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PAST DECEMBER 1 #ST.
THEY'LL VOTE ON A MOTION TO MOVE
MEASURE.
MAJORITY LEADER REID HOPES TO
REACH AN AGREEMENT TO AVOID
WEEKEND SESSIONS.
NOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE U.S.
SENATE HERE ON C-SPAN2.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
TODAY'S OPENING PRAYER WILL BE
OFFERED BY REVEREND DR. DOUGLAS
GERDTS, SENIOR PASTOR OF THE
FIRST AND CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.
WOULD YOU
PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE.
HOLY GOD
LITTLE CAN BE SAID THAT DOESN'T
ADD TO THE CACOPHONY OF PRAYER
THAT ARISES FROM HUMANITY.
SURELY FROM THIS AUGUST CHAMBER
THE VOLUME AND INTENSITY IS AT
TIMES DEAFENING.
YET THESE, O GOD, ARE SERVANTS
OF THE PEOPLE AND OF YOU.
AND SO,,
LIKE SOLOMON WE PRAY, "HERE'S
WHAT WE WANT:
GIVE US A GOD-LISTENING HEART SO
WE CAN LEAD YOUR PEOPLE WELL,
DISCERNING THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL ...
FOR WHO ON THEIR OWN IS CAPABLE
OF LEADING YOUR GOOD PEOPLE?"
WHO INDEED.
OUR PRAYER THIS MORNING IS QUIET
AND SIMPLE:
INSTILL WISDOM AND COMPASSION,
THE QUEST FOR PEACE AND THE
DRIVE FOR JUSTICE, THE HUMILITY
TO RECOGNIZE OUR IGNORANCE AND
THE GRACE TO WELCOME ANOTHER'S
POINT OF VIEW, AND THE AWE OF
THE RESPONSIBILITY CONVEYED UPON
US AND THE GRATITUDE TO RELISH
OUR PART IN SHAPING THE FUTURE.
MOST OF ALL, LET US NEVER THINK
THAT WE TRAVEL THIS ROAD ALONE .
FOR WHO IS CAPABLE ON THEIR OWN
OF LEADING YOUR GOOD PEOPLE.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C,
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
APPOINT THE HONORABLE TOM UDALL,
A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
THE CHAIR.
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I WOULD YIELD TO MY
FRIEND FROM DELAWARE AND ASK
THAT I BE RECOGNIZEED WHEN HE
FINISHES HIS REMARKS.
THE
SENATOR FROM DELAWARE.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
I RISE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY
GRATITUDE TO LEADER REID, TO
CHAPLAIN BLACK, TO ALL OF US IN
THE CHAMBER AND MY GRATITUDE TO
THE REVERENT DR. DUG GERDTS.
IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO
WELCOME HIM TO OUR CHAMBER THIS
MORNING AS ONE OF DELAWARE'S
FINEST LEADERS.
REVEREND GERDTS LEADS THE
CONGREGATION AT FIRST AND
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN
WILMINGTON.
EACH TIME I JOIN WITH HIM ON
SUNDAY MORNINGS, I'M CHALLENGED
BY HIS PASSIONATE SERMONS AND
LEAVE ENGAGED FOR THE WEEK
ROOTED IN MY FAITH AND MOVED
FORWARD BY HIS WORDS AND BY HIS
LEADERSHIP.
BUT REVEREND GERDTS' LEADERSHIP
EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE WALLS OF
HIS CHURCH.
THE CHURCH LITERALLY OPENS ITS
DOORS EVERY SATURDAY WELCOMING
IN HOMELESS DELAWAREANS AND ALSO
WELCOMING IN CHILDREN WHO NEED
CLASSROOM TO SUCCEED.
HE CHAIRED OUR DIVERSITY
COMMISSION AND HE HELPED LEAD
THE CHARGE FOR CIVIL UNIONS IN
DELAWARE LAST YEAR.
HE HAS MADE A REAL AND LASTING
CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HE AND HIS WONDERFUL WIFE ARE
PART OF WHAT MAKES DELAWARE A
GREAT PLACE.
AS HE SHARED WITH US IN HIS
PRAYER, HE IS EXACTLY THE SORT
OF PERSON WHO, THROUGH A
LISTENING HEART, HAS BECOME A
POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE SERVANT
OF FAITH IN MY HOME COMMUNITY.
MY THANKS TO REVEREND DOG GERDTS -- TO
REVEREND DOUG GERDTS FOR HIS
FAITH AND LEADERSHIP.
THE SENATOR FROM
DELAWARE HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT
ADDITION TO THE SENATE.
HE IS WELL-RESPECTED ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
AND HE IS A MAN OF SPIRITUAL
QUALITY.
HE HAS, AMONG HIS OTHER
APROHIBITS, A DEFENSIVE MEDICINE
-- ATTRIBUTES, HE HAS A DIVINITY
DEGREE FROM YALE UNIVERSITY.
I'M JUST SO PLEASED THAT HE IS
MY FRIEND AND A MEMBER OF THE
UNITED STATES NATIONAL.
THE SENATE IS NOW CONSIDERING
THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO H.J.
RES. 117, WHICH IS THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION,
POSTCLOTURE.
THE NEXT TWO HOURS WILL BE
EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO
LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES WITH
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
FIRST HALF AND THE DEMOCRATS THE
SECOND HALF.
AT 2:00 P.M. ALL POSTCLOTURE
TIME WILL BEING YIELDED BACK AND
THERE WILL BE A ROLL CALL VOTE
ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
I HOPE WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT
ON OUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND
AVOID A WEEKEND SESSION AND AN
EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK SESSION.
S. 3576 IS AT THE DESK AND DUE
FOR A SECOND READING.
THE
BILL.
CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE
A BILL TO PROVIDE
LIMITATIONS ON UNITED STATES
ASSISTANCE AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
I WOULD OBJECT TO
ANY FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WITH
RESPECT TO MOO BILL THIS BILL AT THIS
TIME.
OBJECTION HAVING BEEN HEARD, THE
BILL WILL BE PLACED ON THE
CALENDAR.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
MONTH I JOINED MORE THAN 52
MILLION LATINOS IN NEVADA AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CELEBRATE
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.
EACH YEAR HISPANIC HERITAGE
MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE
POPULATION THAT IS SO IMPORTANT
TO OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY, A
COMMUNITY THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED
CENTURIES.
TO OUR COUNTRY'S PROGRESS FOR
WE SEE THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS IN
EVERY IF FACET OF THE OUR SOCIETY
-- ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND IN THE
BOARDROOM, IN THE COURTROOM AND
THE CLASSROOM, AT THE ART
GALLERY AND IN THE RECORDING
STUDIO, AND ON THE PLAYING
FIELD.
IN NEVADA, HISPANIC INFLUENCE IS
EVIDENT.
SNOW-CAPPED LAS VEGAS.
THE NAME OF OUR STATE,
TODAY MORE THAN A QUARTER OF
NEVADA'S POPULATION IS HISPANIC.
NATIONWIDE, LATINOS ARE EXPECTED
TO MAKE UP 60% OF THE POPULATION
IN THE COMING DECADES.
TO ENSURE OUR COUNTRY THRIVES,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE ITS
HISPANIC POPULATION THRIVES AS
WELL.
THOSE WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND
DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS HAVE
FOUGHT FOR THE POLICIES THAT ARE
MAKING HISPANIC FAMILIES
STRONGER AND MORE PROSPEROUS.
WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ON ECONOMIC
AND EDUCATION ISSUES THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO LATINOS AND TO ALL
AMERICANS.
THE RECOVERY ACT, WHICH INCLUDED
TAX CUTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES,
KEPT MORE THAN 2 MILLION
HISPANICS OUT OF POVERTY.
UNLIKE GOVERNOR ROMNEY, WE KNOW
AMERICANS WHO ACCESS
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT
VICTIMS AND ARE NOT UNWILLING TO
TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THEIR LIVES.
"PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY" ARE
MITT ROMNEY'S WORDS.
MITT ROMNEY BELIEVES TAX CREDITS
FOR HARDWORKING PARENTS
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS PLEAT A
A HAND-UP.
WE DEMOCRATS FAT FOUGHT TO GIVE
SMALL BUSINESS HELP.
UNDER A ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION,
LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESS WOULD
BE A THING OF THE PAST, ONE MORE
REMNANT OF THE DEPENDENCY
CULTURE HE LOATHES.
MITT ROMNEY IS CONTENT TELLING
WEALTHY DONORS HE WOULD BE
WILLING THIS ELECTION IF HE WERE
LATINO.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT'S WHAT HE SAID,
BUT WE KNOW MITT ROM NEESE
PROBLEM ISN'T THAT HE IS NOT
HISPANIC.
HIS PROBLEM IS HE OPPOSED THE
COMMONSENSE POLICIES GOOD FOR
HISPANIC FAMILIES.
DEMOCRACY ARE HELPING HISPANIC
FAMILIES TACKLE THE CHALLENGES
THEY FACE EVERY DAY.
TO US HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
ISN'T JUST ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE
INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
HISPANIC-AMERICANS MAKE TO OUR
NATION; IT'S ALSO ABOUT BUILDING
A BRIGHTER FUTURE WITH
HISPANIC-AMERICANS IN OUR
NATION.
MR. PRESIDENT
IN.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. PRESIDENT,
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN
ELECTION GOING ON AROUND HERE IN
A FEW MONTHS, BUT I'D LIKE TO
REMIND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE THAT WE'VE ALSO GOT A
JOB TO DO RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE
CRIES-LEVELCRISIS-LEVEL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH
AND YET OUR DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS
DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO A
THING.
NEVER BEFORE -- NEVER BEFORE HAS
A PRESIDENT AND A SENATE DONE SO
LITTLE TO CONFRONT CHALLENGES SO
GREAT.
