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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT FORMULA;
SIMPLE BUT SUBSTANTIVE, TO GET
US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
THE
SENATOR HAS CONSUMED 12 MINUTES.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
SO I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO,
COME TOGETHER AND CONTINUE THIS
DEBATE AND MOVE IT TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
AS I SAID WHEN I BEGAN, THE
FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS
RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE
PROGRESS.
BECAUSE FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS OF
RESISTANCE FROM THE
DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER,
WE'RE FINALLY HERE ON THE SENATE
FLOOR ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR
MOST PRESSING CHALLENGE:
SPENDING AND DEBT.
BUT IT IS A SENSE OF THE SENATE
RESOLUTION.
IT IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION.
SO LET'S GET TO THE REAL
SUBSTANCE BY HAVING MEANINGFUL
LEGISLATION: CUT, CAP, BALANCE
LEGISLATION PUT ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE, OPEN TO THE
AMENDMENTS, OPEN TO WIDE-RANGING
DEBATE.
THAT'S THE HISTORY AND TRADITION
OF THE SENATE.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT HASN'T BEEN
THE PRACTICE OF THE SENATE ALL
THAT MUCH IN RECENT YEARS BUT
THAT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO
SO LET'S PUT THAT MEANINGFUL
SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION ABOUT,
STANDING IT ON THE FLOOR OF THE
SENATE, HAVE THAT DEBATE, HAVE
AMENDMENTS, HAVE A FREE FLOW OF
IDEAS.
CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE.
WE CAN GET THERE.
WE CAN DO THE WORK OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE CAN REIN IN THIS RUNAWAY
FEDERAL SPENDING AND DEBT.
AND WE MUST.
AND WE MUST NOW.
BECAUSE IF WE FAIL TO MEET THIS
CHALLENGE THIS YEAR, IF WE FAIL
TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE THIS
YEAR, I BELIEVE THERE ARE GOING
TO BE DIRE, DIRE CONSEQUENCES
FOR OUR ECONOMY AND FOR ALL
AMERICAN FAMILIES AS A RESULT.
HAVING THIS TOPIC ON THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE IS A START, BUT
IT'S ONLY A START.
LET'S BUILD ON THIS.
PUT SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION ON
THE FLOOR ABOUT SPENDING AND
DEBT, AND ACT ON THAT MEANINGFUL
SUBSTANTIVE LEGISLATION.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
BEFORE I BEGIN ON
MY TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MY
COLLEAGUE FROM LOUISIANA IF HE'D
ANSWER A QUESTION?
WOULD MY --
MR. VITTER:ITE BE HAPPY TO.
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE.
HE'S RIGHT, WE SHOULD MOVE ON
THIS THIS YEAR.
WE CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT.
OF COURSE THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT WOULDN'T TAKE EFFECT
FOR YEARS TO COME.
BUT MY COLLEAGUE JUST VOTED FOR
THE RYAN AMENDMENT WHICH
ACTUALLY INCREASED THE DEFICIT.
NOT ONLY DID IT NOT MOVE DEFICIT
NUMBERS DOWN, BUT IT INCREASED
THE DEFICIT.
HOW CAN HE RECONCILE ALL THIS
NICE, GRANDIOSE TALK ABOUT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT WHILE
VOTING FOR AN AMENDMENT THAT
ACTUALLY INCREASED THE DEFICIT?
FIRST OF ALL, I
VOTED FOR THAT BUDGET AS WELL AS
THE TOOMEY BUDGET.
THE TOOMEY BUDGET, WHICH WAS MY
FIRST CHOICE PREFERENCE,
BALANCES THE BUDGET IN TEN
YEARS.
THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST CHOICE.
OF THE RYAN BUDGET GETS US WAY
DOWN THE PATH COMPARED TO
ANYTHING ELSE PROPOSED ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE, WHICH ON THE
SENATE FLOOR ACTUALLY GOT ZERO
VOTES OUT OF 100.
WHILE THE RYAN BUDGET IS NOT MY
FIRST CHOICE, IT'S A DRAMATIC
IMPROVEMENT ON THE PATH WE'RE
CURRENTLY ON.
SHY SHY THE HIGH --
THE RYAN BUDGET
IS NOT A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
THE RYAN BUDGET, AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, DOES NOT DO A THING IN THE
DEFICIT.
FIRST DECADE TO REDUCE THE
IT CUTS A LOT OF SPENDING, BUT
IT ALSO CUTS TAXES TANNED RAISES
DEFENSE SPENDING.
IF I MAY RESPOND
THROUGH THE CHAIR, THAT IS NOT
TRUE.
IT REDUCES THE DEFICIT.
IT DOESN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET
WITHIN THE T-PB-YEAR WINDOW,
WHICH IS MY STRONG PREFERENCE.
THE TOOMEY BUDGET DOES DO THAT,
BUT IT GETS US GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT REDUCES THE DEFICIT, AND IT'S
A PARTICULARLY DRAMATIC
IMPROVEMENT OVER ANYTHING
ADMINISTRATION.
SPONSORED BY THIS
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE.
I WOULD SAY IT'S TIME TO WALK
THE WALK, NOT TALK THE TALK.
WHENEVER FOLKS REFUSE TO STEP UP
TO THE PLATE TO TOWELLY BALANCE
THE -- TO ACTUALLY BALANCE THE
BUDGET -- THE LAST PRESIDENT TO
DO SO WOULD BE BILL CLINTON --
THEY START TALKING ABOUT A WAY
DISTANT IN THE FUTURE AMENDMENT.
THIS BALANCED BUDGET THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT IS NOT GOING TO
FIVE YEARS.
SOLVE OUR PROBLEM IN THE NEXT
WE HAVE TO GET TO WORK RIGHT
NOW, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO ON THIS SIDE WITH A
FAIR AND BALANCED APPROACH.
THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
THAT MY COLLEAGUE SPEAKS ABOUT,
WOULD IF YOU LOOK AT ITS
AMENDMENTS, 18% G.D.P.
IT CUTS DEEPER THAN THE RYAN
BUDGET, WOULD END MEDICARE AS WE
KNOW IT, WOULD MEAN THAT THINGS
THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED LIKE
FOOD SAFETY INSPECTORS AND
FLIGHT INSPECTORS, WOULD HAVE TO
BE CUT.
AND THEN IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES FOR
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES.
IT IS NOT A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT.
IT IS AN UNBALANCED BUDGET
BECAUSE IT SIMPLY REFLECTS AN
IDEOLOGICAL VIEW THAT MY GOOD
COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND FROM
LOUISIANA HAS, BUT DOES NOT
REFLECT THE VIEWS OF EITHER A
MAJORITY OF THIS CHAMBER OR
CERTAINLY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SO LET'S WALK THE WALK.
LET'S NOT JUST TALK THE TALK.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
NOTE.
CUTTING SPENDING WHICH IS DONE
IN THE RYAN BUDGET IS NOT GOING
TO WORK IN TERMS OF BALANCING
THE BUDGET.
YOU JUST CAN'T UNLESS YOU JUST
DECIMATE THINGS LIKE MEDICARE
WITHOUT REVENUES.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY.
I RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
SENSE OF THE SENATE ON SHARED
ABG TPAOEUS.
THE -- SHARED SACRIFICE.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING.
TIME IS RUNNING SHORT TO REACH A
DEAL ON REDUCING THE DEFICIT AND
RAISING THE DEBT CEILING.
WE ARE WALKING THE WALK, NOT
SIMPLY TALKING THE TALK ABOUT
SOME EPHEMERAL BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT THAT IS UNBALANCED AND
WILL NOT PASS.
YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT SAID
THAT WE NEEDED TO REACH A DEAL
WITHIN TWO WEEKS IN ORDER TO
AVOID ROILING THE FINANCIAL
MARKETS.
DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING IN GOOD
FAITH, IDENTIFYING SPENDING CUTS
AND TAX LOOPHOLES TO CLOSE.
WHAT ARE OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES DOING?
WELL, SINCE STALKING OUT OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY
ARE NOW STICKING TO THEIR BLIND
IDEOLOGY AND PLAYING POLITICAL
GAMES LIKE INVITING THE
PRESIDENT TO COME TO THE CAPITOL
WHEN THEY KNOW HE CAN'T, TO
DELIVER A MESSAGE HE'S ALREADY
HEARD.
AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADER HAS
CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT WE
CAN'T RAISE A SINGLE DOLLAR IN
REVENUE, NO MATTER HOW WASTEFUL
THE TAX BREAK, OR HOW GENEROUS
THE SUBSIDY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, HERE'S WHAT
IT'S COMING DOWN TO.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH OF
NEGOTIATIONS, OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES SEEM TO BE WILLING TO
TANK THE ECONOMY RATHER THAN END
A SINGLE TAX SUBSIDY.
DEMOCRATS ARE SUBMITTED TO
REDUCING THE DEFICIT AND GETTING
OUR NATION BACK ON A SENSIBLE
FISCAL TRACK, BUT WE KNOW THAT
EVERYONE MUST PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
WE KNOW THERE HAS TO BE
COMPROMISE TO GET THINGS DONE.
