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YES, I KNOW THE SENATOR FROM
NEW HAMPSHIRE -- OUR MOST
ELOQUENT MEMBER HAS ARRIVED ON
THE FLOOR.
NOT TO MENTION OTHER ATTRIBUTES
THAT WE ARE LACKING IN.
I WOULD LIKE ALL
THREE OF YOU TO COMMENT ON THIS
PROPOSITION.
YOU'VE JUST CHALLENGED THE
PRESIDENT -- WHO IS THE CHIEF,
BY THE WAY, -- TO FIX A PROBLEM
THAT YOUR SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
HAS SAID WOULD BE THE MOST
DEVASTATING THING POSSIBLE TO
OUR ABILITY TO DEFEND OURSELVES.
HE SAID IT WOULD BE
CATASTROPHIC, IT WOULD BE
DRACONIAN, THERE'S NO WAY TO
PLAN FOR IT, WE'D BE SHOOTING
OURSELVES IN THE HEAD.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'RE THE
COMMANDER IN CHIEF.
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
AND EVERY GENERAL UNDER YOUR
COMMAND IS TELLING YOU AND THE
CONGRESS YOU NEED TO FIX THIS
BEFORE IT GETS OUT OF HAND, WHY
AREN'T YOU ASKING US AS
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO
ANSWER THE CALL OF THE SECRETARY
OF DEFENSE?
YOU'RE THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
MY FRIEND.
IT IS YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR MILITARY HAS WHAT IT NEEDS
TO GO FIGHT WARS THAT WE SEND
NATION.
THEM TO FIGHT AND PROTECT OUR
BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
IT IS ALSO OUR JOB AS MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE
WHO SERVE.
SO TO OUR REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC LEADER, WHY DON'T
YOU CONVENE A GROUP OF SENATORS
AND TO OUR LEADERS IN THE
HOUSE, WHY DON'T YOU GET A
GROUP OF HOUSE MEMBERS AND ASK
US TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO DO
AT LEAST ONE THING -- AVOID THE
CONSEQUENCE OF SEQUESTRATION FOR
ONE YEAR IN 2013 TO TAKE THE MOK
OFF THEIR BACK.
I AM WILLING TO MEET -- I AM
WILLING TO MEET OUR DEMOCRATS IN
THE MIDDLE TO OFFSET THE
NONDEFENSE SPENDING BUT TO THE
LEADERS, IF YOU THINK THE REST
OF US ARE GOING TO SIT ON THE
SIDELINES AND LET THIS MATTER BE
TAKEN UP IN LAME DUCK WHEN IT
BECOMES A NIGHTMARE FOR THE
COUNTRY, YOU CAN FORGET IT.
SO WE'RE CHALLENGING OUR LEADERS
AND THE PRESIDENT TO GET A GROUP
TOGETHER TO FIX THIS.
SENATOR McCAIN, DO YOU THINK
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA OR NOT?
I KNOW IT'S THE
ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOx
SOFL THIS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE BE
INCLUDED AND I KNOW THE SENATOR
FROM TENNESSEE, SNORE
CORKER -- -- SHALL
SENATOR CORKER IS WAITING.
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAS STATED THE PROBLEM AND A
SOLUTION HERE.
THE PROBLEM IS WE FACE
DEVASTATING IMPACT ON OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE SOLUTION IS FOR OUR LEADERS
AND THE PRESIDENT, IF
POSSIBLE, CONVENE A GROUP OF
SENATORS, WHETHER IT INCLUDES
US OR NOT IS IMMATERIAL ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE CAPITOL TO SIT DOWN AND
SEQUESTER.
WORK OUT SO WE CAN AVOID THIS
I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A
SEQUESTER IF THAT'S WHAT'S
NECESSARY.
BUT I WILL ALSO SAY WITHOUT
CONCRETE, SIGNIFICANT, AND
MEANINGFUL ACTION TO CAUSE THIS
SEQUESTER TO BE PREVENTED, WE
ARE RISKING THE LIVES OF OUR
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN
THE MILITARY.
I DON'T KNOW OF A GREATER
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE.
I ASK THE SENATOR FROM NEW
HAMPSHIRE IF SHE --.
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE IS
RECOGNIZED.
I JOIN WITH MY
COLLEAGUES OVER THE CONCERN,
DEEP CONCERN THAT KEEPS ME UP AT
NIGHT ABOUT SEQUESTRATION
BECAUSE WE CANNOT DO THIS TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE
TO COME TOGETHER.
WE NEED LEADERSHIP FROM OUR
COMMANDER IN CHIEF ON THIS
ISSUE.
PUT IT IN
PERSPECTIVE, I ASKED THE
ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE
MARINE CORPS WHAT THE IMPACT OF
SEQUESTRATION WOULD BE ON THE
MARINES AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE
TOLD ME?
THAT THE MARINE CORPS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WOULD
BE UNABLE TO RESPOND TO ONE
MAJOR CONTINGENCY.
TALK ABOUT PUTTING OUR COUNTRY
AT RISK.
AND PUTTING OURSELVES IN A
SITUATION WHERE, UNFORTUNATELY,
THERE ARE STILL SO MANY RISKS
AROUND THE WORLD THAT OUR
COUNTRY NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED
FROM.
TO THINK THAT OUR MARINE CORPS
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO
ONE MAJOR CONTINGENCY.
IT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND IT REALLY
CRIES FOR BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP
ON THIS ISSUE, AND PARTICULARLY
CHIEF.
LEADERSHIP FROM OUR COMMANDER IN
AND TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE,
IT'S NOT JUST -- IT'S NOT JUST
AN ISSUE OF OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE
ENOUGH TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE
TABLE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
JOBS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
MANUFACTURERS HAS ESTIMATED IT
WOULD BE NEARLY A MILLION JOBS.
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, THE
SAME, AND TO MY COLLEAGUES,
LOOKING AROUND HERE JUST AT
PULLING SOME STATES IN TERMS OF
THE ESTIMATES OF JOB LOSSES,
24,000 FOR ALABAMA.
WHEN WE LOOK AT A STATE LIKE
MISSOURI, 31,000.
WHEN WE LOOK AT A STATE, FOR
EXAMPLE, LIKE FLORIDA, THERE
ARE THOUSANDS OF JOBS -- 39,000
FOR FLORIDA.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL HIT
EVERY STATE IN THIS NATION, BUT
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT, IT IS GOING TO
HIT OUR MILITARY IN A WAY THAT
WE BREAK FAITH WITH OUR TROOPS.
