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THE MOTION TO TABLE THE MOTION
TO COMMIT IS AGREED TO.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
I ASK UNANIMOUS
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO A PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS
WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, LAID ON THE TABLE.
I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE --
THE LEADER -- THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ARE WE IN A QUORUM CALL?
WE ARE.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT A QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
JUST A BRIEF OBSERVATION ABOUT
THE VOTE THAT WE JUST HAD.
I WOULD SAY TO OUR COLLEAGUE,
THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY,
SENATOR PAUL, THE ISSUE OF THE
AMERICAN EFFORT IN LIBYA IS A
LEGITIMATE DISCUSSION FOR
DEBATE, I THINK A LEGITIMATE
ISSUE FOR DEBATE, THAT'S A
DEBATE WE NEED TO HAVE, AND I
WILL BE TALKING TO THE MAJORITY
LEADER ABOUT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME TO DO THAT.
A NUMBER OF SENATORS ARE TALKING
AMONG THEMSELVES ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS ABOUT WHAT KIND OF
RESOLUTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE,
AND CERTAINLY THE SENATE
SPEAKING ON THIS ISSUE IS
SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO IN THE
VERY NEAR FUTURE.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
MR. PRESIDENT
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK FURTHER
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS BE DISPENSED
WITH.
MANY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE,
SPURRED ON BY THE TEA PARTY, ARE
RADICALS AND STILL THREATENING
TO THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM AND
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY
DON'T GET ALL THEIR DEMANDS.
THIS MORNING'S "WASHINGTON POST"
REPORTS THAT SPEAKER JOHN
BOEHNER RECEIVED AN OVATION FROM
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WHEN HE
TOLD THEM THAT HE HAD DIRECTED
THE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION
COMMITTEE TO PREPARE FOR A
SHUTDOWN.
TO CUT MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND
SOCIAL SECURITY AND CUT TAX
RATES FOR THE WEALTHIEST IN OUR
SOCIETY.
THIS TEA PARTY BUDGET IS AN
UNPRESS TKEPBLTED ASSAULT ON --
UNPRECEDENTED SALT ON MIDDLE
CLASS AND WORKING AMERICANS.
IT WOULD REDUCE ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND DO
GRAVE DAMAGE TO OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS AND OUR ABILITY TO
PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR
THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT
ABOUT REDUCING BUDGET DEFICITS.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS AND
REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE
DEMANDING BUDGET CUTS FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS AT THE SAME TIME
THEY CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR TAX
CUTS FOR LARGE CORPORATIONS AND
THE WEALTHY.
SO CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
REPUBLICANS ARE WAGING A CLASS
WARFARE IN AMERICA.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS HAVE THE
GALL TO ATTACK TEACHERS AND
FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS,
OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
AND IN THE WORDS OF INDIANA
CALLED THEM -- QUOTE -- "THE
GOVERNOR MITCH DANIELS, HE
PRIVILEGED ELITE."
END QUOTE.
NOW THINK ABOUT THAT.
ARE TEACHERS, ARE FIREFIGHTERS,
PRISON GUARDS, OTHERS WHO ARE
PUBLIC UNION -- PUBLIC UNION
MEMBERS ARE THE PRIVILEGED ELITE
IN OUR SOCIETY, ACCORDING TO
GOVERNOR DANIELS.
AND WHY ARE THEY THE PRIVILEGED
ELITE?
WELL, I GUESS BECAUSE THEY
ACTUALLY HAVE PENSIONS.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO
DECENT HEALTH CARE, AND THEY'RE
MAKING DECENT WAGES WITH DECENT
WORKING CONDITIONS.
THAT'S THE PRIVILEGED ELITE.
I GUESS NOW THAT THE MIDDLE
CLASS ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING
FOR MINIMUM WAGE AT McDONALD'S
WITH NO HEALTH CARE, NO
PENSIONS, NO RETIREMENT, NOT
ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THEIR
FAMILIES, I GUESS THAT'S THE NEW
MIDDLE CLASS IN AMERICA.
BUT THE PRIVILEGED ELITE ARE
THOSE THAT HAVE PENSIONS, ACCESS
TO HEALTH CARE, DECENT WAGES.
THIS IS THE WORST KIND OF
DEMAGOGUERY AGAINST LOYAL AND
HARDWORKING PUBLIC SERVANTS, OUR
FRIENDS AND OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE SHOULDN'T BE DRAGGING PEOPLE
DOWN BECAUSE THEY HAVE A
MIDDLE-CLASS LIFE.
WE SHOULD BE WORKING EVERY DAY
TO GIVE EVERY AMERICAN THAT
OPPORTUNITY.
MEANWHILE, AS REPUBLICANS AT THE
STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL GO
AFTER THE HEALTH CARE AND
RETIREMENT SECURITY OF
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS, THEY ARE
GOING ALL OUT TO PASS MORE TAX
CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY.
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN
MICHIGAN CALLED FOR A $1.8
BILLION CUT IN CORPORATE TAXES.
WISCONSIN GOVERNOR WALKER HAS
CALLED FOR $200 MILLION IN CUTS.
HERE IN CONGRESS JUST A FEW
MONTHS AGO IN, DECEMBER
REPUBLICANS DEMANDED AND GOT
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN NEW TAX CUTS LARGELY, AGAIN,
FOR THE WEALTH KWRAOEFPLT AND
NOW -- FOR THE WEALTHY.
AND NOW HOUSE REPUBLICANS, THE
TEA PARTY-DRIVEN HOUSE
REPUBLICANS, ARE DEMANDING THAT
WE REDUCE THE TOP TAX RATE FOR
HIGH EARNERS.
GET THIS.
WE REDUCE THE TOP TAX RATE FOR
HIGH EARNERS FROM 35% DOWN TO
25%,ING PRESERVING EVERY PENNY
OF THE TAX BREAKS GIVEN TO THE
WEALTHY GIVEN.
ALL THESE TAX CUTS WILL MAKE
DEFICITS FAR WORSE.
THIS WHOLE BATTLE THAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS NOT ABOUT
DEFICITS.
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS
INDEED THE TAX CUTS
SECURED IN DECEMBER WILL ADD,
ACCORDING TO C.B.O., $354
BILLION TO THE DEFICIT JUST THIS
YEAR, AND EVEN MORE NEXT YEAR.