YOU CAN'T JUST DRAW A LINE IN
THE SAND AND SAY MY WAY OR NO
WAY.
ARMAGEDDON.
IT WILL LEAD TO FISCAL
SO OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS,
WE HAVE OFFERED A NUMBER OF
WASTEFUL TAX BREAKS THAT SHOULD
BE ENDED AS PART OF THE DEBT
CEILING DEAL.
ENDING SUBSIDIES FOR THE OIL AND
GAS INDUSTRY MAKING RECORD
PROFITS, THE ETHANOL INDUSTRY
WHICH 36 MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR,
INCLUDING THE MAJORITY LEADER
SUPPORTED TO THEIR CREDIT, AND
CORPORATE JET OWNERS WILL SAVE
US TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
NOW, PARADOXICALLY, OUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ARE NOW
ARGUING THAT TAX BREAKS FOR OIL
COMPANIES AND CORPORATE JET
ENDING.
OWNERS ARE TOO SMALL TO CONSIDER
THEY HAVE ARGUED THAT BECAUSE
THEY WILL ONLY SAVE TAXPAYERS
TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
THEY SAY THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, AND
SO WE SHOULDN'T BE DISCUSSING
THEM NOW.
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, I DISAGREE.
TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT
WE CAN SAVE ON WASTEFUL
SUBSIDIES ARE CERTAINLY WORTH
PURSUING.
BUT LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO
THE MATTER AT HAND.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF ALL
TAXPAYER GIVEAWAYS THE DEMOCRATS
ARE TRYING TO END.
TAX BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES.
I RISE TODAY IN STRONG SUPPORT
OF THE SENATE RESOLUTION THAT
SAYS SIMPLY INSTEAD OF ENDING
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT, INSTEAD
OF CUTTING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
AND CANCER RESEARCH, INSTEAD OF
BALANCING THE BUDGET SOLELY ON
THE BACKS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS,
LET'S END SOME BREAKS, LET'S END
TAX BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES.
LET ME REPEAT THAT BECAUSE
THAT'S THE ESSENCE OF OUR
DISAGREEMENT.
DISPUTE HERE, OF OUR
WAY.
YOU CAN'T VARNISH IT ANY OTHER
I KNOW THE OTHER SIDE TRIES TO
SAY THEY ARE RAISING TAXES,
TRYING TO IMPLY THAT WE WANT TO
DO IT ON MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE.
WE DON'T.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH A
PERSON WHOSE INCOME IS BELOW
BELOW $250,000.
SOME OF US WOULD EVEN GO
HIGHER, $500,000, $1 MILLION.
BUT EVERY ONE OF US ON THIS SIDE
SAYS IF YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE,
YOU SHOULD SHARE SOME OF THE
SACRIFICE, AND THE OTHER SIDE
RESISTS AND THEN THEY TRY TO
HIDE BY SAYING IT'S RAISING
TAXES.
IT'S NOT RAISING TAXES ON
AVERAGE FOLKS.
IT'S NOT RAISING TAXES AT ALL.
IT'S SIMPLY GOING BACK TO THE
LEVEL UNDER BILL CLINTON WHERE
WE HAD RECORD PROSPERITY, RECORD
JOBS AND RECORD INCOME GROWTH
FOR THE HIGHEST END PEOPLE AS
WELL AS FOR MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE
GOT INCOME GROWTH AS WELL.
SO LET ME REPEAT THE NUB OF THIS
AND WHY WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION
ON THE FLOOR.
HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS.
INSTEAD OF ENDING MEDICARE AS WE
KNOW IT, INSTEAD OF CUTTING
COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AND CANCER
RESEARCH, INSTEAD OF BALANCING
THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE
MIDDLE CLASS, LET'S END TAX
BILLIONAIRES.
BREAKS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
THIS WOULD SAVE OVER
OVER $100 BILLION A YEAR, AND
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BILLION
IN THE LONG RUN.
IT'S NOT JUST A SMALL AMOUNT.
I ASK MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
IS THAT SAVING SIGNIFICANT
ENOUGH TO AT LEAST MERIT
DISCUSSION AND NOT JUST TAKE IT
OFF THE TABLE?
THE G.O.P. BUDGET WOULD END
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT TO GIVE
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AMERICANS.
IN TAX BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST
THE RESOLUTION SAYS SIMPLY DON'T
LET THAT HAPPEN.
AND LET ME SAY THIS.
I RESPECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A
LOT OF MONEY.
THERE ARE MANY OF THEM IN MY
STATE.
THEY WORK HARD.
GOD BLESS THEM.
BUT MANY OF THEM WHEN YOU TALK
TO THEM, THEY ARE THE FIRST TO
SACRIFICE.
SAY THEY SHOULD SHARE IN THE
THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY NO, BUT I
DON'T THINK THEY REPRESENT
MAINSTREAM AMERICA OR MAINSTREAM
AMERICAN OPINION.
NOW, IN NORMAL TIMES, THIS WOULD
BE A CONSENSUS OPINION.
THE FACT THAT WE SHOULDN'T END
MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT TO GIVE
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AMERICANS.
IN TAX BREAKS TO THE RICHEST
IN NORMAL TIMES, THAT WOULD BE A
CONSENSUS POSITION.
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS AND
POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE LONG
SUPPORTED RAISING REVENUE
COMBINED WITH CUTTING SPENDING
TO REDUCE DEFICITS.
RONALD REAGAN, FOR INSTANCE.
BECAUSE HE WAS -- HE WANTED TO
SHRINK GOVERNMENT BUT HE WAS
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS
BEEN DRAGGED SO FAR TO THE RIGHT
BY AN IDEOLOGICAL FRINGE THAT
THEY NOW SEE THIS BALANCED
APPROACH AS AN EXTREME POSITION.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THIS --
WOULD REPUBLICANS RATHER END
MEDICARE THAN END TAX BREAKS FOR
BILLIONAIRES?
IT'S A SIMPLE CHOICE.
AND THIS RESOLUTION WILL MAKE
THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION
CLEAR.
AGAIN, WILL REPUBLICANS DO
ANYTHING, EVEN RISK A DEFAULT
THAT PROTECTS TAX BREAKS ON THE
HIGHEST INCOME PEOPLE,
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES?
AND WOULD THEY RATHER END
MEDICARE AND SOLELY RELY ON CUTS
THAT HURT THE MIDDLE CLASS THAN
ADMIT THAT SOME TAX SUBSIDIES
SUCH AS THOSE FOR BIG OIL
COMPANIES AND CORPORATE JET
OWNERS ARE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER
DOLLARS?
WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE WILL
SOON FIND OUT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SPEAK TO THE CHAMBER
HERE FOR NOT TO EXCEED 20
MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE
TAKING 20 MINUTES OF TIME.
I HOPE TO BE BACK ON THE FLOOR
THIS AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT A
RELATED SUBJECT, BUT I DO WANT
TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
ESSENTIALLY TO BRING US BACK TO
WHAT THE CENTRAL PROBLEM THAT
WE'RE FACING IS IN THIS CHAMBER
AND IN THIS COUNTRY, AND THAT IS
DEALING WITH AN OUT-OF-CONTROL
SPENDING PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER
MANY, MANY YEARS.
IN FACT, THE ACCUMULATION OF
DEBT NOT ONLY IS AT THE
GOVERNMENT LEVEL BUT IT'S BEEN
AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT'S BEEN AT
THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S BEEN AT
LEVEL.
THE PERSONAL AND THE PRIVATE
WE HAVE BEEN IN A CYCLE OF DEBT
ACCUMULATION WHICH SIMPLY IS
COMING TO AN END AND IT'S COMING
TO AN END BECAUSE WE NO LONGER
CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE INTEREST
AND CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO
FULFILL THE PROMISES THAT HAVE
BEEN MADE ON A POLITICAL BASIS
TO PEOPLE OVER A WHOLE SERIES OF
YEARS, BOTH BY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, AND ONLY
ACCELERATED IN A DRAMATIC
FASHION IN THE LAST THREE YEARS
WHERE WE HAVE SEEN AN EXPLOSION
OF SPENDING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
THAT SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE AND
BE PAID FOR UNDER ANY SYSTEM OF
TAXATION AT ALL, AND SO WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN HERE IS A NICE
DEFLECTION AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL
ISSUE, A DEFLECTION INTO, WELL,
THE WHOLE THING COMES DOWN TO
WHETHER OR NOT WE TAX
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES,
AND THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH LAST
WEEK WOULD SET THE STAGE FOR ALL
THIS DISCUSSION, IS A NICE
DEFLECTION AWAY FROM WHAT WE ALL
KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ADDRESS
THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL DEFICIT,
OUT-OF-CONTROL ACCUMULATION OF
DEBT THAT IS SIMPLY
UNSUSTAINABLE.
NOW, IT'S -- IT'S PUREE RIGHT
MET I CAN AND IT'S EASY
ARITHMETIC.
WHEN YOU SPEND $3.7 TRILLION A
YEAR AND YOUR REVENUES COMING IN
ARE ONLY $2.2 TRILLION A YEAR,
YOU ARE RACKING UP ON A
YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS A
A $1.5 TRILLION OR GREATER A
YEAR DEFICIT, AND THAT DEFICIT
HAS TO BE PAID, AND HOW IS IT
PAID?