IN FACT, ONE GENERAL HAS SAID
WE WOULD HAVE TO CUT AN
ADDITIONAL 100,000 TROOPS FROM
OUR ARMY ON TOP OF THE
REDUCTIONS WE'RE MAKING RIGHT
NOW, APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND
50% WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM THE
GUARD AND RESERVE.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT
FUNCTION NOT ONLY PROTECTING OUR
COUNTRY, WE COULD NOT HAVE
FOUGHT IN AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ
WITHOUT OUR GUARD AND RESERVE.
I'M THE PROUD WIFE OF SOMEONE
WHO SERVED IN THE IRAQ WAR, AND
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THAT IT'S
NOT ONLY THE FUNCTION THAT OUR
GUARD AND RESERVE PLAY IN TERMS
OF PROTECTING US OVERSEAS, BUT
THEY ALSO PERFORM A VERY
IMPORTANT HOMELAND FUNCTION AND
EVERY GOVERNOR IN THIS COUNTRY
WILL BE DEEPLY CONCERNED IF
WE'RE GOING TO DIMINISH OUR
GUARD AND RESERVE.
SO THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT CRIES
OUT FOR LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS NOW.
IT CANNOT WAIT TILL A LAME DUCK
SESSION.
WE CANNOT PUT OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY IN THE BALANCE, AND
NEARLY A MILLION JOBS AT ISSUE,
TILL A LAME DUCK SESSION.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD
RESOLVE RIGHT NOW AND I
APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE
COME TO THE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT
THIS ISSUE TODAY.
WE MUST GET THIS DONE ON BEHALF
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR
MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
I THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND
FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
I THINK SENATOR
CORKER FROM TENNESSEE WAS ON THE
FLOOR BEFORE ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING BACK
AND FORTH OR HOW LONG HE EXPECTS
TO SPEAK BUT I'D YIELD TO HEAR
WHAT HIS PLANS ARE.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
I THANK THE SENATOR
FROM ILLINOIS.
I'LL SPEAK FOR TWO OR THREE
MINUTES.
I YIELD TO THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE AND ASK
THAT I FOLLOW HIM.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I APPRECIATE THE
COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES FROM
ARIZONA AND SOUTH CAROLINA
REGARDING THE SEQUESTRATION.
THE REASON WE ARE IN THE
SEQUESTRATION MODE IS SIX
DEMOCRATS AND SIX REPUBLICANS
COULD NOT FIGURE OUT A WAY OVER
A TON-YEAR PERIOD TO CUT
$1.2 TRILLION IN SPENDING OUT OF
$45 TRILLION THAT ARE GOING TO
BE SPENT BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DURING THAT PERIOD OF
TIME.
SO I DO HOPE THERE'S A WAY TO
RESOLVE THAT BUT I'M HERE TO
SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING RELATED
BUT IN SOME WAYS VERY DIFFERENT.
TODAY WE'RE GETTING READY TO
VOTE ON TO LEGISLATION DEALING
WITH FLOOD INSURANCE, DEALING
WITH STUDENT LENDING, DEALING
WITH HIGHWAYS, AND THESE ARE
ALL VERY POPULAR PROGRAMS.
WHAT PEOPLE IN -- WHO ARE
LISTENING TO MAY BE PAYING
ATTENTION TO WHAT THE SENATE IS
DOING TODAY, WHAT THEY MAY NOT
KNOW IS THAT FOR THE THIRD TIME
IN A BIPARTISAN WAY THIS BODY IS
GETTING READY TO SPEND MORE
MONEY THAN WAS DEEMED BY THE
BUDGET THAT WAS ULTIMATELY
CREATED BY THE BUDGET CONTROL
ACT JUST LAST YEAR WHEN THE
COUNTRY ALMOST SHUT DOWN TRYING
TO SAVE A MERE $900 BILLION OVER
THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
SO A VOTE TODAY FOR THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION IS BASICALLY A
VOTE TO SAY THAT THE UNITED
STATES SENATE CANNOT BE
ENTRUSTED TO CARRY OUT THE
THINGS THAT IT LAID OUT LAST
AUGUST, TO KEEP US FROM
SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DO NOT
HAVE.
AND SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME BUDGET
POINT OF ORDERS THAT WILL BE
BROUGHT FORTH AT SOME POINT
LATER TODAY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY AS ONE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE, IT
CONTINUES TO BE UNBELIEVABLE TO
ME THAT THIS BODY DOES NOT HAVE
THE COURAGE, DOES NOT HAVE THE
WILL, DOES NOT HAVE THE
DISCIPLINE TO EVEN LIVE WITHIN A
VERY MODEST BUDGET THAT WAS LAID
OUT LAST AUGUST.
TODAY I'M CERTAIN THAT WE ARE
GOING TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT
SPENDS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE
THAN WE AGREED TO BY THE BUDGET
CONTROL ACT AND ESPECIALLY THE
DEEMED BUDGET THAT CAME AFTER
THAT.
THE DEEMED BUDGET THAT WAS PUT
IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF WHAT WE
AUGUST.
PUT -- WHAT WE PASSED LAST
WOULD SAY ALL THOSE WHO
VOTE FOR THIS TODAY ARE
BASICALLY SAYING WE DO NOT HAVE
THE DISCIPLINE TO LIVE WITHIN
OUR MEANS, THE PROBLEMS THAT
OUR NATION FACES FISCALLY ARE
ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, AND I
THINK THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR
OUR COUNTRY IF THAT, IN FACT,
IS WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE NEXT
TWO OR THREE HOURS ON THE SENATE
FLOOR.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
I THANK THE SENATOR
FROM TENNESSEE FOR HIS COMMENTS
AND I SHARE HIS CONCERN ABOUT
OUR DEFICIT.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE
SIMPSON-BOWLES COMMISSION,
VOTED FOR THE REPORT,
BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT BY $1.4 TRILLION OVER
TEN YEARS.
I THINK WE SET IN PLACE A
DESCRIPTION, MAYBE A GUIDE POST
FOR HOW WE CAN DO THIS AND I
WOULD AGREE WITH HIM THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE CARE IN THE MONEY
THAT WE SPEND NOW WHICH WILL ADD
TO THE DEFICIT, THOUGH I HAVE
TO SAY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS
TRANSPORTATION BILL IS PAID FOR.
THERE ARE REVENUE SOURCES THAT
ARE PART OF THIS.
I KNOW THAT THE STUDENT LOAN
CONTINUED DECREASE IN INTEREST
RATES TO 3.4% FOR STUDENT LOANS
IS PAID FOR.
AND I BELIEVE THE CHANGES WITHIN
THE FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM
WHICH IS PART OF THIS PACKAGE AS
WELL, THE REPUBLICAN LEADER
SPOKE TO THIS MORNING, REFORMS
IN THAT PROGRAM WILL MOVE IT
CLOSER TO SUSTAINABILITY AND
SOLVENCY.
