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MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK THAT
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT SARAH WATT AND
ERICA CALENBERG BE GRANTED
PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR THROUGH
S. 2343, THE STOP STUDENT LOAN
INTEREST RATE HIKE ACT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
YESTERDAY REPUBLICAN SENATORS
VOTED TO BLOCK THE BILL TO
PREVENT THE DOUBLING OF THE
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
RATE ON JULY THE 1st.
AND AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE
THEIR FILIBUSTER, THERE IS NO
CLEAR WAY FORWARD TO PREVENT, TO
PREVENT THAT DEVASTATING RATE
HIKE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS FROM
NOW.
IF THAT HAPPENS, MORE THAN
7.4 MILLION AMERICAN STUDENTS
WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY AN
AVERAGE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS
MORE PER YEAR OF SCHOOL.
NOW, THIS IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT TO MY STATE OF IOWA,
IMPORTANT TO ALL STATES.
NEARLY 72% OF IOWA'S COLLEGE
GRADUATES HAVE STUDENT LOAN
DEBT, THE FOURTH HIGHEST IN THE
NATION.
AND THOSE BORROWERS ARE CARRYING
AN AVERAGE OF $30,000 IN STUDENT
LOAN DEBT, WHICH IS THE THIRD
HIGHEST IN THE NATION.
IN FLOOR DEBATE THIS WEEK,
REPUBLICANS CLAIMED THAT THEY,
TOO, WANT TO PREVENT THE RATE
HIKE SO THAT'S FINE, I WELCOME
THAT.
BUT IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO JOIN
WITH US IN PREVENTING THE RATE
HIKE, WHY WON'T THEY LET US
THE BILL?
THAT WILL GIVE US ALL AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE THE BILL
AND TO OFFER AMENDMENTS.
SO I CALL ON MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS, IF THEY REALLY WANT TO
KEEP THE INTEREST RATE HIKE FROM
DOUBLING ON STUDENTS, CALL OFF
THE FILIBUSTER, LET'S MOVE AHEAD
WITH THE BILL.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS
TO END THIS OBSTRUCTION BY OUR
FRIENDS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
I'M -- I'M HEARING FROM
CONSTITUENTS BACK IN IOWA
FRUSTRATED AT THE SENATE'S
FAILURE TO ACT.
THIS IS A KITCHEN-TABLE ISSUE
FOR MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS, FOR
FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I'VE HEARD REPORTS THAT OVER
500,000 SIGNATURES FROM STUDENTS
AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN
DELIVERED TO THE HILL TO SHOW
THEIR SUPPORT FOR KEEPING THE
RATE AT 3.4%.
I KNOW THAT MANY SENATORS HAVE
COME TO THE FLOOR TO SHARE
STORIES FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS
ABOUT HOW THE INTEREST RATE HIKE
WOULD AFFECT THEM AND I'D LIKE
TO SHARE A STORY THAT I JUST
RECEIVED FROM AN IOWA STUDENT.
HERE IT IS.
"DEAR CONGRESSMAN," OR, SENATOR
AS THE CASE MAY BE, "I'M WRITING
YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.
CURRENT COLLEGE STUDENTS AND
EVERYWHERE.
FUTURE COLLEGE STUDENTS
I'VE RECENTLY REENROLLED IN
COLLEGE TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION.
THIS DECISION CAME AFTER MUCH
TIME AND DEEP THOUGHT.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT I DIDN'T
WANT TO ATTEND SCOOCIALG IT WAS
WHETHER OR NOT I COULD AFFORD TO
ATTEND SCHOOL.
I LIVE ON MY OWN, HOLD A
FULL-TIME JOB THAT I PREVIOUSLY
ATTENDED A TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO
OBTAIN.
THIS JOB SUPPORTS ME FULLY AND
AS MUCH AS I LOVE PARTS OF MY
JOB, I KNOW THAT MY DECISION TO
REENROLL IN SCHOOL TO FURTHER MY
EDUCATION WAS THE RIGHT DECISION
FOR ME.
IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS, I
CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN THE
"USA TODAY" THAT SAID THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MIGHT RAISE
INTEREST RATES.
NOT JUST RAISE BUT DOUBLE THEM
UNLESS CONGRESS INTERVENES.
I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS
READING AND I FEEL SO PASSIONATE
ABOUT THIS SUBJECT THAT I HAD TO
WRITE A LETTER TO YOU.
I'M ALREADY STRUGGLING ON A
DAILY BASIS TO SUPPORT MYSELF.
I LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK,
OFTEN HAVE TO RELY ON THE
SAVINGS ACCOUNT I WORKED SO HARD
SCHOOL.
TO SAVE BEFORE GRADUATING HIGH
ALONG WITH CONSISTENT HELP FROM
MY PARENTS AND MY GRANDPARENTS.
I WISH TO BE INDEPENDENT FROM
THIS HELP EVEN THOUGH I'M
THANKFUL THAT IT IS THERE.
THIS INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES
ON LOANS IS NOT ONLY
DISAPPOINTING, IT'S INFURIATING
TO ME.
THIS WILL HAVE AN EFFECT FOR
AND NOT ONLY FOR ME.
MANY YEARS BEYOND WHAT IT SHOULD
I LIVE IN STANWOOD, IOWA, A
PLACE NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD
OF, AND I COMMUTER 35 MILES TO
CEDAR RAPIDS EVERY DAY FOR MY
JOB.
SO WHEN I SAW THAT THESE LOANS
THAT I'M RELYING ON TO SUPPORT
ME AND FUND MY EDUCATION WERE
GOING TO DOUBLE, I WAS HEART
BROKEN AND I WONDER, WHAT'S
WRONG WITH MY COUNTRY.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
AND MORE SO AN IOWAN.
I BELIEVE THAT THE ONE THING THE
U.S.A. HAS GOING FOR IT --
SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE.
BUT THAT'S QUICKLY FADING IN
FRONT OF MY EYES.
I HOPE THAT YOU READ THIS AND
FEEL EVERY OUNCE OF
DISAPPOINTMENT IN OUR GREAT
COUNTRY AS I DO AND DO
EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO NOT
LET THE INTEREST RATE ON STUDENT
LOANS INCREASE ON JULY THE 1st
I HOPE YOU CAN PUT FAITH IN THE
AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO ARE
RELYING ON THESE LOANS TO
EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND TOGETHER
GET OUR COUNTRY BACK ON THE
RIGHT TRACK, NOT HEADED DOWN THE
WRONG ONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME,
AND I HOPE TO HEAR GREAT THINGS
FROM MY REPRESENTATIVES SOON.
SINCERELY, A PROUD FELLOW
IOWAN."
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS JUST ONE
OF THE MANY STORIES I HAVE
RECEIVED FROM MY CONSTITUENTS
TELLING ME HOW DEP MENTAL IT
WOULD BE -- DETRIMENTAL IT WOULD
BE IF THE RATE WERE TO DOUBLE ON
JULY THE 1st.
NOW, THIS INCREASE IS A LOOMING
REALITY FOR MANY STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES IF THIS SENATE
CONTINUES TO DO WHAT IT'S DOING
AND THAT IS TO DO NOTHING, TO
BRING THE BILL UP AND HAVE
REPUBLICANS FILIBUSTER IT AND
IT.
NOT EVEN LETTING US PROCEED ON
FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS, WE'VE
BEEN HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS
THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP THE
INTEREST RATES AT 3.4% BUT THEY
DON'T LIKE HOW WE'RE PAYING FOR
IT IN OUR BILL.
WELL, I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, IF
THEY DON'T LIKE THAT AND OUR
LEADER HAS COME OUT HERE AND
MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT HERE
TO SAY, LOOK, IF YOU -- IF MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS DON'T LIKE
HOW WE PAY FOR IT, LET US GET ON
THE BILL, THEY CAN OFFER THEIR
OFFSET OR THEIR PAY-FOR.
WE CAN VOTE ON IT AND THEY CAN
VOTE ON OURS.
BUT THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE
REPUBLICANS.
THEY DON'T EVEN WANT THE BILL TO
GO FORWARD.
SO WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM
REPUBLICANS THAT -- THAT OUR
OFFSET, WHICH IS CLOSING A LOOP
HOLE IN THE -- LOOPHOLE IN THE
TAX CODE THAT AFFECTS
SUBCHAPTER-S CORPORATIONS -- AND
I MIGHT ADD, IT ONLY AFFECTS A
VERY SMALL SLIVER OF
SUBCHAPTER-S CORPORATIONS --
VERY TIGHTLY DRAWN.
CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN THREE
SHAREHOLDERS.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
CAN ONLY BE THREE SHAREHOLDERS.
HAVE TO HAVE A -- MORE THAN
$250,000 IN INCOME.
AND IT PERTAINS ONLY TO THOSE
SUBCHAPTER-S CORPORATIONS THAT
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
PROVIDE CERTAIN KINDS OF
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN'T
PERTAIN TO REAL ESTATE OR
MANUFACTURING OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
IT ONLY HAS TO DO WITH CERTAIN
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LIKE
LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS AND
LIKE THAT.
WELL, THE REPUBLICANS SAY
THAT -- THAT IF WE DO THIS, IF
WE COZY THAT LOOPHOLE -- IF WE
CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE, THAT IT
CREATORS."
WILL HURT -- QUOTE -- "THE JOB
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I HEARD
THAT -- THE JOB CREATORS, THE
JOB CREATORS, WE'RE GOING TO
HURT SMALL BUSINESSES.
THE OTHER SIDE WOULD HAVE YOU
BELIEVE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS
FOR POLITICAL GAIN, THAT SOMEHOW
WE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING THIS FOR
POLITICAL GAIN.
WELL, IF THAT WERE THE TRUTH,
WHY WOULD WE PICK AN OFFSET, A
PAY-FOR TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT
CONSERVATIVES HAVE RAILED
AGAINST IN THE PAST?
YES, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO FIX IN SUBCHAPTER-S
CORPORATIONS IS A PROBLEM THAT
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE
RAILED AGAINST IN THE PAST.
REFRESH MY COLLEAGUES'
MEMORIES AND SET THE RECORD
STRAIGHT ON THIS ISSUE OF
OFFSET WE HAVE.
S-CORPORATIONS OFFSET, THE
FOR STARTERS, LET'S START WITH
2004 IN THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL."
HERE IT IS.
WALL STREET JOARNL --
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" EDITORIAL,
7/13/04 "CONSERVATIVE SUPPORT
FOR CLOSING THE S CORP TAX
LOOPHOLE."
"SENATOR EDWARDS SUPPORTS THE
LOOPHOLE.
BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM
USING A CLEVER TAX DODGE --"
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE "WALL
STREET JOURNAL," NOT MINE -- "A
CLEVER TAX DODGE TO AVOID PAYING
$591,000 INTO THE MEDICARE
SYSTEM.
WHILE MAKING HIS FORTUNE AS A
TRIAL LAWYER IN 1995, HE FORMED
WHAT IS KNOWN AS A SUBCHAPTER-S
CORPORATION WITH HIMSELF AS THE
SOLE SHAREHOLDER.
HIS
$26.9 MILLION IN EARNINGS
DIRECTLY IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR
YEARS, HE PAID HIMSELF A SALARY
OF $360,000 A YEAR AND TOOK THE
REST AS CORPORATE DIVIDENDS.
SINCE SALARY IS SUBJECT TO 2.9%
MEDICARE TAX BUT DIVIDENDS
AREN'T, THAT MEANT HE SHIELDED
MORE THAN 90% OF HIS INCOME.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY ILLEGAL,
BUT DAMAGING SUCH A LARGE CHUNK
OF EMPLOYMENT TAX SKATES
PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO THE LINE.
ATTORNEY C.P.A. MAGAZINE LISTED
IT AS NUMBER 11 OF THE 15 BEST
UNDERUTILIZED TAX LOOPHOLES."
TAX LOOPHOLES.
"WALL STREET JOURNAL," "CLEVER
TAX DODGE," 2004.
SO I GUESS I'D ASK, IS THE "WALL
STREET JOURNAL" IN FAVOR OF --
OF, WHAT DID THEY SAY, HURTING
JOB CREATORS?
ARE THEY IN FAVOR OF HURTING JOB
CREATORS?
IS THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" IN
FAVOR OF -- QUOTE -- "RAISING
TAXES ON THE VERY BUSINESSES
WE'RE COUNTING ON TO HIRE THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE," AS THE MINORITY
LEADER SAID ON MONDAY?
HIRING PEOPLE -- WE LIMIT IT TO
ONLY THREE SHAREHOLDERS --
HUSBAND, WIFE, KIDS, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, THREE SHAREHOLDERS.
AND HE SAID THEY'RE GOING TO
COUNT ON THEM TO HIRE THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE?
WHAT'S THE MINORITY LEADER
TALKING ABOUT?
THAT SAME YEAR, IN 2004, THE
LATE CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST,
ROBERT THEY HAVE NOVAK, WROTE, "IT IS ONE
OF THE LAST LOOPHOLES LEFT IN
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND
IT'S A BIG ONE."
HERE'S THE WHOLE STATEMENT --
"HOW CAN JOHN EDWARDS EXPLAIN
SETTING UP A DUMMY CORPORATION
CORPORATION" -- SUBCHAPTER-S
CORPORATION -- "TO AVOID PAYING
AN ESTIMATED $290,000 IN
MEDICARE TAXES IN THE TWO YEARS
BEFORE HE RAN FOR THE SENATE?
CLASSIC SUBCHAPTER-S
CORPORATION DEVISED TO SHELTER
INCOME, MAINLY FOR PROFESSIONALS
, SUCH AS LAWYERS,"
AND HE ADDS, "ALSO SYNDICATED
COLUMNIST, BUT NOT ME, IT IS ONE
OF THE LAST LOOPHOLES LEFT IN
THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND IT
IS A BIG ONE."
ROBERT NOVAK.
ANYONE EVER QUESTION HIS
CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS?
SHAWN HANNATY OF FOX NEWS SAID,
"HEY, JOHN HE HAD WAR IS WORTH,
WHAT, $30 MILLION TO
$40 MILLION, SET UP A SUB-S
CORPORATION TO KEEP HIM FROM
HIS INCOME.
PAYING MEDICARE TAXES ON 90% OF
AND THEN HE LECTURES THE REST OF
US ON HOW MEDICARE IS GOING
BROKE.
"SO SHAWN HANNITY IS SAYING THIS
LOOPHOLE NEEDS TO BE CLOSED.
FINALLY, RUSH LIMBAUGH HIMSELF,
WHAT DID HE SAY?
HE SAID, "SENATOR EDWARDS HAS
ALSO COMPOUNDED THAT BY
STRUCTURING HIS OWN PERSONAL
FINANCES TO AVOID PAYING
MEDICARE TAXES ON 90% OF THE
NEARLY $27 MILLION HE EARNED
OVER FOUR YEARS."
SO I'D ASK MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES, ARE NOVAK, HANNITY,
LIMBAUGH AND THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" ALL IN SUPPORT OF
RAISING TAXES?
ARE THEY ALL IN SUPPORT OF
KILLING JOB CREATORS?
THESE ARE THEIR STATEMENTS.
THAT'S THE RECORD.
SO FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE
BEEN GOING AFTER THIS LOOPHOLE.
OBVIOUSLY THEY FOUND A DEMOCRAT
WHO USED IT -- JOHN EDWARDS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE USED IT.
A LOT OF LAWYERS USED IT.
A LOT OF ACCOUNTANTS USED IT.
A LOT OF DOCTORS USED IT.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF
PROFESSIONALS HAVE NOW USED THIS
LOOPHOLE TO AVOID PAYING THEIR
FAIR SHARE OF TAXES.
SO, HERE'S ANOTHER CLASSIC CASE.
THE REPUBLICANS SAY WE'RE USING
THIS FOR POLITICAL GAIN?
WAIT A MINUTE.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN
GOING AFTER THIS LOOPHOLE FOR
YEARS.
WE SAID HEY, WE FINALLY GOT
SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AGREE ON.
THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL," ALL
THESE OTHER PEOPLE SAYING WE'VE
GOT TO CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SO, AND IN DOING SO RAISE THE
MONEY BOTH TO HELP MEDICARE AND
SOCIAL SECURITY AND TO KEEP THE
INTEREST RATES ON STUDENTS AT
3.4%, AND THE REPUBLICANS WILL
NOT EVEN ALLOW US TO BRING IT TO
THE FLOOR.
WHO IS PLAYING POLITICS, I ASK?
WHO IS PLAYING POLITICS?
WELL, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'LL
SAY IT AGAIN, WE HAVE COME HERE
WITH A SERIOUS OFFSET.
ONE, AS I SAID, THAT HAS BEEN
SUPPORTED, AT LEAST CLOSING THIS
LOOPHOLE HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY
IN THE
PAST.
IF ANYTHING, IT'S WORSE TODAY
THAN IT WAS IN 2004.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING
OUT ABOUT HOW THEY DO THIS,
FORMED THIS LITTLE S-CHAPTER
CORPORATION, SUBCHAPTER-S
CORPORATION AND AVOID PAYING
THEIR TAXES.
TRYING TO CLOSE THAT.
WE CAME WITH A SERIOUS OFFSET
THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE
ACCEPTABLE ON BOTH SIDES BECAUSE
OF THE HISTORY.
WE'RE READY TO DO THIS NOW, EASE
THE CONCERN OF SO MANY STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
REPUBLICANS CAME, AND THEY
WANTED TO PAY FOR IT BY EHREPL
NATEING THE -- ELIMINATING THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND.
ELIMINATING IT, THE ONE THING
THAT'S GOING TO PREVENT OBESITY
AND HEART DISEASE AND STROKE AND
CANCERS AND DIABETES IN THE
FUTURE AND SAVE US A LOT OF
MONEY.
THEY WANT US TO END THAT AND
AND PUT IT INTO
KEEPING THE INTEREST RATES LOW,
PITTING HEALTH CARE -- PITTING
THE HEALTH CARE OF CHILDREN --
IMMUNIZATIONS, IMMUNIZATIONS FOR
KIDS, THAT'S WHAT WE USE THIS
PREVENTION FUND FOR.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING,
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING.
COLONOSCOPIES.
CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS, DIABETES
PREVENTION.
THAT PWHAOFS WE USE IT FOR.
-- THAT'S WHAT WE USE IT FOR.
THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT AWAY,
PITTING STUDENTS AGAINST THE
HEALTH OF OUR COUNTRY, THAT IS
NOT A SERIOUS OFFER.
THAT'S NOT A SERIOUS OFFER BY
THE REPUBLICANS.
IT'S GOING NOWHERE.
AND BESIDES THE PRESIDENT SAID
HE WOULD VETO IT.
SO I ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE QUIT PLAYING
POLITICS.
QUIT PLAYING POLITICS WITH THIS.
LET'S BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE.
MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO LISTEN TO THE
STREET JOURNAL" AND
NOW-DECEASED NOVAK AND FOX NEWS
AND EVEN RUSH LIMBAUGH AND
HANNITY.
YOU KNOW, LET'S CLOSE THIS
LOOPHOLE ONCE AND FOR ALL AND DO
SOMETHING GOOD WITH IT.
DO SOMETHING GOOD WITH IT.
KEEP THE INTEREST RATES LOW FOR
OUR STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
AND NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
CALL:
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I ASK CONSENT THE CALL
OF THE QUORUM BE TERMINATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
DURING THE DAY, I
FLIPPED ON THE TV THAT WE HAVE
IN OUR OFFICES AND LOOKED AT IT
AS OFTEN AS I COULD.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH MY
COLLEAGUES WHO CAME AND TALKED
ABOUT WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT
THAT WE NOT HAVE AN INCREASE IN
THE INTEREST RATE FOR STUDENT
LOANS.
I HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY HAPPY
WITH MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES
WHO HAVE COME HERE AND MADE SUCH
A PROFOUND CASE.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, I LISTENED
ALSO TO WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
HAVE TO SAY, AND IT'S BEYOND MY
COMPREHENSION HOW THEY COULD
COME TO THE FLOOR WITH A
STRAIGHT FACE AND SAY WHAT THEY
HAVE SAID.
I'VE LISTENED AS MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES HAVE COME TO THE
SENATE FLOOR TO BLAME DEMOCRATS
FOR STALLING LEGISLATION TO KEEP
COLLEGE AFFORDABLE FOR SEVEN
MILLION PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR
GREAT COUNTRY.
THE CLAIM'S PRETTY RICH,
CONSIDERING REPUBLICANS VOTED
UNANIMOUSLY YESTERDAY TO
FILIBUSTER THIS LEGISLATION.
WHAT IS A FILIBUSTER?
IT'S STOPPING US FROM GOING TO
THE LEGISLATION.
OUR BILL WOULD PREVENT SEVEN
MILLION STUDENTS FROM PAYING A
LOANS.
THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE ON THEIR
WITH COLLEGE ALREADY
UNAFFORDABLE FOR FAR TOO MANY
YOUNG PEOPLE, DEMOCRATS BELIEVE
WE SHOULD BE DOING ALL WE CAN TO
IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION.
THAT'S WHAT THESE STUDENT LOANS
ARE ALL ABOUT.
REPUBLICANS HAVE REPEATEDLY
THEY SUPPORT EFFORTS TO
STOP INTEREST RATES ON
CASTRONEVES FROM DOUBLING THIS
SUMMER.
BUT THEY SURE HAVE A FUNNY WAY
OF SHOWING IT.
ENDLESS FILIBUSTER.
TODAY REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THAT
DEMOCRATS SHOULD NEGOTIATE THEIR
WAY OUT OF THE STALEMATE.
AGAIN, VERY STRANGE REASONING.
IT'S HARD TO NEGOTIATE WITHOUT A
PARTNER.
EVERY TUESDAY, MR. PRESIDENT,
AFTER WE DO OUR WEEKLY CAUCUS
MEETINGS, I GO TO THE -- WHAT WE
CALL THE OHIO CLOCK, AND ONE OF
THE REPORTERS SAID YOUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE, SENATOR
McCONNELL, SAID YOU SHOULD
NEGOTIATE ON THIS ISSUE WITH
SPEAKER BOEHNER.
NOW, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT ONE?
THAT I, THE LEADER IN THE
SENATE, SHOULD GO TO THE
REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND START
NEGOTIATING WITH THEM.
THAT IS A STRANGE, STRANGE WAY
OF DOING BUSINESS.
THE REPUBLICANS CLAIMED THAT
OBJECTION TO OUR
FOR.
LEGISLATION IS HOW IT'S PAID
BY CLOSING A TAX LOOPHOLE THAT
ALLOWS WEALTHY AMERICANS TO
DODGE TAXES THEY ALREADY OWE.
THAT'S WHAT WE FEEL SHOULD
HAPPEN.
WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A TAX
INCREASE.
IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PAY
WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY.
THEY NOW HAVE A WAY OF AVOIDING
TAXES.
RICH ACCOUNTANTS AND LAWYERS
AVOID IT BY CLAIMING THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO PAY DIVIDENDS ON
ORDINARY INCOME.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO EVERYONE ELSE.
SO IF THE REPUBLICANS OBJECT TO
THIS, FINE.
DEMOCRATS ARE WILLING TO
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE OFFSETS.
IN FACT, WE'RE EVEN WILLING TO
VOTE ON THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS'
OWN PROPOSED OFFSET.
NOW, THAT'S A DUESY,
MR. PRESIDENT, TO OFFSET THE
REPUBLICAN CONTROL IN THE HOUSE.
TAKE AWAY MONEY FOR PREVENTATIVE
CARE FOR VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY.
THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN
AMERICA ARE DIABETES, HEART
DISEASE AND CANCER.
THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY PROGRAMS
THAT ALLOW PREVENTATIVE PROGRAMS
TO STOP HEART DISEASE.
AS WE KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE
ARE PROGRAMS NOW, MAMMOGRAMS,
FOR EXAMPLE, THAT STOP PEOPLE
FROM HAVING TO GET TOO FAR
BEHIND WITH BREAST CANCER.
THAT'S THEIR OFFSET.
WE STRONGLY OPPOSE THAT
ALTERNATIVE, BUT WE'RE WILLING
TO VOTE ON IT.
WE'RE NOT RUNNING FROM IT.
AND ONCE THEIR PROPOSAL TO SLASH
PROGRAMS THAT SAVE MONEY AND
LIVES FAILS, AND IT WILL FAIL,
WE STILL -- WE DEMOCRATS ARE
STILL WILLING TO HAVE OTHER
LEGISLATION.
OPTIONS TO PAY FOR THIS
MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, ON THE
OTHER HAND, HAVE REFUSED TO
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO PAY
FOR A BILL THEY CLAIM THEY
SUPPORT.
SO I SAY TO MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES LET US BRING THIS
THE FLOOR.
IF REPUBLICANS ARE SO INTERESTED
IN NEGOTIATING A SOLUTION, THEY
SHOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE THAT
GOOD-FAITH STEP.
ONCE THE BILL IS ON THE FLOOR,
WE CAN DEBATE IT, WE CAN AMEND
IT WITH AN OFFSET BOTH SIDES CAN
AGREE ON.
BUT UNTIL REPUBLICANS END THEIR
OBSTRUCTIONIST FILIBUSTER, THERE
IS NO PATH FORWARD.
SO FOR MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
TO COME DOWN HERE AND SAY WE
SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION, I
REPEAT WHAT A STRANGE WAY OF
SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOW ASK WE
PROCEED TO A PERIOD OF MORNING
BUSINESS WITH SENATORS ALLOWED
TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
EACH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE MOVE TO
CALENDAR NUMBER 385.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 385,
S. 2224, A BILL TO REQUIRE THE
PRESIDENT TO REPORT TO CONGRESS
ON ISSUES.
IS THERE
OBJECTION TO PROCEEDING TO THE
MEASURE?
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
CORKER-WEBB SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT
BE AGREED TO, THE BILL AS
AMENDED BE READ A THIRD TIME AND
PASSED, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
BE LAID ON THE TABLE, ANY
STATEMENTS RELATING TO THIS
MATTER BE PLACED IN THE RECORD
AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE AS IF
READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I NOW ASK CONSENT THAT
WE PROCEED EN BLOC TO SOME
CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS, NUMBERED
H. CON. RES. 105, 106, 117 AND
118.
IS THERE
OBJECTION TO PROCEEDING TO THE
MEASURES EN BLOC?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
CURRENT RESOLUTION BE AGREED
LAID ON THE TABLE, EN BLOC,
TO, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE
THERE BE NO INTERVENING ACTION
OR DEBATE AND ANY STATEMENTS
RELATED TO THIS MATTER BE
GIVEN.
PRINTED IN THE RECORD AS IF
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK CONSENT WE
PROCEED TO S. RES. 450, 451,
AND 452.
IS THERE
OBJECTION TO PROCEEDING TO THE
MEASURES EN BLOC?
I ASK UNANIMOUS
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
CONSENT THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
AGREED TO, THE PREAMBLES BE
AGREED TO, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE
FOR ALL THREE OF THESE, AND
THAT THERE BE NO INTERVENING
ACTION OR DEBATE AND ANY
STATEMENTS RELATED TO ANY ONE OF
THESE THREE MATTERS BE PLACED IN
THE RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE
PLACE AS IF GIVEN.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I NOW ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT WHEN THE SENATE DPLETS
COMPLETS ITS GIS DAY IT AJURP
UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT
9:30 A.M.
THE MORNING BUSINESS BE DEEMED
EXPIRED, THE TIME FOR THE TWO
LEADERS RESERVED FOR USE LATER
IN THE DAY AND FINALLY,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WHEN WE
COME IN TOMORROW MORNING I BE
RECOGNIZED.
THE PERSON THAT'S FIRST
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
DURING TOMORROW'S
SESSION, MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S
POSSIBLE THE SENATE WIT RESUME
CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION TO
PROCEED TO STUDENT LOAN INTEREST
RATE HIKE AS WELL AS
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
REAUTHORIZATION ACT.
THAT SHOULD BE EASY.
THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE
SHOULD AGREE TO.
WE TRIED HERE ON THE EX-IM BANK
TO GET IT DONE.
EVERYBODY WANTED IT DONE, THE
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LABOR,
AIRCRAFT COMPANIES ALL WANT IT
AND EVERYBODY WANTED IT DONE.
BUT AS A LOT OF THINGS HERE IN
THE SENATE IT DIDN'T GET
BEGUN -- GET DONE BECAUSE THE
REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T LET IT GET
DONE.
IT WENT TO THE HOUSE AND THE
REPUBLICANS SENT US ONE THAT IS
VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS THE ONE WE
WEREN'T ABLE TO PASS HERE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE WOULD
WANT TO SLOW THAT ONE DOWN.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE I
DON'T HAVE TO FILE CLOTURE ON IT
BECAUSE I DO, I'LL DO IT
BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER
CHANCE TO VOTE ON IT JUST AS IT
CAME FROM THE HOUSE.
IT PASSED OVER THERE.
EVERY DEMOCRAT OVER THERE VOTED
AGAINST IT.
FOR IT AND 90 REPUBLICANS VOTED
WE ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
BUT THEY VOTED AGAINST IT.
AND OVER HERE WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THE
EXACT BILL BILL THAT PASSED THE
HOUSE.
I ASK THAT WE -- THERE IS
NOTHING MORE TO COME 0 BEFORE
THE SENATE I ASK WE ADJOURN
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER.
THE
SENATE STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL
THURSDAY, MAY 10 AT 9:30 A.M.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
WRITE A BOOK THAT TOOK THE WHOLE
MOVEMENT SERIOUSLY SO THE
MOVEMENT THAT ELECTED OBAMA,
OBAMA DIDN'T COME OUT OF
NOWHERE.
IN 2003.
ALSO THE TEA PARTY MOVEMENT
WOULD SEEM TO COME OUT OF
NOWHERE.
OCCUPY WALL STREET.
I THOUGHT THOSE WERE IMPORTANT
THINGS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY TO LOOK
AT THE SOCIAL MOVEMENT FROM WE
PERSPECTIVE.
SPEAK IN INDIANA YESTERDAY SIX
TERM INCUMBENT SENATOR RICHARD
LUGAR LOST IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY TO STATE TREASURER
RICHARD MURDOCH.
SENATOR LUGAR, WHO WAS ELECTED
TO THE SENATE IN 1976, IS THE
HIGHEST RANKING REPUBLICAN ON
THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE,
TO MAC THAT JOHN CAREY AND
ILLINOIS SENATOR RICHARD DURBIN
SPOKE ABOUT THEIR COLLEAGUE ON
THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY FOR ABOUT
20 MINUTES.
IN A SEPARATE PORTION, I
WANTED TO TAKE AND SHARE A FEW
THOUGHTS THIS MORNING NOT ABOUT
THE RESULTS PER SE OF THE
ELECTION LAST NIGHT IN INDIANA,
BUT I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE OF THE LOSS OF
SENATOR LUGAR AS OF NEXT YEAR
AND PARTICULARLY FOR THE FOREIGN
COMMITTEE.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT *** LUGAR'S
LOSS LAST NIGHT IS GOING TO BE
PARTICULARLY FELT BY ALL OF US
WHO'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF
WORKING WITH HIM ON THE SENATE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, AND
THAT'S WHETHER HE WAS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE -- AND
I'VE SERVED UNDER HIM WHEN HE
WAS CHAIRMAN -- OR WHETHER HE'S
BEEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE
AND THE RANKING MEMBER, AS HE IS
NOW, AND AS I'VE PRIVILEGED TO
SERVE WITH HIM.
WHETHER YOU AGREED WITH HIM OR
NOT, WHETHER HE HAD THE GAVEL OR
WHETHER HE DIDN'T HAVE THE GAVEL
*** LUGAR HAD AN APPROACH TO
THE SENATE AND TO GOVERNING THAT
WAS ALWAYS THE SAME.
HE WAS SERIOUS, HE WAS
THOUGHTFUL, AND HE REFUSED TO
ALLOW THIS MARCH TO AN ORTHODOXY
ABOUT IDEOLOGY AND PARTISAN
POLITICS TO GET IN THE WAY OF
WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF A SENATOR AND,
INDEED, THE NEED OF THE COUNTRY
PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND
FIND THE COMMON GROUND.
HE DUG DEEPLY INTO SOME OF
FOREIGN POLICY'S MOST VEXING
ISSUES, AND HIS EXPERTISE ON
COMPLICATED ISSUES THAT WERE
HONED OVER 36 YEARS REALLY CAN'T
BE REPLICATED.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO
LOSE.
THE INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE,
THE JUDGMENT AND THE WISDOM OF
THE APPROACH ON SOME OF THOSE
ISSUES, THE CONSTITUTIONAL
QUESTIONS THAT HE WOULD CALL
INTO ACCOUNT WHEN NO ONE ELSE
WOULD, THE QUESTIONS OF NOT
BEING STAMPEDED BY POPULAR
OPINION WITH RESPECT TO THE USE
ANOTHER.
OF FORCE IN ONE INSTANCE OR
ALL OF THOSE ARE ESSENTIAL TO
MAKING THIS INSTITUTION LIVE UP
TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.
ALREADY, SINCE LAST NIGHT'S
NEWS, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING AGAIN
AND AGAIN ON SOME OF THE NEWS
SHOWS AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA'S WORK ON
NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION.
AND IT'S NO SECRET THAT HIS
EFFORTS HAVE BECOME
ALMOST SHOREHAND FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP IN FOREIGN
POLICY.
AND THEY SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE
NOW, THAT'S NOT ALL THAT SENATOR
LUGAR CONTRIBUTED TO THE -- TO
THIS FIELD OF FOREIGN POLICY.
HE'S A LEAGUE EXPERT ON SOME OF
THE URGENT ISSUE AS THAT ARE --
LEADING EXPERT ON SOME OF THE
ISSUE AS THAT ARE OFF THE BEATEN
PAST.
FROM FOOD SECURITY, THE
ERADICATION OF HUNGER WORLDWIDE,
HIS WORK WITH JOE BIDEN, AND
THEN HIS WORKS I'M PRIVILEGED TO
SAY, WITH ME TO TRY TO CHANGE
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH PAKISTAN.
AND TO HELP PREVENT THEIR
ECONOMY FROM UNRAVELING, TO HELP
TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO COOPERATE
WITH INTERESTS THAT WERE VITAL
TO AMERICA AND, INDEED, TO THE
STABILITY OF THAT REGION.
TO ESTABLISH WHAT HE CALLED A
DEEPER, BROADER LONG-TERM
PAKISTAN.
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT IN
UMA PRIVILEGED TO SAY, P -- I'M
PRIVILEGED TO SAY,
MR. PRESIDENT, FOR ME, THE
WITH *** LUGAR
BEGAN BEFORE THAT, AND I THINK
IT EPITOMIZES SORT OF WHO HE IS
AND WHY HE'LL BE MISSED HERE.
IDEOLOGY.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
BACK IN 1980, SHORTLY AFTER I
CAME HERE -- I WAS ELECTED IN
1984 AND I STARTED ON THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE IN
1985 -- RIGHT AWAY WE BEGAN TO
WORK TOGETHER ON THE ISSUE OF
THE PHILIPPINES, OF FREE AND
FAIR ELECTIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES.
AND I HAD TRAVELED OVER THERE A
NUMBER OF TIMES AS A FRESHMAN
SENATOR.
I HAD MET WITH FERDINAND MARCOS.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
TORTURE TAKING PLACE AND THE
POLITICAL PRISONERS AND OTHER
VIOLATIONS OF RIGHTS, AND YET WE
WERE SORT OF AIDING THEM
NOTWITHSTANDING OUR VALUES AND
OUR STANDARDS.
WELL, *** LUGAR JOINED WITH ME
IN THAT EFFORT, DIDN'T HAVE ANY
REASON TO JOIN WITH A, YOU KNOW,
FRESHLY MINTED SENATOR, WET
BEHIND THE EARS.
BUT HE DID.
AND TOGETHER WE SORT OF BECAME A
TEAM THAT STARTED TO FOCUS ON
THE PHILIPPINES AND FIGURE OUT
ACCOUNTABLE?
HOW DO WE HOLD MARCOS
AND HE WAS SERIOUS AND HE WAS
FAIR-MINDED AND I SAW FIRSTHAND
DURING OUR TRIP TO THE
PHILIPPINES, WHICH WE MADE AT
THE TIME OF THE ELECTION, AFTER
WE HAD DONE A WHOLE LOT OF
GROUNDWORK TO SET UP AN
ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM FOR THAT
ELECTION, THAT HE HAD A VERY
PERSONAL AND SPECIAL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE UNITED
STATES MEANT TO THE REST OF THE
WORLD WITH RESPECT TO OUR
VALUES.
AND THAT CAUSE ANIMATED THIS
MAN, WHO WE ALL KNOW IS
DIGNIFIED AND RESERVED AND
HUMBLE, BUT WHO PROUDLY CAME
BACK AND RECOUNTED WITH SOME
ANIMATION TO PRESIDENT REAGAN
THE DITCHES THAT DIFFERENCE THAT THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA MAKES WHEN IT
GIVES VOICE TO PEOPLE'S
ASPIRATIONS FOR FREEDOM, AND IN
THIS CASE PARTICULARLY, THE
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
THE FACT IS THAT IT WAS THAT
DISCUSSION WITH RONALD REAGAN
AND THE RESULTS THAT CAME OUT OF
THE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THAT
ELECTION THAT FORCED FERDINAND
MARCOS TO LEAVE, SAW COREY
AQUINO COME TO POWER AND THE
PHILIPPINES COME BACK TO GENERAL
DEMOCRACY.
LAST YEAR WE WORKED TOGETHER ON
THE NEW START TREATY -- THAT WAS
TWO YEARS AGO, I GUESS, NOW.
HIS WISDOM AND PATIENCE WAS
INVALUABLE IN LAYING OUT THE
CASE, PARTICULARLY IN BUILDING
SUPPORT ACROSS THE AISLE SO THAT
VOTES.
WE COULD FIND THE PATH TO 71
AND I SAID THEN, AND I SAY IT
AGAIN TODAY, GIVEN THE BITTER,
DIVISIVE, PARTISAN, CONTINUAL
POLITICAL SQUABBLING THAT SEEMS
TO DOMINATE THE LIFE IN THE CITY
IS PROBABLY THE
EQUIVALENT OF THE 98 VOTES WE
USED TO GET ON THOSE KINDS
OFESTS.
AND SO I ----
--ON THOSE KIND OF EFFORTS.
AND SO I AM GRATEFUL TO HIS WORK
ON THAT.
HE GAVE MEMBERS MORE TIME TO
WORK THROUGH PROBLEMS, SOLVE
INDIVIDUAL OBJECTIONS AND IT
REMINDED ME OF THE WAY YOU
ACTUALLY WORK IN WHAT IS NOW
SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY,
SARCASTICALLY REFERRED TO AS THE
BODY.
WORLD'S GREATEST DELIBERATIVE
HE DELIBERATED.
AND HE HELPED US TO DELIBERATE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE
FINER AND PROUDER MOMENTS OF THE
SENATE IN RECENT YEARS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I AM CONFIDENT
THAT *** LUGAR'S RECORD ON OUR
COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF
THOSE THAT'S REMEMBERED FOR A
LONG TIME.
SADLY, LAST NIGHT IT IS
REMEMBERED IN THE CONTEXT OF
SENATOR FULBRIGHT WHO ALSO CAME
THE END AND
PAID A HIGH PRICE FOR HIS
CONCERN ABOUT GLOBAL AFFAIRS AND
HIS INVOLVEMENT WITH THOSE
ISSUES.
BUT I THINK THAT HE'S ALSO
REMEMBERED SIGNIFICANTLY TODAY
FOR HIS -- FOR THE ENORMOUS
LEGACY THAT HE BUILT ABOUT
AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND HOW
YOU MAKE OUR COUNTRY STRONGER.
*** LUGAR DOES THAT, AND I
THINK HE'S MADE IT CLEAR.
THERE'S NO TOWBT IN THE MIND OF
ANYBODY -- THERE'S NO DOUBT IN
THE MIENTDZ OF ANYBODY ON OUR
SIDE OF THE AISLE THAT ***
LUGAR IS A CONSERVATIVE.
AND HIS VOTES THROUGH THE YEARS
HAVE SHOWN THAT.
HE IS A PROUD REPUBLICAN.
BUT I THINK PROBABLY BECAUSE HE
SERVED AS A MAYOR BEFORE HE CAME
HERE, HE APPLIED WHAT WE CALL
THE LaGUARDIA RULE TO FOREIGN
POLICY, WHICH IS THE RULE THAT
LaGUARDIA APPLIED TO DOING
THINGS IN NEW YORK.
IT DIDN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER YOU WERE A REPUBLICAN OR
DEMOCRAT AS LONG AS THE STREETS
GOT CLEAN, THE POTHOLES GOT
FILLED AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
LABELS ON THEM.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WAY
THE FOREIGN POLICY OUT TO BE.
WE USED TO SAY, POLITICS ENDS AT
THE WATER'S EDGE.
ONLY IN THE LAST YEARS HERE IN
THE SENATE HAVE I SEEN A
COMPLETE DIVERSION FROM THAT,
WHERE UNFORTUNATELY, AS HAS BEEN
TRUE ON BOTH SIDES, THAT
POLITICS HAS ENTERED INTO THE
CHOICES PEOPLE HAVE MADE WITH
RESPECT TO MAJOR ISSUES OF
CONFLICT, POTENTIAL WAR AND
PEACE, AND INTERESTS OF THE
SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.
SO ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO THIS
TIME, *** LUGAR RECEIVED THE
..
PAUL DOUGLAS
NIGHT,
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES TO BE MINDFUL OF HIS
WORDS AND TO THINK ABOUT THEM AS
WE GO FORWARD INTO THESE NEXT
SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS.
*** ARGUED THAT BIPARTISANSHIP
ISN'T AN END IN ITSELF, AND IT'S
SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR CENTRISM,
COMPROMISE, WHEN TSK IT IN FACT IT IS
REALLY THE WAY OF WHAT HE CALLED
BEING A CONSTRUCTIVE PUBLIC
SERVANT, IT IS THE WAY THEY
APPROACH THEIR JOB, WITH
SELF-REFLECTION, DISCIPLINE AND
GAUGE INFAITH IN THE GOOD WILL OF
OTHERS.
PARTICULARLY DESTRUCTIVE IS THE
MISCONCEPTION IN SOME QUARTERS
THAT GOVERNING WITH ONE VOTE
MORE THAN 50% IS JUST AS GOOD OR
BETTER THAN GOVERNMENT WITH 60%
OR 70% SUPPORT.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS THINKING,
HE SAID, IS THAT WHATEVER IS WON
TODAY THROUGH DIVISION IS
USUALLY LOST TOMORROW.
THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE DESTROYED
AND THE ILL WILL THAT IS CREATED
TO MAKE SUBSEQUENT ACHIEVEMENTS
THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.
A 51% MENTALITY DEEPENS SINNISM
-- CYNICISM AND DEPLETES THE
GOOD WILL CRITICAL TO OUR
SURVIVAL IN HARD TIMES.
THAT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT AS
FUNDAMENTALLY, PHILOSOPHICALLY
AS CONSERVATIVE, I THINK, AS YOU
COULD ASK FOR.
I THINK EVERY ONE OF US WHO HAS
SEEN THE DIFFICULTY OF THE LAST
FEW YEARS OF OUR POLITICS HERE
WHO HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY THE
SHEER INABILITY OF THE
INSTITUTION TO WORK WOULD AGREE
THAT THERE'S NOTHING LIBERAL OR
SCEIVIVE OR MODERATE -- OR
CONSERVATIVE OR MODERATE ABOUT
WHAT *** SAID.
IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE ABOUT HOW
HUMAN NATURE WORKS, ABOUT HOW
PEOPLE WORK.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT WE WOULD DO WELL TO GET
BACK IN TOUCH -- I OFTEN HEAR
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO
CHANGE THE RULES HERE IN ORDER
TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
ACTUALLY, WE DON'T.
THESE ARE THE SAME RULES THAT WE
OPERATED WITH WHEN EVERETT
DIRKSEN WAS HERE, WHEN BOB DOLE
LEADER.
WAS LEADER, GEORGE MITCHELL WAS
IN THE 1990'S WE BALANCED THE
BUDGET OF OUR NATION FOUR YEARS
IN A ROW WITHOUT A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
IT DIDN'T TAKE A PIECE OF PAPER
TO TELL US TO DO IT OR NEW WORDS
WRITTEN IN THE CONSTITUTION.
IT TOOK THE COMMON SENSE AND
COURAGE OF PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE TO DO WHAT WAS
RIGHT.
RULES.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE THINKING.
OR CHANGE THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T
WANT TO DO IT.
EVERY GREAT MOMENT OF THIS
INSTITUTION WHEN PEOPLE LOOK
BACK IN HISTORY WITH PRIDE AND
POINT TO THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE
OR POINT TO HENRY CLAY OR DANIEL
WEBSTER, ALL THESE GREAT
SENATORS, OR TED KENNEDY MORE
RECENTLY AND OTHERS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE, WHEN THEY DO
THAT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE WHO OPERATED BY THE SAME
RULES BUT FOUND A COMMON GROUND
BECAUSE THEY HAD THE
INTELLIGENCE AND WILLPOWER TO
PUT THE COUNTRY AND ITS
INTERESTS AHEAD OF FG ELSE.
THAT'S WHAT *** LUGAR'S LOSS
LAST NIGHT MEANS US TO.
HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL REPLACE
WE DON'T KNOW -- WE CERTAINLY
KNOW THE CROSS-CURRENTS OF SOME
OF THE CAMPAIGN AND WE CERTAINLY
KNOW WHAT SENATOR LUGAR CHOSE TO
SAY LAST NIGHT ABOUT HIS
OPPONENT'S QUEST FOR MORE
PARTISANSHIP, NOT LESS.
SO THE ALARM BELLS HAVE BEEN
SOUNDED, I THINK.
MY PRAYER IS THAT THIS ELECTION
THIS YEAR IS TBG GOING TO HELP PURGE
THIS COUNTRY OF THIS INCREDIBLE
WASTE OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ARE
LIVING
AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE
HERE AND REMEMBER 1996, IT BEARS
REPEATING THAT EVEN IN
PRESIDENTIAL YEARS, A CONGRESS
CAN ACTUALLY DEFY CONVENTIONAL
WISDOM AND GET THINGS DONE.
THAT'S WHY I KNOW THAT ***
TO FINISH OUT HIS
SIXTH TERM IN THE SENATE WITH
THE SAME DETERMINATION AND
EFFECTIVENESS THAT HAS MARKED
EVERY YEAR OF HIS SERVICE HERE,
AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT
MORE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS
INSTITUTION THAT HE REVERES AND
THAT RESPECTS HIM SO E ENORMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
FIRST I WANT TO
THANK SENATOR KERRY, CHAIRMAN OF
THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE FOR COMING TO THE
SENATE FLOOR AND SPEAKING ABOUT