WELL, 40 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR
THAT IS SPENT HAS TO BE BORROWED
IN ORDER TO PAY THE PROMISES
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND SO UNTIL WE AS A BODY PUT
ASIDE THIS GOTCHA STUFF THAT MAY
BE POLITICALLY POSITIONING FOR
THE 2012 ELECTION BUT DOESN'T
ADDRESS THE REAL PROBLEM, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
POSTURING GOING ON, AND I'M NOT
HERE TO ADDRESS THAT IN SPECIFIC
DETAIL AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT
IN TIME EXCEPT TO SAY THAT WE
HAVE TO REFOCUS ON THE REAL TASK
BEFORE US.
AND THE REAL TASK BEFORE US IS
PEOPLE.
UNDERSTOOD BY THE AMERICAN
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT
CONTINUE SPENDING MONEY AT THE
RATE THAT WE ARE SPENDING IT.
OUR DEBT HAS SKYROCKETED 35% TO
A LIMIT OF $14.3 TRILLION IN
JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS.
OUR ANNUAL DEFICIT, OUR YEARLY
DEFICIT NOW IS THREE TIMES
GREATER THAN THE HIGHEST DEFICIT
OF THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
TODAY AS A RESULT OF A STAGNANT
ECONOMY AND AS A RESULT OF
UNCERTAINTY IMPOSED WITHIN OUR
ECONOMIC SYSTEM, WE HAVE
14 MILLION AMERICANS OUT OF
WORK, AND THAT NUMBER IS
CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE THOSE ARE
THE ONES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR
WORK.
GIVEN UP.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE
THOSE THAT HAVE GIVEN UP AMOUNT
TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, AND
THOSE THAT MAY NEVER HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET BACK IN THE
WORK FORCE OUGHT TO BE OF GREAT
CONCERN TO US.
THESE FACTS COMBINED WITH THE
WARNINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO
US BY THE FINANCIAL MARKETS
SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO ALL OF
US FROM THE PRESIDENT TO MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS AND BOTH PARTIES AND
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THIS
CURRENT PLAN THAT WE ARE
OPERATING UNDER, THE PRESIDENT'S
ECONOMIC PLAN, IS NOT WORKING,
THAT THE PLAN OF SPENDING MORE
AND BORROWING MORE IS NOT
GETTING OUR ECONOMY BACK TO
WHERE IT OUGHT TO BE AND NOT
GETTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
OVER THE WEEKEND, I WAS
PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE
THE REPUBLICAN ADDRESS FOLLOWING
THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE
NATION, HIS WEEKLY ADDRESS, AND
IN THAT I SUGGESTED THAT INSTEAD
OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL AND
PLANS THAT WE ARE OPERATING
UNDER THIS PRESIDENCY, WE OUGHT
TO LOOK TO MODELS THAT ARE
ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING MUCH BETTER
AND WORKING AND SEE WHAT WE CAN
LEARN FROM THAT.
AND REPRESENTING THE STATE OF
INDIANA, I'M PROUD TO BE ABLE TO
SAY THAT THE MODEL THAT OUR
STATE HAS USED HAS TAKEN OUR
STATE FROM A DEFICIT POSITION TO
A SURPLUS POSITION WITHOUT
RAISING TAXES, BY REDUCING
SPENDING AND ACTUALLY CUTTING
TAXES AND BALANCING OUR BUDGET,
WE HAVE NOW SEEN A SIGNIFICANT
CHANGE IN THE FINANCIAL FORTUNE
OF THE STATE OF INDIANA AND
HOOSIERS THAT OCCUPY THAT STATE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS
INCREASED SPENDING, INCREASED
BORROWING, RAISED TAXES AND
EXPANDED THE GROWTH OF
GOVERNMENT, AND NOW THE CREDIT
AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WARNING
OF DIRE CONSEQUENCES AND
DOWNGRADING OUR DEBT AT THE SAME
TIME THE MODEL USED IN MY STATE
OF INDIANA, WHICH CUT TAXES, CUT
SPENDING AND BALANCED OUR BUDGET
HAS NOW AWARDED US WITH A AAA
CREDIT RATING, THE BEST RATING
THAT YOU CAN GET.
NOW, THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN DURING
THIS TIME, THE ONLY ONE THAT WE
CAN WORK OFF OF IS HIS SUBMITTED
SUBMITTED $4 TRILLION BUDGET,
WHICH WOULD HAVE INCREASED
DEFICIT SPENDING, NOT DECREASED
IT.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE ONLY
PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF
US, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AT THIS
POINT IN TIME FROM THE PRESIDENT
OR HIS PARTY IS THE PLAN THE
PRESIDENT INTRODUCED.
WE HAVE HAD SOME NICE SPEECHES
AND WE HAVE HAD SOME NICE
RHETORIC.
WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE DIRE
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT COMING UP
WITH A SENSIBLE PLAN BEFORE WE
HIT THE DEBT LIMIT CEILING NOW
SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 2, BUT THE
ONLY CONCRETE PLAN PROPOSED TO
US HERE IN THIS CHAMBER AND IN
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FROM THE OPPOSITION IS A
A $4 TRILLION BUDGET WHICH WAS
VOTED ON HERE IN THE SENATE AND
WAS DEFEATED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.
NOT ONE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET PLAN, YET NO
ALTERNATE PLAN HAS BEEN
PROPOSED.
NOW, THERE MAY BE ONE IN THE
WORKS, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT,
WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK OFF IT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN
NEGOTIATE ANY KIND OF A FINAL
PROPOSAL IF YOU DON'T HAVE
SOMETHING TO WORK WITH THAT THE
OTHER SIDE HAS PROPOSED.
THE ONLY THING WE NOW HAVE
BEFORE US IS SIMPLY A RESOLUTION
ON THE MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT
WE OUGHT TO TAX MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES.
EVEN IF WE WENT FORWARD AND DID
THAT, EVEN IF WE TOOK 100% OF
ALL OF THE INCOME EARNED BY ALL
OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE
MILLIONAIRE, BILLIONAIRE
CATEGORY, IT WOULD BE A DROP IN
THE BUCKET COMPARED TO WHAT WE
NEED TO DO.
IT WOULD DO NOTHING TO ADJUST
AND REFORM SPENDING PROGRAMS AND
DUPLICATION OF SPENDING AND
BUREAUCRATIC OVERLAP HERE IN
WASHINGTON THAT HAS BEEN
ACCUMULATING FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
AND SO LET'S -- IT'S A NICE
DIVERSION, IT'S A NICE WAY OF
PLAYING CLASS WARFARE, IT'S A
NICE WAY MAYBE OF SETTING
YOURSELF UP FOR SOME GOOD
TALKING POINTS BACK HOME, IT'S A
NICE WAY OF POSITIONING YOURSELF
FOR SOME GOOD RHETORIC BACK HOME
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RUNNING
FOR RE-ELECTION, BUT IT DOESN'T
ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT WE
HAVE.
AND SO HERE WE ARE HAVING
CANCELED OUR JULY FOURTH RECESS
IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET
AND DISCUSS THE PLIGHT THAT
WE'RE IN AND TRY TO COME
TOGETHER AND FASHION A PLAN THAT
WE CAN ASSURE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WILL PUT US ON A MUCH
SOUNDER FISCAL PATH, AND WILL
CALM THE FINANCIAL MARKETS AND
THE RATING AGENCIES AND WILL
REASSURE THOSE WHO INVEST THEIR
MONEY IN AMERICA, FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD, THAT WE FINAL HAVE
GOTTEN OUR HANDS AROUND THE
PROBLEM AND WE'RE COMING UP WITH
SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS, AND AMERICA
WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SAFE PLACE
TO INVEST YOUR MONEY AND THE
DOLLAR WILL CONTINUE TO BE A
SOUND CURRENCY FOR THE -- FOR
THE WORLD TO PUT THEIR
CONFIDENCE IN.
I WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT RECENTLY
THAT WE OUGHT TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS YOU KNOW, LAST WEEK THE
PRESIDENT'S HOPEFULLY REMARKS ON
THE BUDGET WERE SIMPLY PERHAPS
TO SATISFY HIS BASE OR TO
POLITICALLY POSITION THEMSELVES
FOR MORE SERIOUS NEGOTIATIONS.
I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS INDICATED, I
BELIEVE, THAT WE MUST TAKE BOLD
STEPS.
WE MUST TAKE THEM NOW, IN
ANTICIPATION OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE
DONE BY AUGUST 2.
THAT HE HAS CALLED FOR A SUMMIT
TOMORROW.
IT'S TIME THAT WE PUT ASIDE THE
GAMESMANSHIP.
POLITICAL RHETORIC, THE
IT'S TIME THAT WE GOT DOWN TO
SOME SERIOUS BARGAINING AND
NEGOTIATING AND COMING UP IN
WHAT MOST OF US BELIEVE IS
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT WE NEED TO IN ADDRESSING
THIS VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT
HAS VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.
THERE IS AGREEMENT, TRUST, THAT
REDUCTIONS.