IT IS NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE
BUT IT IS MOVING CLOSER.
BUT I WANT ADDRESS IF I CAN WHAT
HAS BEEN THE TOPIC ABOUT THE
PLANNED CUTS IN THE DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENSE.
LET ME SAY WHAT WE ALL AGREE ON.
NUMBER ONE, WE NEVER, EVER
WANT TO SHORTCHANGE AMERICA'S
SECURITY NOR SHORTCHANGE OUR MEN
AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM.
A NEPHEW OF MINE WHO SERVED AS A
DOORMAN RIGHT UP HERE IN THE
GALLERY RECENTLY RETURNED FROM
ONE YEAR IN AFGHANISTAN, WE
WERE SENDING PACKAGES, WORRIED
ABOUT MICHAEL EVERY DAY, GOT
HOME SAFELY.
THAT'S HAPPENING OVER AND OVER
AGAIN ACROSS AMERICA.
I WANTED MY NEPHEW TO HAVE ALL
HE NEEDED TO COME HOME SAFELY
AND I THINK EVERYONE FEELS THE
SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
NOW LET'S STEP BACK AND LOOK AT
THIS DEFICIT DEBATE AND ALLOW MY
TO PUT IT IN A LITTLE
PERSPECTIVE FOR A MOMENT.
THE LAST TIME WE BALANCED THE
FEDERAL BUDGET WAS NOT IN THE
19th CENTURY.
IT WAS ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO.
IT WAS A TIME WHEN WILLIAM
JEFFERSON CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND FOR
THREE YEARS WE HAD A BALANCED
BUDGET UNDER A DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT.
THREE YEARS, A BALANCED BUDGET.
WHEN WE REACHED A BALANCED
BUDGET, IF YOU STEPPED BACK AND
SAID, WELL, WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN
TERMS OF SPENDING AND REVENUE,
THEY'RE THE SAME, HERE'S WHAT WE
FOUND:
REVENUE AND SPENDING BOTH E
EEQUALED 19.5% OF AMERICA'S
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
THE SUM TOTAL OF THE VALUES OF
GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCED IN
AMERICA EVERY YEAR.
IT CHANGES.
IT GROWS.
AND THE LAST YEAR WE WERE IN
BALANCE, TAXES EQUALED 19.5% OF
OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT,
FEDERAL SPENDING EQUALED 19.5%.
AND WE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET.
NOW WE'RE IN DEPEND WATER.
WE SAW THE ACCUMULATED DEBT OF
THE UNITED STATES MORE THAN
DOUBLE UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH, AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW
BECAUSE OF THE RECESSION UNDER
THIS PRESIDENT.
OUR ANNUAL DEFICITS ARE OVER $1
TRILLION AND UNSUSTAINABLE.
UNSUSTAINABLE.
WE BORROW 40 CENTS FOR EVERY
DOLLAR WE SPEND, WHETHER WE'RE
BUYING MILITARY EQUIPMENT OR
PAYING FOR FOOD STAMPS.
WE BORROW 40 CENTS.
THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
BUT NOW THAT WE NOW THERE WAS A
IN BALANCE, IT
IS FAIR TO SAY, WELL, WHAT'S
HAPPENED TO SPENDING SINCE THIS
BUDGET WAS IN BALANCE?
IF DO YOU IT IN CONSTANT DOLLARS
SO THERE'S NO MUNG CAN CAN IING --
MONKEYING AROUND WITH NUMBERS
HERE, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN
WE WERE LAST IN BALANCE IN OUR
BUDGET.
DOMESTIC DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
EQUALS STUDENT LOANS, MEDICAL
RESEARCH, TRANSPORTATION, ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT DON'T
DEFENSE.
FIT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
THE SPENDING IN THOSE AREAS
SINCE WE WERE LAST IN BALANCE
HAS BEEN FLAT, NO INCREASE, NO
INCREASE.
WHAT ABOUT SPENDING FOR
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS?
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, PROGRAMS
LIKE THAT, VETERANS CARE, WHAT
HAS HAPPENED TO THEM SINCE WE
WERE LAST IN BALANCE?
SINCE WE WERE LAST IN BALANCE,
THE I ASK THAT THE QUORUM CALL
ASK THAT THE QUORUM CALLBE SUSPENDING ON ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS HAS GONE UP 30%.
WHY?
THE BABY BOOMERS HAVE ARRIVED.
10,000 PEOPLE A DAY REACH THE
AGE OF 65.
OUR TURN.
THEY SHOW UP NOW AND SAY, IT'S
BECAUSE OF THAT
ENTITLEMENT SPENDING HAS GONE
UP.
NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE THIRD PART
OF THE BUDGET WHICH WAS
ADDRESSED BY MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES THIS MORNING.
DEFENSE SPENDING.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DEFENSE
BALANCE?
SPENDING SINCE THE BUDGET WAS IN
DOMESTIC DISCRETIONARY FLAT,
ENTITLEMENTS 30%.
AS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET,
DEFENSE SPENDING WILL HAVE RISEN
73% -- 73% SINCE THE BUDGET WAS
LAST IN BALANCE.
SO, WE CREATED A SUPERCOMMITTEE.
SENATOR KERRY OF MASSACHUSETTS
WAS A MEMBER.
AND WE SAID, FIND WAYS TO REDUCE
THE DEFICIT BY $1.2 TRILLION
OVER TEN YEARS.
THEY TRIED.
AND I'M SURE SENATOR KERRY WILL
SPEAK TO THAT EFFORT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY
AGREEMENT.
COULDN'T REACH A BIPARTISAN
ON -- A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT
ON HOW IT WOULD BE DONE.
SO THE LAW WE PASSED SAID IF YOU
CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT, WE'RE
GOING DO IT AUTOMATICALLY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE $500 BILLION
OUT OF DEFENSE AND $500 BILLION
OUT OF NON-DEFENSE SPENDING.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
PEOPLE ARE COMING TO THE FLOOR
AND SAYING, WE CAN'T TAKE
ANOTHER $500 BILLION OUT OF
DEFENSE SPENDING.
I WILL TELL YOU, I THINK THAT IS
A LOT TO BE TAKEN OUT IN LIGHT
OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY
ANTICIPATED WE'RE GOING TO
REDUCE SPENDING.
I THINK IT WILL CAUSE SOME
SERIOUS PROBLEMS, BUT I REJECT
THE NOTION THAT THAT $500
BILLION, IF IT'S TAKEN OUT OF
DOMESTIC DISCRETIONARY WON'T
HAVE EQUALLY HORRIBLE RESULTS.
