABLES US TO AGAIN UTILIZE THE
STRENGTH OF RESEARCH, THE
STRENGTH OF TECHNOLOGY, THE
STRENGTH OF IDEAS, THAT CAN
THEN BRIDGE INTO A NEW
THRESHOLD OF MANUFACTURING
OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS NATION
AND OF COURSE THE INVESTMENT IN
THE HUMAN INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE
WE TRAIN AND RETRAIN WORKERS
FOR THAT AUTOMATED PHASE THAT
COMES IN MANUFACTURING.
I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THE
FOCUS TONIGHT ON THE FLOOR OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
WHAT WE CALL IN OUR CAUCUS A
PROGRESSIVE AGENDA, FOR
REVITALLY -- AGENDA FOR
REVITALIZING THE ECONOMY AND
EMPHASIZING, UNDERSCORING, THE
CONCEPT OF MAKING IT IN THE
U.S.A.
MAKING IT IN AMERICA, PUTTING A
FOCUS AGAIN ON THE
MANUFACTURING BASE.
I REPRESENT A HOST OF
COMMUNITIES IN MILLTOWNS.
THEY WERE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE
FOR AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
THEY WERE THE EPICENTERS OF
INVENTION AND INNOVATION THAT
LED TO THIS WESTWARD MOVEMENT
THAT ENABLED US TO IMPACT NOT
ONLY THE GROWTH OF THIS NATION
IN FAVORABLE MEASURE BUT TO
IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF
PEOPLES AROUND THE WORLD,
SIMPLY BY OUR SPIRIT OF PIONEER
WHICH IS WITHIN OUR D.N.A. TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
PRODUCT DELIVERY, IN THE
QUALITY OF LIFE THAT'S
ADDRESSED BY THIS THAT PRODUCT
LINE AND I'M FILLED WITH
OPTIMISM, I'M FILLED WITH
OPTIMISM IF WE MOVE TO GO
FORWARD IN A WAY THAT INVESTS
IN THE AMERICAN WORKER, INVESTS
IN THE AMERICAN BUSINESS, SMALL
BUSINESS, AND INVESTS IN OUR
INGENUITY AND INNOVATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
DISCUSSION.
CONGRESSMAN TONKO,
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
COMING TO THE FLOOR TONIGHT TO
AGAIN EXPRESS YOUR DEEP AND
ABIDING PASSION FOR JOBS IN OUR
COUNTRY.
YOU SAID.
THIS IS A CHART THAT SHOW OURS
TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA.
I'M PROBABLY LIKE YOUR
COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY -- AND
PROBABLY LIKE YOUR COMMUNITY,
OUR COMMUNITY IS LOADED WITH
GOODS COMING IN FROM CHINA.
IF WE LOOK BACK AT THE LAST
DECADE, THE ENORMOUS RISE IN
THOSE GOODS ON OUR SHELVES WHEN
YOU REALLY PUT THE MATH OF IT
ON CHART, IT LOOKS LIKE AN
AVALANCHE.
IT IS JUST CROWDING ALL THIS
OVER $273 BILLION
OF HARD-EARNED AMERICAN MONEY
WAS ACTUALLY USED TO PURCHASE
CHINESE GOODS AND THAT MONEY
THEN WENT BACK TO, NOT THE
UNITED STATES BUT TO CHINA.
AND YOU THINK FROM EVERYTHING FROM
TABLEWARE AND FOOD PRODUCTS NOW
AND I HAD AN EXPERIENCE OVER THE
WEEKEND, AND I RAN INTO A WOMAN
WHO IS CALLED THE MASTER ROASTER
AND CALLED BEAS BLEND FROM
TOLEDO, OHIO AND SAID I NEED A
SMALL LOAN AND I DON'T WANT TO
GO INTO DEBT AND I TOLD I WOULD
PUT HER IN TOUCH WITH THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, I'M
MEETING COMPANIES ALL THE TIME
THAT ARE INVENTING NEW PRODUCTS,
INCIDENTALLY, VERY GOOD
PRODUCTS, AND TRY TO COUNTER
THIS TREND OF MORE IMPORTS
VERSUS OUR EXPORTS.
AND HER PRODUCT IS A PRODUCT
THAT CAN BE SOLD LOCALLY,
INTERSTATE AND ULTIMATELY SOLD
INTERNATIONALLY BECAUSE IT IS
VACUUM-PACKED AND I WAS THINKING
ABOUT THE CREATIVITY OF THIS
INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO MAKE IT IN
A TOUGH ECONOMY AND A COUPLE
DAYS LATER I WAS IN A COFFEE
SHOP IN LAKEWOOD, OHIO, THAT I
MET THIS MASTER ROASTER AND SHE
SAID INTERESTING YOU SHOULD SAY
THAT, I'M TRYING TO BRING
TOGETHER ALL THESE MASTER
ROASTERS ACROSS THE COAST.
WE HAVE ROASTER COASTALS, BUT
THE POINT WAS PEOPLE WERE
THINKING AND CREATIVE AND
BRINGING SOMETHING NEW TO THE
TRYING TO COUNTER
THESE TRENDS.
AND BECAUSE SMALL BUSINESS IS
LOCATED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IT'S
INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL THAT
CONFORMS TO THE RISE OF CHINESE
IMPORTS AND OTHER IMPORTS INTO
OUR COUNTRY AND LOOK AT THE
DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME OF PEOPLE
IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WHAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY
KNOW, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN THE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY
AND TO MAKE THOSE IN THE TOP 1%
PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
THE DIFFICULT VEERINGENS BETWEEN
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE LOWER
INCOME SPECTRUM AND LOWER HAS
JUST EXPLODED.
THOSE WHO HAD MUCH AND THOSE WHO
HAD JUST ENOUGH, AND THOSE WHO
HAVE LITTLE WERE NOT SO FAR
APART, BUT THE GAP HAS JUST
WIDENED TO A LEVEL WHERE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW SOMETHING
IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG AND THAT
OUT OF
BALANCE AND THAT SOMEHOW WE HAVE
TO BEGIN TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL
BOOTS ARE LIFTED IN THIS SOCIETY
AND NOT SOME BOOTS GET LIFTED.
AND WE KNOW THAT JOB CREATION,
BUSINESS GROWTH, BUSINESS
START-UPS, BUSINESS EXPANSION OF
AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS ARE
ESSENTIAL, PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE
EXPORTED THAT CAN HELP TO CLOSE
THE TRADE GAP, BUT ALSO BEGIN TO
NARROW THE INCOME GAP THAT WE
SEE AS WE ALLOW MORE INCOME TO
BE EARNED BY THOSE WHO ARE IN
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND WHO ARE IN
SOME OF THE CATEGORIES OF INCOME
WHERE THEY ARE STRETCHING JUST
TO MAKE IT EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK
TO PUT ENOUGH FOOD ON THE TABLE.