WE NEED SERIOUS SPENDING
SOME HAVE ESTIMATED IN THE $2
TRILLION RANGE OVER A TEN-YEAR
PERIOD OF TIME.
OTHERS SAY TO GET AT THE PROBLEM
AND REALLY CREDIBLY ADDRESS IT,
IT NEEDS TO BE DOUBLE THAT OR
MORE, IN THE $4 TRILLION TO $5
TRILLION RANGE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMMITMENT
TO RESTRUCTURING ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT
THE THREE MAJOR ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS OF MEDICAID, MEDICARE,
AND SOCIAL SECURITY, AND
ESPECIALLY MEDICARE, ARE RUNNING
OUT OF MONEY, ARE NOT
SUSTAINABLE UNDER THE CURRENT
PROGRAM, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE
RESTRUCTURING.
NOW, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT IS RIPE FOR
POLITICAL POSITIONING AND
POSTURING.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
UNLESS WE ADDRESS STRUCTURAL
CHANGES IN THE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS, THOSE PROGRAMS WILL
HAVE TO BE DRASTICALLY REDUCED,
IF NOT ELIMINATED, IN THE FUTURE
BECAUSE THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT
SUSTAINABLE, GIVEN THE CURRENT
AMOUNT OF RECIPIENTS DRAWING
BENEFITS AS OPPOSED TO THE MONEY
THAT IS POURING -- GOING INTO
THOSE PROGRAMS.
AND SO ANYONE WHO SAYS WE'RE
DOING THIS ON THE BACKS OF
SENIOR CITIZENS, ON LOW-INCOME
ARE NOT REALISTICALLY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACTS OF THE
MATTER IN THAT THESE PROGRAMS
ARE GOING BROKE.
SO THOSE THAT ARE STANDING UP --
AND THERE ARE SOME ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE -- THOSE THAT ARE
STANDING UP AND SAYING THIS HAS
TO BE PART OF OUR SOLUTION TO
OUR SPENDING AND DEFICIT PROBLEM
PROBLEM, IF THEY ARE SAYING THAT
THIS IS NOT PART OF THE
SOLUTION, THEY SIMPLY ARE
TELLING SENIORS WE'RE GOING TO
ALLOW YOUR PROGRAM TO GO BROKE
OR THERE ARE GOING TO BE SEVERE
CONSEQUENCES.
THOSE THAT ARE ADVOCATING THIS,
TO THE CONTRARY, ARE BASICALLY
SAYING WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE
THOSE PROGRAMS.
WE'RE TRYING TO ENSURE BENEFITS
FOR THE FUTURE, NEEDED HEALTH
CARE BENEFITS UNDER MEDICARE,
AND NEEDED BENEFITS UNDER
COMAIRKSD AND NEEDED INCOME --
AND NEEDED BENEFITS UNDER
MEDICAID, AND NEEDED INCOME
UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THOSE
PROGRAMS AND KEEP THOSE PROGRAMS
SOLVENT SO THAT A FEW YEARS AGO,
AS THE TRUSTEES HAVE INDICATED
IN THEIR LATEST REPORT ON
MEDICARE, IN A FEW YEARS FROM
NOW, WE'LL NOT REQUIRE MUCH MORE
DRASTIC ACTION.
ALSO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT
PROGRAMS IN SO THAT WHATEVER
CUTS AND REDUCTIONS AND CHANGES
ARE MADE AND REFORMS ARE MADE
ARE NOT OVERTURNED BY A FUTURE
CONGRESS.
ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS TO DO WHAT
WE ARE REALLY OBLIGATED TO DO ON
THIS FLOOR BUT DON'T SEEM TO
OFTEN HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO
ADDRESS EFFECTIVELY, PROGRAMS
THAT WILL AUTOMATICALLY KICK IN
TO ENSURE THAT THE GOALS THAT WE
HAVE ESTABLISHED WILL BE
REACHED, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE
THE POLITICAL WILL TO GO FORWARD
AND DO IT OURSELVES.
BUDGET.
YES, I DO SUPPORT A BALANCED
IF WE HAD HAD THAT BALANCED
BUDGET PASSED IN THE MID-1990'S
-- AND THERE WERE TWO AMENDMENTS
AND IT FAILED EACH TIME -- WE
WOULD NOT FIND OURSELVES IN THIS
POSITION NOW.
WE WOULD HAVE FOUND OURSELVES IN
THE POSITION THAT STATES FIND
THEMSELVES IN NOW WIGS, YES, WE
CAN EXPEND THIS PROGRAM, BUT
CONSTITUTIONALLY WE ARE MANDATED
TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND SO WE
HAVE TWO OPTIONS OF GETTING
THERE.
WE CAN EITHER REDUCE SPENDING IN
OTHER AREAS, IF THIS IS MORE
IMPORTANT AND HAS A HIGHER
PRIORITY AND USE THAT MONEY TO
PAY FOR IT, OR WE CAN RAISE YOUR
TAXES.
NOW LET'S DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT
TO DO.
IS THIS PROGRAM OF SUCH
NECESSITY AND HAS THE MAJORITY
SUPPORT IN THE STATE OR THE
LOCALITY AND THE PUBLIC IS
WILLING TO SUPPORT IT WITH
INCREASED TAXES, NOT UNLIKE THE
SCHOOL REFERENDUMS WHERE THE
SCHOOL PUTS FORWARD A PLAN TO
IMPROVE THE FAULTS FACILITIES OR HIRE
NEW TEACHERS AND PUTS PUTS IT BEFORE
THE PEOPLE OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT AND SAYS, IF YOU'RE
WILLING TO RAISE YOUR PROPERTY
EDUCATION.
TAXES BEING WE CAN DO THIS WITH
SOMETIMES THEY FAIL.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE PASSED,
BUT IT GIVES THE PUBLIC THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER
OR NOT THEY'LL PAY FOR IT, AND
IT LEAVES THE ULTIMATE FINANCIAL
POSITION AT A LEVEL OF BALANCE.
AND SO WE SHOULD ADDRESS THAT.
THERE'S A DISPUTE OR A
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN
JUST WHAT THE COMPONENTS OF A
BALANCED BUDGET SHOULD BE.
WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DEBATE, WE
SHOULD GO FORWARD WITH THAT, WE
SHOULD WORK TOWARDS SOME
SENSIBLE SOLUTION.
BUT THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO
GUARANTEE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RETURN
TO OUR OLD WAYS IS TO ESTABLISH
AN ACT AND GIVE TO THE STATES AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ENACT A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR FUTURE
SPENDING.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO INCLUDE
REFORM.
THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE TAX
AS YOU KNOW -- AS MANY KNOW IN
THE CHAMBER HERE, SENATOR WYDEN
AND I ONE BIPARTISAN BASIS HAVE
INTRODUCED COMPREHENSIVE TAX
REFORM.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT
A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE'VE ESSENTIALLY SAID THAT THE
TAX CODE IS DYSFUNCTIONAL, IT IS
-- IT DOES NOT PROMOTE GRIEWJ -- IT
DOES NOT PROMOTE GROWTH AND
EFFICIENCY.
IT NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.
THAT.
THERE ARE GENERAL CONSENSUS ON
WE ARE OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS OF
BETTER WAYS, IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS
BETTER IDEAS.
WE DO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE
SUBSIDIES AND TAX EXCLUSIONS AND
EXPENDITURES IN THE TAX CODE ARE
UNFAIR, THEY'RE PUT IN FOR THE
BENEFIT OF A FEW AN NOT THE AND NOT THE
MANY.
THAT PART NEEDS TO BE REFORMED.
THERE IS A VERY INTERESTING
EDITORIAL THIS MORNING IN "THE
WALL STREET JOURNAL" TALKING
ABOUT THE ABILITY TO BROADEN THE
TAX BASE BY ELIMINATING MANY OF
THESE EXCLUSIONS BUT IN RETURN
LOWERING THE RATES, WHETHER THEY
BE INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE
RATES, THAT WOULD GIVE US THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE GROWTH,
WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF
FISCAL SANITY.
OUR REACHING FISCAL BALANCE,
THE TIME IS NOW.
ELECTION.
THE TIME IS NOT AFTER THE 2012
THE DIRE SITUATION WHICH WE FIND
OURSELVES IN IS BEING WATCHED
WORLDWIDE BY FINANCIAL MARKETS,
BY ALL OF THOSE WHO LEND US
MONEY.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE
FINANCIAL FUTURE OF THE UNITED
STATES IS GOING TO BE.
THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
WE HAVE THE WILL AND THE
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS OUR VERY
SERIOUS POLITICAL SITUATION, A
FINANCIAL SITUATION AND THE
POLITICAL SITUATION THAT GOES
ALONG WITH IT.
ARE WE WILLING TO RISE ABOVE THE
POLITICAL AND DO WHAT IS
APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY FOR
THIS COUNTRY?
SO -- AND THE PRESIDENT SAID
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT A UNIQUE
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH THAT
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING BIG.
STATEMENT MORE.
AND I'M GLAD THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS FINALLY COME ON BOARD AND
SAID, LET'S GET ENGAGED TOGETHER
AND NEGOTIATE SOMETHING BIG,
PROBLEM.