SO I SAY TO MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, WHEN
YOU HAD A CHANCE IN THE
SUPERCOMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH THE
SPENDING CUTS OF A LESSER AMOUNT
OR TO DEAL WITH REVENUE, CLOSING
TAX LOOPHOLES, YOU WALKED AWAY
FROM IT.
NOW YOU'RE COMPLAINING THAT WE
MAY END UP CUTTING DEFENSE
SPENDING.
INCIDENTALLY, IF THE
SEQUESTRATION NUMBER WENT
THROUGH, THE ADDITIONAL $500
BILLION IN CUTS OVER THE NEXT
TEN YEARS, IT WOULD BRING THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SPEND ON
DEFENSE TO THE SAME PERCENTAGE
OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AS
IT WAS WHEN THE BUDGET WAS IN
BALANCE.
SO, MY FRIENDS WHO ARE SPEAKING
FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE, I JOIN
YOU.
BUT I ALSO SPEAK FOR INVESTMENTS
IN AMERICA WHEN IT COMES TO
EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND
INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH WILL HELP
AND SEQUESTRATION OF THE
OUR ECONOMY GROW.
DOMESTIC SIDE IS UNACCEPTABLE
FROM THIS SENATOR'S POINT OF
VIEW AS WELL.
WE NEED TO GET BEYOND THIS AND
TALK ABOUT AN HONEST ANSWER TO
REDUCING THE DEFICIT.
AN HONEST ANSWER, GOING BACK TO
SIMPSON-BOWLES, PUTS EVERYTHING
ON THE TABLE -- EVERYTHING.
TO MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE, IT PUTS REVENUE ON
IT MUST.
TABLE.
THIS SIDE.
AISLE, IT PUTS ENTITLEMENT
MUST.
PROGRAMS ON THE TABLE, AND IT
AND IT INCLUDES SPENDING CUTS.
THAT IS THE ONLY HONEST WAY TO
ADDRESS THIS.
BUT TO PICK IT OFF AND SAY WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE THE ONE AREA OF OF
THE BUDGET THAT HAS GROWN IN
SPENDING BY 73% AND HOLD IT
HARMLESS, IGNORE IT, AND THEN
HAVE THEM SAY, AND WE WON'T
TOUCH REVENUE, LEAVES TWO
POSSIBILITIES, IF WE'RE GOING TO
DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFICIT:
DEEPER CUTS IN PROGRAMS LIKE
STUDENT LOANS, MEDICAL RESEARCH,
OR CUTS IN MEDICARE.
THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
HARD CHOICES, RIGHT?
THAT'S WHY I THINK THE
BOWLES-SIMPSON APPROACH BY
PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE
WAS THE RIGHT APPROPRIATE I
WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDE OF THE AISLE TO TAKE THIS
PAIN THAT WE'RE FACING ON
DECEMBER 31 AND TURN IT INTO AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE THIS
DEFICIT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
SENATOR MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM UTAH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
STAND TO RAISE A CONCERN THAT I
HAVE WITH REGARD TO THE
COMMITTEE REPORT TO
ACCOMPANY H.R. 4348.
PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 9 OF RULE
28 OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE
ADEQUATE NOTICE OF A REPORT LIKE
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON IT.
THIS BEFORE WE'VE THE
THE PROVISION STATES THAT IT
SHALL NOT BE IN ORDER TO VOTE ON
THE ADOPTION OF A REPORT OF A
COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE UNLESS
SUCH REPORT HAS BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS AND TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC FOR AT LEAST 48
HOURS BEFORE SUCH VOTE.
NOW, THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE
COMMITTEE REPORT WAS FILED, AS I
NIGHT.
UNDERSTAND IT, AT 8:07 P.M. LAST
IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE 48
HOURS REQUIRED NOTICE.
WHAT WE HAVE ULTIMATELY,
MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN WE LOOK AT
THIS IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A
HIGHWAY BILL THAT WAS SENT TO
CONFERENCE, BUT IT CAME BACK
FROM CLOSED-DOOR NEGOTIATIONS
WITH A STUDENT LOAN BILL AND
ALSO WITH A FLOOD INSURANCE BILL
ATTACHED TO IT.
NEITHER GIVEN THE CHANCE
TO DEBATE NOR GIVEN THE CHANCE
TO AMEND THESE PROVISIONS BEFORE
THEY CAME TO THE FLOOR, AND NOW
WE'RE APPROACHING A VOTE ON
THAT.
WE DID NOT PROVIDE OUR FELLOW
SENATORS OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WITH AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO
READ THE 596-PAGE CONFERENCE
REPORT THAT'S REQUIRED BY OUR
VERY OWN RULES.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT RECOMMEND ANY
SINCE THE OF A STATEMENT MADE A
FEW YEARS AGO BY THEN-SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI WHEN
SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF HER BODY
REGARDING THE PASSAGE OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, SHE SAID,
"WE HAVE TO PASS THE BILL SO
THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S IN
IT."
THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT
WE HAVE IN WASHINGTON, ONE OF
THE PROBLEMS THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY
AWARE OF.
IT'S A PROBLEM THAT I THINK WE
NEED TO ADDRESS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN WE HAVE A
PROBLEM IN WHICH THE SENATE
WAITS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE A
THE DAY BEFORE A
SCHEDULED IN-STATE WORK PERIOD
BEFORE BRINGING SOMETHING TO THE
FLOOR FOR A VOTE.
WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE SENATE'S
OWN RULES, RULES THAT WERE
DESIGNED TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT
THE OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY OF
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THIS IS A TROUBLING TREND, AND
IT IS A TREND THAT WE SHOULD
SEEK TO AVOID WHENEVER, WHEREVER
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
CURRENTLY CONGRESS
HAS ABOUT A 10% APPROVAL RATE.
ONE.
REASONS IS WE DON'T EVEN OBEY
OUR OWN RULES.
FOR GOODNESS SAKES, 600-PAGE
BILL -- AND I GOT IT THIS
MORNING -- NOT ONE MEMBER OF THE
SENATE WILL READ THIS BILL
BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS IN
THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.
I AND SENATOR LEE AND OTHERS
WILL OBJECT TO THIS.
WE'LL HAVE A POINT OF ORDER THAT
OUR OWN RULES SAY IT HAS TO BE
POSTED ONLINE FOR 48 HOURS.
READ IT.
NO WONDER OUR APPROVAL RATE
SOMETHING 10%.
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE VOTING
ON.
IN FACT, STINGS HAVE BEEN STUCK
IN THIS -- THINGS HAVE BEEN
STUCK IN THIS BILL LAST NIGHT
THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY
OF THESE BILLS AND THEY HAVE
BEEN STUCK IN AND WE'RE JUST
DISCOVERING IT.