THIS IS REALLY UN-AMERICAN.
THIS LOOKS LIKE AN OLD
STRATIFIED SOCIETY FROM TIMES
PAST THAT WERE VERY, VERY
UNDEMOCRATIC PLACES WHERE WE
WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE, KIND OF
PLACES THAT OUR RELATIVES FLED
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
WAGE.
WE ARE JOINED THIS EVENING BY
SWAM JACKSON LEE FROM THE GREAT
STATE OF TEXAS, SUCH A HARD
WORKER, WHO IS SUCH A VOICE FOR
CITIZENS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND
OUR WORLD EVERY DAY.
AND WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR
ALLOWING ME TO JOIN YOU AND JOIN
THE DISTINGUISHED THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW YORK.
WE ARE ON THE FLOOR OFTEN BUT AS
I LISTEN TO YOU DISCUSS THE
ISSUES OF NOT ONLY MAKE IT IN
AMERICA BUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE
BEEN ON.
BUT WE HAVE KNOWN OHIO OVER THE
YEARS TO BE THE CENTER POINT OF
MANUFACTURING, THE CENTER POINT
OF PRODUCTION OF WHAT WE CALL
THE RAW MATERIALS, OVERLAPPING
WITH OUR FRIENDS IN THE MIDWEST
ON STEEL PRODUCTION, AND WE CALL
THE TRUE SALT OF THE
EARTH AND THE UNDERPINNINGS OF
AMERICA'S ECONOMY.
AGAIN, THEY ARE FORTUNATE TO
HAVE A MEMBER SUCH AS MARCY
KAPTUR WHO HAS NEVER STEPPED
AWAY FROM THE MORALITY AND THE
MORAL COMPASS OF ALLOWING
MEMBERS TO WORK AND CONSTITUENTS
TO WORK AND TO FIGHT FOR THEM,
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK
AND TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND
JOBS THAN IN MANUFACTURING OHIO.
WE THANK YOU, JOINED BY MR.
TONKO WHO HAS NEVER WAIVERED FRR
ASSISTING HIS CONSTITUENTS.
I WANT TO JOIN YOU AND PICK UP
ON A CHORD IF I CAN.
THE PRESIDENT WENT TO -- I GUESS
HE LISTENED TO US AND WENT TO
KANSAS AND WENT TO THE PLACE
WHERE TEDDY ROOSEVELT, THE MAN
WITH THE BIG STICK -- WHEN YOU
HAVE A BIG STICK AROUND HERE, I
DON'T BELIEVE IN VIOLENCE, BUT
GET ONE QUOTE IN,
THAT I LIKE, THIS COUNTRY
SUCCEEDS WHEN EVERYONE GETS A
FAIR SHOT AND EVERYONE DOES
THEIR FAIR SHARE AND EVERYONE
THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
SPEAKING ABOUT AND THIS IS WHAT
OUR PUBLIC HAS BEEN SPEAKING
THIS IS WHAT THE COULD HAVEEY
MAKER HAS BEEN ASKING ABOUT,
GIVE US AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD.
I WANT TO SPEAK AS I PARTICIPATE
IN THIS SPECIAL ORDER ON ONE OR
TWO POINTS AND THAT IS, THESE GO
HAND IN HAND.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNEMPLOYED.
AND THERE ARE WORKING PEOPLE
THAT WILL BENEFIT FROM THE
EXTENSION OF THE PAYROLL TAX
CUT.
AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE
GREAT RESPECT FOR OUR
COLLEAGUES, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN
TENDING TO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS
FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS.
WE HAVE BEEN PASSING LEGISLATION
THAT HAVE BEEN JOB KILLERS AND
WE NEED -- I DON'T MIND DOING
THINGS IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
SEEN YOU REJECT
BIPARTISANSHIP OR MR. CONOCO
REJECT BIPARTISANSHIP OR MR.
GARAMENDI.
WE ARE EAGER TO MOVE THIS
COUNTRY FORWARD AND I'M GOING TO
GIVE THE OTHER BODY A COMPLIMENT
BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WERE STUCK
ON THE PLAN OF THE PAYROLL TAX,
BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF A 1.9%
SURTAX APPLIED IN 2019, NOT EVEN
IN 2012 TO MILLIONAIRES IN A
10-YEAR PERIOD.
AND THERE WILL BE INCREASING
FEES ON MORTGAGE LEAPEDERS PAID
TO FREDDIE MAC AND FANNIE MAE
AND THOSE MAY HAVE TO BE
REVIEWED BY THIS BODY, BUT IT IS
SEEKING A WAY TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYONE GETS A PIECE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE
RESPONSE IS.
THE HOSTAGE TAKING COMES WHEN
ONE SENATOR SAYS, OK, WE DON'T
WANT THE BUSH TAX CUTS TO EVER
EXPIRE.
THAT'S THEIR RESPONSE.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY TO MY
COLLEAGUES, THE OLIVE BRANCH HAS
BEEN EXTENDED.
IF WE DO NOT DO THIS, I WILL
TELL YOU WE WILL BE RISK, THE
G.O.P. WILL BE RISKING 160
MILLION AMERICANS WILL NOT BE
PROTECTED AND SUBJECTED TO THIS
MASSIVE, IF YOU WILL, TAX
INCREASE.
IF WE DO IT, WE'LL GIVE 160
MILLION AMERICANS RELIEF,
300,000 PEOPLE MAKING OVER $1
MILLION WILL GIVE A SACRIFICE, A
TEDDY ROOSEVELT FAIR SHOT,
$1,000 TO $1,500.
LET ME SPEAK ABOUT THIS
UNEMPLOYMENT CIRCUMSTANCE.
SIX MILLION AMERICANS LOST THEIR
AND I WANT TO SHOW THIS PICTURE
OF A HAPPY FAMILY.
YOU'VE GOT MANUFACTURING AND WE
HAVE THE HOUSTON PORT.
AND WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL
ECONOMY FLOWS DOWN, WHAT HAPPENS
SHIPS.
MY GUY THAT'S IN THIS FAMILY
THAT'S IN NEED, HE HAS BEEN OFF
WORK FOR A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS
AND HAS A BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND
CHILDREN.
MEDICAL PROBLEMS, NEEDS SURGERY,
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF PEOPLE
THAT WE ARE CASTIDEBATING, THE
SALT OF THE PEOPLE IN OHIO WHERE
THEY WERE LAID OFF OR SLOWED
DOWN, SAYS "ILLNESS BUDGET CUTS
," AND YOU SEE THEIR THREE
LOVELY CHILDREN.