SOMETHING THAT WILL SOLVE THE
NOW IS THE TIME FOR US AND THE
PRESIDENT TO LEAD.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
BUT, FRANKLY, WE NEED MORE THAN
RHETORIC.
WE NEED SPECIFICS.
AND WE NEED TO PUT IT ON THE
TABLE.
WE NEED MORE THAN SOME KIND OF
RANT AGAINST THOSE WHO FLY ON
CORPORATE JETS, AS IF THAT'S --
AS IF THAT SUBSIDY, WHICH IS A
DEPRECIATION ISSUE IN THE TAX
CODE AND ACTUALLY PASSED BY A
DEMOCRAT CONGRESS, IS GOING TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
OR WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO IMPOSE
A HIGHER TAX ON BILLIONAIRES AND
MILLIONAIRES AND EVEN IF THOSE
DROP IN THE BUCKET.
TAXES WENT UP TO 100%, IT IS A
THIS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE WAY TO
GO FORWARD AND NEGOTIATE WHAT WE
NEED TO NEGOTIATE.
SO LET'S DO IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
IT.
THEY VOTED AT THE POLLS IN
NOVEMBER OF 2010 IN A WAY THAT
SHOULD SEND A SIGNAL HERE THAT
WE NEED WHAT'S GOING ON AND WE
WANT TO SEND PEOPLE TO
WASHINGTON THAT WILL ADDRESS
THIS VERY PROBLEM.
AS THIS THING HAS CASCADED INTO
2011 AND WE'VE DITHERED AND
PUSHED OFFED AND RETHOUGHT
THROUGH -- AND PUSHED OFF AND
RETHOUGHT THROUGH WHAT THE
SCHEDULE IS AMERICANS ARE
GETTING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED
WITH OUR INABILITY TO FACE THIS
CRISIS.
SO NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT
POLITICS SECONDARY TO WHAT IS
RIGHT FOR AMERICA AND WHAT IS
RIGHT FOR AMERICANS.
WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY, A
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.
AND IN ONE SENSE IT IS GOOD THAT
WE ARE RUNNING UP AGAINST THIS
DEBT LIMIT BALANCE -- DEBT LIMIT
CRISIS, BECAUSE IT IS FORCING US
TO STOP PUSHING THIS THING DOWN
THE ROAD, TO STOP DELAYING AND
ELECTION.
WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT
IT IS FORCING US TO TAKE ACTION
NOW.
AND SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT FOUR
WEEKS HERE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT,
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS RIGHT
FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA, OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND
GENERATIONS TO COME.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THAT
GENERATION THAT SADDLES THEM
WITH DEBT WHICH THEY CAN'T CLIMB
OUT OF AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO
LIVE AT THE SIMPLE AMERICAN
DREAM OF RAISING A FAMILY,
OWNING A HOME OR PLACE TO LIVE,
PROVIDING FOR THE EDUCATION OF
THEIR CHILDREN AND PARTICIPATING
IN THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THIS
COUNTRY HAS HAD THROUGH
SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT AND
DEDICATION OVER ALL THESE YEARS,
IF WE'RE TURNING THAT OVER TO
OUR CHILDREN WITH THAT BROKEN
DREAM AND BROKEN PROMISE, WE
HAVE NOT DONE OUR JOB.
SO WE'RE HERE TO DO IT NOW.
LET'S HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO
DO IT.
LET'S SUBORDINATE OUR POLITICAL
CONSIDERATIONS FOR 201, DO
WHAT'S RIGHT, AND -- FOR 2012,
DO WHAT'S RIGHT, AND THEN WE
WILL HAVE LEFT A LEGACY -- WIN,
LOSE, OR DRAW POLITICAL DID I
ASH LEGACY THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR
THIS COUNTRY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD, IF I
HAVE ANY TIME LEFT, THE BALANCE
OF THAT TIEVMENT.
THE
SENATOR HAS CONSUMED HIS 20
MINUTES.
THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
WHO HAVE MADAM PRESIDENT, FIRST
OF ALL, I STAND HERE IN TOTAL
AGREEMENT ---
MADAM PRESIDENT,
FIRST, I STAND HERE IN TOTAL
AGREEMENT WITH EVERYTHING THE
SENATOR HAS SAID.
THE TIME IS RIGHT.
IT IS NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS
PROBLEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
TO ME, IT'S -- I FEEL GREAT
FRUSTRATION THAT I'M EVEN HERE
RIGHT NOW IN THE CHAMBER.
WE'VE QUITE OFTEN -- QUITE OFTEN
WHAT I DO, I HAVE KIND OF A
REGULAR SCHEDULE, IF I AM NOT ON
A WEEKEND IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN,
OR AFRICA, SOMEPLACE HAVING TO
DO WITH THE DUTIES THAT I HAVE
AS THE SECOND-RANKING MEMBER OF
THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE,
I'M BACK IN OKLAHOMA AND I'VE
BEEN A PILOT FOR 50 YEARS, AND I
GHET A LITTLE PLANE ANDGY OUT
AND I TALK TO REAL PEOPLE AND
PEOPLE SHAKE THEIR HEADS AND
ABOUT THIS?
SAY, WHY ARE WE STILL TALKING
WHY AREN'T WE DOING IT?
WHY IS IT THAT WE ARE SO WRAPPED
UP IN THIS THING AND THE ANSWER
-- THERE'S NOT AN EASY ANSWER TO
THIS THING.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BACK HERE,
I GUESS, TALKING ABOUT THE LIBYA
RESOLUTION.
I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THAT
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT KIND OF
DIVERTS THE ATTENTION OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM THE REAL
PROBLEM.
THE REAL PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS
THE DEFICIT.
NOW I -- AS I SEE WHERE WE ARE
AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE
ALTERNATIVES THAT THEY HAVE, THE
SENATOR FROM INDIANA TALKED
ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE
DEMOCRATS WANT TO NOW, I GUESS
TOMORROW MORNING, WORK ON --
VOTE ON SOME KIND OF A BILL THAT
IS GOING TO BE A TAX INCREASE ON
THE MILLIONAIRES.
SO WE'RE RIGHT BACK AGAIN WITH
OUR CLASS WARFARE.
NOW, IF WE WERE TO REPHRASE THAT
STATEMENT FROM AN ECONOMIC
PERSPECTIVE, WE WE'D SAY SOMETHING
LIKE THIS.
IT IS A SENSE SSESS SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT
WE SHOULD RAISE TAXES ON
AMERICA'S JOB CREATORS TO
PREVENT THE ECONOMY FROM
RECOVERING FROM THIS RECESSION.
BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'D
BE DOING.
YESTERDAY I SEARCHED THROUGH A
DATABASE OF THE I.R.S., THEIR
HISTORICAL TAX DATA, AND IF WE
WERE TO TAX ALL OF THE INCOME OF
THOSE INCOMES MAKING $1 MILLION
OR MORE AT A 150% TAX RATE -- IN
OTHER WORDS, TAKE EVERY CENT
THEY HAVE, IT ATHEM ALL -- THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF REVENUE
GENERATED WOULD BE $700 BILLION.
STOP AND THINK ABOUT THAT.
$700 BILLION IS LESS THAN -- WAY
LESS THAN HALF OF THE DEFICIT
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA GAVE US
JUST THIS YEAR.
$1.6595 TRILLION DEFICIT.
SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT -- IT
IS CLEARLY A DECEPTIVE THING.
MEN PEOPLE, I THINK THEY
ASSUME THAT THEY'RE SO DUMB THAT
THEY CAN TAX MILLIONAIRES AND
GET US OUT OF THIS MESS.
ACCORDING TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE
ON TAX ACRES THE 750,000
AMERICANS IN THE HIGHEST TAX
BRACKET REPORT LESS THAN HALF OF
THE TOTAL NECESSARY BUSINESS
INCOME EARNED IN THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS THE -- THIS IS INCOME
THAT COMES FROM FLOW-THROUGH
ENTITIES LIKE THE L.L.C.'S AND
PARTNERSHIPS.
IT COMES FROM SMALL BUSINESSES.
IF WE WERE TO TAX THE SMALL
BUSINESSES AS THEY'RE GOING TO
ATTEMPT TO DO BY SAYING THEY'RE
TAXING THE MILLIONAIRES, WHO'S
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR
I DON'T KNOW.
SMALL BUSINESSES?
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER.
NO ONE, I GUESS IS THE ANSWER.
THERE'S NO QUESTION WE HAVE A
SERIOUS PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON.
OUR DEFICIT IS AT THE LEGAL
LIMIT OF $14.3 TRILLION.
AND WHAT'S CAUSED IT SPENDING IN
IT'SITS -- AND WHAT'S CAUSED THIS
PROBLEM?
IT'S SPENDING.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MANAGED TO
INCREASE SPENDING BY 30% --
30%.
HE INCURRED K INTEREST -- HE
INCURRED $1 TRILLION DEFICITS
EACH YEAR.
THE STATISTICS NO ONE SEEMS TO
CARE ABOUT, AND WE SAY IT OVER
AND OVER AGAIN, THAT THIS
PRESIDENT HAS INCREASED THE DEBT
OF AMERICA MORE IN HIS TWO AND A
HALF YEARS THAN ALL PRESIDENTS
THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF
AMERICA, FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON
TO GEORGE W. BUSH.