I PASSED TWO SENATORS IN THE
HALL GOING BACK TO THEIR OFFICE
STILL TRYING TO GET OUT
SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN IN
THIS BILL THAT AFFECTS THEIR
STATES MINUTES AGO.
HAD THEY NOT FOUND OUT ABOUT IT,
NOBODY WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT
IT.
THREE BILLS THAT ARE IN QUESTION
HERE -- TRANSPORTATION BILL,
STUDENT LOAN BILL.
THE STUDENT LOAN BILL,
ORIGINALLY THE LOANS WERE AT 6%,
AND SOMEHOW BRINGING IN MONEY TO
THE TREASURY.
WE WERE USING THAT MONEY TO PAY
FOR OBAMACARE.
NOW IT'S AT 3%.
THAT MONEY IS GONE.
WHEREBY'S THE KNOWN PAY FOR
OBAMACARE?
-- WHERE'S THE MONEY TO PAY FOR
OBAMACARE?
WE HAVE A SHELL GAME UP HERE.
WE SAY WONING IS GOING TO PAY
FOR IT.
NOW THIS IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
MONEY DISAPPEARS.
NOW THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO
PAY FOR IT BY TAKING MONTANA
OUST PENSIONS.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU THINK IT
IS A GOOD TIED UNDERFUND
PENSIONS MORE.
OVER HALF OF THE PENSIONS IN
INSOLVENT.
THIS COUNTRY ARE TECHNICALLY
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE LESS
MONEY GO INTO WORKERS' PENSIONS
TO PAY FOR A STUDENT LOAN
PROGRAM?
I HAVE A BILL IN CONGRESS THAT
SAYS WE SHOULD READ THE BILLS
BEFORE WE PASS THEM.
IT SAYS THAT WE SHOULD WAIT ONE
DAY FOR EACH 20 PAGES, SO WE'D
BE GIVEN TIME TO READ 600-PAGE
BILLS.
BUT AT THE VERY LEAST WE OUGHT
TO ADHERE TO OUR OWN RULES.
OUR RULES SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE
POSTED ONLINE AT LEAST 48 HOURS.
48 HOURS IS STILL A CHALLENGE TO
FIND OUT EVERYTHING IN HERE.
YOU KNOW HOW LONG THE "FEDERAL
REGISTER" IS?
IT IS 55,000 PAGES ADDED
ANNUALLY.
IT IS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
PAGES.
SO WHEN YOU READ THIS, YOU HAVE
TO REFER TO THE "FEDERAL
REGISTER" THAT'S HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PAGES TO FIND OUT
WHAT THEY'VE STUCK IN THIS BILL
IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.
THIS ISN'T THE WAY WE SHOULD O
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT WONDER
WHY DO I WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN
SAY, THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO
SHUT DOWN IF WE DON'T DO
SOMETHING IN THREE DAYS IN WELL
WHAT WERE THEY DOING FOR THE
PREVIOUS THREE MONTHS?
THE OTHER SIDE HASN'T PRODUCE
ADD BUDGET IN THREE YEARS.
THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES.
THE RULES OF THE SENATE SAY YOU
MUST PRODUCE A BUDGET AND THEY
DIDN'T DO IT, FOR THREE YEARS.
WHEN WE PRESENTED THEM WITH
THEIR OWN BUDGET THAT WE WROTE
FOR THEM, NOBODY VOTED FOR IT.
ZERO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE VOTED FOR THEIR OWN
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET TO
COMPROMISE IF THEY'RE NOT
SHOWING UP FOR WORK?
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET ANYTHING
DONE IF THEY DON'T OBEY THEIR
OWN RULES?
I'M DISCOURAGED BY THIS.
I WILL RAISE A POINT OF ORDER IN
THE NEXT HOUR THAT SAYS WE HAVE
BROKEN THE RULES OF THE SENATE,
AND I WILL ASK THEM TO VOTE ON
IT.
I FULLY EXPECT THE
FAVOR.
PARLIAMENTARIAN WILL RULE IN OUR
WE'LL SEE.
BUT THEN THE OTHER SIDE WILL
SIMPLY CLOSE THEIR EYES TO THE
RULES.
THEY WON'T CARE WHAT THE
PARLIAMENTARIAN SAY, AND THEY
WILL JUST OVERTURN THIS BY
SAYING, WE ARE THE MAJORITY AND
WE DEEM IT SO.
WE ARE THE MAJORITY, AND WE
DON'T CARE WHAT'S IN THE BILLS.
WE DON'T CARE TO TAKE THE TIME
TO READ THE BILLS.
WE ARE IN THE MAJORITY, AND WE
DEEM IT SO.
I THINK THIS IS WHY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH WHAT'S
GOING ON IN THIS BODY.
I OBJECT STRENUOUSLY TO IT.
I WILL VOTE AGAINST IT, AND I
WILL RAISE A POINT OF ORDER THAT
BEFORE WE PASS THEM.
SAYS WE SHOULD READ THE BILLS
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
I THANK SENATOR
PAUL FOR RAISING THESE ISSUES.
WE ARE MISMANAGING THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE'S MONEY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE SENATOR LEE,
WHO JUST SPOKE, AND SENATOR
PAUL, NEW MEMBERS TO THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, WHO HAVE BEEN OUT
TALKING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
WHO MAKE COMMITMENTS COMMITMENTS THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE
PROCESS HERE.
I CELEBRATE THEIR ACTIVITY,
VIGOR AND DETERMINATION AND A
LOT OF OTHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY
IN OUR BODY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'LL BE MOVING A
COBBLED-TOGETHER BILL HERE
SHORTLY.
AN ATTEMPT WILL BE DONE TO
ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND I EXPECT
BUDGET POINTS OF ORDER, ANOTHER
POINT OF ORDER TO BE RAISED.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME
THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW IT IS WE DO
BUSINESS AND SOME OF THE EFFORTS
THAT AREN'T LEGITIMATE AS WE GO
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS AND ARE
DANGEROUS TO THE HEALTH
FINANCIALLY OF AMERICA.
LET'S TAKE WHAT WE CALL "THE
*** FUND."
IT'S ANODE NAME THE -- IT'S AN
ODD NAY.
THE TRUE NAME OF IT IS THE
LEAKING UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK
FUND.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE STORAGE TANKS
HAVE TO PAY FEES, IT GOES INTO A
FUND AND YOU HAD THE IDEA OF
THE IDEA OF THAT FUND IS
TO BE AVAILABLE WHEN CLEANUPS
NEED TO BE DONE AND THE COMPANY
OR OTHER COMPANIES HAVE GONE
BANKRUPT AND THERE IS OWE NO
MONEY.