WE'VE GOT A $16 TRILLION DEBT.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BOTHERED
TO PASS A BUDGET IN THREE YEARS.
SINGLE AMERICAN WILL GET
HIT WITH A MASSIVE TAX HIKE IN
JUST THREE MONTHS, IF WE DON'T
ACT TO PREVENT IT.
DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING WE
SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT,
JUST GO OFF THE CLIFF, GO OFF
THE CLIFF AND LET'S SEE WHAT
HAPPENS.
THE DEFENSE BUDGET IS ABOUT TO
SUFFER AUTOMATIC CUTS CUTS THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S OWN DEFENSE
SECRETARY -- THE DEFENSE
SECRETARY IN THIS ADMINISTRATION
-- HAS DESCRIBED AS DEVASTATING.
THE DEMOCRATS CAN'T BE BOTHERED
THEM.
TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO AVOID
THE MIDDLE EAST IS IN TURMOIL.
WE REMAIN AT WAR IN AFGHANISTAN
AND WITH AL QAEDA, AND SENATE
DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T EVEN BOTHERED
TO PASS A DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL.
GAS PRICES HAVE MORE THAN
PAST FOUR YEARS
-- DOUBLED IN JUST FOUR YEARS.
DEMOCRATS HAVE RESPONDED BY
CONSPIRING WITH THE PRESIDENT TO
DIDN'T GET BUILT.
MAKE SURE DOMESTIC PIPELINES A DOMESTIC PIPELINE
JUST LET THE DEBT GROW, LET
TAXES GO UP, LET THE DEFENSE
CUTS STAND, LET GAS PRICES GET
HIGHER AND HIGHER, DON'T PASS A
BUDGET, DON'T PASS ANY SPENDING
BILLS, DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT
INVOLVES MAKING TOUGH CHOICES.
JUST SIT AROUND, SIT AROUND AND
KILL TIME IN THE HOPES THAT THE
VOTERS WILL FOCUS ON THE OTHER
GUYS INSTEAD.
LOOK, OUR CONSTITUENTS DIDN'T
SEND US HERE TO WATCH THE CLOCK
OR TO OFFER RUNNING COMMENTARY
FLOOR.
THEY SENT US HERE TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
WE'VE GOT JOBS TO DO.
IT'S ABOUT TIME WE DID THEM.
IN THESE VERY, VERY CHALLENGING
TIMES, AMERICANS DESERVE
LEADERSHIP.
NEVER BEFORE -- NEVER BEFORE
HAVE A PRESIDENT AND A SENATE
MAJORITY PARTY DONE SO LITTLE
WHEN OUR CHALLENGES WERE SO
GREAT.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT.
OFFICER UNDER THE PREVIOUSTHE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
NEXT TWO HOURS SHALL BE EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES WITH THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF OF
THE TIME.
LEADER.
THE MAJORITY -- THE REPUBLICAN
MR. PRESIDENT,
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES
THAT WILL BE SPEAKING THIS
MORNING DURING OUR ONE HOUR OF
MORNING BUSINESS TIME.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS, I
WOULD ASK THE CHAIR TO HELP
REMIND COLLEAGUES WHEN THEY HAVE
CONSUMED ROUGHLY ONE MINUTE, AND
DOING THAT.
I WOULD THANK THE CHAIR FOR
THE
CHAIR WILL DO SO MANY OF DO SO.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
THANK YOU, MR.
PRESIDENT.
SOME SAY THE REASON FOR A
DO-NOTHING SENATE -- OR THE CURE
FOR IT IS WE NEED A CAL CHANGE
IN RULES.
I SAY WE NEED A CHANGE IN
BEHAVIOR SMED I WOULD LIKE.
EXAMPLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER A SINGLE
WE HAVE A BIG BORROWING PROBLEM.
THE MINORITY LEADER HAS
WE'RE HEADED OFF A FISCAL CLIFF.
DESCRIBED THAT.
THE AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
HAS SAID THAT THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA IS ONE BUDGET DEAL
AWAY FROM RESTORING ITS GLOBAL
PREEMINENCE, SO HE WOULD THINK
WE WOULD HAVE A BUGGED AND THEN
YOU WOULD THINK WE WOULD DEAL
WITH THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS,
SENATE.
WHICH ARE THE BASIC WORK OF THE
I AND OTHERS ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE CAME TO THE FLOOR
EARLIER THIS YEAR TO COMPLIMENT
THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADER
FOR THEIR DECISION TO BRING ALL
12 APPROPRIATIONS BILLS TO THE
FLOOR.
THE COMMITTEE DID ITS WORK.
IS 1 OF11 OF THE 12 HAVE BEEN REPORTED
TO THE FLOOR.
THE HOUSE DID ITS WORK.
BUT THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER ANY
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS.
MR. PRESIDENT, BEING ELECTED TO
THE SENATE AND NOT BEING ALLOWED
TO VOTE ON APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
IS LIKE BEING INVITED TO JOIN
THE GRAND OLE OPRY AND NOT BE
ALLOWED TO SING.
WE NEED A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.
IF WE HAD ONE, WE COULD HAVE A
BUDGET.
IF WE HAD ONE, WE WILL BRING
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS TO THE
FLOOR.
WE WILL DEBATE THEM, AMEND THEM,
VOTE ON THEM AND DO OUR JOBS.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
THERE IS NO
QUESTION THAT THE PREMIER ISSUE
FOR MOST AMERICANS IS JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY.
IT IS THE ISSUE ON THE MINDS OF
ALL AMERICANS, THEIR POCKETBOOK
ISSUES THAT IMPACT MIDDLE-CLASS
AMERICANS ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
FOR THE PAST THREE AND A HALF
YEARS, THE PRESIDENT AND THE
DEMOCRATS HERE IN THE SENATE
HAVE FAILED TO PRI THE
LEADERSHIP THAT AMERICA NEEDS TO
MAKE A STRONGER MIDDLE CLASS.
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS CONTINUE
TO FACE A BLEAK ECONOMIC PICTURE
ON THIS PRESIDENT'S WATCH.
WE HAVE SEEN GAS PRICES MORE
THAN DOUBLE, THE HIGHEST LEVEL
IN SEPTEMBER THAT WE HAVE EVER
SEEN IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
MIDDLE-CLASS INCOME IS DOWN BY
NEARLY $4,000 SINCE THE
PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE.
JUST THIS LAST WEEK, THE KAISER
FOUNDATION FAMILY STUDY CAME OUT
AND WORKER HEALTH INSURANCE
COSTS HAVE INCREASED BY 29%
SINCE THE PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE.
THE PRESIDENT PROMISED TO LOWER
HEALTH CARE COSTS BY $2,500 PER
FAMILY.
INSTEAD, AVERAGE FAMILY PREMIUMS
HAVE INCREASED BY $3,000 SINCE
HE TOOK OFFICE.
REPUBLICANS HAVE SOLUTIONS TO
GROW THE ECONOMY AND TO HELP THE
MIDDLE CLASS, STRENGTHEN THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE SUPPORT COMMON
SENSE SOLUTIONS LIKE INCREASING
DOMESTIC ENERGY, REFORMING OUR
TAX CODE AND STOPPING THE
JOB-KILLING REGULATIONS THAT ARE
KILLING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE HOPE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK ON THOSE SOLUTIONS FOR
AMERICA'S FUTURE.
THE
SENATOR FROM WYOMING.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
PRESIDENT, THE ADMINISTRATION
AND THE SENATE MAJORITY HAVE
FAILED TO GOVERN DURING A
CRUCIAL TIME FOR OUR NATION.
THERE IS A WILLINGNESS TO KICK
OUR PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD WITH
THE HOPES THAT THE NEXT ELECTION
WILL SUDDENLY INSPIRE ACTION.
ROME BURNED WHILE NERO FIDDLED.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH FIDDLING.
THE PRESIDENT'S ANSWER TO JOBS
IN THE ECONOMY WAS TO HAVE HIS
FAILED BUDGET.
THREE TIMES IT WAS VOTED ON
WITHOUT A SINGLE VOTE IN FAVOR,
NOT EVEN A SINGLE DEMOCRAT IN
FAVOR.
OVER 23 MILLION AMERICANS ARE
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND RED
TAPE STUNT BUSINESS GROWTH.
THAT'S NOT LEADERSHIP.
THE
WHEEL.
THEIR ANSWER TO A JOB -- TO JOBS
IS A BILL WITH A GOOD TITLE AND
A POISON PILL THAT COMES RIGHT
TO THE FLOOR, AND IT'S SET UP SO
THE POISON PILL CAN'T BE AMENDED
AMENDED OUT AND THEY WONDER WHY
THE BILL CAN'T PASS.
THAT'S LEGISLATING.
THAT'S NOT POLITICS.
LACK OF A BUDGET SHOWS THEY
DON'T HAVE A PLAN.
INACTION REMAINS THE STATUS QUO.
REPUBLICANS ARE PREPARED TO LEAD
TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MAINE.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN
I TALK TO EMPLOYERS IN MY STATE
ABOUT WHAT WASHINGTON COULD DO
TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, THEY
INEVITABLY POINT TO THE FLOOD OF
EXCESSIVE REGULATION AS A MAJOR
BARRIER.
MANY OF US HAVE OFFERED
PROPOSALS TO REFORM THE
REGULATORY PROCESS.
JOBS
COUNCIL HAS PUT FORTH IDEAS LIKE
ANALYSIS.
STRENGTHENING THE COST-BENEFIT
THIS JUST MAKES COMMON SENSE.
BUT REGRETTABLY, THE SENATE HAS
FAILED TO ACT.
MEANWHILE, THE BURDEN OF FEDERAL
REGULATION GROWS EVER LARGER.
RIGHT NOW, FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE
AT WORK ON 2,700 NEW RULES.