LET ME SAY THIS ISN'T THE FIRST
TIME THIS IS COMING UP.
EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND IN
THIS ADMINISTRATION, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO INCREASE THE DEBT
LIMIT.
IF NOT, SOME GREAT CRISIS IS
GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
2009.
WE DID THIS ON FEBRUARY 17,
I VOTED AGAINST IT, TO INCREASE
THE DEBT LIMIT AT THAT TIME.
THAT WAS THE $800 BILLION
STIMULUS BILL.
THEN IN DECEMBER OF 2009, A
STAND-ALONE BILL TO INCREASE THE
DEBT LIMIT OF $290 BILLION.
IT PASSED.
WE REMEMBER SO WELL TIM GEITHNER
SAYING IF WE DON'T DO THIS, IT'S
GOING TO RUIN OUR CREDIT
NATIONWIDE.
$1.9 TRILLION.
THEN AGAIN IN FEBRUARY 2010,
THEY INCREASED IT AGAIN.
SAME THING.
YOU'VE GOT TO DRAW THE LINE
SOMEPLACE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME POINT AT
WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO SAY WE'RE
NOT GOING TO DO IT UNLESS WE GET
SOME REDUCTIONS AND FISCAL
SANITY THAT'S BUILT INTO IT.
SO, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THE --
REACHING THE LEGAL LIMIT.
THE TREASURY HAS BEEN SHUFFLING
MONEY AROUND TO PAY BILLS AND
THEY'LL RUN OUT OF WAYS TO DO
THIS ON AUGUST 2.
IF AN AGREEMENT TO RAISE THE
DEBT LIMIT HAS NOT BEEN REACHED
BY THEN, TREASURY WILL HAVE TO
START DECIDING WHICH BILLS TO
PAY AND WHICH BILLS NOT TO PAY,
AND NOBODY WANTS THAT.
IN ORDER TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING, WE'VE GOT TO LOCK IN
REFORMS NECESSARY TO PERMANENTLY
PREVENT THIS INCOME DEBT CRISIS.
YOU KNOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
ALL KNOW THE SCARY STATISTICS.
EASY.
TO ME, SOLVING THE PROBLEM IS
WE SPENT OUR WAY INTO THIS
PROBLEM SO WE NEED TO STOP
SPENDING OUR WAY TO GET OUT OF
IT.
PROBLEM.
TAX REVENUE HAS NOT BEEN OUR
TAX HIKES SHOULDN'T BE A PART OF
THE SOLUTION.
REGARDLESS, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS
MADE VERY CLEAR THAT HE WANTS
TAX INCREASES TO BE INCLUDED IN
ANY KIND OF A DEBT LIMIT DEAL.
SURE, HE MAY SAY THAT HE JUST
WANTS TO RAISE TAXES ON
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IT OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THIS.
IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
I SAID EARLIER TO THE FOLKS,
HE'S -- THE FOLKS HE'S TARGETING
ARE THE ONES WHO OWN SMALL
BUSINESSES AND THE ONES CREATING
JOBS.
WHEN YOU TARGET TAX HIKES ON
FOLKS LIKE THESE, YOU HURT
EVERYBODY.
THIS IS NOT WHAT WE NEED TO DO
WITH OUR ECONOMY STALLING AND
OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STILL
ABOVE 9%.
INSTEAD WE NEED TO CUT SPENDING
IN THE SHORT TERM.
THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT MANY
PEOPLE ADHERE TO NOW.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WE HAVE,
BUT I THINK A PLEDGE INCLUDES
ABOUT 30 MEMBERS THAT SAY WE
NEED TO CUT SPENDING SHORT TERM,
CAP SPENDING IN THE MEDIUM TERM
AND BALANCE THE BUDGET IN THE
LONG TERM TO PUT THE NATION ON A
PABL.
SUSTAINABLE LIMITED GOVERNMENT
PATH.
THIS IS THE ONLY -- GOVERNMENT
MESS.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS
I'VE BEEN A LEADER HERE.
I CAN REMEMBER BACK WHEN I
INTRODUCED THE "HELP" ACT.
THAT IS WHEN THE PRESIDENT FIRST
CAME IN AND HE WANTED TO TAKE
THE NONDISCRETIONARY -- OR THE
DISCRETIONARY NON-DEFENSE
SPENDING AND FREEZE IT AT THE
NEW LEVEL AFTER HE INCREASED IT
BY 20%.
I SAID NO, LET'S GO BACK TO 2008
LEVELS.
IF WE HAD DONE THAT, WE WOULD
HAVE.
NOT BE FACING THE PROBLEM WE
DECADES AGO WHEN I WAS IN THE
STATE LEGISLATURE THERE WAS A
CURTIS.
SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA NAMED CARL
HE CAME TO ME ONE DAY AND SAID
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PASS A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT HERE
DECADES.
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR
THE ARGUMENT THEY USED AGAINST
IT IS THE STATES WILL NEVER
RATIFY IT.
HE CAME WUP THIS IDEA, LET'S
PRERATIFY A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
THAT SOUNDED GREAT TO ME AND SO
I INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION IN THE
OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE
PRERATIFYING, WHICH WE DID, A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
THAT WAS KIND OF FUN.
WE CAME WITHIN TWO OR THREE
STAEUFTS DOING THIS.
-- THREE STATES OF DOING THIS.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITH
THE PROBLEM WE'RE FACING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND SAY
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, IT'S
NOT DIFFICULT.
BUT I BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO PULL THIS
THING OFF AND REALLY RESOLVE THE
PROBLEM IS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SO WE HAVE PROPOSED ONE.
IT'S OUT THERE.
SENATOR HATCH, I KNOW, IS ACTIVE
IN THIS.
WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT IT.
AND DURING PEACETIME THE
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE A
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN BOTH
CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS TO
AUTHORIZE A SPECIFIC DEFICIT
FUNDING LEVEL FOR A FISCAL YEAR.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND EMERGENCIES
CAN COME UP, WE CAN HAVE WARS,
IN WHICH CASE WE NEED TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
THIS ALLOWS AN ESCAPE, BUT IT
MEANS TWO-THIRDS OF THE MAJORITY
IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO IT.
IMPORTANTLY, THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT WOULD REQUIRE A
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN BOTH
CHAMBERS TO PASS ANY -- I
INCREASE.
REPEAT, ANY KIND OF A TAX
OUR PROBLEM IS OUR TAX
INCREASES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT
WANTS MORE OF.
THE BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT IS
THE ONLY REFORM THAT WILL PUT
OUR NATION ON A TRUE PATH TO
PERMANENT FISCAL STABILITY.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THIS BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
IS THE REFORM WE NEED AND I
PLEDGE TO OPPOSE ANY DEAL TO
INCREASE THE DEBT LIMIT THAT
DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY CUT THE
SPENDING IN THE SHORT TERM, CAP
SPENDING IN THE MEDIUM TERM AND
INCLUDE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
SO I URGE THE -- THE MEMBERS TO
SEIZE UPON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A SERIOUS
OPPORTUNITY AT A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT NOW FOR DECADES.
BUT THE TIME IS HERE NOW BECAUSE
WE'VE NEVER FACED THIS BEFORE.
WE'VE NEVER HAD A PRESIDENT THAT
HAS PROPOSED AND PASSED $5
TRILLION OF DEFICIT IN TWO AND A
HALF YEARS.
AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA ARE
NOT DONE.
THEY -- THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA
ARE NOT DUMB.
THEY KNOW WE CAN'T SUSTAIN THAT.
THEY ARE GOING TO SAY IF WE NEED
IT.
TO DO THIS THING, WE NEED TO DO
THE TIME IS RIGHT.
I AGREE WITH THE SENATOR FROM
INDIANA WHO SAID THERE HASN'T
BEEN A TIME BEFORE THAT IS
RIGHT, BUT THIS TIME IS RIGHT.
NOW THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
IS DEAD THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT, THE PRESIDENT HAS PURSUED
AGGRESSIVE REGULATIONS
ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE E.P.A.,
THAT IS GOING TO SERIOUSLY HARM
THE ECONOMY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
CONFINED IN THEIR THINKING ABOUT
THE FACT THAT WE'RE SPENDING TOO
MUCH MONEY.
THEY DON'T REALIZE THERE'S ALSO
A COST TO OVERREGULATION.
RIGHT NOW ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT
THE LIBERALS HAVE TRIED TO PASS
THROUGH HERE, SUCH AS CAP AND
TRADE, THE PRESIDENT AND THE --
AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE ARE TRYING TO DO
E.P.A.
THROUGH REGULATION, THROUGH THE
AND THAT IS JUST AS EXPENSIVE AS
SPENDING MONEY.
SCIENCE.
SO, I DON'T THINK IT'S ROCKET
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PASS
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION AND PUT
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
THESE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THA LD
THAT WILL RESOLVE -- THE ONLY
DEBT PROBLEM.
THINGS THAT WILL RESOLVE OUR
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
A SENATOR: I'D ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I'VE BEEN
LISTENING TO THE DEBATE THIS
MORNING, AND IT'S REALLY
CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE AS A
PHYSICIAN, I'M TRAINED TO
DIAGNOSE DISEASE.
DISEASE, IF YOU BREAK THAT WORD
UP IS DIS-EASE.
WE'RE NOT AT EASE.
AND I HEAR US TALKING ALL
AROUND.
I LISTENED TO THE SENIOR SENATOR
FROM NEW YORK VERY CAREFULLY AND
WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
I WANTED TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES
ACTUALLY DISPUTING WHAT HE HAD
TO SAY BECAUSE THE PREMISE, HE
SAID, WAS THAT IF WE DON'T RAISE
TAXES, THAT THE VITAL THINGS
THAT ARE LEGITIMATE ROLES FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD
HAVE TO BE ELIMINATED.
AND I FIND THAT VERY CURIOUS,
BECAUSE WHAT IS LACKING IN THE
SENATE BODY TODAY IS AN ACTUAL
KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT
WE'RE DOING.
AND I GO BACK TO MARCH WHEN THE
G.A.O. REPORT CAME OUT ON THE
LEVELS OF DUPLICATION WITHIN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT REPORT WAS EYE OPENING
TO MANY SENATORS.
AND THE FACT IS THAT REPORT ONLY
COVERED THE FIRST THIRD OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I'VE LONG SAID DURING THE PAST
SEVEN YEARS IN THE SENATE THAT
ONE OF OUR PROBLEMS IS WE
DON'T -- THE GOVERNMENT IS SO
BIG, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING IT
DOES.
AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT REPORT
WAS A TREMENDOUS LIST OF
DUPLICATIONS, PROGRAMS THAT DO
EXACTLY THE SAME THING IN
MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AGENCIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE 124
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO ENCOURAGE
STUDENTS IN MATH, SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY.
WHY WOULD WE DO THAT?
WHY WOULD WE PAY FOR 124 SETS OF
ADMINISTRATION?
WHY WOULD WE HAVE THE FIRST
PROGRAM FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING AND MATH THAT
DOESN'T HAVE A METRIC ON IT TO
SEE THAT IT WORKS?
YOU KNOW WHAT THE REPORT SAID IS
NONE OF THEM HAVE A METRIC ON IT
TO MEASURE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S
EFFECTIVE.
WE HAVE 47 DIFFERENT JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
47.
THE REPORT SAID ALL BUT THREE OF
THEM OVERLAP ONE ANOTHER, AND
NONE OF THOSE HAVE ANY METRIC TO
SEE IF THEY'RE EFFECTIVE OR
WORK.
THEY COST $18 BILLION A YEAR.
WE HAVE 42 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO
TEACH AMERICANS HOW TO BE CREDIT
WORTHY AND FINANCIALLY SOUND.
42 ACROSS SIX DIFFERENT
AGENCIES.
THE FACT IS THE SENATE DOESN'T
KNOW WHAT IT'S TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN WE MAKE STATEMENTS THAT SAY
IF IN FACT WE MAKE MAJOR CUTS IN
THE DISCRETIONARY PORTION OF OUR
BUDGET THAT THE THINGS THAT WE
COUNT ON WILL HAVE TO BE
SACRIFICED, IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
FOR THERE IS AT A MINIMUM $350
BILLION A YEAR SPENT ON
DUPLICATION WITHIN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND WASTE.
THAT DOESN'T COUNT FRAUD, WHICH
IS AT LEAST $100 BILLION A YEAR
IN MEDICARE.
IT DOESN'T COUNT THE PENTAGON,
WHERE WE HAVE THE PENTAGON
HAVING DUPLICATE WEAPONS
SYSTEMS, NONCOMPETITIVE
CONTRACTS, COST-PLUS CONTRACTS
WHERE WE HAVE REQUIREMENT CREEP
SO THAT THEY END UP COSTING MUCH
MORE THAN THEY EVER SHOULD
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A
RESPONSIBLE PERSON OVER THERE
EVERYTHING.
SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T HAVE
WHAT WE WANT IS TO HAVE THE
THINGS THAT WE NEED.
SO THIS WHOLE IDEA THAT THE
SACRIFICES THAT NEED TO BE MADE
ARE GOING TO BE HIGHLY PAINFUL
IS JUST UNTRUE, BECAUSE THAT'S
HOW MUCH WASTE THERE IS IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AT LEAST $350 BILLION A YEAR.
AND THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE $100
BILLION IN MEDICARE THAT'S
DEFRAUDED IN WASTE.
THA EURPL PROPER PAYMENT --
THEIR IMPROPER PAYMENT RATE IS
IN EXCESS OF $10 BILLION A YEAR.
IF YOU HAVE $100 BILLION WORTH
OF FRAUD AND THEN AN IMPROPER
PAYMENT RATE THAT IS AROUND 10%,
WE COULD EASILY SOLVE OUR BUDGET
PROBLEMS JUST BY ELIMINATING
DUPLICATION AND ELIMINATING
FRAUD.
BUT THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF HARD
WORK TO DO THE OVERSIGHT.
THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF
DUPLICATION.
LEGISLATIVE WORK TO ELIMINATE
IT REQUIRES US TO STAND UP AND
DO WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN
GENERAL WITH REVENUE.
WHAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM IS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S TAKEN 26%
OF OUR G.D.P. JUST TO OPERATE
ITSELF, AND 40% OF THAT IS
BORROWED.
SO AS A PHYSICIAN, WHAT MY
TRAINING WOULD TELL ME TO DO IS
GO DIRECTLY TO THE DISEASE.
DISEASE.
DON'T TREAT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE
GO DIRECTLY TO WHERE THE DISEASE
IS.
AND THE DISEASE IS WE HAVE A
MAGNITUDE, ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE
OF DUPLICATION ALL WELL-MEANING,
ALL WELL-INTENTIONED, THAT WE
ELIMINATING.
WON'T SIT DOWN AND WORK ON
SO I THOUGHT I'D JUST SPEND A
FEW MINUTES, JUST GOING THROUGH
BY DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
HAS 130 DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS.
130.
AND I WILL SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD
JUST A FEW OF THESE, BECAUSE I
DON'T WANT THE RECORD TO BE TOO
MANY.
JUST FOR EXAMPLE, BIOMASS
AGRICULTURE.
PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
WE HAVE THE BIOMASS CROP
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE BIOBASED
PRODUCTS OF BIOENERGY PROGRAM,
THE NEW URBAN RURAL COMPETITIVE
GRANTS PROGRAM FOR BIOMASS.
THIS CAN ALL BE COMBINED INTO
ONE AT A THIRD OF THE COST WITH
EXACTLY THE SAME RESULTS, BUT WE
DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY, THE TIME,
OR THE MOTIVATION TO GO SOLVE
THOSE PROBLEMS.
SO THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE DEBT
AND THE DEFICIT.
THE PROBLEM IS THE CONGRESS.
THE LACK OF A WORK ETHIC TO
REALLY ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND
DIG INTO IT.
WE HAVE 16 EXPORT ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS JUST FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, 18
DIFFERENT DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, 230
IDENTICAL DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS
IN DIFFERENT BRANCHES, AND THE
ONLY REASON WE KNOW THAT IS
BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION IS THE ONLY DEPARTMENT
IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
ACTUALLY KNOWS ALL THEIR
PROGRAMS.
THERE'S NOT ONE OTHER AGENCY WHO
ACTUALLY KNOWS ALL THEIR
PROGRAMS.
THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
GET THE G.A.O. REPORT.
AND WE'VE JUST SEEN THE FIRST
THIRD OF IT.
WHEN WE GET THE OTHER
TWO-THIRDS, THE NEXT THIRD WILL
COME IN FEBRUARY OF NEXT YEAR,
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'LL HAVE TWO-THIRDS OF THE
YOU KNOW WHAT IT WILL SHOW?
IT'LL SHOW OVER $400,000 WORMING
OF DUPLICATION.
SO THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH REVENUE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE'RE
WASTEFUL IN ALMOST EVERYTHING
THAT WE DO BECAUSE CONGRESS
WON'T DO THE APPROPRIATE
OVERSIGHT FOR THE THINGS THAT
ARE LEGITIMATE ROLES FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THE FIRST PERSON THAT
DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY RISK OF
NO FOOD SAFETY, THE FIRST PERSON
DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY RISK OF
NOT HAVING MEDICARE OR NOT
HAVING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE FIRST PERSON DOESN'T HAVE TO
HAVE ANY RISK IF THE CONGRESS
WILL ACTUALLY DO ITS JOB, YET WE
REFUSE TO DO OUR JOB, BECAUSE
EACH ONE OF THESE LITTLE
PROGRAMS HAS A LITTLE POLITICAL
BODY IN ITSELF THAT'S TAKING AND
GOVERNMENT.
SUCKING OFF THE FEDERAL
MANY TIMES NOT A LEGITIMATE ROLE
UNDER THE ENUMERATED POWERS OF
THE CONSTITUTION THAT'S A ROLE
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I GET LETTERS ALL THE TIME IN MY
OFFICE, PLEASE FUND THIS, PLEASE
FUND THIS.