IF THIS GENTLEMAN DOES NOT GET
UNEMPLOYMENT, IF HE CONTINUES TO
BE LAID OFF, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT A FAMILY THAT IS NOT ON
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BUT A FAMILY,
THAT, IN FACT WORKED WHICH IS
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, CAR
INSURANCE, FIRE INSURANCE, THEY
WORKED, AND THEY HAVE COME UPON
HARD TIMES.
NEW YORKERS WORKED AND COME UPON
HARD TIMES.
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA WORKED
AND COME UPON HARD TIMES AND
THOSE IN OHIO.
I WOULD SAY IN THE SPIRIT OF
BIPARTISANSHIP TO MY GOOD
FRIEND, FIND A WAY TO REPAY THE
AMERICAN WORKER, WHO HAVE COME
UPON HARD TIMES, THE CHILDREN
WHO HAVE WATCHED THEIR PARENTS
GET UP EVERY DAY AND WORK.
HERE'S WHAT MY SWAN SONG AND SO
THE GENTLEMAN CAN BE YIELDED TO,
HERE'S MY SWANG SONG ON THIS
POINT, I WANTED TO SHOW THIS
PICTURE, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
PLAGUED OVER THE WEEKEND BY THE
WORDS OF ONE OF OUR NAG FIGURES
WHO INDICATED THAT POOR CHILDREN
HAVE NO ROLE MODEL, NO ONE IN
THE POOR COMMUNITIES EVER GO TO
WORK, NO ONE WATCHES WHO HAPPENS
TO BE POOR, ANY FAMILY MEMBER
GET UP AND GO TO WORK UNLESS
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
SO A SOLUTION IS, WE WATCH THE
JANITORS IN THE SCHOOLS, LET'S
MAKE SURE THE POOR CHILDREN
PLUCK THEM OUT OF THE PRE-K,
FIRST GRADE AND SIXTH GRADE AND
DO THE WORK OF AN ADULT WHO IS
PROVIDING FOR A FAMILY AND IN MY
DAY, SANITATION DEPARTMENT WAS
GOOD, HARD WORK WHO WERE
PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND
MAYBE THEY EDUCATED A WHOLE
GENERATION OF CHILDREN BY BEING
A JANITOR OR SOMEONE WHO WAS
HOUSEKEEPING OR SOMEONE WHO WAS
CLEANING FACILITIES OR OFFICE
BUILDINGS.
WE AREN'T SUGGESTING THAT THESE
INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT LOOKING FOR
GREATER ASPIRATIONS.
MAYBE SOMEONE GOT A G.E.D. OR
WENT TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BUT
TO SUGGEST THAT POOR CHILDREN IN
APPALACHIA OR
IN PLACES OF INNER CITY HOUSTON
OR RURAL AMERICA DON'T HAVE ROLE
MODELS BECAUSE THEY ARE
IMPOVERISHEDED AND THE ONLY
THING THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE IS
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IS AN INSULT TO
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AND
REFLECTION TO WHAT WE HAVE COME
TO IN THIS BODY WHERE WE CAN'T
GIVE TO THE WORKING CLASS THIS
WONDERFUL FAMILY THAT IS ON THE
FRONT PAGES OF OUR PAPER,
INDICATING THAT THEY ARE ONLY IN
THIS SITUATION, THEY ONLY CAN
SEE DADDY GO TO WORK BECAUSE HE
IS WITHOUT WORK AND THEN GETTING
BACK SURGERY, SO COMPOUNDED, NOT
BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR AND IN A
FAMILY WHERE NOBODY GETS UP AND
GOES TO WORK.
WE HAVE TO DO BETTER THAN THIS
SPIRIT.
I'M GLAD THE PRESIDENT WAS IN
KANSAS AND TAKING ON THIS KIND
OF HARD TALK IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
THE WORKING FAMILIES.
I WILL YIELD.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BRINGING THIS FAMILY'S
PLIGHT TO LIGHT HERE IN THE
CONGRESS ON BEHALF OF ALL OF
AMERICA'S FAMILIES WHO ARE
SUFFERING IN THIS HOLIDAY
AND ISN'T IT AN INDICTMENT ON
THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF THIS
COUNTRY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
THAT WHEN PEOPLE NEED
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, WE HAVE
TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK RIGHT TO
THE BITTER END, RIGHT TO THE
BITTER END FOR BENEFITS THAT
HAVE BEEN EARNED, EARNED.
IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY, A COUPLE
CAME UP TO ME AND THE HUSBAND
ASKED, CONGRESSWOMAN, IF YOU
HEAR OF ANY OTHER JOBS, PLEASE
LET ME KNOW.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS?
THIS WAS A FAMILY THAT OBVIOUSLY
NEEDED HELP, A FAMILY THAT SPENT
THEIR ENTIRE LIFE, MAN AND WIFE
BOTH WORKING.
AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO ASK ABOUT
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, BUT
HE KNEW THAT FOR THAT FAMILY,
MAYBE IT WAS ALL THAT WOULD BE
THERE IN THE NEAR TERM.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
FIGURES I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON
THE RECORD THIS EVENING.
ONE, I CALLED THE HEAD OF ONE OF
OUR MAJOR RAILROADS THE OTHER
DAY BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO GET
THE WORD OUT IN MY REGION THAT
THERE WERE 4,000 JOBS THAT
C.F.X. WAS OFFERING AROUND THE
COUNTRY AND I WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE IN OUR REGION
KNEW THEY WERE AVAILABLE.
AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
OF THE COMPANY SAID, WELL, YOU
KNOW, WE HAVE HAD 500,000
APPLICATIONS FOR 4,000 JOBS.
THE AMERICA AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT
TO WORK.
IT IS NOT THAT THEY DO NOT WANT
TO WORK, AS SOME OF OUR FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE INFER.
NO, NO, THEY ARE LOOKING EVERY
DAY.
THEY ARE NOT FINDING THE JOBS
THAT EXISTED IN PAST
GENERATIONS, AND WE KNOW THAT
THOSE JOBS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED
BY IMPORTS FROM PLACES LIKE
CHINA AND COMPANY AFTER COMPANY
THAT USED TO BE LOCATED IN OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS AREN'T THERE
JOBS.
WE HAVE TO CREATE NEW JOBS BUT
THE NEW ONES AREN'T COMING
ONSTREAM FAST ENOUGH.
THE DESIRE TO WORK IN OUR
COUNTRY IS HIGHER, MILLIONS
MORE PEOPLE WANT TO WORK THAN
THERE ARE JOBS AVAILABLE RIGHT
FOR MANY FAMILIES, UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE IS ALL THAT'S LEFT
FOR THEM.