THESE RULES WILL GO ON TOP OF A
PILE OF REGULATIONS MEASURING
MILLIONS OF PAGES.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF WE WANT TO PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, WE HAVE TO
CUT THE RED TAPE THAT IS
STRANGLING OUR JOB CREATORS.
THE
SENATOR FROM ARKANSAS.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OBJECTIVE
MEASUREMENT, WHETHER IT'S
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS, GAS
PRICES, MIDDLE-CLASS INCOME,
TUITION, MANUFACTURING
PRODUCTION, HOME VALUES, AND THE
LIST GOES ON AND ON, WE ARE
CLEARLY NOT HEADED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
SO WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THIS?
THE PRIMARY CAUSE IS LACK OF
LEADERSHIP COMING FROM THE
ADMINISTRATION AND FROM THE
LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S POLICIES
HAVE LED TO THE WORST RECOVERY
SINCE WORLD WAR II.
OVER 23 MILLION PEOPLE ARE
UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT WE
CAN'T FIND WORK IN THIS IS THE
ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY WASHINGTON
HAS CREATED, STOPPING THE HIRING
PROCESS.
OUR BUSINESSES ARE FROZEN.
AS A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER, I UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND
HOW ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY HAMPERS
BUSINESS GROWTH.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
TAXES ARE GOING TO BE, IF YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR ENERGY
COSTS ARE GOING TO BE, IF YOU
DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR HEALTH CARE
COSTS ARE GOING TO BE, THE LAST
THING IN THE WORLD YOU'RE GOING
TO DO IS HIRE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
NUMBER-ONE JOB OF THIS CONGRESS
DOMESTICALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
MORE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.
THE PRESIDENT'S LONG-HELD VIEW
OF REDISTRIBUTION AS A GOAL FOR
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT.
WHAT'S GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT
IS MORE OPPORTUNITY, MORE
INDEPENDENCE, AS MY FRIEND FROM
ARKANSAS JUST SAID, MORE
CERTAINTY, MORE AMERICAN ENERGY.
THESE PROBLEMS ARE BIG,
MR. PRESIDENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT
NECESSARILY THAT COMPLICATED.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE
WILLPOWER TO DEAL WITH THEM.
THIS CONGRESS HAS NOT DONE THAT.
THIS SENATE, MORE IMPORTANTLY,
HAS NOT DONE THAT.
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED BILLS.
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A BUDGET,
THE HOUSE HAS PASSED
APPROPRIATIONS BILLS, THE HOUSE
HAS PASSED BILLS TO GET
REGULATIONS UNDER CONTROL.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE SENATE HASN'T,
I HOPE WHEN WE GET BACK HERE --
WE SHOULD STAY AND DO THOSE
THINGS, BUT WHEN WE GET BACK, WE
SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE
NUMBER-ONE JOB FOR THE ONE
JOBS.
TODAY, WHICH IS MORE AMERICAN
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
PRESIDENT OBAMA,
WHEN YOU TOOK OFFICE ALMOST FOUR
YEARS AGO, YOU PROMISED TO
CREATE JOBS AND TO REDUCE OUR
DEFICIT.
YET, FOUR YEARS LATER, WE HAVE
FEWER AMERICANS WORKING THAN IN
THE LAST 30 YEARS AND WE HAVE
HISTORIC DEBT AND DEFICITS.
NOW YOU SAY RAISING TAXES WILL
SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS, BUT THOSE
WHO CREATE JOBS DISAGREE.
YESTERDAY, A BUSINESSMAN FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA CAME TO
WASHINGTON TO PRESENT A VERY
SIMPLE PROPOSITION.
HE HAD BUILT THIS BUSINESS FROM
HIS GARAGE TO 150 WORKERS,
PUTTING EVERY DIME HE COULD BACK
INTO HIS BUSINESS.
HIS PLAN WAS TO ADD 25 WORKERS
NEXT YEAR IF WE KEEP TAXES THE
SAME, BUT TO DO NOTHING IF WE
FOLLOW YOUR PLAN TO RAISE TAXES.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU REALLY
WANT TO CREATE JOBS, HELP OUR
ECONOMY AND REDUCE OUR DEFICIT,
STOP THREATENING TO RAISE TAXES.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OHIO.
WE JUST HEARD FROM
A NUMBER OF MY COLLEAGUES ABOUT
ISSUES WITH OUR JOBS AND THE
ECONOMY, THE DEBT, UNEMPLOYMENT
AT HIGH RATES FOR 43 MONTHS,
UNPRECEDENTED PROBLEMS.
WE HAVE LEARNED TIME AND TIME
AGAIN IN AMERICA, YOU CAN'T TAX,
REGULATE YOUR WAY TO PROSPERITY.
AND REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE
HAVE PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE.
THIS IS THE REPUBLICAN SENATE
JOBS PLAN.
ALL 47 REPUBLICAN SENATORS HAVE
SUPPORTED IT.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
THAT INCORPORATES THESE IDEAS.
AND YET WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A
HEARING ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE OUGHT TO LIVE
WITHIN OUR MEANS, FISCAL
DISCIPLINE IS PART OF GETTING
THE ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK,
REFORMING THE TAX CODE TO SPUR
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE KNOW WE CAN CREATE MILLIONS
OF NEW JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY BY
GETTING THE TAX CODE
STRAIGHTENED OUT.
ECONOMICS -- THE ECONOMIC
SITUATION WILL NOT BE IMPROVED
IN THIS COUNTRY UNTIL WE DEAL
WITH REGULATORY RELIEF.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THAT.
A MORE COMPETITIVE WORK FORCE.
CHANGING THE WORKER RETRAINING
PROGRAM IN THIS COUNTRY,
EDUCATION TO HAVE A
COMPETITIVENESS WORK FORCE.
INCREASING EXPORTS TO CREATE
MORE JOBS BUT ALSO TO LEVEL THE
PLAYING FIELD.
POWERING AMERICA'S ECONOMY BY
USING THE ENERGY IN THE GROUND
IN AMERICA.
AND FINALLY, COMMONSENSE
APPROACHES TO HEALTH CARE TO GET
THE COSTS DOWN.
THESE ARE THE SOLUTIONS THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE OFFERED THAT
HAVE NOT GOTTEN A FAIR HEARING
ON THIS FLOOR FOR US TO BEGIN TO
TURN THIS ECONOMY AROUND AND GET
AMERICA BACK ON TRACK.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM UTAH.
TODAY I JOIN MY
COLLEAGUES IN EXPRESSING MY
DISAPPOINTMENT IN PRESIDENT
OBAMA IN HIS FAILURE TO PROVIDE
REAL LEADERSHIP WHEN OUR NATION
NEEDED IT MOST.
WHILE FAILURES CAN BE OBSERVED
ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES
TO TAXES AND THE PENDING FISCAL
CLIFF, THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT OUR
FUTURE IN JEOPARDY TO CONSERVE
HIS OWN POLITICAL INTERESTS.
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE
BIPARTISAN TAX RELIEF BILL
SIGNED INTO LAW, NOT ONLY BY
PRESIDENT BUSH BUT PRESIDENT
OBAMA AS WELL, IS SET TO EXPIRE.
VIRTUALLY EVERY TAXPAYER IN
AMERICA WILL SEE THEIR TAXES GO
UP IF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT
DO NOT EXTEND -- DO NOT ACT TO
CLIFF.
STEER US AWAY FROM THIS FISCAL
OBJECTIVE ANALYSTS, INCLUDING
THE C.B.O., HAVE STATED THAT IF
WE WERE TO LET THE TAX RELIEF
EXPIRE UNDER CURRENT ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS, IT WOULD LIKELY LEAD
TO ANOTHER RECESSION.
YET, RATHER THAN WORKING WITH
THE REPUBLICANS TO EXTEND THE
TAX RELIEF AND TO AID OUR
RECOVERY, THE PRESIDENT HAS ONCE
AGAIN SOUGHT TO DIVIDE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BY USING THE TOP
FOOTBALL.
MARGINAL TAX RATE AS A POLITICAL
IN 2010, THE PRESIDENT
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT RAISING TAXES
IN THE MIDST OF A WEAK ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WAS BAD POLICY.
THAT IS WHY AT THAT TIME HE
SIGNED INTO LAW FULL EXTENSION
OF THE 2001 AND 2003 TAX RELIEF.
ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT THE
ECONOMY IS IN WORSE SHAPE NOW
THAN IT WAS THEN, THE ONLY THING
THAT'S CHANGED BETWEEN 2010 AND
2012 IS THAT THE PRESIDENT IS
NOW FACING THE VOTERS, AND THAT
MEANS APPEALING TO HIS BASE
TAXES.
WHICH IS COMMITTED TO RAISING
THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT CLASS
WARFARE AND HIS OWN POLITICAL
FUTURE AHEAD OF THE IMMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF OUR
ECONOMY.
THE HIGH-WATER MARK OF
ADMINISTRATION.
FAILED LEADERSHIP FOR THIS
OUR COUNTRY IS AT A MOMENT OF
DEEP ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, AND
AMERICA'S CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS
DESERVE MORE THAN THE
PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO
PRIORITIZE ELECTORAL POLITICS
MR. PRESIDENT?
OVER SOUND FISCAL POLICY.
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
AS THE CHAIR OF
THE DEBT COMMISSION
SIMPSON-BOWLES TOLD THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, THIS NATION HAS NEVER
FACED A MORE PREDICTABLE
FINANCIAL CRISIS.
I WOULD SAY THAT THIS NATION HAS
NEVER FACED A MORE DIFFICULT
FINANCIAL CHALLENGE.
WE HAVE DEEP SYSTEMIC
DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEMS.
THEY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
YET TODAY MARKS THE 1,240th
DAY SINCE THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE ADOPTED
A BUDGET.
FOR THREE YEARS IN A TIME OF
FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE SENATE'S
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAS FAILED
TO COMPLY WITH THE UNITED STATES
CODE THAT REQUIRES US TO BRING
UP A BUDGET AND BRING IT TO THE
FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
OBSERVED ON MAY 15 THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE
DEFIANTLY REFUSED TO LAY OUT
THEIR OWN VISION FOR HOW TO DEAL
SPENDING.
WITH THE FEDERAL DEBT AND
I BELIEVE THAT IS A COLOSSAL
FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP, A FAILURE
OF FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
AND PUTS THEM IN A POSITION OF,
IN MY OPINION, OF BEING UNABLE
TO ASK TO BE RETURNED TO
LEADERSHIP IN THIS SENATE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
AS THE DISTINGUISHED
RANKING MEMBER OF THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE POINTED OUT, IT HAS
BEEN MORE THAN THREE YEARS SINCE
THE DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED
SENATE HAS PASSED A BUDGET.
SCANDAL.
THAT SHOULD BE A NATIONAL
DURING THE SAME TIME, WE
CONSIDERED THE PRESIDENT'S
PROPOSED BUDGETS WHICH HAVE BEEN
VOTED DOWN UNANIMOUSLY, THAT IS
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS BOTH
REALIZE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
PROPOSED BUDGETS ARE UNSERIOUS
ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR
MOST SERIOUS CHALLENGES.
THE PRESIDENT COULDN'T GET A
SINGLE VOTE FROM HIS OWN
FOR HIS OWN
PLAN, A PLAN BECAUSE IT DOES NOT
INCLUDE SERIOUS EFFORTS TO
PRESERVE AND PROTECT SOCIAL
SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND PUT US
ON A SOUND FISCAL PATH WITHOUT
JOB-KILLING TAX INCREASES.
WHEN REPUBLICANS REGAIN THE
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, WE WILL
PASS A BUDGET, WE WILL REDUCE
THE DEFICIT, WE WILL TACKLE OUR
LONG-TERM DEBT AND WE WILL HELP
GROW THE AMERICAN ECONOMY BY
GETTING OUR BOOT OFF THE NECK OF
THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND JOB
CREATORS IN OUR COUNTRY.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
THIS YEAR WE WILL
SPEND OVER $3.5 TRILLION, 60% OF
BORROWED.
WHICH IS TAXPAYER MONEY, 40% IS
OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE WILL
SPEND $45 TRILLION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A BUDGET IN THIS
BODY FOR 1,240 DAYS.
NOT ONLY IS THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL
AND AMERICA LOOKS AT US AS A
DYSFUNCTIONAL BODY, IT IS AN
EMBARRASSMENT.
THE FACT IS THAT WE ARE ONE
FISCAL REFORM PACKAGE AWAY FROM
BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON BEING A
GREAT NATION AGAIN, AND YET MANY
AROUND THE WORLD LOOK AT US AS A
NATION IN DECLINE, WHICH AFFECTS
EVERYTHING FROM PEOPLE HIRING
AND PRODUCING JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY TO THE ACTIVITIES THAT
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
WE SEE OVERSEAS AS IT RELATES TO
WHAT WE NEED IN THIS NATION IS
NEW LEADERSHIP IN NOVEMBER THAT
HAS THE COURAGE AND THE WILL TO
ADDRESS THE MOST MAJOR ISSUE
THIS NATION FACES, WHICH IS
FISCAL REFORM, AND WITH THAT,
WE'LL PUT THIS MALAISE IN THE
REARVIEW MIRROR AND AGAIN BE
ABLE TO FOCUS ON BEING A GREAT
NATION.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM GEORGIA.
MR. PRESIDENT, FOR
THREE CONSECUTIVE FISCAL YEARS,
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE MAJORITY PARTY HAS
CONSTANTLY DECIDED NOT TO BRING
A BUDGET TO THE FLOOR OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE RESULT
HAS BEEN?
WE SPENT $10.6 TRILLION,
INCREASED OUR DEBT OVER
$4 TRILLION WHILE THE AMERICAN
HAVE CUT THEIR DEBT, CUT
THEIR SPENDING AND GOT THEIR
HOUSE IN ORDER DURING OUR WORST
DEPRESSION.
RECESSION SINCE THE GREAT
IT'S TIME THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
SENATE TOOK A LESSON FROM THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS
OF AMERICA.
LET'S GET A BUDGET TO THE FLOOR.
LET'S BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THINK ABOUT IT, $5 TRILLION OF
NEW DEBT UNDER THIS PRESIDENT.
SO WHEN HE SUBMITS A BUDGET
PLAN, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
ON THE FLOOR OF THIS SENATE, THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PLAN DID NOT
GET A SINGLE VOTE.
NO REPUBLICAN, NO DEMOCRAT, NO
INDEPENDENT SUPPORTED THE
PRESIDENT.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE HOUSE SIDE?
THE SAME IDENTICAL THING.
NO REPUBLICAN, NO DEMOCRAT, NO
INDEPENDENT SUPPORTED THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN.
MANY ARE WORKING ON THIS.
EXAMPLE.
SIMPSON-BOWLES IS A GOOD
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO FIND A WAY FORWARD ON
OUR BUDGET ISSUES.
AND WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE?
NO BUDGET.
FOUR YEARS, NO BUDGET.
WHEN REPUBLICANS COME TO THE
MAJORITY, WE WILL PASS A BUDGET.
WE WILL WORK TO BALANCE OUR
BUDGET.
THAT IS WHERE WE ARE HEADED.
NOR SENATOR MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN.
ON SEPTEMBER
2007, OUR TOTAL STOOD STOOD AS
$200 BILLION.
LAST YEAR WITH THE DEBT CEILING
DEBATE, WE INCREASED OUR DEBT
LIMIT BY A LITTLE MORE THAN $2
TRILLION.
WE WILL BLOW THROUGH THAT LIMIT
IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES HAS PUT
FORWARD FOUR BUDGETS.
YET TO SUBMIT ANY
PROPOSAL TO SAVE EITHER SOCIAL
SECURITY OR MEDICARE.
WE'RE FACING THE MOST
PREDICTABLE FINANCIAL CRISIS IN
OUR NATION, AND OUR PRESIDENT
REFUSES TO LEAD, THIS SENATE
REFUSES TO LEAD.
AMERICA HUNGERS FOR LEADERSHIP.
THE?
ER FROM UTAH.
-- THE SENATOR FROM UTAH.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
IS BAD ENOUGH THAT THIS SENATE
LEADERSHIP HAS NOT PASSED A
BUDGET IN THREE AND A HALF
YEARS.
WHAT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT IS
THE FACT THAT THEY HAVEN'T
OFFERED A BUDGET THIS CONGRESS.
THEY HAVEN'T VOTED FOR OR
SUPPORTED A SINGLE BUDGET IN
THIS CONGRESS.
WE HAVE HAD, OF COURSE, ONE
BUDGET VOTED ON IN THE SENATE
DURING THIS CONGRESS, WRITTEN BY
A DEMOCRAT.
THAT WAS THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN,
WHICH RECEIVED ZERO VOTES FROM
HIS OWN PARTY, ZERO VOTES FROM
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LAST YEAR
AND THIS YEAR.
IF WE ARE ABLE TO COME TO THE
TABLE, IF WE ARE TO COME TO A
COMPROMISE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
OFFERS ON BOTH SIDES.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN ON BOTH
SIDES.
AND SO ALL THE CALLS FOR
CIVILITY, FOR THE CALLS FOR
COMPROMISE REALLY FALL ON DEAF
EARS UNLESS OR UNTIL WE HAVE TWO
WILLING PARTIES AT THE TABLE
WITH PROPOSALS THAT THEY'RE
WILLING TO OFFER.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING TWO
BIG QUESTIONS:
WHY HAS THE SENATE NOT ACTED TO
STOP THE $4.5 TRILLION TAX HIKE
THAT WILL OCCUR ON JANUARY 1
UNLESS WE ACT?
AND, SECOND, WHY HAS THE SENATE
NOT VOTED TO REPLACE THE
ACROSS-THE-BOARD DEFENSE CUTS
SECURITY?
THAT WILL DEVASTATE OUR NATIONAL
THE UNFORTUNATE ANSWER IS
BECAUSE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ARE TOO
AFRAID TO TACKLE, LET ALONE VOTE
ON, THE TOUGH ISSUES IN AN
ELECTION YEAR.
FOR AMERICANS OUTSIDE THE
BELTWAY, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE
VERY SERIOUS.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
TELLS US THAT FAILURE TO AVOID
CLIFF WILL SHRINK
THE ECONOMY NEXT YEAR AND PUSH
UNEMPLOYMENT ABOVE 9%.
THAT MEANS 2 MILLION JOBS WILL
BE LOST AND WE'LL BE BACK IN
RECESSION.
THE HOUSE HAS ACTED.
ELECTION YEAR OR NOT, THERE IS
NO EXCUSE FOR THE SENATE NOT TO
FOLLOW THE HOUSE'S ACTION, IT'S
LEAD IN ACTING TO AVOID THE
JOB-KILLING CONSEQUENCES OF THIS
FISCAL CLIFF.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT
IS ARE ASTOUNDING TO ME,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT AFTER
PUTTING THE NATION THROUGH THE
SELF-INFLICTED TRAVESTY OF LAST
YEAR'S DEBT CEILING DEBACLE THAT
WE'RE FACING ANOTHER
MANUFACTURED CRISIS THIS YEAR
WITH A FISCAL CLIFF THAT NEVER
WOULD HAVE EXISTED IF THE SENATE
HAD REMAINED IN SESSION, HAD
FEWER RECESSES, AND MAXIMIZED
EVERY LEGISLATIVE DAY BASED ON
THE JOB WE WERE ELECTED TO DO AS
I HAVE ARGUED VIRTUALLY
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE CONGRESS.
ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY
BY THIS CHART,
DEFERRING LAST YEAR THE DEBT
CEILING TO THE 11th HOUR IN
AUGUST PRODUCED THE HIGHEST
LEVEL OF POLICY UNCERTAINTY THAN
ANY EVENT THAT OCCURRED OVER THE
LAST 20 YEARS, THAT INCLUDES
9/11, THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE
FALL OF LEHMAN, INCLUDED THE
IRAQ WAR.
WE NOW HAVE HEARD FROM C.B.O. AS
WELL AS THE FED CHAIRMAN
BERNANKE WHO HAVE INDICATED
WREAKED TRIGGER A RECESSION NEXT
YEAR IN WE FAIL TO ADDRESS THE
IF IS CAL CLIFF.
YET HERE WE'RE SCHEDULED TO
ADJOURN SOMETIME THIS WEEK FOR
NEARLY TWO MONTHS AFTER JUST
RETURNING FROM A FIVE-MONTH
BREAK.
WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR
REELECTION IN 2000, WHEN THE
REPUBLICANS WERE IN THE
MAJORITY, WE DIDN'T ADJOURN
UNTIL NOVEMBER 3, A FEW DAYS
BEFORE THE ELECTION.
I CALL ON THE MAJORITY LEADER TO
CONTINUE TO HAVE US REMAIN IN
SESSION, TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK
FOR THE BIPARTISAN SOLUTIONS ON
THESE MONUMENTAL ISSUES.
I'VE URGED HIM IN LETTER THAT I
LAST APRIL BECAUSE IT'S
ABSOLUTELY PIVOTAL FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
IF WE HAD THE POLICY AND
CERTAINTY OF 2006, WE WOULD HAVE
2.5 MILLION MORE JOBS IN AMERICA
TODAY.
THE SENATE HAS WASTED TWO YEARS
-- TWO PREY NEWS PRECIOUS YEARS WITH
INTRANSIGENCE AND INACTION.
AMERICA DESERVES BETTER.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF OUR COUNTRY
ARE NOT UNSOLVABLE.
OUR COUNTRY HAS A HISTORY OF
DOING HARD THINGS.
WHAT WE LACK IS LEADERSHIP TO
CALL US TO DO THOSE HARD THINGS.
WE FIND OURSELVES AT A POINT IN
TIME WHERE THE GREATEST THREAT
TO OUR NATION IS OUR DEBT AND
OUR ECONOMY.
WE'RE RISKING OUR FUTURE, NOT
ONLY OUR FUTURE ECONOMICALLY BUT
OUR FUTURE OF LIBERTY.
WHAT WE HAVE HAD, I WOULD REMIND
MY COLLEAGUES, IS A HISTORY IN
THINGS,
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR
REID, THE SENATE HAS NOT
ATTEMPTED TO DO HARD THINGS.
WHAT IT HAS ATTEMPTED TO DO IS
ABANDON THE TASKS THAT SHOULD BE
IN FRONT OF US.
AMERICA DESERVES BETTER, IT
DESERVES BETTER LEADERSHIP, IT
DESERVES LEADERSHIP BASED ON
BRINGING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER
COUNTRY.
RATHER THAN DIVIDING THIS
NOT HAVING A FISCAL PLAN TO
SOLVE THE GREATEST ISSUES IN
FRONT OF OUR COUNTRY IS AN
ABSOLUTE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.
WHERE IS THE SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER'S -- WHERE IS THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN TO SOLVE OUR
--
PLAN?
TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS?
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
FACT IS OUR ECONOMY COULD BE
BOOMING RIGHT NOW.
OUR ECONOMY SHOULD BE BOOMING
RIGHT NOW.
THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY IS
THAT AFTER A SERIOUS RECESSION,
THE ECONOMY COMES ROARING BACK,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHOULD
BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
IN FACT OUR ECONOMY SHOULD BE
CREATING MORE JOBS THAN THERE
ARE PEOPLE TO FILL IT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING
BECAUSE OF THE FAILED LEADERSHIP
OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN
CONTROL OF THIS BODY AND THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
OUR ECONOMY CAN'T COME BACK THE
WAY IT SHOULD AS LONG AS THE
THREAT OF A COMPLETE FISCAL
DISASTER LOOMS OVER IT.
AS LONG AS EVERYBODY WHO MIGHT
EVEN CONTEMPLATE LAUNCHING A NEW
BUSINESS OR EXPANDING AN
EXISTING BUSINESS KNOWS THAT
THIS GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING
TRILLION-DOLLAR DEFICITS AS FAR
AS THE EYE CAN SEE WITH NO
WILLINGNESS TO ADDRESS THIS,
THEN PEOPLE WON'T MAKE THAT
INVESTMENT, THEY WON'T EXPAND
THEIR BUSINESS, THEY WON'T HIRE
THAT NEXT WORKER.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S LONG PAST
TIME THAT THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERSHIP IN THIS BODY ACCEPT
ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS
THIS PROBLEM, PASS A BUDGET, GET
OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER TOW
THAT THIS ECONOMY CAN GROW AGAIN
AND AMERICANS CAN GET BACK TO
WORK.
NOR SENATOR MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
MR. PRESIDENT, JUST
EXTENDED THE
2010 TAX RATES.
OVER A YEAR AGO WE PASSED THE
BUDGET CONTROL ACT, WHICH WILL
TRIGGER SEQUESTRATION UNLESS WE
PASS A BUDGET-REDUCTION PLAN.
THE POINT IS, WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT
THE FISCAL CLIFF FOR A LONG
TIME, AND THERE'S BEEN NO
SHORTAGE OF WARNINGS ABOUT THE
DIRE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF
DOING NOTHING, BUT THAT'S IN
FACT WHAT THIS BODY HAS DONE.
NOTHING.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
THERE'S A REASON THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE
TARGET THE ROMNEY PLAN AND THE
RYAN PLAN AND THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A
PLAN P.
MR. PRESIDENT, THEY DON'T EVEN
HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR WHAT THIS
BODY HAS NOT DONE.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
KANSAS.
MORE MR. PRESIDENT,MR. MORAN: THESE BIGGER
CONCEPTS THAT WE DISCUSS IN THE
NATION'S CAPITAL HAVE REAL
CONSEQUENCES ON EVERYDAY
AMERICANS.
I SPOKE TO A ROTARY CLUB IN
KANSAS AND THE LOCAL C.P.A. IS
IN THE AUDIENCE AND WE GO TO
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
HE SAYS, I JUST HAVE A SIMPLE
QUESTION, AN EASY QUESTION FOR
YOU.
THIS IS A SOFTBALL.
WHAT'S THE ESTATE TAX RATE GOING
TO BE NEXT YEAR IN IT'S
EMBARRASSING NOT TO BE ABLE TO
ANSWER THE SIMPLE QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
DECISIONS.
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO MAKE
THAT CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT, THAT LAWYER, THAT
FINANCIAL PLANNER NEEDS TO BE
ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THAT FARMER
IN KANSAS, TO THAT RAUNCH, THAT
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER WHAT THE
TAX CODE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
WE'RE FACING A POINT IN TIME IN
WHICH WE HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO
TELL SOMEBODY WHAT THE TAX CODE
IN THREE MONTHS.
THAT'S IMPAIRTHAT'S EMBARRASSING.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT'S
NECESSARY FOR US TO GET
WASHINGTON, D.C., TO SOLVE THE
COUNTRY'S PROFICIENCY THE ANSWER
IS WE DESPERATELY NEED
LEADERSHIP, SOMEBODY THAT
ENCOURAGES US TO COME TOGETHER
AND IT'S BEEN LACKING.
IT'S EMBARRASSING TO ME FOR THE
NEARLY YEARS I HAVE BEEN A
MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES
NATIONAL NOT TO SEE THAT
LEADERSHIP EXHIBITED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THIS WEEK MY HOME STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI RECEIVED THE
SOBERING NEWS THAT OUR ECONOMY
HAD SLIPPED BACK INTO RECESSION.
FRANKLY, I'M CONCERNED THAT MY
STATE MAY BE A HARBINGER FOR THE
REST OF THE COUNTRY.
DESPITE NATIONAL EFFORTS TO
CREATE NEW JOBS AND
OPPORTUNITIES, OUR ECONOMY IS
NOT GETTING SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER
BETTER.
IT IS A PROBLEM, WE THINK.
STATES UNEMPLOYMENT HAS
REMAINED OVER 8% FOR MORE THAN
THREE YEARS DESPITE SPENDING
NEARLY $1 TRILLION WITH THE
PRESIDENT'S 2009 STIMULUS
PACKAGE.
INVESTMENTS IN SMALL BUSINESS
GROWTH HAVE LANGUISHED, AND
THEY'VE DONE THIS IN A STATE OF
THE ECONOMY, TAX POLICY, FEDERAL
REGULATIONS THAT SEEM TO HAVE
MADE MATTERS WORSE.
THE COURSE WE'RE ON IS SIMPLY
NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
WE HOPE AND WE URGE THE SENATE
TO MAKE A STRONG STAND.
LET'S GET TOGETHER.
LET'S PUSH A SIMPLE,
EASY-TO-FOLLOW GAME PLAN FOR
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
LAST NIGHT I CRAM
TO THE FLOOR TO OBJECT TO A
ONE-HOUR DEBATE ON A MEASURE
THAT WOULD HAVE HAD DRACONIAN
EFFECTS ON OUR RELATIONS WITH
COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,
AND I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THAT
MEASURE OR DEBATING IT, BUT I
SAID THAT I WOULD THINK --
THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO
HAVE AN AMENDMENT.
THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE SAID, THE
DAY OF AMENDMENTS HERE IS -- IS
OVER.
THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE SAID THE
ARE OVER.
DAY OF AMENDMENTS IN THIS BODY
IS THERE A MORE TELLING
DESCRIPTION OF HOW THIS BODY HAS
DETERIORATED AND DEGENERATED
OVER THE YEARS?
I COO SEE MY FRIEND FROM MAINE HERE.
IT IS A FAR CRY FROM THE DAY WE
FIRST IMCAME, WHEN OTHER
MAJORITY LEADERS WOULD ALLOW
DEBATE, AMENDMENTS, AND CARRY
OUT THE FUNCTIONS THAT THE
PEOPLE ASK US TO, AND THAT IS
WITH VIGOROUS DEBATE AND
DISCUSSION.
THE DAY OF AMENDMENTS IN THIS
BODY ARE OVER.
AND SO, AS WE DEBATED A BILL FOR
VETERANS JOB PROGRAM, OF WHICH
SIX ARE ALREADY EXISTING, THE
MAJORITY LEADER, FOR THE FIRST
IN 50 YEARS -- FORBE THE
FIRST--FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 50 YEARS
IN THIS BODY WE HAVE NOT TAKEN
BILL.
UP THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
WE'RE IN A WAR.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ATTACKS ON
AMERICAN CITIZENS.
AMERICANS' NATIONAL SECURITY IS
AT RISK.
AND WE CAN'T EVEN DO ENOUGH FOR
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE
SERVING TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT
IS SO VITAL TO THEIR FUTURE AND
THEIR ABILITY TO DEFEND THIS
NATION?
SHAMEFUL.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
OUR TROOPS ARE
FIGHTING AND BEING ATTACKED IN
AFGHANISTAN.
IRAN MARCHES TOWARD THE
CAPABILITY OF HAVING A NUCLEAR
WEAPON, TERRORISTS HAVE YOU HAD
INNED OUR DIPLOMATS.
INNOCENT CIVILIANS ARE BEING
MURDERED IN SYRIA BY A DESPOTIC
REGIME.
A
DANGEROUS PLACE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA, STOP LEADING
FROM BEHIND.
PRESIDENT OBAMA, LEAD AN EFFORT.
RIGHT IN OUR MILITARY FACES
DEVASTATING CUTS THAT YOUR OWN
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SAID WE'D
BE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE
HEAD, THAT WEBBED UNDERMINING
GENERATIONS.
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY FOR
WE HEARD WHAT'S HAPPED HAPPENING
IN THE WORLD.
LEAD, BE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN ABSENT.
YOU HAVE BEEN AWOL ON THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE AND OUR TROOPS
AND NATION DESERVES BETTER.
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
LUCKY YOU TO BE
PRESIDENT TODAY.
WE LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES.
YOU COULD RECEIVE THE NOBEL
NOT BEING
SOMEBODY ELSE.
FOUR YEARS LATER ALMOST AFTER
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE HAS BEEN
AWARDED, WHERE DO WE STAND AS A
NATION?
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD.
THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD TAKE PLIED
IN THAT.
DEATH OF THAT EVIL MAN.
WE SHOULD ALL CELEBRATE THE
BUT THAT'S A
-- THAT'S NOT A FOREIGN POLICY.
IS ANYBODY DETERRED FROM
ATTACKING AMERICA IN THE MIDDLE
EAST BECAUSE BIN LADEN IS DEAD?
HAS ANYBODY SAID I BETTER NOT GO
OVER THE WALL OF THE EMBASSY IN
EGYPT, YOU KNOW, WE KILLED BIN
LADEN?
THERE IS NO COHERENT FOREIGN
ONE.
POLICY AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED
FOUR YEARS LATER, AFTER A CHARM
OFFENSIVE AND AN APOLOGY TOUR
THAT HAS NOT WORKED, OUR ENEMIES
ARE ON STEROIDS AND OUR FRIENDS
ARE UNSURE ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
I'LL MAKE A PREDICTION.
THE WORLD IS
GOING TO DEVOLVE INTO CHAOS,
BECAUSE AT A TIME YOU NEED TO BE
CERTAIN, WE'RE UNSURE AND THE
IRANIANS ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING
WE SAY SERIOUSLY, AND THE
RUSSIANS AND THE CHINESE HAVE
CORRUPTED THE U.N.
SO MUCH FOR RESTARTING.
THE
SENATOR FROM GEORGIA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
RISE TODAY TO STATE THAT THE
SENATE'S LACK OF LEADERSHIP IN
ADDRESSING SEQUESTRATION WILL
HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS ON OUR
NATION'S ROBUST INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY WHICH HAD TO BE
REBUILT AFTER 9/11.
THESE BUDGET CUTS WILL MAKE IT
VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO KEEP
AMERICANS SAFE IN FUTURE YEARS.
MR. PRESIDENT, AMERICA HUNGERS
FOR LEADERSHIP, AND
UNFORTUNATELY THE UNITED STATES
SENATE LACKS LEADERSHIP FROM THE
MAJORITY ON THESE ISSUES THAT
AFFECT THE SAFETY OF ALL
AMERICANS.
THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
I RISE TO URGE THE
SENATE TO FULLY INVESTIGATE THE
CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDING THE
ATTACK UPON OUR U.S. CONSULATE
IN BENGHAZI, THE TORTURE AND
KILLING OF OUR AMBASSADOR, THE
DEATHS OF THREE AMERICAN
PATRIOTS AND THE FOLLOWING
ATTACKS AND DEATHS INVOLVING
MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN.
AMERICANS ARE WATCHING A
CONFLAGRATION OF AN ESTIMATED
HALF MILLION JIHADISTS AND OVER
30 COUNTRIES BURNING PORTRAITS
OF OUR PRESIDENTS AND AMERICAN
FLAGS AND THREATENING ATTACKS
UPON OUR CONSULATES AND
EMBASSIES WHILE SHOUTING DEATH
TO AMERICA.
NO, MR. PRESIDENT, MY
COLLEAGUES, THE WAR AGAINST
TERRORISM IS NOT OVER.
NOW WE FIND OUT TEN DAYS LATER
THAT AL QAEDA WAS INVOLVED IN A
PLANNED ATTACK IN BENGHAZI,
DANGEROUS POE TESTS CONTINUE IN
MUSLIM WORLD.
PAKISTAN AND THROUGHOUT THE
THIS MORNING, THE COMMANDANT OF
OUR MARINE CORPS INFORMED THE
CAPITOL HILL MARINES THERE ARE
153 MARINE UNITS AT THE READY TO
PROTECT U.S. CONSULATES AND
EMBASSIES AT THE DIRECTION OF
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
THEY SHOULD BE DEPLOYED.
AND HE BELIEVED THAT THE CURRENT
DANGER MAY WELL LAST DECADES.
THE SOBERING TRUTH HURTS.
WAS THERE ACTIONABLE
INTELLIGENCE PRIOR TO THIS
ATTACK, AND IF THERE WAS NOT,
WHY NOT?
ESPECIALLY GIVEN RECENT
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, PRESS
REPORTS AND TESTIMONY BY MATTHEW
OLSON, NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM
CENTER DIRECTOR.
WE ARE ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND WITH
THIS ADMINISTRATION OF EXCUSES.
HORSE.
THERE IS NO STRONG HORSE OR WEAK
IT'S A MERRY-GO-ROUND THAT HAS
TO STOP.
THE
SENATOR FROM IDAHO.
MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY
WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THIS
COUNTRY.
IT'S ON THE MINDS OF
EVERYONE, IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THIS, THERE
ARE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES IN
THE WORLD, AND UNFORTUNATELY
THEY HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE
BACK PAGE BECAUSE OF THE
CONDITION OF THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I WANT TO TALK
FOR A MINUTE ABOUT THE NATIONAL
AMERICA.
SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO
FOCUS ON NO MATTER WHAT IS
HAPPENING DOMESTICALLY.
I WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE SMALL
PART OF THAT.
CERTAINLY, WE HAVE ISSUES GOING
ON IN 30 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
A NUMBER OF THOSE HAVE OUR
EMBASSIES UNDER SIEGE.
WE HAVE HAD AN AMBASSADOR KILLED
IN RECENT WEEKS.
THIS IS A FOREIGN POLICY THAT IS
IN SHAMBLES.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IT IS A
FOREIGN POLICY OF APOLOGY, IT IS
A FOREIGN POLICY OF APPEASEMENT,
IT IS A FOREIGN POLICY OF
DITHERING AND LOOKING THE OTHER
WAY.
THIS CANNOT GO ON.
IRAN CONTINUES DOWN A COURSE
WHICH IS GOING TO FORCE A
CONFRONTATION WITH ISRAEL.
ISRAEL IS THE MOST RELIABLE ALLY
AMERICA HAS, CERTAINLY IN THE
REGION AND PERHAPS IN THE WORLD.
THEY NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL
STAND UP AND BE CLEAR AND BE
FIRM ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO
HAPPEN IF IRAN KEEPS DOWN THE
ROAD THAT IT IS GOING.
THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.
IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO CHANGE FOREIGN POLICY
FROM A POLICY OF APOLOGY TO A
POLICY OF LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALASKA.
THESE EVENTS OF
THIS PAST WEEK ARE A VERY CLEAR
AND DIRECT REMINDER OF US OF THE
NEED TO CHOOSE TO END OUR
NATION'S DEPENDENCE ON IMPORTED
OIL.
I WILL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES,
THIS IS OUR CHOICE HERE.
IT IS WITHIN OUR POWER TO FREE
OURSELVES FROM RELIANCE ON OPEC
OIL.
THIS PAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT OUR OIL
RESOURCES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO,
IN NORTH DAKOTA WITH BACK ANN
SHALE, UP IN ALASKA WITH THE
ANWR AND
NATIONAL PETROLEUM RESERVE AND
MARCELLUS SHALE.
SURE.