MY ANSWER BACK IS SO ME IN
ENUMERATED POWERS WHERE IT IS
GOVERNMENT TO DO THAT.
THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
IF IT IS TRULY OUR ROLE, I'M FOR
US DOING IT.
BUT IF IN FACT THE ENUMERATED
POWERS, AS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
AND AS EVIDENCED BY "THE
FEDERALIST" PAPERS, SAY IT IS
NOT A ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THEN THE STATES
OUGHT TO BE DOING TFLT AND
BETTER YET, WE AS CITIZENS OUGHT
TO BE HELPING OTHER CITIZENS WHO
HAVE A NEED.
BUT THE A FACT IS IS WE'VE
CREATED THIS MONSTER, OUT-OF-
OUT-OF-CONTROL FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND I'M TALK OUT OF
CONTROL BECAUSE NOBODY IS IN
CONTROL, NOBODY HAS THE
INFORMATION WHICH IS THE POWER
TO DO IT, WHICH IS WHY KNOWING
ALL THIS STUFF, IT IS SO
FRUSTRATING THAT WE WON'T
ELIMINATE THE EASY THINGS, THAT
AMERICANS.
WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON -9D 9% OF
THE ONLY PEOPLE IMPACTED ARE THE
PEOPLE BENEFITING DIRECTLY FROM
ADMINISTERING OR GAMING THE
PROGRAM.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY -- WHEN
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WAS
CREATED, IT WAS TOTAL OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN ENERGY.
OUR DEPENDENCE AT THAT TIME WAS
30%.
IT REACHED A PEAK OF 67%, AND
THANKFULLY, DUE TO HORIZONTAL
DRILLING AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
47%.
SOUND FRACING, WE NOW ARE AT
WE'VE GONE DOWN 16 POINTS SINCE
THE TECHNOLOGY WAS DEVELOPED TO
GO AFTER RESOURCES THAT ARE
HERE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CONGRESSIONAL
RESEARCH SERVICE SAYS -- AND
THIS IS A REPORT PUBLISHED THIS
YEAR -- THAT AMERICA HAS ENERGY
RESOURCES GREATER THAN THE
COMBINED ENERGY RESOURCES OF
CHINA, CANADA, AND SAUDI ARABIA.
WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD WHERE THE CITIZENS OWN THE
RESOURCES AND THEIR OWN
GOVERNMENT WON'T LET THEM HAVE
IT.
WE DENY OUR OWN RESOURCES TO OUR
OWN PEOPLE.
AND CONSEQUENTLY WE SEE $4
GASOLINE.
NOT BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE THERE,
AND WE BLAME SPECULATORS AND WE
BLAME THE LARGE OIL COMPANIES.
THE REASON GAS IS $4 IS BECAUSE
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WON'T LET
US UTILIZE THE VERY RESOURCES
THAT WE HAVE.
92% OF THE 650 MILLION ACRES
THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWNS
IS UNAVAILABLE FOR RESOURCE
PRODUCTION, THAT CAN BE DONE IN
A CLEAN, ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY WAY WITH NO IMPACT
WHATSOEVER, AND YET SUPPLY US
VALUABLE ENERGY THAT DOESN'T
MAKE US DEPENDENT ON COUNTRIES
WHO ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF OUR
LIBERTIES AND OUR FREEDOM.
SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A
LOT OF SPEECHES TODAY TALKING
ABOUT THOSE WHO'VE ACTUALLY
LIVED THE AMERICAN DREAM, PEOPLE
WHO'VE MADE IT.
AIM NOT SAYING THERE ARE NOT
EXCESSES.
I AM NOT ONE OF THE VISA FEW
PEOPLE ON MY -- I AM ONE OF THE
VERY FEW PEOPLE ON MY SIDE THAT
THINKS WE OUGHT TO ELIMINATE ALL
THE BRACKETS, WE OUGHT TO FLAUNT
THE TAX RATE, AND THAT WE WILL
SEE THE $2 TRILLION THAT'S
SITTING ON THE SIDE LINE THAT
COULD BE CREATING JOBS IN THIS
COUNTRY ACTUALLY COME IN AND
CREATE JOBS.
BUT OUR PROBLEM ISN'T THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
OUR PROBLEM IS THAT WE, THE
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AREN'T
SUCCESSFUL IN ACCOMPLISHING THE
DO.
TASKS THAT WE WERE SENT HERE TO
THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY --
MORE UNREGULATED GRANTS, 32
DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS, NO
FOLLOW-UP ON THE GRANTS, NO
CHECKING TO SEE IF A GRANT WAS
GIVEN THAT THEY ACTUALLY
PURCHASED THE PURPOSE,
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FRAUD,
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IMPROPER
PAYMENTS, SIGNIFICANT LAYERS OF
DUPLICATION, AND NOT EVEN THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON, LET ALONE
CONGRESS.
BECAUSE WE WON'T DO OVERSIGHT.
40 DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS INSIDE
THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
THEN WE HAVE ALL THE DUPLICATIVE
PROGRAMS ACROSS AGENCIES.
I DIDN'T LIST ALL OF THEM.
35 DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS IN THE
DEPENDENT OF LABOR, 53 IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SIX IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 19 AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, AND WHO KNOWS
HOW MANY AT THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT DOESN'T EVEN KNOW.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS IS OUR LACK OF
AGGRESSIVENESS IN REVIEWING AND
OVERSIGHTINGS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND ELIMINATING THE
DUPLICATION.
IT IS FRUSTRATING TO ME AS A
PHYSICIAN TO SEE US CONTINUE TO
TREAT THE SYMPTOMS AND NEVER GO
AFTER THE DISEASE.
THE DIS-EASE WILL EVENTUALLY
KILL, JUST LIKE IT'S BLEEDING US
NOW, JUST LIKE IT'S BLEEDING US
AS WE BORROW $5 BILLION A DAY --
$5 BILLION, THAT'S THE ENTIRE
BUDGET OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
EVERY DAY THAT WE'RE BORROWING.
AND NOW WE HAVE POLITICAL GAMES
BEING PLAYED, FINGER-POINTING,
PUTTING OUR FINGER IN THE EYES
OF THOSE ACROSS POLITICAL LINES,
RATHER THAN GET DOWN TO WORK IN
SOLVING THE REAL PROBLEMS THAT
AMERICA FACES.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE PROBLEM IN
FRONT OF US THAT WE CAN'T SOLVE
AS A NATION.
WE CAN BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE ARE
CALLED UPON TO ACCOMPLISH IF IN
FACT WEVMENT BUT THE ONE LITTLE
THING THAT CREEPS IN THAT IS
NAUSEATEING IS THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AREN'T THINKING ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US
RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION.
HOW DO I ADVANTAGE?
AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN,
WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU SHOULD
QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE
CONGRESS?
MOTIVATION OF THE MEMBERS OF
IS IT JUST TO GET ELECTED?
OR IS IT TO FIX THE VERY REAL
AND URGENT PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF
US?
I THINK TOO OFTEN IT'S ABOUT US
AND NOT OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S ABOUT US SECURE IN THE NEXT
ELECTION RATHER THAN OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
SECURE IN THE NEXT GENERATION.
AND SO I WOULD PUT FORWARD, AS
YOU HEAR THE DEBATE OVER THE
CLASS WARFARE AND THE UNFAIRNESS
THAT IS PROPAGATED THAT SOMEBODY
HAS BECOME SUCCESS AND THAT MANY
AMERICANS NOW PAY 70% OF ALL THE
TAXES PAID, THAT WE WANT TO TAX
THOSE PEOPLE MORE.
I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS
COUNTRY OUGHT TO PAY TAXES.
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE, WHAT
PROGRAMS YOU ARE ON.
IF YOU GET A BENEFIT FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S
RIGHTLY UNDER THE ENUMERATED
PORKS SOMETHING THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING,
OUGHT TO PAY TAX ON IT.
THEN YOU'RE PARTICIPATING.
THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE 5% OF THE
ELIGIBLE POPULATION VOTING.
WE WOULD 75 OREGON 85%.
BECAUSE THEY'D HAVE AN
INVOLVEMENT.
WE HAVE AN EARNED-INCOME TAX
CREDIT PROGRAM WHICH WE PAY
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, WE
ACTUALLY PAY THEM EVERY YEAR.
BUT FULLY 25% OF THAT IS FRAUD.
THAT'S $17 BILLION A YEAR PAID
OUT TO PEOPLE WHO AREN'T WORKING
WHO ARE DEFRAUDING THE I.R.S.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT
IT.
$17 BILLION?
OVER TEN YEARS THAT'S $170
BILLION.
THAT GAS LONG WAY TOWARDS
REDUCING OUR DEFICIT --
STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AND DEBT.
BUT WE WON'T DO THAT.
SAME THING ON THE CHILD TAX
CREDIT.
THAT'S A FRAUDULENT PROGRAM,
FULLY 20% OF IT IS FRAUD.
YET WE'VE NOT DONE ANYTHING
ABOUT IT.
EXCUSE
ME, BUT THE SENATOR HAS USED
MORE THAN HIS TEN MINUTES.
I WOULD ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO CONTINUE
FLOOR.
SINCE NOBODY ELSE IS ON THE