THIS FUND WILL PAY TO CLEAN UP
THE WASTE.
MAKES SENSE, MAYBE.
IT'S BEEN OPERATING FOR QUITE A
NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT'S RUN UP A SURPLUS.
NOW, THAT SURPLUS IS IN THE
LUFT TRUST FUND, THE LEAKING
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK
FUND -- AND WHERE DOES IT GO?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT MONEY?
THE TREASURY OF THE UNITED
STATES IS SPENDING MORE MONEY
EVERY YEAR THAN IT TAKES IN.
THIS YEAR WE WILL SPEND
APPROXIMATELY $3.7 TRILLION, WE
TAKE IN ABOUT $2.2 TRILLION,
AND HAVE 1,300 BILLION DOLLAR
DEFICIT.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING.
TAKING IN ABOUT $2.4 TRILLION,
HAVING ABOUT A $1.3 TRILLION
THIS YEAR, THE FOURTH
CONSECUTIVE YEAR WE'VE HAD OVER
1,000 BILLION-DOLLAR DEFICITS.
WE'LL HAVE A BIG ONE NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE SYSTEMICALLY OVERSPENDING.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS FUND AND IT
HAS SOME REAL MONEY IN IT, A
NUMBER OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?
WELL, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS
MORE MONEY THAN IT TAKES IN, IT
TAKES THE MONEY FROM THE LUFT
FUND.
WELL, HOW DOES IT GET IT?
IT BORROWS IT.
SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A DEBT
INSTRUMENT FROM THE UNITED
STATES TREASURY TO THE TRUSTEES
OF THE HOLDERS, THE MANAGERS OF
THE LUFT TRUST FUND AND THEY'VE
LOANED THE MONEY, THEY DON'T
NEED IT TODAY, THEY LOAN IT TO
THE GOVERNMENT SO THEY CAN SPEND
IT.
AND IT'S BEEN BORROWED AND HAS
BEEN SPENT AND THE ASSETS IN THE
LUFT FUND ARE NOTHING MORE THAN
DEBT INSTRUMENTS FROM THE UNITED
STATES TREASURY.
IT APPEARS THAT
THIS *** FUND HAS ASSETS.
I GUESS IT HAS U.S. TREASURY
NOTES.
SO THE PEOPLE LOOKING AROUND TO
SPEND MONEY AND TRY TO MEET THE
DEMANDS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS TO
BUILD HIGHWAYS IN THIS CASE
DECIDED THEY CAN TAKE THAT
MONEY.
AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING, IT DOES
NOT SCORE AS A -- AN
EXPENDITURE IN THAT FASHION.
IT'S AN ODD WAY THIS IS DONE.
IT'S NOT PROPERLY -- IT'S SEEN
AS FOUND MONEY THAT CAN GO OVER
AND BE SPENT.
BUT WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME
FROM?
THE MONEY IS NOT IN THE FUND,
REMEMBER.
ONLY THE FUND HOLDS TREASURY
BILLS.
THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND DOESN'T
WANT TREASURY BILLS, IT WANTS
MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS THE
UNITED STATES TREASURY, WHICH
HAS BEEN BORROWING MONEY FROM
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND
INSTRUMENT IN
RETURN, HAS TO COME UP WITH THE
MONEY NOW.
IF IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT,
GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF THE
TRUST FUND, WHERE DO THEY GET
THE MONEY?
THEY CONVERT AN INTERNAL DEBT TO
AN EXTERNAL DEBT.
THE ONLY THING THEY WILL DO IS
BORROW MORE MONEY.
SO IT WILL BE THIS MANY BILLION
DOLLARS MORE THAN
$1.2 TRILLION, $1.3 TRILLION WE
HAVE.
AND THE DEBT IS CONVERTED TO A
PUBLIC DEBT AND SOMEBODY IN
CHINA OR SOMEBODY IN JAPAN OR
SOMEBODY IN NEW YORK WILL LOAN
MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND
THEY'LL USE THAT MONEY TO PAY
THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND WITH.
YOU SEE HOW CIRCULAR THAT IS?
IT ALLOWS THE MONEY TO BE DOUBLE
COUNTED.
IT IS A ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENED
WITH THE PRESIDENT'S --
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE
BILL.
$400 BILLION WAS FUNDED THIS
WAY.
SOCIAL SECURITY STILL HAS A
SURPLUS, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN
DRAWN DOWN, IT STILL HAS A
SURPLUS IN ITS ACCOUNT.
MEDICARE DOES.
AND SO THE MEDICARE TRUSTEES
RAISED MEDICARE TAXES, THEY CUT
BENEFITS AND THEY SAVED $400
BILLION.
AND UNDER THAT, WHICH WOULD BE
MONEY OF THE MEDICARE, AND THE
TRUSTEES, IT'S THEIR MONEY.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT?
UNDER THE CONVENTIONS OF
ACCOUNTING, THE MONEY WAS
AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT BY THE
U.S. TREASURY.
AND THE U.S. TREASURY THEN WOULD
SPEND IT ON THE NEW HEALTH CARE
BILL.
AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE DIRECTOR,
MR. ELMENDORF, WROTE ME A
LETTER THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BILL
PASSED, CHRISTMAS EVE, AND HE
SAID THIS IS DOUBLE COUNTING THE
MONEY.
YOU CAN'T SIMULTANEOUSLY COUNT
MAKING MEDICARE BETTER AND
PROVIDING NEW MONEY TO FUND THE
HEALTH CARE BILL WITH.
$400 BILLION ON THE NIGHT BEFORE
THE VOTE, HE ANNOUNCES THIS IS
DOUBLE COUNTING.
IF A PRIVATE BUSINESS WERE TO DO
IT, THEY WOULD BE IN BIG
TROUBLE, I SUGGEST.
THEY MIGHT BE SUED FOR FRAUD.
THEY WOULD BE SUED FOR FRAUD.
SO THE MONEY WAS DONE IN THAT
FASHION, AND THE WAY IT
HAPPENED WAS MR. ELMENDORF SAID
IT'S DOUBLE COUNTING THE MONEY,
YOU CAN'T SIMULTANEOUSLY BENEFIT
MEDICARE AND FUND A NEW HEALTH
CARE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH THE
CONVENTIONS OF ACCOUNTING MIGHT
SUGGEST OTHERWISE.
AND SO THE REAL SMART
FINANCEIERS, WHAT DID THEY DO?
THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE THE
CONVENTIONS OF ACCOUNTING IN A
WAY THAT OBSCURED THE FACT THAT
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE $400
BILLION.