EARLY THIS YEAR HOUSE
REPUBLICANS VOTED TO REPEAL THE
HEALTH REFORM LAW WHICH WOULD
ADD $210 BILLION TO THE DEFICIT
OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND OVER $1
TRILLION IN THE DECADE TO
FOLLOW.
AGAIN, THAT'S THE SAVINGS THAT
C.B.O. SAID WOULD COME ABOUT
BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH REFORM
BILL THAT WE PASSED.
AND YET, THESE SAME REPUBLICAN
POLITICIANS IN THE HOUSE AND
AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE CLAIMING
TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THE DEFICIT.
WELL, I THINK THIS DEMAGOGUERY
IS NOT FOOLING ANYONE ANY
LONGER.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
IT'S ABOUT IDEOLOGY.
REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING A MEAT AX
TO PROGRAMS FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS, EVERYTHING FROM CANCER
RESEARCH TO PELL GRANTS TO
HEALTH CARE.
THEY'RE GUTTING THE SAFETY NET
STARTED AND BUILT UP OVER
GENERATIONS, STARTING WITH
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT.
IT'S THE SAME OLD REPUBLICAN
GAME PLAN.
GIVE HUGE, UNAFFORDABLE TAX CUTS
TO THE WEALTHY AND GIVE BUDGET
CUTS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THE
MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY,
INCLUDING SENIORS AND PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS NEW TEA
PARTY REPUBLICAN BUDGET PROPOSAL
"EXTREME."
GIVES NEW MEANING TO THE WORD
LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE PROPOSED.
THE NEW BUDGET THAT'S JUST COME
OUT FROM THE HOUSE SIDE WOULD
BASICALLY ELIMINATE MEDICARE AS
WE KNOW IT.
IT WOULD CREATE A NEW VOUCHER
PROGRAM WITH SENIORS IN THE
FUTURE PAYING OUT OF POCKET FOR
COSTS.
MANY LIFESAVING HEALTH CARE
ESTIMATES ARE THAT THIS WOULD
RAISE PREMIUMS AND CUT BENEFITS
FOR 25 MILLION SENIORS.
IT'S A MASSIVE GIVEAWAY TO
PRIVATE INSURERS, A SYSTEM THAT
C.B.O., CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE, TELLS US IS MUCH MORE
EXPENSIVE AND WE KNOW LESS
EFFICIENT THAN MEDICARE.
AND BY DESIGN THESE VOUCHERS
WOULD NOT KEEP UP WITH RISING
HEALTH CARE COSTS, SO THEY WOULD
LOSE VALUE EVERY YEAR WITH
SENIORS PAYING THE DIFFERENCE OR
ENDING UP UNINSURED.
AGAIN, THE ASSAULT ON MEDICARE
IS A TRANSFER OF WEALTH FROM THE
MIDDLE CLASS TO INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND THEIR
SHAREHOLDERS, THEIR
STOCKHOLDERS.
THE HOUSE BUDGET WOULD REOEPT
PRESCRIPTION DRUG -- REOPEN THE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG DOUGHNUT HOLE
REQUIRING SENIORS TO PAY $3,600
A YEAR MORE FOR PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS.
THEY PROPOSE TO BLOCK GRANT
MEDICAID AND CUT $1 TRILLION IN
HEALTH CARE SERVICES WHICH WOULD
END VITAL SERVICES THAT SENIORS
AND DISABLED NATIVE NATIVE AMERICANS
DEPEND ON.
BENEFIT SHIFTING THE COST TO THE
STATES THIS WOULD WORSEN STATE
COST DEFICITS AND TOLEDO HIGHER
PROPERTY -- AND LEAD TO HIGHER
PROPERTY TAXES.
17 GOVERNORS SENT A LETTER TO
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OPPOSING
THIS WRITING THAT -- QUOTE --
"IT WOULD SHIFT COSTS AND RISKS
TO STATES.
STATES WOULD BE FORCED TO BEAR
ALL COSTS AFTER HITTING THE
ANNUAL CAP JUST AS THE BABY-BOOM
GENERATION IS ENTERING THEIR
RETIREMENT YEARS.
WITH LIKELY STEEP INCREASES IN
THEIR HEALTH CARE AND LONG-TERM
CARE COSTS.
THE ENSUING FUNDING SHORTFALL
WILL LEAVE STATES WITH AN
UNTENABLE CHOICE BETWEEN
INCREASING TAXES, CUTTING OTHER
STATE PROGRAMS OR CUTTING
ELIGIBILITY BENEFITS OR PROVIDER
PAYMENTS."
END QUOTE. THAT'S FROM A LETTER
PRESIDENT.
THAT 17 GOVERNORS SENT TO THE
I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT
REPUBLICANS COMPLAINED BITTERLY
IN THE LAST CONGRESS WHEN WE
APPROVED SUPPORT FOR STATES TO
MAINTAIN HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR THE
POOR IN THE RECENT RECESSION.
A LEVEL OF SUPPORT THE
REPUBLICANS ARE NOW TRYING TO
SLASH IN THE STATES.
THE HOUSE BUDGET WOULD PUT
FUTURE SENIORS IN THE SAME
BUDGET VICE.
AND THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
PROPOSAL DOESN'T STOP AT MAILING
THE SAFETY NET AND PROGRAM THAT
SENIORS RELY ON FOR A SECURE
RETIREMENT.
IT MAKES PROFOUND AND CUTS THE
ENTIRE RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT
UNDERPIN THE AMERICAN MIDDLE
CLASS STANDARD OF LIVING,
EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION,
STUDENT GRANTS AND LOANS, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN
WATER, FOOD SAFETY, BIOMEDICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
RESEARCH, HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES,
IN SHORT, ALL OF THE PROGRAMS
AND SERVICES THAT AMERICANS RELY
ON FOR A DECENT WAY OF LIFE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE REPUBLICAN
ASSAULT ON THE MIDDLE CLASS IS
BREATHTAKING BOTH IN SCOPE AND
ITS DEPTH.
AND IT COULD NOT COME AT A WORST
TIME FOR WORKING AMERICANS WHO
ARE ALREADY UNDER ENORMOUS
STRAIN, WHO ALREADY FEAR THAT
THE AMERICAN DREAM IS SLIPPING
AWAY.
IT'S NO SECRET THAT PEOPLE ARE
WORKING HARDER AND LONGER THAN
EVER BEFORE, BUT THEY STILL
CAN'T SEEM TO MEET THE COST OF
BASIC EVERY DAY NEEDS LIKE
EDUCATION, TRANSPORTATION,
HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, LET ALONE
PUT AWAY ENOUGH MONEY TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES IN OLD AGE.
EVEN BEFORE THE GREAT RECESSION
DURING BOON TIMES, WORKING
PEOPLE WEREN'T SHARING IN OUR
NATION'S PROSPERITY.
REAL WAGES PEAKED IN THE 1970'S,
AND THEY HAVEN'T MOVED SINCE.
THINK ABOUT THIS, REAL WAGES,
WHEN ACCOUNTED FOR WITH
INFLATION, REAL WAGES ARE ABOUT
WHERE THEY WERE IN 1979.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
THE MIDDLE CLASS IN AMERICA HAS
NOT MADE ANY HEADWAY SINCE 1979.
AND YOU WONDER WHY PEOPLE ARE
UPSET.
BECAUSE THEY SEE THE MIDDLE
CLASS WAY OF LIFE SLIPPING AWAY
FROM THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SAY THAT
THE WEALTHIEST FOUR OR -- 400 OR
500 PEOPLE IN AMERICA ARE THE
AT -- ARE AT THE SAME PLACE THEY
WERE IN 1979.
NOT AT ALL.
IN FACT, IN 1970 -- IN THE
MID-190'S, THE TOP -- 1970'S,
THE TOP 1% OF AMERICANS IN TERMS
OF WEALTH, THE TOP 1%, HAD ABOUT
ABOUT $8 TRILLION IN ASSETS.
TODAY THAT SAME 1% HAVE
OVER $40 TRILLION IN ASSETS.
NOT THE SAME AS WHERE THEY WERE
IN 1979.
THE TOP 1% OF SENIOR INCOME --
LAST FRIDAY OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
RHODE ISLAND, SENATOR
WHITEHOUSE, WAS ON THE FLOOR AND
HE HAD SOME VERY STARTLING, I
THINK, STATISTICS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE 400
HIGHEST INCOME EARNERS IN
AMERICA, THE 400 HIGHEST INCOME
EARNERS IN AMERICA EARNED AN
AVERAGE OF $344 MILLION A YEAR.
GOT THAT?
THEY EARNED AN AVERAGE OF
OF $344 MILLION A YEAR AND THEY
PAID AN EFFECTIVE TAX OF 16.7%.
THE AVERAGE PERSON WORKING
AROUND HERE, THE POLICE YOU SEE
DOWN HERE THAT GUARD THE
CAPITOL, THE JANITORS THAT CLEAN
THE CAPITOL, FOOD SERVICE
WORKERS YOU SEE, YOU KNOW WHAT
THEY'RE PAYING?
THEY'RE PAYING 29%, 30% OF THEIR
INCOME IN TAXES.
BUT THE 400 HIGHEST ONLY PAID
16.7%.
AND YOU WONDER WHY PEOPLE THINK
THINGS AREN'T QUITE ON THE UP
AND UP?
WHY THINGS AREN'T QUITE FAIR?
WHEN YOU GO AROUND, YOU DETECT
PEOPLE ARE JUST FEELING KIND OF
UNEASY ABOUT WHERE THIS COUNTRY
IS HEADED?
AND, YET, PEOPLE ARE PROFOUNDLY
ANXIOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT
LOOK WHAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
ARE DOING.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE
ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.
PEOPLE ARE WORRIED THAT THEY
WON'T BE ABLE TO HAVE A DECENT
HOUSE OR ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR
FAMILIES OR PAY FOR THEIR KIDS'
COLLEGE EDUCATION.
PEOPLE ARE THERE WORKING HARDER
AND HARDER, THEY DON'T EVEN TAKE
VACATIONS ANY LONGER BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO.
IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING ABOUT
THE -- FROM THE GREAT RECESSION,
IT'S THAT MOST FAMILIES, EVEN
THOUGH SOLIDLY IN THE MIDDLE
CLASS ARE JUST ONE PINK SLIP
AWAY FROM ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE.
NOW, EVERYONE KEEPS TALKING
ABOUT A RECOVERY, MANY OF OUR
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AREN'T
SEEING IT.
CORPORATE AMERICA IS SITTING ON
OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS IN CASH.
A TRILLION DOLLARS IN CASH WHILE
14 MILLION AMERICANS ARE OUT OF
WORK.
THAT'S JUST THE OFFICIAL NUMBER.
THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE
15 MILLION UNDEREMPLOYED WHO
QUIT LOOKING FOR JOBS BECAUSE
MARKET.
THEY'VE BEEN SHUT OUT OF THE JOB
SO THIS RECOVERY DOESN'T LIKE A
REAL RECOVERY.
IT LOOKS LIKE A REPEAT OF THE
LAST RECESSION WHERE THE
RECOVERY WENT TO THE WEALTHIEST
AND THE WORKING PEOPLE WERE LEFT
BEHIND.
AND NOW REPUBLICANS HAVE
PROPOSED A A BUDGET THAT WILL
COUNTRY.
DESTROY THE MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS
THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET IS ABOUT.
MANY REPUBLICANS APPARENTLY
BELIEVE THAT AS PUBLIC SECTOR
WORKERS AND OTHERS LOSE THEIR
JOBS, IT WILL ACTUALLY SOMEHOW
BE GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.
TWO WEEKS AGO THE REPUBLICAN
STAFF ON THE JOINT ECONOMIC
COMMITTEE RELEASED A REPORT
ARGUING THAT WIDESPREAD LAYOFFS
WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE JOBS.
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR FUNNY
REASONING?
AS NOBLE PRIZE WINNING -- AS A
NOBLE PRIZE WINNING ECONOMIST,
PAUL CRUDEMAN, POINTED OUT, THIS
IS A THROWBACK TO TREASURE
SECRETARY ANDREW MELON, THAT THE
IDEA OF DRIVING DOWN WAGES AND
BENEFITS WILL INCREASE -- THIS
IS THE DOCTRINE OF THE G.O.P.
IF WE DRIVE DOWN WAGES AN
BENEFITS, WE WILL INCREASE
EMPLOYMENT.
WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD.
I SUPPOSE IF WE GOT EVERYBODY
DOWN WORKING FOR AN HOUR, THERE
THERE.
WOULD BE A LOT OF JOBS OUT
THE IDEA IS NOT A JOB.
IT'S NOT JUST HAVING SOMEONE
WORK.
THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A GOOD JOB.
AS I HAVE POINTED OUT MANY TIMES
IN A SPEECH I'VE GIVEN IN THE
PAST, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN
OUR SORTED HISTORY OF AMERICA,
EVERY SLAVE HAD A JOB.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
EVERY SLAVE HAD A JOB.
WERE THEY FREE?
WERE THEY HAPPY?
DID THEY KEEP THEIR FAMILIES
TOGETHER?
WERE THEY ABLE TO BUILD UP A
MIDDLE CLASS NEST EGG?
DID THEY HAVE DECENT RETIREMENT
AN HEALTH CARE?
BUT THEY HAD A JOB.
IS THAT ALL WE'RE AFTER IS JUST
A JOB?
IT SEEMS TO ME WHAT WE ARE AFTER
ARE JOBS THAT PAY DECENT WAGES,
DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS, THAT
ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE TIME WITH
THEIR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILY.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH HAVING A JOB
THAT PAYS DECENT WAGE AND HAVE
DECENT WORKING CONDITIONS AND
YOU GET TO TAKE A DECENT
VACATION EVERY YEAR, YOU HAVE
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, YOU HAVE
PENSION SET ASIDE FOR YOUR OLD
AGE?
JOB?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT KIND OF A
THESE ARE THE KIND OF JOBS WE
WANT FOR AMERICANS, NOT JUST A
JOB.
BUT THE REPUBLICAN PHILOSOPHY
SEEMS TO BE JUST A JOB.
FOR GET ABOUT THE PENSION.
FORGET ABOUT YOUR STANDARD OF
LIVING.
JUST BE THANKFUL THAT YOU'VE GOT
A MINIMUM WAGE JOB.
THAT'S WHERE THIS REPUBLICAN
BUDGET IS DRIVING US.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I COULDN'T
HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THIS IN
TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT'S
HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LIBYA
AND WHAT HAPPENED IN EGYPT AND
SYRIA AND YEMEN AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN OTHER PLACES AROUND
THE GLOBE -- I THINK WHEN
STRIPPED AWAY OF ALL OF IT WHAT
SEEMS TO ME THERE IS IN ALL
THESE COUNTRIES PEOPLE ARE
SAYING WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF A
SYSTEM WHERE A FEW AT THE TOP
GET EVERYTHING AND NOBODY ELSE
GETS ANYTHING AND WE'RE ALL AT
THE BOTTOM.
SO MANY OF THESE COUNTRIES
THEERKS REVOLUTIONS ARE -- THESE
REVOLUTIONS ARE GOING ON SO
PEOPLE CAN HAVE A MORE DECENT
LIFE, A BETTER SHARE, IF YOU
WILL, OF THE PRODUCTS OF THEIR
OWN SOCIETY.
SO THEY'RE GOING IN THE
DIRECTION OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH
A BETTER MIDDLE CLASS, A
STRONGER MIDDLE CLASS.
AMERICA?
AND WHAT ARE WE DOING IN
THE BASTION OF MIDDLE CLASS
VIRTUES?
DIRECTION.
WE'RE GOING IN THE OTHER
WE'RE DESTROYING THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
WE'RE TAKE AWAY THE KIND OF
LIVELIHOODS THAT BUILT THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION DEPENDS
ON OUR ABILITY TO ENSURE THAT
THE BENEFITS FROM ECONOMIC
GROWTH ARE WIDELY SHARED --
WIDELY SHARED.
THAT MEANS PUTTING POLICIES IN
PLACE THAT BELIEVE IN A STRONG
AND VIBRANT MIDDLE CLASS WITH
BENEFITS.
GOOD JOBS, FAIR WAGES, GOOD
THAT'S THE AMERICA THAT I WANT
TO SEE, ONE WHERE PEOPLE WHO
WORK HARD AND PLAY BY THE RULES
CAN HAVE A DECENT LIFE.
TRAGICALLY THE TEA PARTY BUDGET
PLAN WOULD TAKE US IN EXACTLY
THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
IT WOULD GUT THE WHOLE RANGE OF
PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE MIDDLE
CLASS IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT WOULD DISMANTLE THE SAFETY
NET FOR SENIORS, FOR THOSE WITH
DISABILITIES, FOR THE LOW
INCOME.
A SAFETY NET, AS I SAID EARLIER,
CREATED UNDER PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT, AND HAS BEEN
STRENGTHENED SINCE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE REPUBLICAN
TEA PARTY BUDGET IS BUILT ON BAD
PRIORITIES, BAD POLICIES, AND
JUST PLAIN BAD VALUES.
AS COLUMNIST E.J.DIONNE POINTS
OUT, AMERICANS CAN NOW SEE HOW
RADICAL THE NEW CONSERVATIVES IN
WASHINGTON ARE AND THE ACCIDENT
TO WHICH SOME POLITICIANS WOULD
TRANSFER EVEN MORE RESOURCES
FROM THE HAVE NOTES AND THE HAVE
A LITTLES TO THE HAVE A LOTS.
END QUOTE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I DO NOT BELIEVE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL STAND
FOR THIS UNWISE, UNBALANCED,
UNFAIR ASSAULT ON THEIR ECONOMIC
SECURITY AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE.
WE MUST STAND STRONG AND OPPOSE
THESE GROSSLY MISGUIDED
PROPOSALS IN EVERY WAY THAT WE
POSSIBLY CAN.
THIS IS A BATTLE THAT'S JOINED
AND WE CANNOT BE FAINT OF HEART
NOR WEAK OF SPIRIT.
WE MUST STAND STRONG FOR MIDDLE
CLASS VALUES AND WHAT ALLOWED
AMERICA TO BECOME A STRONG
MIDDLE CLASS NATION.
I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
CAN DEFINITELY ON OUR SIDE IN
THIS BATTLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
AND I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
WHAT IS THE ORDER?
THE
SENATE IS IN MORNING BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANY TIME
LIMIT ON SENATORS?
TEN
MINUTES.
OKAY.
I WOULD ASK THAT I BE GIVEN AEN
AN ADDITIONAL 10 MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I COME TO THE FLOOR TO AUTOMATIC
ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND TO SAY
THAT SUCH AN ALTERNATIVE WOULD
BE VERY HURTFUL FOR THE PEOPLE
OF THIS COUNTRY.
I WAS HERE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT
WAS SHUT DOWN BEFORE BY ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN SPEAKER, AND I CAN
TELL YOU THAT MY SMALL BUSINESS
PEOPLE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO COUNT
ON TOURISM AREN'T YOSEMITE
NATIONAL PARK, STILL REMEMBER
THE STING OF LOSING OVER $200
MILLION BECAUSE PEOPLE HAD TO
CANCEL THEIR TRIPS.
THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE.
I KNOW THAT SUPERFUND SITE
CLEANUPS WERE HALTED IN THEIR
TRACKS.
WE HAD ISSUES AT THE BORDER.
WE HAD A WHOLE SERIES OF
PROBLEMS, AND IT SEEMS TO ME IT
IS A RECKLESS WAY TO GO.
BUT IT ALSO SEEMS TO ME THAT THE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT US TO
HAVE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
WHY WOULD I SAY THAT?
I SAY THAT BECAUSE REPUBLICANS
"GAVE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
AN OVATION WHEN HE INFORMED THEM
... TO BEGIN PREEMG FOR A
POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN."
AN OVATION.
I WOULD HOPE WE WOULD RESERVE
OUR OVATIONS FOR OUR LEADERS
WHEN THEY TELL US THAT BECAUSE
OF OUR WORK IN FUNDING THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH,
WE NOW HAVE A CURE FOR CANCER.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OVATION
ABOUT THAT.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OVATION FOR
OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS WHO ARE BRAVE EVERY
SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE AN OVATION FOR
THEM.
I DON'T THINK HAVING AN OVATION
BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE A
GOVERNMENT SHORTDOWN IS
APPROPRIATE.
BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT WAS AN HONEST RESPONSE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT.
AND YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELVES,
YOU KNOW, WHY?
WHY DO THEY WANT THIS?
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO CUT $100
BILLION FROM THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET, WHEN DEMOCRATS HAVE
ALREADY AGREED TO GO AND MEET
THEM WITH $73 BILLION IN CUTS?
MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE ARE THREE
PARTIES TO THESE NEGOTIATIONS:
THE PRESIDENT, WHO IS A
DEMOCRAT, THE SENATE, WHICH IS
DEMOCRATIC; AND THE HOUSE, WHICH
IS REPUBLICAN.
SINCE WHEN DOES ONE-THIRD
REPRESENT A MAJORITY?
SINCE WHEN IS ONE-THIRD ALLOWED
TO SAY "MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY?"
WELL, APPARENTLYESLY, THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
THEY PUT BEFORE THE HOUSE H.R. 1
THAT HAS ALL THESE CUTS, BUT NOT
JUST CUTS, POLITICAL VENDETTAS
ATORTURED IT THEM, LIKE ZEROING
OUT THE FUNDS FOR PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
NOTHING TO DO WITH ABORTION
FUNDING, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T USE
FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THAT; THE
OTHER WORK OF PLANNED
PARENTHOOD: IN PREVENTING
UNPLANNED PREGNANCIES, THE WORK
THEY DO TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE
CAN HAVE CONTRACEPTION, THE WORK
THEY DO TO MAKE SURE THERE SAN
SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES,
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED, THE WORK
THEY DO AND, YES, NO WHAT THE
WHAT THE RIGHT -- NO MATTER WHAT
THE RIGHT WING SAY, TO DO BREAST
CANCER SCREENINGS.
THERE WAS A BIG ARTICLE IN THE
PAPER, "SENATOR BOX CERTIFICATE
SPREADING A BIG LIE THAT PLANNED
PARENTHOOD DOES BREAST CANCER
SCREENINGS."
ALTHOUGH MY UNDERSTANDING IS
THAT ONE OF THEIR CLINICS DOES
MAMMOGRAMS, THEY DEFINITELY SAY
TO SOMEONE, IF THEY FIND A
SPECIFIC LUMP IN THAT BREAST
CANCER SCREENINGS, THEY WILL
HELP PEOPLE GET THE HELP THEY
NEED.
YES, THEY DO THAT.
THEY DO PAP SMEARS.
THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY TALK
ABOUT THE DANGEROUS SPREAD OF
***-AIDS.
FIVE MILLION PEOPLE GO TO THOSE
CLINICS.
THEY WNTS TO SHUT IT DOWN.
THEY WANT TO SHUT -- THEY WNTS
TO SHUT IT DOWN.
THEY WANT TO SHUT DOWN TITLE 10,
THE WHROAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS
FAMILY PLANNING.
SO ON THE ONE SIDE THEY DON'T
WANT ABORTIONS -- NOBODY DOES;
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY TURN
THEIR BACKS ON FAMILY PLANNING.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THAT'S WHAT WAS IN H.R. 1.
ALSO, IN MY STATE, $700 MILLION
WOULD HAVE BEEN CULT IN PELL
GRANTS -- WOULD HAVE BEEN CUT IN
PELL GRANTS WHICH MEANT A
MILLION CALIFORNIA STUDENTS
WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RELY
ON THEM AND WOULD THEREFORE HAVE
TO DROP OUST COLLEGE.
THAT'S WHAT WAS IN H.R. 1.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT US TO
ACCEPT.
HEAD START -- EVERYBODY KNOWS
HEAD START.
IT IS A SUCCESS STORY.
AND THE FACT IS H.R. 1 SLASHES
IT BY $1.1 BILLION WOULD LAY OFF
55,000 TEACHERS AND STAFF, AND
MORE THAN 218,000 LOW-INCOME
CHILDREN WOULD BE CUT FROM THE
PROGRAM, IN MY STATE, 24,000
LOW-INCOME KIDS WOULD LOSE
ACCESS TO HEAD START.
AND THEY'RE DOING ALL THIS WHILE
THEY'RE GIVING THE HUGE TAX
BREAKS TO THE BILLIONAIRES.
IT'S WRONG.
THEY WOULD CUT COMMUNITY HEALTH
CALIFORNIANS.
CARE CENTERS, 457,000
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.
THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT HAVE
FEWER THAN THAT.
457,000 CALIFORNIANS WOULD LOSE
THEIR HEALTH CARE IF THEYENCE
WITH TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
CENTERS.
12 CENTERS WOULD CLOSE.
WHY ON EARTH WOULD ANYONE WANT
TO DO IT?
WE WILL, THEY WANT TO DO IT.
-- WE WILL, WELL, THEY WANT TO
DO IT.
WE CAN FIGURE OUT OTHER WAYS TO
GET TO THOSE CUTS.
THE THING THAT AMAZES ME IS
DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONES THAT
BALANCED THE BUDGET WITH BILL
CLINTON.
TOOK DEFICITS AS HIGH AS THE
EYE CAN SEE, DEBT FOREVER, AND
WE TURNED IT ALL ARNTIONDZ
BALANCED THE BUDGET AND CREATED
SURPLUSES AND NOW WE'RE BEING
LECTURED TO THAT IF HE WE DON'T
DO IT THE EXACT WAY OUR FRIENDS
WANT, WHICH IS TO HURT CHILDREN
AND EDUCATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AND, BY THE WAY,
SAFETY ISSUES LIKE MAKING SURE
THAT OUR AIRPLANES DON'T DEVELOP
HOLES IN THEM, AN IMPORTANT
POINT.
THEY GO AFTER ALL OF THIS.
CUTS TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS --
THAT BREAKS MY HEART BECAUSE I
KNOW KIDS -- 11,000 KIDS IN
CALIFORNIA WILL BE SHUT OUT.
AND WE ALL KNOW KIDS NEED HELP
AFTER SCHOOL.
AND IF THEY'RE ALONE, THEY GET
IN TROUBLE.
THEY GET IT TROUBLE, IT COSTS US
MONEY.
THESE CUTS ARE RIDICULOUS.
WE CAN SIT TOGETHER AND WORK
TOGETHER AND DO IT IN A MUCH
FAIRER WAY.
IF PEOPLE PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE,
IF EVERYBODY TAKES A LITTLE BIT
OF A NICK, WE CAN GET THERE.
WE'VE SHOWN THEM HOW TO GET TO
$73 BILLION WORTH OF CUTS.
MONTHS.
THAT'S JUST FOR THE NEXT SIX
THEY'RE DEMANDING A
HUNDRED BILLION, THEIR WAY OR
THE HIGHWAY.
THIS IS A RIDICULOUS SITUATION
TO BE IN.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY AGAIN,
IF YOU CONTROL ONE-THIRD OF THE
POWER IN THIS TRIO WHERE YOU
HAVE THE PRESIDENT IS A THIRD,
THE SENATE IS A THIRD, AND THE
HOUSE IS A THIRD AND YOU'RE IN
THE HOUSE AND YOU'RE THE ONLY
ONES RUN BY THE REPUBLICANS, BY
WHAT MEASURE DO YOU HAVE A RIGHT
TO SAY, "MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY"?
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WOULD THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY WANT TO US WORK TOGETHER,
AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE
PRESIDENT.
I GOT TO TELL YOU, THE
PRESIDENT -- THIS BUDGET BY THE
REPUBLICANS, H.R. 1, THAT WE
VOTED DOWN HERE, WOULD LEAD TO
NEARLY 900 FEWER BORDER PATROL
AGENTS NATIONWIDE.
EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE OUR
BORDER IS SAFE.
900 WOULD BE GONE.
HOW ABOUT $1.3 BILLION CUT IN
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH, WORKING AS HER TO
DEVELOP NEW TREATMENT AND CURES
FOR CANCER AND ALZHEIMER'S.
IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE FAMILY
WHAT THEY FEAR, THEY'LL MENTION
WE FEAR THAT SOMEBODY IN OUR
FAMILY'S GOING TO SUFFER FROM
ONE OF THESE DISEASES.
IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
THEY'RE GOING TO KILL AN ENERGY
DEPARTMENT LOAN PROGRAM WHEN WE
KNOW WE CAN'T BE DEPENDENT ON
FOREIGN OIL.
WE NEED TO FIND THOSE
ALTERNATIVES.
ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SLASHED BY ALMOST $2 BILLION.
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
SLASHED.
DRACONIAN CUTS AT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.
AND THEN ALL THESE RIDERS.
RIDERS AND RIDERS AND RIDERS.
A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM,
MADAM PRESIDENT, AS I KNOW
YOU'RE AWARE, ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SIDE.
HERE'S THE IRONY.
THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO DESTROY
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, WHICH WAS CREATED BY
RICHARD NIXON, A REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENT.
FORMER ADMINISTRATORS OF 9
E.P.A., REPUBLICANS --
OF THE E.P.A., REPUBLICANS,
RUCKLEHAUS AND WHITMAN, JUST
BROUGHT A BEAUTIFUL OP-ED IN THE
WASHINGTON POST -- I BELIEVE IT
WAS "THE WASHINGTON POST," OR
"THE TIMES" I'M NOT SURE WHICH,
IN WHICH THEY CLEARLY SAY,
MATTER.
PLEASE, THIS IS A BIPARTISAN
BUT YET THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO
IN H.R. 1 AND DO STOP THE E.P.A.
FROM ENFORCING CLEAN AIR LAW,
WHICH WILL MAKE OUR SKIES
DIRTIER, OUR KIDS GET MORE
ASTHMA, PREMATURE DEATHS AND ALL
THE REST.
SO BIG SURPRISE THAT WE VOTED IT
DOWN OVER HERE.
IT ONLY GOT 44 VOTES.
IT'S RADICAL.
IT'S RADICAL.
AND WE CAN MEET THEM WAY MORE
THAN HALFWAY, WE ALREADY HAVE,
WITHOUT HURTING OUR PEOPLE AND
STILL GETTING THE BUDGET CUTS
THAT WE NEED.
WELL, I'M HERE TO SAY IT HAS NOW
BEEN 35 DAYS, 35 DAYS SINCE THE
SENATE PASSED S. 388.
WHAT IS S. 388?
SENATE BILL 388 SAYS IF THERE IS
A SHUTDOWN, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AND THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT
RECEIVE THEIR PAY.
WHY DO I THINK THIS IS
IMPORTANT?
BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THAT ALTHOUGH OUR STAFFS WON'T
GET PAID, ALTHOUGH MANY FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES WILL NOT GET PAID,
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE A
SPECIAL PROTECTION BUILT IN
BECAUSE WE'RE PAID UNDER A
STATUTE AND SO IS THE PRESIDENT.
AND SO 35 DAYS AGO WE SENT OVER
TO THE HOUSE A VERY SIMPLE BILL.
IT SAYS, IF THERE'S A
SHUTDOWN,
BASICALLY THAT MEANS FAILURE ON
OUR PART TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT
GOING -- WHAT COULD BE MORE
BASIC THAN THAT -- WE SHOULDN'T
GET PAID, AND WE SHOULDN'T GET
PAID RETROACTIVELY.
OUR COLLEAGUES OVER THERE HAVE
TAKEN NO ACTION.
NOW, IF YOU ASK THEM, THEY'LL
SAY, OH, YES, WE D. WE DID.
WE PUT THAT IN ANOTHER BILL AND
PASSED IT.
BILL IS?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THE OTHER
BILL.
THE OTHER BILL IS AN ILLEGAL
THE OTHER BILL WOULD MAKE OUR
FOUNDERS ROLL OVER IN THEIR
GRAVES.
THIS IS WHAT THE BILL THEY
EMBEDDED NO BUG, NO PAY IN -- NO
BUDGET, NO PAY IN.
FOLLOW ME.
AND I ESPECIALLY HOPE THE YOUNG
PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS DEBATE
WILL FOLLOW ME, BECAUSE YOU'VE
LAW.
LEARNED HOW A BILL BECOMES A
IT GOES THROUGH A COMMITTEE
USUALLY -- DOESN'T HAVE TO -- IT
GOES TO ONE HOUSE.
THEY PASS IT.
THE OTHER HOUSE PASSES IT, SO
YOU GET THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
SENATE.
AND THEN IT GOES TO THE
PRESIDENT.
HE EITHER SIGNS IT OR VETOES IT.
IF HE SIGNS IT, IT'S LAW.
IF IT'S VETOED, TWO-THIRDS CAN
OVERRIDE HIM.
GUESS WHAT?
THEY PUT NO BUDGET, NO PAY INTO
A BILL THAT SAYS THE FOLLOWING.
IF THE SENATE HAS NOT ACTED BY A
DATE CERTAIN ON H.R. 1 -- THIS
HORRIBLE BILL THAT I JUST TALKED
TO YOU ABOUT -- THAT BILL WILL
HAVE BEEN DEEMED TO BE THE LAW.
NOW IT'S A NEW DEAL.
WE DEEM.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, I HAVE 20
BILLS THAT I'VE INTRODUCED.
TODAY I DEEM THEM LAW.
I HAVE SOME GREAT BILLS.
ONE IS A VIOLENCE AGAINST
CHILDREN ACT, VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER WOULD HELP, YOU KNOW,
MANY OF MY TRANSPORTATION FOLKS.
I DEEM THEM ALL LAW.
HOW -- HOW IS THAT LEGAL?
IT'S ILLEGAL.
SO THEY'RE SAYING, IF WE DON'T
AUTOMATIC H.R. 1 AGAIN, IT'S
DEEMED THE LAW.
IT'S RIDICULOUS -- IT DOESN'T
EVEN PASS THE SMELL TEST, THE
LAUGH TEST, AND THEY'VE EMBEDDED
IN IT NO BUDGET, NO PAY.
SO, BIG SURPRISE, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO PASS IT OVER HERE IN
THAT FORM.
SO I'M SAYING THAT THIS IS A
MANEUVER AND A LITTLE DANCE BY
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND ERIC KANTOR,
WHO IS THE LEADER OVER THERE, TO
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE NOT
FOR THEM GETTING THEIR PAY BUT
TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
SO LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'VE
DONE.
I'VE WRITTEN A LETTER AND IT HAS
MANY COLLEAGUES ON IT.
I WILL READ THE LETTER.
WE'RE SENDING IT BY END OF
BUSINESS TONIGHT.
"DO SPEAKER"DEAR SPEAKER BOEHNER: WE WRITE
TO REQUEST A MEETING WITH YOU TO
DISCUSS S. 388, MEMBERS TO
PROHIBIT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND
THE PRESIDENT FROM RECEIVING ANY
PAY DURING A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN.
OVER A MONTH AGO -- OVER ONE
MONTH HAS PASSED SINCE THE
SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSED OUR
BILL.
DESPITE WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR
IMMEDIATE HOUSE CONSIDERATION,
YOU HAVE FAILED TO SCHEDULE A
VOTE ON STAND-ALONE LEGISLATION
THAT WOULD TREAT MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT NO
DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES DURING A SHUTDOWN.
OUR BILL IS SIMPLE.
IF WE CANNOT DO OUR WORK AND
KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING,
WE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE A PAYCHECK
PAYCHECK.
IF WE CAN'T COMPROMISE AND MEET
EACH OTHER HALFWAY, THEN WE
SHOULD NOT GET PAID.
AS WE NOTED IN A PREVIOUS
LETTER, WHILE APPEARING ON THE
CNN PROGRAM "CROSSFIRE" IN 1995,
MR. BOEHNER OFFERED HIS SUPPORT
FOR A BILL IDENTICAL TO S. 388,
SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHY HE HAS NOT
LEGISLATION.
SCHEDULED A VOTE ON STAND-ALONE
EMBEDDING NO BUDGET, NO PAY IN A
BILL THAT HAS NO CHANCE OF
PASSAGE ISN'T FOOLING ANYBODY.
WE REQUEST A MEETING WITH
SPEAKER BOEHNER AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, WHETHER IN PERSON OR
VIA CONFERENCE CALL, TO DISCUSS
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO
IMMEDIATELY SEND THIS
LEGISLATION TO THE PRESIDENT."
SO HERE'S A BILL THAT PASSED
HERE WITHOUT A DISSENTING VOTE.
SO IT'S BASICALLY 100-0 IN A
TIME WHEN WE CAN'T AGREE ON THE
COLOR OF THAT WALL.
WE AGREED PASS THIS NO BUDGET,
NO PAY LEGISLATION.
BUT SPEAR BOEHNER --
BUT SPEAKER BOEHNER, WHO GOT A
STANDING OVATION -- MAYBE IT WAS
A SITTING OVATION, IT DIDN'T SAY
STANDING OVATION BUT HE GOT AN
OVATION WHEN TALKING ABOUT
PREPARING FOR A SHUTDOWN, HAS
NOT DONE ONE THING TO MAKE SURE
THAT HIS MEMBERS AND HE DO NOT
GET PAID IN CASE OF A SHUTDOWN.
I THINK IT'S APPALLING, IT'S
EMBARRASSING.
I JUST AM STUNNED.
AND THE REASON I AM PRESSING
THIS, MADAM PRESIDENT, IS I
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NUMBER
TREATED EQUALLY.
I BELIEVE THAT IF THEY ARE
CAVALIERLY APPLAUDING AND GIVING
AN OVATION TO SPEAKER BOEHNER
WHEN HE JUST TALKS ABOUT
PLANNING FOR A SHUTDOWN, I
BELIEVE THEY WANT A SHUTDOWN.
AND THEY HAVE NO SKIN IN THE
GAME.
THEY PAY NO PRICE.
THEY GET PAID.
WE HAD ONE OF THEM OVER THERE
COMPLAINING THAT HE DIDN'T GET
PAID ENOUGH MONEY.
HE GETS PAID OVER $170,000.
IT WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY.
SORRY, BOO-HOO.
THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS
GOVERNMENT WHO GET PAID $50,000,
$60,000, $40,000, $30,000, AND
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET PAID.
SORRY.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP
COMING TO THIS FLOOR.
36 DAYS, 37, 38, 39S, 40.
THIS IS JUST PLAIN WRONG.
NOW, I WANT TO SAY WHO HAS
SIGNED OUR LETTER, AND YOU CAN
SEE, MADAM PRESIDENT, IT'S
REALLY A GOOD SELECTION OF THE
CAUCUS, FROM LIBERAL TO
CONSERVATIVE.
JOE MANCHIN, CLAIRE McCASKILL,
MICHAEL BENNET, BEN NELSON, BOB
MENENDEZ, DEBBIE STABENOW, JAY
ROCKEFELLER, KAY HAGAN, JEFF
MERKLEY, RON WYDEN, MARK WARNER,
SHERROD BROWN, TOM HARKIN, CHRIS
***, JOHN TESTER, SHELDON
WHITEHOUSE, AND SENATOR MIKULSKI
AND SENATOR BEGICH, MYSELF AND
SENATOR CASEY ARE THE FIRST TWO
NAMES BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO BE
OUR BILL.
IT'S THE BOXER-CASEY BILL.
SO IN CLOSING, I WANT TO JUST
SPREAD THE WORD FROM HERE OVER
TO THE HOUSE SIDE THAT WE ARE
REALLY SERIOUS, THOSE OF US WHO
SIGNED THIS LETTER.
WE ARE KEEPING THIS ISSUE IN
FRONT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU, IF YOU
WALKED OUT AND ASKED ANYONE THAT
HAPPENED TO BE WALKING DOWN THE
STREET WHO WAS NOT INVOLVED
HERE, DIDN'T WORK FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND YOU SAID
THIS -- IN CASE OF A SHUTDOWN,
BECAUSE THE TWO SIDES FAILED TO
NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT, THE ONLY
PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSURED OF THEIR
PAY -- ASSURED OF THEIR PAY --
WOULD BE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND
THE PRESIDENT, WHAT DO YOU
THINK?
I THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD
SAY, THAT'S WRONG.
THEY SHOULD PAY A PRICE.
THEIRS.
THIS IS A BASIC FUNCTION OF
TO KEEP THIS GOVERNMENT RUNNING,
TO KEEP THIS COUNTRY GOING.
I -- YOU KNOW, I COULD TELL YOU
BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE LAST ONE,
THE PAIN AND THE HURT FROM
PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GET ON
SOCIAL SECURITY, TO VETERANS WHO
WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR
DISABILITY PAYMENTS, FRANKLY, TO
EVERYONE THAT CALLS YOUR OFFICE
OR MY OFFICE JUST IN REALLY DEEP
TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING
PROBLEMS WITH A FEDERAL AGENCY,
THEY NEED THE HELP OF A FEDERAL
AGENCY, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
TO GET THEIR MEDICARE TAKEN CARE
OF, THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY TAKEN
CARE OF, OR THEY'RE CONTRACTORS
WHO HAVE PRIVATE EMPLOYEES AND
THEY'RE FIXING THE ROAD OR
FIXING A BRIDGE.
THIS IS JUST WRONG.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND OUT EXACTLY
WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED, BUT I CAN
TELL YOU RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE
TIME TO LOSE, FOR EXAMPLE,
INSPECTORS WHO ARE INSPECTING
THE SAFETY OF OUR AIRCRAFT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD
STAY O. BUT WE DON'T KNOW --
I WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD
STAY ON.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE
INSPECTING OUR NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS?
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 23 NUCLEAR
REACTORS THAT ARE THE SAME EXACT
REACTOR AS THE ONES THAT, YOU
JAPAN.
KNOW, HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN
INSPECTIONS.
WE DON'T WANT TO STOP THOSE
THEY HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE USGS,
THAT'S THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY, CLOSE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE
OF MAKING NEW EARTHQUAKE MAPS.
I CARE ABOUT THIS A LOT.
I'VE GOT TWO NUCLEAR POWER
PLANTS THAT ARE ON OR NEAR EARTH
IEARTHQUAKE FAULTS.
SO I JUST SAY TO MY FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE, I KNOW THAT MY
MESSAGE ISN'T PRETTY TO YOU.
IT'S NOT PRETTY TO SAY YOU DON'T
DESERVE TO GET PAID IN CASE OF A
SHUTDOWN.
BUT THAT'S MY MESSAGE.
AND I THINK ONCE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WAKE UP TO THIS, THAT
WE'RE GETTING PAID BUT OUR
STAFFS ARE NOT GETTING PAID, I
THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN
OUTCRY.
AND SO I ASK THE SPEAKER IN
BEHALF OF ALL THOSE COLLEAGUES
THAT I READ TO TAKE UP S. 388
WITHOUT DELAY.
IT'S SITTING AT THE DESK.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE
PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT BE PAID IN
CASE OF A SHUTDOWN.
THAT'S A PRETTY SIMPLE THING.
AND SO I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES ARE
ON THE FLOOR, AND LET ME GUESS,
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL AND SENATOR
LIEBERMAN, LET ME GUESS, MIGHT
YOU BE HERE TO DISCUSS WHAT
HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?
AND I AM GOING TO -- SINCE MY
REMARKS WERE NOT HAPPY, I AM
HAPPY TO GIVE UP THE FLOOR AT
THIS TIME AND LISTEN TO THEIR
REMARKS, AND I CONGRATULATE BOTH
OF THEM ON JUST A GREAT VICTORY.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
I THANK THE CHAIR
AND I THANK MY FRIEND FROM
CALIFORNIA.
ONE MIGHT SAY IN THE CONTEXT OF