WE HAVE LEARNED ONE THING FOR
THERE IS NO SCARCITY OF RESOURCE
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.
TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
ALLOW US TO ACCESS THESE
RESOURCES IN A SAFE AND A
RELIABLE MANNER.
THIS ADMINISTRATION MAY TALK A
GOOD GAME ON OIL PRODUCTION, BUT
WORDS AND ACTIONS ARE ENTIRELY,
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.
OUR PROBLEMS RESULT FROM A
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT HAS
ACTIONS AND INACTIONS THAT
INDEFINITELY DELAY IF NOT
PROHIBIT IN MANY CASES ACCESS TO
OUR ENERGY RESOURCES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE NOT
RUNNING OUT OF ENERGY.
WHAT WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF ARE
EXCUSES FOR CONTINUED RELIANCE
ON OPEC.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WYOMING.
MR. PRESIDENT,
JUST YESTERDAY, THE WHITE HOUSE
WENT OUT AND APPLAUDED THE FACT
THAT SAUDI ARABIA IS CREATING
MORE, PRODUCING MORE OIL.
THE PRESIDENT GOES TO BRAZIL AND
HE TELLS THE PRESIDENT OF
BRAZIL, WE WANT TO BE YOUR
NUMBER-ONE CUSTOMER.
THIS IS AT THE SAME TIME THAT
THIS WHITE HOUSE IS BLOCKING
AMERICAN ENERGY PROJECTS AND
AMERICAN ENERGY JOBS.
HELD HOSTAGE BY ENVIRONMENTAL
EXTREMISTS, THIS PRESIDENT
CONTINUES TO BLOCK AND CAUSE
PEOPLE TO LOSE JOBS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE
NUMBER-THREE COAL PRODUCER IN
THE COUNTRY ANNOUNCED THE LAYOFF
OF 1,200 WORKERS.
SO NOT ONLY ARE AMERICANS WHO
ARE WORKING IN ENERGY LOSING
THEIR JOBS, THE PRESIDENT'S
POLICIES CONTINUE TO BLOCK NEW
JOBS FROM BEING CREATED.
THE PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO STAND
IN BLOCKADE OF THE KEYSTONE X.L.
PIPELINE WHICH WOULD BRING ABOUT
THOUSANDS OF FAMILY-PAYING WAGE
JOBS, YET THE PRESIDENT SAYS NO.
AND THEN HARRY REID, THE
MAJORITY LEADER, STANDS AT THAT
DESK AND HE BLOCKS OVER A DOZEN
BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE GOOD
AMERICAN ENERGY JOBS, THAT WILL
PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
REPUBLICANS HERE STAND READY TO
PRODUCE MORE AMERICAN ENERGY,
WHICH WILL PUT PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK, WILL STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY
AND WILL HELP LOWER ENERGY COSTS
FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE
BETTER THAN THEY'RE GETTING FROM
THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE AND FROM THE DEMOCRAT
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY
THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AT THE
PUMP IS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS FOUR
YEARS AGO.
THE MAJORITY IN THIS SENATE HAVE
DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THAT
PROBLEM, AND THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THAT
PROBLEM.
IN FACT, WE ARE MOVING IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION.
THE PRESIDENT'S FIVE-YEAR LEASE
PLAN FOR OFFSHORE LEASES IS HALF
OF WHAT THE PREVIOUS PLAN WAS.
PRODUCTION IN THE GULF IS DOWN
FOLLOWING HIS IMPOSED
MORATORIUM, AND IT'S BEGINNING
TO GO FURTHER DOWN.
IT'S GONE FROM
1.55 MILLION BARRELS A DAY IN
2010 TO 1.32 IN 2011, AND IT'S
STILL HEADED DOWN TO 1.23 IN
THIS YEAR.
TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MORATORIUM,
THE ENERGY INFORMATION
ADMINISTRATION WHERE ALL THESE
NUMBERS COME FROM SAID IT WOULD
BE 1.76 MILLION BARRELS A DAY
THIS YEAR.
WE ARE THE MOST ENERGY-RICH
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, BUT THIS
SENATE MAJORITY, THIS
ADMINISTRATION WON'T ALLOW US TO
ACCESS OUR OWN RESOURCES FOR OUR
OWN GOOD.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
POLITBURO HOEVEN: LOOK WHAT'S
GOING ON -- MR. HOEVEN: LOOK
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE
EAST.
YOU HAVE MORE THAN
20 COUNTRIES DEMONSTRATING WITH
ANTI-AMERICAN PROTESTS,
COUNTRIES LIKE EGYPT, SYRIA,
YEMEN.
IN IRAN.
YET AT THE SAME TIME, WE
CONTINUE TO IMPORT OUR ENERGY
FROM THE MIDDLE EAST, SO LOOK
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE
DEPENDENT ON THEM FOR OUR
ENERGY?
WHEN WE CAN PRODUCE THAT ENERGY
RIGHT HERE AT HOME, WHEN WE CAN
WORK WITH OUR CLOSEST FRIEND AND
ALLY IN THE WORLD, CANADA, WHEN
WE CAN CREATE AMERICAN JOBS.
LOOK, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE CAN PRODUCE MORE ENERGY IN
THIS COUNTRY, WE CAN CREATE
JOBS, WE CAN GET THIS ECONOMY
GOING AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE
DEPENDENT ON THE MIDDLE EAST.
IT JUST TAKES THE WILL TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE ENERGY PLAN
THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED.
BUT WE NEED AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT WILL WORK WITH US TO
ADVANCE THAT ENERGY PLAN.
GAS PRICES WHICH AFFECT EVERY
WORKING PERSON, EVERY CONSUMER,
EVERY FAMILY, EVERY BUSINESS IN
THIS COUNTRY, GAS PRICES FOR THE
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ARE THE
HIGHEST THEY HAVE EVER BEEN FOR
ANY MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
POCKETBOOKS?
WHAT DOES THAT DO TO AMERICAN
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
AN OPPORTUNITY WE NEED
HANDS.
TO REACH OUT AND GRAB WITH BOTH
AND THE ONLY QUESTION I CAN ASK
IS WHY AREN'T WE?
WHY ISN'T THIS SENATE ACTING ON
THAT RIGHT NOW, AND WHY ISN'T
THIS ADMINISTRATION WORKING WITH
US?
WHY DO VETERANS HAVE TO COME
BACK FROM THE MIDDLE EAST AND GO
TO CANADA TO GET A JOB TO WORK
ON SOMETHING LIKE THE KEYSTONE
PIPELINE?
BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION IS
BLOCKING IT IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS WHY?
WE NEED TO GET GOING ON THIS
RIGHT NOW.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE IT.
THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
AMERICANS HAVE ENDURED FOUR
YEARS OF THE WORST RECESSION IN
THE LAST 70 YEARS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
23 MILLION AMERICANS ARE EITHER
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED AND
MILLIONS MORE HAVE SIMPLY GIVEN
A JOB.
AND WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S
RESPONSE IN THE FACE OF ALL
THIS?
REJECT EVERY PLAN PRESENTED BY
REPUBLICANS AND INSTEAD SPEND
$5 TRILLION OF BORROWED MONEY
LEADING, SO-CALLED LEADING OUR
COUNTRY INTO DECLINE AND INTO --
ULTIMATELY INTO BANKRUPTCY.
AND WHAT IS THE DEMOCRAT-LED
SENATE'S RESPONSE?
AVOID ALL EFFORTS TO FORMULATE A
PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND
TO VOTE AND DEBATE ON THAT PLAN
ON ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL IF
NOT THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE
FACING THIS COUNTRY IN ITS
HISTORY.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS DESPERATE
FOR NEW LEADERSHIP, BOTH FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE AND FROM THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
LEADERSHIP THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY IF WE ARE TO RESTORE
OUR NATION TO GROWTH AND
PROSPERITY AND GET OUR PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
MR. PRESIDENT,
YESTERDAY "THE NEW YORK TIMES"
SAID THIS -- THE 112th
CONGRESS IS SET TO ENTER THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD BOOKS AS
GENERATION.
THE LEAST PRODUCTIVE BODY IN A
THIS IS TRUE, AND THE
RESPONSIBILITY FALLS SQUARELY AT
THE FEET OF THE DEMOCRATIC
SENATE LEADERSHIP.
THE SENATE HAS TAKEN JUST 193
RECORDED VOTES THIS YEAR.
THE SENATE HAS BEEN MORE THAN
BUDGET.
THREE YEARS SINCE PASSING A
THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS SHUT OFF
THE RIGHT TO AMEND A RECORD
NUMBER OF TIMES.
THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS FILLED
THE AMENDMENT TREE A RECORD 66
TIMES, MORE THAN HIS SIX
PREDECESSORS IN THE SENATE WHO
DID IT A TOTAL OF 40 TIMES.
THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS SHUT OFF
THE RIGHT TO DEBATE.
HE CALLS UP A BILL, HE FILES
CLOTURE ON IT AND THEN HE HAS
FILIBUSTER.
THE AUDACITY TO CALL THAT A
IN SHORT, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET, HAVE
FAILED TO DO A SINGLE
APPROPRIATION BILL AND HAVE
FAILED TO CONSIDER A DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL WHEN WE HAVE
TROOPS IN HARM'S WAY.
AMERICANS NEED NEW LEADERSHIP.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
A NUMBER OF OUR
COLLEAGUES HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN
ABOUT THE HUGE PROBLEMS THAT WE
FACE AND THE PRESIDENT'S
COMPLETE FAILURE TO LEAD.
WE HAVE GOT A $16 TRILLION DEBT,
MILLIONS OUT OF WORK, THE
BIGGEST TAX HIKE IN HISTORY
LOOMING, AND OUR MILITARY FACES
CRIPPLING ACROSS-THE-BOARD CUTS.
THE NATION AND THE WORLD NEED
STRONG AMERICAN LEADERSHIP AND
ROBUST, ROBUST POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS TO MEET THESE
CHALLENGES, BUT THE PRESIDENT
WITH A LOT OF HELP, A LOT OF
HELP FROM THE
DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED SENATE HAS
DELIBERATELY CHOSEN INACTION.
WHY?
BECAUSE OVER
THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE
DEMOCRATIC SENATE HAS SEEN
ITSELF AS AN EXTENSION OF THE
PRESIDENT'S REELECTION CAMPAIGN
RATHER THAN A FORUM FOR SOLVING
THE NATION'S PROBLEMS.
EVERYTHING IT'S DONE AND HASN'T
DONE IS MEANT TO HELP THE
PRESIDENT, NOT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
SO OUR PROBLEMS HAVE ONLY GOTTEN
WORSE, AND THE SENATE HAS OF
COURSE COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN AS
AN INSTITUTION, AS DESCRIBED BY
THE SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T PASSED A
BUDGET IN MORE THAN THREE YEARS,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT, AS
SENATOR SESSIONS POINTED OUT,
THE LAW LITERALLY REQUIRES IT.
IT DOESN'T SAY, DON'T PASS A
BUDGET IF IT'S HARD, DON'T PASS
A BUDGET IF YOU HAVE TO
NEGOTIATE WITH THE HOUSE, DON'T
-- YOU DON'T HAVE TO PASS A
BUDGET IF YOU HAVE TO VOTE.
IT SAYS, PASS A BUDGET.
WE HAVEN'T PASSED A SINGLE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL, I'D SAY TO
MY FRIEND, THE SENIOR SENATOR
FROM MISSISSIPPI.
APPARENTLY ALL THESE PEOPLE ON
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ARE
COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT.
SENATOR ALEXANDER PONTSED OUT,
THEY DID THEIR WORK.
NEVER GOING TO BRING UP A SINGLE
BILL.
BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT JUST THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
ALL OF YOU WHO ARE ON
COMMITTEES, CAN YOU REMEMBER THE
LAST TIME YOU ACTUALLY MARKED UP
A BILL?
MOST COMMITTEES ARE NOT MARKING
UP BILLS, NOT OFFERING
AMENDMENTS IN COMMITTEE.
SO I GUESS THE NEW RULE IS NO
AMENDMENTS IN COMMITTEE AND NO
AMENDMENTS ON THE FLOOR.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SENATORS
AROUND HERE OF BOTH PARTIES WHO
ARE WONDERING WHAT THEIR JOB IS.
I GOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF
MY STATE.
WHAT IS THIS JOB I GOT?
ANYTHING.
I'M ON COMMITTEES THAT DON'T DO
NOBODY VOTES ON AMENDMENTS.
ALL THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE, IF
WE HAVE ANY, IS WRITTEN IN THE
MAJORITY LEADER'S OFFICE.
AND SENATOR ISAKSON, I THINK IT
WAS WHO POINTED OUT -- OR IT WAS
SENATOR ENZI -- THAT ALL WE DO
IS HAVE BILLS WITH FANCY TITLES
AND A POISON PILL.
AND ONLY ONE VOTE BECAUSE YOU
KNOW IF YOU GET ON BILL, THERE
WON'T BE A BE ANY AMENDMENTS.
ALL THE MEMBERS ARE WONDERING
WHY THEY'RE HERE.
THEY FOUGHT HARD FOR THESE JOBS,
DEFEATED INTELLIGENT,
WELL-FUNDED OPPONENTS, GOT HERE
WORK, AND
NOTHING HAPPENED.
NOT JUST ONE WEEK OR A MONTH OR
SIX MONTHS; TWO YEARS -- TWO
YEARS.
SENATOR McCAIN POINTED OUT, NO
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
WE'VE MANAGED TO GET AROUND TO
DOING THAT NO MATTER WHAT OUR
DIFFERENCES WERE FOR HALF A
CENTURY; A HALF A CENTURY.
THIS DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED
SENATE GIVES DO-NOTHING
CONGRESSES A BAD NAME.
A COMPLETE DISGRACE.
NEVER BEFORE HAS THE SENATE AND
A PRESIDENT DONE LESS TO ADDRESS
SUCH GREAT CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAVE.
I KNOW I CAN SPEAK FOR EVERY
SINGLE MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN
CONFERENCE IN THE SENATE,
REGARDLESS OF OUR PHILOSOPHICAL
DIFFERENCES WITH OUR FRIENDS ON
SERIOUSLY.
THE OTHER SIDE, WE TAKE OUR JOBS
WE THINK THE PEOPLE WHO SENT US
HERE EXPECTED US TO FUNCTION.
RANDAND WE INTEND TO DO IT.
SO IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DECIDE
THEY WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE, THE
COMMITMENT I MAKE TO THEM IS THE
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IS GOING
TO PASS A BUDGET.
IT MAY BE HARD.
WE MAY HAVE TO TWIST A FEW ARMS.
THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE THAT
DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
WE MAY HAVE TO DO IT ON A
PARTISAN BASIS, IF OUR FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE DON'T WANT TO
JOIN WITH US.
BUT THE LAW DOESN'T SAY, DON'T
DO IT IF IT'S HARD.
IT SAYS, DO IT.
AND THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
DEALS WITH THE DISCRETIONARY
BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT.
IT OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED TO DO ITS
JOB.
NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO VOTE
FOR EVERY BILL, BUT WE'RE GOING
TO FUNCTION.
WE OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO DO, AT THE VERY LEAST, THE
BASIC WORK OF GOVERNMENT.
WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS BEYOND THE
BASIC WORK OF GOVERNMENT.
CERTAINLY WE WERE GOING TO HAVE
DIFFERENCES AFTER THE 2010
ELECTION, WHICH COULD BEST BE
DESCRIBED AS A NATIONAL
RESTRAINING ORDER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TOOK A LOOK
AT WHAT THIS GOVERNMENT DID
UNDER THIS PRESIDENT'S
LEADERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TWO
YEARS AND THEY SAID, WE'VE HAD
ENOUGH OF THAT.
AND THEY FLIPPED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND MADE US A
MORE ROBUST MINORITY IN THE
SENATE.
AND THEY UNDERSTOOD WE WEREN'T
GOING TO DO NYMPH WHAT WE DID
THE FIRST TWO -- TO DO NYMPH
WHAT WE DID THE FIRST -- TO DO
ANY MORE OF WHAT WE DID THE
FIRST TWO YEARS.
DOING ANYTHING.
THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE FOR NOT
THEY SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO DO
ANY MORE OF ALL THIS NEW STUFF
THAT WAS DONE IN 2009 AND 2010.
NO, NO, THEY DON'T WANT TO DO
NYMPH THAT.
BUT THEY DIDN'T SEND US HERE TO
DO NOTHING.
THEY ASSUMED WE'D AT LEAST BE
ABLE DO THE BASIC WORK OF
GOVERNMENT.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
IT'S EMBARRASSING.
FOR THE SAKE OF THIS INSTITUTION
AND FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY,
WE NEED TO STRAIGHTEN THIS PLACE
OUT.
WE NEED AN ATTITUDE CHANGE.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE RULES.
THE RULES HAVE REMAINED LARGELY
THE SAME OVER THE YEARS.
US.
AND THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS DECIDE TO
OPERATE DIFFERENTLY.
NO MATTER WHO IS UP OR WHO IS
DOWN, THERE ARE BASIC THINGS
THIS INSTITUTION OWES THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHICH IS TO GET
THE BASIC WORK OF GOVERNMENT
DONE.
SO THE PLEDGE WE MAKE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, IF THEY DECIDE
THEY WANT TO TRY NEW LEADERSHIP
IN THE SENATE, WE WILL DO THESE
THINGS, EVEN IF THEY'RE HARD.
AND BEYOND THE BASIC THINGS, LET
ME SAY TO OUR FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE, WE'VE GOT BIG
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE WITHOUT SOME
BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT TO DO IT.
WE'RE DROWNING IN A SEA OF DEBT.
WE KNOW WE CANNOT SAVE THIS
COUNTRY UNLESS WE MAKE THE
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS FIT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE GOT A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS.
WE GOT TAXES.
GOT SEQUESTER.
BUT THE WAY I TEND TO THINK OF
THAT IS THAT'S THE CHAIRS ON THE
TITANIC.
YOU CAN REARRANGE THE CHAIRS,
FIGURE OUT THE TAX PROBLEMS,
FIGURE OUT THE SEQUESTER
PROBLEM.
THE HIP SHIP IS STILL GOING DOWN
UNLESS WE MAKE OUR ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS MEET AND FIT THE
DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO DO
THAT, ONE PARTY ONLY.
IT'S TIME FOR SOME STATESMEN TO
SHOW UP.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD AN ELECTION
EVERY TWO YEARS SINCE 1788,
RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
AT ANY POINT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, PEOPLE COULD HAVE SAID,
OH, WE CAN'T DO.
THERE'S AN ELECTION COMING UP.
THERE IS EALWAYS AN ELECTION
COMING UP IN AMERICA.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE AN
ELECTION COMING UP IS NOT AN
EXCUSE FOR NOT TACKLING THE
TOUGH PROBLEMS.
SO NO MATTER WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE DECIDE THIS NOVEMBER, NO
MATTER WHAT THEY DECIDE, THE
PROBLEMS ARE THERE.
AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IS, IF WE'RE IN
THE MAJORITY, WE'LL DO THE BASIC
WORK OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR HAND
WILL BE OUT TO OUR COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE AND WHOEVER THE
IS.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
IT IS TIME TO TACKLE THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRY, THE
MOST PREDICTABLE CRISIS IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
IS THE TIME FOR THE
REPUBLICANS EXPIRED?
THE