AND IT WAS BORROWED MONEY, IN
TRUTH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I SEE MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR AND
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE
OF COMMENTS TO MAKE FOR
CLARIFICATION PURPOSES.
I FIRST OF ALL I DON'T THINK
ANYONE IS GOING TO QUESTION MY
CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS OVER
THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE,
AND I'VE BEEN -- I'VE BEEN
REALLY OFFENDED BY A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED,
STRUCTURALLY IN THIS
INSTITUTION, OVER IN THE
HOUSE, BUT INSOFAR AS THIS BILL
IS CONCERNED, LET ME KIND OF
CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS.
IT SOUNDS REAL GOOD WHEN YOU
STAND UP HERE AND SAY WE'VE ONLY
HAD A MATTER OF MINUTES TO LOOK
AT SOMETHING THAT'S 500 PAGES.
WE'VE HAD THIS BILL FOR A LONG
TIME, FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
WE'VE HAD IT, WE'VE GONE OVER
EVERYTHING.
ON THE BILL WE SENT FROM THE
SENATE TO THE HOUSE, IT'S
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING.
ADDED
THE TWO PROVISIONS ON STUDENT
LOAN AND FLOOD INSURANCE, I
DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT.
EVERYONE KNOWS THOSE ISSUES.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE IN
HERE.
NEVERTHELESS WE DENT HAVE ANY
CONTROL IN THIS OVER THAT.
AS FAR AS THE PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL ARE CONCERNED, THESE
PROVISIONS WE HAVE SEEN AND
EVERYONE WHO HAS SPOKEN AGAINST
IT HAS BEEN THERE WHEN WE TALKED
ABOUT THE GREAT REFORMS AND I'VE
COMMENTED SEVERAL TIMES THAT I
THOUGHT ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WAS
THAT WE DID TOO GOOD OF A JOB
BECAUSE WE HAD TOO MANY REFORMS.
AND -- AND WHEN IT GOT OVER TO
THE HOUSE WHERE THEY'RE INCLINED
TO HAVE MORE REFORMS IN THERE,
THEY HAD TO START FROM THE BASE
WHERE WE HAD DONE A GOOD JOB
DESCREAMLINING, ENHANCEMENTS,
ALL THESE THINGS ARE IN IT AND
ALL CAN SAY FROM A CONSERVATIVE
PERSPECTIVE, WE'VE SEEN THIS
BILL, WE'VE LIVED WITH THIS
BILL, NOT JUST OURS, NOT --
NOT JUST HOURS, NOT DAYS, BUT
ACTUALLY FOR WEEKS.
THE BASIC PROVISIONS OF THE
BILL.
WE HAVE TO REALIZE IS
THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
AND THAT ALTERNATIVE AND THE
ONLY ALTERNATIVE, ONLY
ALTERNATIVE IS TO GO BACK TO
EXTENSIONS.
AND WHEN YOU GO TO EXTENSIONS,
A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN.
NUMBER ONE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
OF THE REFORMS THAT WE HAVE.
NUMBER TWO, YOU THROW AWAY
ABOUT 30% OF THE MONEY.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
WOULD MY FRIEND YIELD
FOR A QUESTION?
THROUGH THE CHAIR TO MY FRIEND,
THE RANKING MEMBER OF THIS
COMMITTEE, IT'S TRUE, IS IT
NOT, THAT BASICALLY THE SAME
BILL THAT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE
ON TODAY PASSED THIS INSTITUTION
IN MARCH?
IT IS TRUE, I SAY
THROUGH THE CHAIR, IT PASSED
THIS INSTITUTION WITH 74 VOTES,
AS I RECALL.
SO, AGAIN, PEOPLE
HAVE HAD SINCE MARCH TO READ
THIS BILL, A LITTLE BIT, DON'T
YOU THINK?
I ANSWER IN THE
AFFIRMATIVE.
BUT BEFORE, --
WOULD MY FRIEND
YIELD FURTHER?
I WANT TO CORRECT THE RECORD.
THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES, WE
SPEEDED UP PROJECT DELIVERY, AS
MY FRIEND KNOWS, WE GAVE A
LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO
STATES IN TERMS OF THE T.E.
PROGRAM.
A FEW THINGS ARE CHANGED BUT MY
FRIENDS ARE RIGHT.
PRIMARILY, THIS IS A SIMILAR
BILL, IT TAKES THE MONEY AND WE
SAY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE
SAME THING PLUS INFLATION, AND
IT'S TRUE.
THESE BILLS HAVE BEEN OUT HERE
FOR A LONG TIME.
ACTUALLY PASSED OUR COMMITTEE,
SENATOR INHOFE, IN NOVEMBER OF
LAST YEAR.
I RESPOND YES, THAT
IS CORRECT.
THAT IS ACCURATE.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT,
TOO.
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS BILL FOR A LONG PERIOD OF
TIME.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED TRYING TO
GET A HIGHWAY REAUTHORIZATION
BILL WAY BACK IN 2009 WHEN THE
OLD BILL FROM 2005 EXPIRED.
BUT THESE PROVISIONS, THE
PROBLEM IS -- AND I WANT TO GET
BACK ON WHERE I WAS, THERE IS
AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIS BILL.
IF YOU DEFEAT THIS BILL, WE GO
BACK TO EXTENSIONS.
IF YOU GO BACK TO EXTENSIONS,
FIRST OF ALL, YOU'RE LOSING
ABOUT 30% OF THE MONEY OFF THE
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
TOP.
AND SECONDLY, YOU DON'T GET
THESE REFORMS.
IF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED OUT
THERE, CONSERVATIVES, THAT
THEY'RE NOT GETTING -- THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO DEFEAT THIS AND
GO BACK TO EXTENSIONS, THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE THE REFORM
WITH THE ENHANCEMENTS.
THE LAW REQUIRES RIGHT NOW THAT
2% OR 10%, DEPENDING ON HOW YOU
WANT TO PUT IT, 2% FROM TOTAL
FUNDING OR 10% -- 10% OF TOTAL
FUNDING OR 2% OF SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION.
THAT HAS TO BE SPENT ON
TRANSPORTATION ENHANCEMENTS.
MY GOOD FRIEND, THE SENATOR,
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT HAD THIS, SENATOR BOXER,
ENHANCEMENTS.
SHE AND I DISAGREE ON
SHE LIEKS THEM, I DON'T.
I WANT MONEY SPENT ON CONCRETE,
ROADS, AND BRIDGES.
THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
THAT'S A DISAGREEMENT WE HAD BUT
WE SHOULD HAD A COMPROMISE WHERE
SHE CAN HAVE AND ANYONE CAN HAVE
WHAT THEY WANT.