AND AGAIN, THIS CONGRESS IS
JUST WAITING TO THE BITTER
MOMENT, RATHER THAN ACTING
RESPONSIBLY TO HELP FAMILIES
WHO LITERALLY HAVE BUILT THIS
COUNTRY AND WHO HAVE A VERY
WORK.
SO I WANTED TO THANK HER, THANK
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, MS.
JACKSON LEE, FOR BRINGING THIS
SUBJECT UP AND PUTTING A HUMAN
FACE ON WHAT THIS UNEMPLOYMENT
REALLY LOOKS LIKE OUT IN THE
COUNTRY AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY
DOUBT, COME TO OHIO.
COME MEET THESE FAMILIES.
WHO WANT TO WORK AND ARE
LOOKING EVERY DAY AND OF COURSE
NOW YOU KNOW THE WAY IT WORKS,
YOU CAN'T GO INTO A COMPANY,
THEY TELL YOU, WE MIGHT HAVE
100 JOB BUS APPLY US TO -- TO
US OVER THE INTERNET YOU GO
INTO A FACELESS SYSTEM WHERE
YOU CAN'T FIND A HUMAN BEING.
THEY'RE TRYING OUT THERE IN THE
COUNTRY AND ALL THE ECONOMIC
FIGURES SHOW US, AND THE LAST
THING I'LL SAY HERE FOR THIS
SEGMENT, ZANDI, MARK ZANDI, FOR
MOODY'S, HAS CLASSIFIED EVERY
EXPENDITURE ONE CAN MAKE THAT
GIVES THE ECONOMY MORE THAN $1
FOR EVERY DOLLAR EXPENDED AND
WOULD YOU BELIEVE IF ONE LOOKS
AT THINGS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE AND PAYMENTS TO THE
UNEMPLOYED, THAT PRODUCES THE
BIGGEST *** TO THE ECONOMY.
WELL OVER $1 PPT 35 FOR EVERY
$1 INVESTED, AS OPPOSED TO,
LET'S SAY, TAX CREDITS OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THESE
ARCANE TAX PROVISIONS, WHERE
LESS THAN 30 CENTS IS ACTUALLY
REINVESTED IN THE ECONOMY
SYSTEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE EXTENSIONS ALSO MAKES
SENSE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AT
THIS VERY TENDER TIME BECAUSE
THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THOSE
BENEFITS SPEND THEM ON
ESSENTIALS.
THEY DRIVE THE ECONOMY.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLELADY.
I WANT TO PUT
TWO MORE NUMBERS ON THE RECORD
AS YOU DID.
IF WE DON'T, YOU MADE A VERY
VALID POINT THAT HERE WE ARE AT
THE LAST MINUTE, YOU WOULD
THINK THAT WE WOULD BE
SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT
FAMILIES ARE GATHERING,
FAMILIES WANT TO HAVE A HOLIDAY
THEY'RE
TRYING TO BE THE SANTA THAT
THEY KNOW THE CHILDREN BELIEVE
IN, THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE
PREPARATIONS, FAMILIES ARE
TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BE WITH
LOVED ONES, MAYBE GASOLINE THAT
THEY MAY NEED TO DRIVE A CAR.
IF WE DON'T DO THIS
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, WE ARE
POISED, UNLIKE IF WE DID IT AND
WE GET *** FOR OUR BUCK, TO
LOSE 200,000 JOBS.
COMPOUND THAT WITH NOT
EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT
AND WE LOSE 400,000 JOBS.
THAT IS ALMOST 600,000 JOBS AND
I FINISH MY SAYING, THE TRAGEDY
OF YOUR POINT ABOUT CHINA, AND
I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR
THAT WE LOVE ALL PEOPLE, WE
WISH THE BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF
CHINA, IT IS THE POLICIES, THE
CURRENCIES, BUT NOT ONLY DO WE
HAVE THIS TO, IN THE BACKDROP,
WE HAVE TO FIX OUR OWN HOUSE SO
THAT WE'RE NOT BILLING A BRIDGE
IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS DRAWN
STEEL AND WORKERS AND DESIGNERS
AND ACCOUNTANTS FROM WAY ACROSS
THE OCEAN IN CHINA.
WE'VE GOT TO GET OUR HOUSE IN
ORDER.
SO 600,000 PAYROLL TAX
EXTENSION DOESN'T GO FORWARD,
WE'RE LOSING 400,000 JOBS AND
THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
DOESN'T GO FORWARD, WE'RE
LOSING 200,000 JOBS.
IS THIS THE WAY TO WELCOME THE
MOST SACRED FOR MANY FAITHS AN
MANY FAMILIES, SEASON OF THE
YEAR OF GIVING, WHERE WE TEACH
OUR CHILDREN TO GIVE?
IS THIS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
IS THIS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING
TO OUR SOLDIERS WHO WILL BE
COMING HOME BY THE END OF
DECEMBER?
I THINK NOT.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THESE
THOUGHTS AND I'M ONLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING OUR HOUSE IN
ORDER AND GETTING OUR HOLIDAY
HOUSE IN ORDER AND REFLECTING
ON THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND NOT SPECIAL
INTERESTS.
I WANT TO THANK THE
GENTLELADY FOR THOSE VERY
PROFOUND COMMENTS TINE AND JUST
PLACE ON THE RECORD THAT JUST
IN OUR CHURCH, LAST WEEKEND,
THE PRIEST INFORMED US THAT
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, HE WAS
ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO DIG DEEPER
BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF BASKETS
AND THE NUMBER OF ASKS WAS WELL
OVER 125, I THINK JUST FOR OUR
CHURCH IT'S OVER 360 NOW FOR
THIS YEAR.
FOR A SMALL CONGREGATION,
THAT'S A BIT OF A STRUGGLE.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE PLACE, ONE
CORN FOR THE AMERICA, REPEATED
IN 50 STATES, IN EVERY HAMLET,
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT THE
GENTLELADY SAID ABOUT THE
SPIRIT OF THIS PARTICULAR
SEASON.
OF LIGHT AND GIVING.
AND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT
OF WORK HAVE EARNED THESE
BENEFITS.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY
HANDOUTS.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE
INSURANCE THEY EARNED AS A
CONDITION OF WORK IN ORDER TO
HELP HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND
HAPPY HANCU -- HANUKKAH,
THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING
THEY HAVEN'T EARNED.
OUR LEADER, CONGRESSMAN JOHN
GARAMENDI OF CALIFORNIA, IS
WITH US TONIGHT, WE THANK HIM
SO MUCH FOR RESERVING THIS
SPECIAL ORDER AND FOR THE
INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP HE HAS
EXHIBITED EACH AND EVERY WEEK
THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN SESSION
AND JUST A POWERFUL AND
SUSTAINING VOICE ON MAKING IT
IN AMERICA AN CREATING JOBS
MS. CAPTURE,
YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PICKING
UP.
TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL TIGHT FOR
WE LIT THE HOLIDAY TREE IN
FRONT OF THE STATE CAPITOL, A
TREE THAT CAME FROM A COMMUNITY
VERY CLOSE TO WHERE I WAS
RAISED IN CALIFORNIA, I WAS OUT
THERE WITH THE CHOIR FROM
SUMMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL IN AN
AREA THAT I REPRESENTED FOR 20
YEARS AND THEN OTHER, AROUND
THE AREA.
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TREE FROM
THE STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST
IN CALIFORNIA.
THERE REALLY IS MUCH TO
CELEBRATE AND MUCH TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT IN AMERICA.
WE ARE A -- WE ARE STILL A VERY
GREAT COUNTRY.
WE'RE THE STRONGEST, MOST
WEALTHY PLACE ON THIS EARTH.
AND WE HAVE INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY AND POTENTIAL.
I SAW IT IN THOSE KIDS THAT
WERE SINGING IN FRONT OF THIS
NATION'S CAPITOL THIS EVENING.
YET THERE'S SO MUCH PAIN AS WAS
POINTED OUT BY OUR COLLEAGUE
FROM HOUSTON AND YOU EARLIER.
OTHER.
THEY DEEPLY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR
COMMUNITIES AND THEY WANT
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S A HARD TASK, THERE'S 435
OF US HERE AND IN THE SENATE
ANOTHER 100 AND OF COURSE THE
PRESIDENT.
SOLUTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT FORTH A
VERY POWERFUL PROGRAM CALLED
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT.
ONE PIECE OF IT HAS,
FORTUNATELY, PASSED AND IT WAS
PASSED A FEW DAYS AFTER
VETERANS DAY WHEN I GUESS WE
WERE OUT AT THE PARADES AND WE
MADE PROMISES TO TAKE CARE OF
THE VETERANS.
AND FORTUNATELY, A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION DID PASS, ONLY ONE
THOUGH.
THERE'S MUCH MORE TO DO AN MY
COLLEAGUES, MS. KAPTUR AND THE
GENTLELADY FROM HOUSTON, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT A PIECE OF IT.
BUT THE VETERANS' PIECE
PROVIDES EMPLOYERS A VERY
POWERFUL INCENTIVE TO HIRE A
VETERAN.
A VERY, VERY POWERFUL
INCENTIVE.
YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR TAXES BY $
2,600 TO HIRE A VETERAN THAT'S
BEEN UNEMPLOYED.
A LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED VETERAN,
$5,600 REDUCTION IN TAXES AND
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE
PRESIDENT PROPOSED THAT IF IT
IS A VETERAN WHO IS DISABLED AS
A RESULT OF THEIR SERVICE,
$,600 REDUCTION IN TAXES.
-- $9,600 REDUCTION IN TAXES,
THAT'S RIGHT OFF THE TAX LINE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET THES MING AN
OUT THERE, HIRE, PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
YOU WERE SO POWERFULLY PUTTING
FORWARD A MOMENT AGO THE ISSUE
OF THE PAYROLL TAX DEDUCTION.
IT'S GOING TO ENDFUL THERE WILL
BE A TAX INCREASE.
FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO IS
EARNING LESS THAN -- EARNING UP
TO $106,000.
A TAX INCREASE, AVERAGE $
1RKS500 ACROSS THIS NATION.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT TAX
REDUCTION IN PLACE.
WE DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT A TAX
INCREASE ON THE WORKING MIDDLE
CLASS.
NO.
BUT AGAIN, AS WAS POINTED OUT A
MOMENT AGO, OUR REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS ARE SAYING, WELL,
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA BUT WHERE
ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MONEY?
YOU CAN'T GET THE MONEY FROM
THOSE WHOSE INCOME, ANNUAL
INCOME IS MORE THAN $1 MILLION.
INCOME.
YOU CAN'T TAX THEM.
THAT'S NOT FAIR TO TAX THOSE
PEOPLE.
THEY'RE THE JOB CREATORS.
BALONEY.
THEY'RE NOT THE JOB CREATORS
ANY MORE THAN ANY OTHER SMALL
BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO
DOESN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO
HAVING AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $1
MILLION.
LET'S BE FAIR ABOUT THIS.
THEY'VE HAD AN ENORMOUS TAX
IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO COME
FORWARD AND SHARE IN THE BURDEN
OF AMERICA AND PUT AMERICANS
THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT WORK.
MS. KAPTUR, YOU'RE RETURNING
THE -- YOU'RE RUNNING THIS
OPERATION.
I WAS GOING TO
YIELD THE TIME TO YOU.
BUT I WANT TO SAY, THIS IS A
COAST-TO-COAST OOPERATION.
WE HAVE YOU FROM CALIFORNIA,
CONGRESSMAN TONKO FROM NEW
YORK, CONGRESSWOMAN JACKSON LEE
FROM TEXAS, AND ME FROM THE
HEARTLAND.
THAT'S A BROAD BASE.
ALL RIGHT, I
YIELD TO MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK.
IF MS. KAPTUR COULD
TAKE US BACK TO THAT SECOND
CHART SHE SHARED WITH US AND
THE DEPIC OF REAL, AVERAGE
AFTER-TAX INCOME.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS
OUT THERE OR THE INABILITY TO
GO FORWARD AND TAX FAIRLY.
YOU LOOK AT THAT DEMOGRAPHIC,
YOU LOOK AT THAT GRAPHIC, I
SHOULD SAY, AND TO SEE THE
INJUSTICE THAT IS DISPLAYED
JUST IN SIMPLE LINE GRAPH
FORMAT, THAT FLAT LINING OF
CLASS, FROM
1979 FORWARD, THAT FLAT LINING
CONTRASTED WITH THAT STEEP
CLIMB UPWARD FOR THOSE IN THE
UPPER INCOME BRACKETS, TELLS
THE WHOLE STORY.
AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE SAID,
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHEN I GO
HOME TO THE DISTRICT, PEOPLE
SAY TO ME, THEY'RE CONCERNED.
YOU KNOW.
THEY'VE BEEN TAUGHT, RIGHTFULLY
SO, THEY'VE LEARNED A LOY --
ALONG THE WAY IF YOU PLAY FAIR,
YOU ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND
YOU ABIDE BY THE RULES, THAT
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE
WITHIN YOUR GRASP THAT AMERICAN
DREAM.
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
ONE THAT ALLOWS FOR WORKING
FAMILIES TO CLIMB THE LADDER.
THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THAT'S
WITHIN THEIR GRASP TODAY.
AND IT'S NOT ONLY THE INJUSTICE
HERE THAT IS MEASURED ON A
CHART.
AND BE MINDFUL, THEY DON'T
REJECT THE NOTION OF WORKING
HARD AND SCORING BIG.
MAKING MONEY.
THEY'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT.
THEY HONOR THAT.
WHAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IS
THE UNDUE INFLUENCE THAT'S --
THAT THE POWERFUL HAVE, THE
POWER THEY HAVE WITH THE
PROCESS AND THE POLICY OUTCOMES
AND THE FACT THAT WE WOULD
AVOID FAIRNESS IN REVENUES AND
NOT INVEST IN THE AMERICAN
DREAM, NOT INVEST IN
OPPORTUNITY, NOT INVEST FOR THE
PROSPERITY OF THIS NATION, IS
WHAT BOTHERS THEM.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IGNORED
THAT WAY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT A
PROCESS OUT THERE IS GOVERNMENT
WORKING TO CREATE POLICY,
INITIATE THE COMEBACK THAT
ENABLES PEOPLE TO HAVE WITHIN
THEIR GRASP THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW
IS ALIVE AND WELL HERE IN
WASHINGTON AND NOW IT'S A
FIGHT, IT'S A FIGHT FOR THE
DEMOCRATS IN THIS HOUSE TO
SCORE A VICTORY FOR THE MIDDLE
WE WANT THAT VICTORY.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
KNOW THAT THERE'S A FAIRNESS
OUT THERE.
LOOK AT IT, $1,00, $1,500
WHATEVER YOUR STRATA WOULD
PRODUCE AS A FAFE RABBLE
OUTCOME IS SOMETHING FOR -- AS
A FAVORABLE OUTCOME IS
SOMETHING FOR THEM.
MONTH-TO-MONTH THEY'LL SCORE
SOME VICTORY WHERE THE
ESSENTIALS, AS REPRESENTATIVE
KAPTUR LABELED THEM, ARE
AVAILABLE WITH THESE SAVINGS,
CONTRASTED WITH OPPORTUNITIES
WE SEE HERE THAT FIND THIS
GROUP THAT'S RISING TO THE TOP
EXPONENTIALLY JUST WON'T SHARE
THE PROSPERITY IN THAT WAY.
AND I THINK IT'S THE AVOIDANCE
OF SOUND PROGRESSIVE POLICY
THAT'S REALLY THE STRUGGLE
RIGHT NOW AND PEOPLE ARE
EXPRESSING THEIR ANGER AND
FRUSTRATION AND RIGHTFULLY
SYSTEM OF MR. GARE MEN TEE: IF
TONKO.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN
BACK HOME OVER THANKSGIVING AND
I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF THOSE
THAT BLUE LINE AND
THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE
MORE FOR FAIRNESS AND I HAVE
HEARD FROM SOME WHO SAID WE
CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU
CONTROL MEDICARE AND WHAT DO
THEY RECOMMEND IN MEDICARE?
THEY RECOMMEND EXTENDING THE AGE
FROM 65 TO 67 AND I SAY WHAT
SENSE DOES THAT MAKE WHEN YOU
CONSIDER MEDICARE STARTED IN
1964, 51% OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN
OVER 65 HAD NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
TODAY, VIRTUALLY EVERYONE OVER
65 HAS HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT'S MEDICARE.
ONE OF THE SOLE ILT BEDROCK
PROGRAMS THAT KEEPS SENIORS FROM
FALLING INTO POVERTY.
BACK IN 1964, 30% OF THE SENIORS
WERE IN POVERTY.
WITHOUT MEDICARE, THEY WOULD BE
IN POVERTY AGAIN.
AND YET, REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
WANT TO ELIMINATE MEDICARE AND
TURN IT OVER TO THE PRIVATE
WHO WILL NOT
PROVIDE A REASONABLY PRICED
POLICY OR BENEFIT TO SOMEBODY
WHO'S 65 BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE
PEOPLE THAT GET SICK.
SIMILARLY, THEY HAVE SAID
REPEATEDLY SINCE 1930'S, THEY
WANT TO TERMINATE SOCIAL
WE HEAR THAT.
WE HEAR THE BACKGROUND BUZZ
AROUND THIS BUILDING AND WANT TO
TERMINATE SOCIAL SECURITY.
THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT GIVE
AMERICAN SENIORS THE DIGNITY AND
THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO LIVE
A GOOD LIFE, BUT TO EVEN LIVE TO
STAY ALIVE.
LET ME TALK ABOUT A
POINT OF CLARIFICATION TO ADD TO
THAT DISCUSSION.
ON THIS WHOLE TAX FAIRNESS,
PEOPLE HAVE APPROACHED ME AND
SAID, EXPLAIN TO ME -- BECAUSE
THEY HEAR DIFFERENT SCENARIOS,
THEY WERE IMAGINING THERE WOULD
BE A SURCHARGE ON $1.2 MILLION.
IF YOU ARE OVER THAT THRESHOLD
AND YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL INCOME OF
$1.2 MILLION, THE PEOPLE ARE
REMINDED THAT IT'S ON THAT
$200,000 OVER THE FIRST $1
MILLION, ON WHICH THAT SURCHARGE
IS LEVIED.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FACT THAT IS
SOMETIMES LOST IN THE
DISCUSSION.
PEOPLE SAY WAIT A MINUTE, THE
FIRST $1 MILLION ISN'T TOUCHED?
DOESN'T CHANGE AT
ALL.
THEY ARE SAYING WE
HAVE BEEN FLATLINED FOR SO LONG
AND THIS RISE FOR THE HIGHEST ON
THE INCOME LADDER.
SURCHARGE IS ON
THE AMOUNT OVER $1 MILLION.
THERE IS MORE
DETERMINATION BY AMERICA'S
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES TO HAVE IT
FIXED AND DONE CORRECTLY.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, I'M
REMINDED EVERY TIME I GO HOME BY
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS, MODEST
HOUSEHOLD INCOMES THAT WE ARE
JOB CREATORS, MY CHILDREN NEEDED
I OPENED A
CHILD CARE CENTER IN MY HOME.
I CHARGE AND I HAVE A SMALL
BUSINESS.
MANY SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE TELL
ME, AN IDEA CAME TO MIND AND
WANTED TO TURN IT INTO A
THEY ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE
COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE SMALL
COMMUNITY.
THE AMERICAN JOBS
ACT, WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH
THROUGH THIS CONGRESS TO GET MEN
AND WOMEN BACK TO WORK, PROVIDES
A TAX REDUCTION FOR THE EMPLOYER
ON WAGES LESS THAN $50 MILLION.
SO FOR YOUR CHILD CARE PROVIDER,
FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON,
THE CARPENTER OUT THERE IN THE
SMALL BUSINESS, THEY ALSO GET A
50% REDUCTION IN THEIR PAYROLL
TAX.
INSTEAD OF 6.2, IT GOES TO 3.1.
THIS ISN'T JUST FOR THE WAGE
PERSON.
WHY DON'T THEY SUPPORT THIS?
THIS IS A STATEMENT
OF UNDERPINNING OF SUPPORT FOR
MIDDLE CLASS, FOR WORKING
FAMILIES, FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
IT'S THE ENGINE THAT'S MAKING IT
SMALL BUSINESS, THE INVESTMENT
WE CAN MAKE, NOT ONLY THE TAX
CUT WE CAN PROVIDE HERE, BUT THE
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED
FOR THE IDEAS TO MOVE ALONG.
WE ARE IN A CHALLENGING TIME.
WE ARE THERE COMPETING IN A
GLOBAL ECONOMY.
WE INVEST IN THE INTELLECTUAL
CAPACITY OF THIS NATION AND HOW
FOOLISH OF US NOT TO TAKE THAT
INVESTMENT, THAT PRODUCT OF THAT
INVESTMENT AND PUT IT INTO
WORKING ORDER.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR
HERE.
GIVE SMALL BUSINESS THE TOOLS.
GIVE WORKING CLASS FAMILIES THE
OPPORTUNITY AND WE WILL HAVE A
COMEBACK STORY THAT IS GLORIOUS
AND WE SHOULD BE FILLED WITH
OPTIMISM IF WE DO THE THINGS
THAT ARE SO LOGICAL AND THAT
POLLS ACROSS AMERICA, INDIVIDUAL
POLLS FROM ALL SECTORS, ALL
ANGLES, ALL DIFFERENT GROUPS,
ARE SAYING THIS IS WHAT AMERICA
WANTS AND HOW COME THEY CAN'T
GET IT DELIVERED BY THEIR
GOVERNMENT?
THEY ARE SPEAKING TO US LOUD AND
CLEAR THROUGH THEIR OPINION
SURVEYS.
WE WANT THIS PROGRESSIVE
SCHEDULE, WE WANT THIS AGENDA.
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE ARE TRYING AS THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE
KAPTUR, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IF WE
PUT OUR MINDS TO GO IN A VERY
BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL WAY, AND
MAKING A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA
HAPPEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD
THAT I AGREE WITH YOU
COMPLETELY.
EVERY SMALL BUSINESS THAT I WALK
INTO TELLS ME, MARCY, BRING ME
CUSTOMERS.
INCOME.
THERE ARE NO MORE IMPORTANT
DECISIONS THAT WE FACE AS A
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW THAN TO MAKE
SURE THAT MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES
HAVE SPENDABLE INCOME,
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES WHO HAVE
BEEN HOLDING THE LINE WITHOUT
ADDITIONAL SPENDING POWER OVER
THE LAST DECADE AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS TO THOSE WHO HAVE
EARNED THOSE BENEFITS BECAUSE
THAT HAS THE MAXIMUM *** INSIDE
THE ECONOMY WHEN PEOPLE SPEND
THOSE DOLLARS TO -- ON BASICS,
ON ESSENTIALS.
THOSE ARE TWO PRACTICAL
DECISIONS FROM AN ECONOMIC
STANDPOINT, NO RATIONAL HUMAN
BEING WOULD DISAGREE WITH.
GROWTH.
THEY CONTRIBUTE TO KEEPING US ON
AN UPWARD PATH AS WE MOVE
FORWARD HERE IN OUR COUNTRY
AFTER COMING OUT OF THIS DEEP,
DEEP, DEEP RECESSION.
IF I MIGHT, MS.
KAPTUR, FASCINATING PIECE OF
INFORMATION CAME ACROSS MY DESK
TODAY AND HAS TO DO WITH THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT WHICH
OUR REPUBLICANS CALL OBAMACARE.
IT'S WORKING.
IT'S WORKING.
YOU TALKED ABOUT SPENDABLE
INCOME.
2.65 MILLION SENIORS, BECAUSE OF
THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT,
HAD AN AVERAGE OF $569
ADDITIONAL IN THEIR POCKET AS A
RESULT OF THE DISCOUNT DRUG
BENEFIT PROGRAM.
WOW.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
50% DISCOUNT ON BRAND-NAME DRUGS
SAVED $1.5 BILLION FOR TWO
MILLION SENIORS, SAVED $1.5
BILLION, AVERAGE OF $569.
IT'S WORKING.
IT'S WORKING.
AND VERY INTERESTING, THESE
KINDS OF STATISTICS COME ACROSS
AND NORMALLY WE IGNORE THEM, BUT
THE ANNUAL WELLNESS PROGRAM,
1,931,927 SENIORS WERE ABLE TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ANNUAL
WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT IS IN THE
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT.
24 MILLION SENIORS TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THE PRE-SERVICE
PROGRAM IN THE OWE FORWARDABLE
HEALTH CARE ACT.
WHEN FOLKS ARE OUT THERE AND
PUTTING DOWN OBAMACARE, BE
CAREFUL.
IT'S NOT A NEGATIVE.
IT'S A VERY, VERY STRONG
POSITIVE.
AND YOU WILL LIKE THIS ONE, MS.
KAPTUR.
OHIO, 1,864,234 SENIORS TOOK
ADVANTAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE, 50,178 SENIORS IN OHIO
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE DISCOUNT,
THE DRUG DISCOUNT.
IT'S WORKING.
THAT'S EXCITING.
THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT WE
PASSED AND ACTUALLY HELPING THE
SENIORS AND THE ECONOMY BY
PUTTING MONEY BACK IN THEIR
POCKETS RATHER THAN IN THE
POCKETS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL
COMPANIES.
WITH THOSE SENIORS,
I KNOW THE FIRST PLACE THEY ARE
GOING TO SPEND THE EXTRA DOLLARS
AFTER THEY PAY FOR FOOD, WILL BE
ON THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND ALL I HOPE IS THEY DON'T BUY
CHINESE TOYS THIS CHRISTMAS AND
FIND A WAY TO BUY LITTLE OUTFITS
THAT ARE MADE AT YOUR LOCAL
CRAFT FAIR OR FIND CANDY THAT IS
MADE BY A LOCAL FIRM OR FIND
WAYS TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS
WISELY BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT,
SPEND EVERY DOLLAR WISELY, WE
REALLY LIFT THE ECONOMY OF THIS
COUNTRY AND PUT THE DOLLARS BACK
IN THE ECONOMY.
MR. TONKO GAVE ME
THAT LOOK, WHAT ABOUT NEW YORK?
WHAT ABOUT NEW YORK?
1,410,533 NEW YORK SENIORS WERE
ABLE TO GET FREE MEDICAL
SERVICES AND 1727,691 WERE ABLE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 50% DRUG
GOOD FOR YOU.
YOU VOTED FOR THAT ACT.
I VOTED FOR THAT ACT AND I
HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT CALIFORNIA.
SHOULD I?
SHARE IT FOR YOUR
HOME STATE.
1,962,809 SENIORS
IN CALIFORNIA WERE ABLE TO GET
FREE MEDICAL SERVICES AND
139,396 WERE ABLE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE 50% DRUG
DISCOUNT.
$569 AVERAGE SAVINGS FOR
SENIORS.
IT'S WORKING.
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PROGRAM
IS WORKING FOR SENIORS AND
PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO OUR
ECONOMY TO GROW THIS ECONOMY.
THAT SOUNDS TO ME
VERY LIFE-GIVING, MR. GARAMENDI
AND DOES PRESIDENT SOUND LIKE
THERE ARE DEATH PANELS OR
ANYTHING LIKE SOME OF THE
OPPONENTS WERE SAYING WHEN THAT
BILL WAS FIRST PASSED.
IN FACT, SENIORS HAVE A GREATER
CHANCE TO LIVE NOW BECAUSE THEY
CAN GET THE MEDICINE THEY NEED
AND CHECK-UPS THEY NEED AND THAT
IS VERY LIFE-AFFIRMING.
I THINK IT IS
20-SOME MILLION YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN, AGED 21 TO 26, ARE NOW
BACK ON TO HEALTH INSURANCE,
THEIR PARENTS' HEALTH INSURANCE
AS A RESULT OF THIS LAW.
WE'LL PICK UP THAT STATISTIC AS
SOON AS I GET MY HANDS ON IT.
SO MANY OF THESE
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE
LONG-STANDING MEDICAL PROGRAM
ARE LOOKED AT IN DOLLARS AND
CENTS AND ARGUED ABOUT HOW THEY
ARE IMPROVED OR NOT IMPROVED BUT
SOMETIMES LOST IN THE WHOLE
DISCUSSION IS THE VALUE ADDED.
THE WHOLE UNDERPINNING OF
SUPPORT THAT IS OFFERED THE
SENIOR COMMUNITY.
PRIOR TO THE INCEPTION OF
MEDICARE IN 1965, FAMILIES THAT
RETIRED WERE PROBABLY GOING TO
SEE THEIR ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
DIP PRECIPITOUSLY AND WHAT THEY
HAD HERE WITH THE MEDICARE
FOUNDATION IS THEIR ECONOMIC
STABILITY, THEIR DIGNITY FACTOR
IN TREMENDOUSLY
STHRONG AND POWERFUL WAYS, SO
THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD IN THOSE RETIREMENT
YEARS WITH THAT SENSE OF
DIGNITY, WITH THE QUALITY OF
LIFE, WITH ECONOMIC STABILITY.
THESE ARE FACTS THAT NEED TO BE
MAINTAINED IN THE FRONT OF ANY
DISCUSSION THAT'S UNDUE
MEDICARE, WOULD BE A TRAGEDY FOR
AMERICAN FAMILIES, FOR OUR
SENIORS.
AND CERTAINLY, LET'S GO FORWARD
AS WE HAVE SAID WITH OPTIMISM
AND INVEST IN MEDICARE AND
INVEST IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND
LET'S INVEST IN AN ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WHERE WE CUT WHERE WE
CAN BUT INVEST WHERE WE MUST AND
COMPETE EFFECTIVELY AND TO MY
COLLEAGUES, REPRESENTATIVE
KAPTUR AND REPRESENTATIVE
GARAMENDI, I JOIN WITH YOU IN
PROMOTING OPTIMISM AND WANTING
TO HAVE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE.
I THANK YOU SO
VERY MUCH.
GRABBING THE
MICROPHONE EARLY ON I WAS DOWN
WITH THE CHRISTMAS TREE
LIGHTING.
WE KNOW WE CAN PUT MEN AND WOMEN
BACK TO WORK.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE
QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS HOUSE
HAS THE WILL TO DO SO AND NOT
INCREASE OUR DEFICIT.
WE CAN DO THIS AND NOT INCREASE
THE DEFICIT, TAKE PEOPLE WHO
AREN'T PAYING TAXES AND PUT THEM
BACK TO WORK.
THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT
IS WORKING AND WE KNOW WE CAN
CONTINUE THE UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AND THERE IS A WAY FOR
PAYING FOR IT.
THE SUPERWEALTHY, TIME FOR THEM
TO PATRIOTIC UP THEIR FAIR SHARE
AND THANKS FOR TELLING US THE
STORY OF A PROSPEROUS AMERICA.
THIS IS AMERICA AND A GREAT
WE HAVE IT IN OUR POWER TO GET
BACK ON OUR FEET AND CHARGE
FORWARD AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT
YOU ARE DOING TO MAKE THAT
HAPPENING IN THE GREAT MIDWEST,
IN NEW YORK AND HOUSTON.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
I HAVE ENJOYED
SHARING THIS HOUR WITH
CONGRESSMAN TONKO AND
REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI,
SPEAKING FOR THE 99% THAT ARE
OFTEN FORGOTTEN, THE 1% THAT
DON'T FORGET THAT KNOW THAT YOUR
PATRIOTISM WILL COME TO SHINE IN
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND URGE OUR
COLLEAGUES TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT,
MAKE THE DECISIONS ON EXTENDING
THE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS, MAKING SURE WE
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS,
WHICH ARE EARNED BENEFITS AND
STAND UP FOR ALL OF AMERICA
BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS
TOGETHER AND I THANK MY
COLLEAGUES VERY MUCH AND THE
LISTENING AUDIENCE AND THOSE WHO
ARE OUT THERE HELPING US TO MOVE
THE SHIP OF STATE IN A DIRECTION
SO WE CREATE JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY AND KEEP THIS ECONOMY ON
AN UPWARD ROLE.
AND IT'S FOR THE
99%.
FORWARD.
THANK YOU.
YIELD BACK OUR
REMAINING TIME.
I MOVE
THE
CHAIR WOULD BE PLEASED TO
ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
TONKO: I MOVE THAT THE