AN OVERSIMPLIFICATION BUT
IT MEANS THIS MONEY IS GOING TO
BE PUT IN SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
ENHANCEMENTS BUT IN MY STATE OF
OKLAHOMA IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
ENHANCEMENTS, IT'S PAYING FOR
SOME OF THE UNFUNDED MANDATES,
PAYING FOR THINGS WE HAVE TO DO
IN TERMS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED.
SO WE HAVE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM.
IF WE DON'T PASS THIS BILL WE GO
RIGHT BACK AND IT'S GOING TO
HAVE TO GO TO ENHANCEMENTS.
STREAMLINING, ALL THE
STREAMLINING IN THIS IN TERMS,
ENVIRONMENTAL STREAMLINING, YOU
TALK TO ANY OF THE ROAD
CONTRACTORS OUT THERE AND
THEY'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE WASTE
OF MONEY AND THE NUMBER OF MILES
OF ROADS THAT CAN'T -- THEY
CAN'T DO BECAUSE SOME OF THESE
REQUIREMENTS, THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE STREAMLINED THOSE
REQUIREMENTS.
NOW, IF WE DON'T PASS THIS BILL
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO
EXTENSIONS AND THAT SAME THING,
OPPORTUNITIES.
WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ALL THOSE
SO NOT ONLY WILL IT COST MORE,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE
STREAMLINING.
AND I WOULD SAY THIS, I'M VERY
PROUD OF A GROUP THAT'S ALWAYS
SUPPORTED ME, THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE UNION.
IS THERE ANYONE AROUND HERE WHO
DOESN'T THINK THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE UNION IS
CONSERVATIVE?
I HAVE MADE A PART OF THE RECORD
WHEN I MADE A SPEECH YESTERDAY
AND I PUT AN EDITORIAL BY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE UNION, AN OP-ED
PIECE, LET ME READ TWO SHORT
PARAGRAPHS FRAFS.
MR. PRESIDENT, ONE PARAGRAPH
SAYS, I'M QUOTING NOW, IN THE
OP-ED PIECE FROM THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE UNION.
ARTICLE ONE, SECTION 8 OF THE
CONSTITUTION SPECIFICALLY LISTS
INTERSTATE ROAD BUILDING AS ONE
OF THE DELINEATED POWERS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES VESTED IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE
FEDERALIST PAPERS NUMBER 42
JAMES MADISON MAKES AN EARLY
CASE FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN MAINTAINING
A HEALTHY INFRASTRUCTURE BY
STATING -- QUOTE -- "NOTHING
WHICH TENDS TO FACILITATE THE
INTERCOURSE BETWEEN STATES CAN
BE DEEMED UNWORTHY OF PUBLIC
CARE."
AND HE GOES ON TO SAY -- THIS
IS THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THOSE OF HOUSE
BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSERVATIVISM UNDERSTAND THAT
UNLIKE ALL OF THE THINGS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTWAYS OUR MONEY
ON -- WASTES OUR MONEY ON,
TRANSPORTATION SPENDING IS AT
THE CORE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES
LEGITIMATE SPENDING.
THAT'S THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE
UNION.
I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS -- VOTING FOR THIS
IS THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH.
YOU GET MORE FROM THE MONEY
THAT'S BEING SPENT AND IT HAS
ALL THE STREAMLINING IN IT AND
RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS IS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
DO.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYS OF
DOING IT.
ONE WAY IS TO PASS THIS BILL AND
THE OTHER IS TO OPERATE ON
EXTENSIONS AND I JUST THINK IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND THAT.
REQUEST WITH -- WITH THAT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
BE AT THE POINTED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I HAVE ONE UNANIMOUS
CONSENT REQUEST FOR A COMMITTEE
TO MEET DURING TODAY'S SESSION
OF THE BOTH SENATOR McCONNELL
AND I HAVE APPROVED THIS.
I ASK CONSENT THAT THE REQUESTS
BE AGREED TO AND THAT THIS
RECORD.
REQUEST BE PRINTED IN THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOW
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
NOTWITHSTANDING LACK OF RECEIPT
OF THE PAPERS WITH RESPECT TO
THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO
ACCOMPANY H.R. 4348, AT
12:55 P.M. TODAY THE SENATE
PROCEED TO A SERIES OF STACKED
VOTES, THE TIME UNTIL THEN BE
EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO
LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES AND
ANY POINTS OF ORDER IN ORDER TO
THE CONFERENCE BE BUDGET POINTS
OF ORDER, THAT POINTS OF ORDER
RELATIVE TO RULE 28 OR RULE 28,
PARAGRAPH 9, AVAILABILITY.
IF A RULE 28 SCOPE OF CONFERENCE
POINT OF ORDER, RULE 28
AVAILABILITY POINT OF ORDER IS
MADE AGAINST THE CONFERENCE
REPORT, AN APPLICABLE MOTION TO
WAIVE IS MADE, THE SENATE
PROCEED TO VOTE ON THE MOTION TO
WAIVE IN THE ORDER THEY WERE
RAISED.
IF THE MOTIONS TO WAIVE ARE
SUCCESSFUL, THE SENATE PROCEED
TO VOTE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
CONFERENCE REPORT.
THE ADOPTION OF THE CONFERENCE
REPORT BE SUBJECT TO A
60-AFFIRMATIVE VOTE THRESHOLD,
THERE BE TWO MINUTES EQUALLY
DIVIDED PRIOR TO EACH VOTE, ALL
AFTER THE FIRST VOTE BE TEN
MINUTES VOTES.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THAT
CONSENT IN SPITE OF THE FACT
THAT VOTES MIGHT NOT COME RIGHT
AFTER EACH OTHER.
FURTHER, THAT IF THE CONFERENCE
REPORT IS ADOPTED, THE TITLE
AMENDMENT BE AGREED TO, NO
TO RECOMMIT BE BE IN
ORDER TO THE CONFERENCE REPORT.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I ASKMR. REID: THE TIME OF 12:5 NOT
HAVING ARRIVED, I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER
THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ON BEHALF OF SENATOR PAUL, I
RAISE A POINT OF ORDER THAT THE
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4348
HAS NOT BEEN PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
AS REQUIRED BY
RULE 28, PARAGRAPH 9.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
MOVE TO WAIVE THE PROVISIONS NOR
McCONNELL JUST NOTED.
THAT'S RULE 9 -- PARAGRAPH 9 OF
RULE 28.
THE
QUESTION IS ON A MOTION TO WAY.
-- A
MOTION TO WAIVE.
I ASK FOR THE YEAS
AND NAYS.
IS
THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
SECOND.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A SUFFICIENT
THERE IS A SUFFICIENT SECOND.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
VOTE: