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THE FLOOR.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
AS I SAID WITH THIS AUGUST 2
DATE RAPIDLY APPROACHING, WE
KNOW THAT WE ARE FACED WITH THE
POTENTIAL OF RUNNING OUT OF
MONEY.
WE ALSO MOW THAT UNDER THAT
KIND OF SCENARIO THERE ARE NO
-- WE ALSO KNOW THAT UNDER THAT
KIND OF SCENARIO THERE ARE NO
WINNERS AND NO LOSERS.
WE NEED TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS
AT HAND AND AVERT THE ECONOMIC
CATASTROPHE THAT WILL COME IF
WE WILL NOT JOIN TOGETHER AND
FIND A WAY TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING.
BUT, MADAM SPEAKER, THIS
LOOMING CRISIS IS NOT THE
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM.
WE'RE FACING THIS CRISIS
BECAUSE OF A MUCH LARGER, MUCH
LONGER TERM PROBLEM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS
MORE THAN IT HAS.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, MADAM
SPEAKER, WE DON'T HAVE A DEBT
CEILING PROBLEM.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A DEBT PROBLEM.
THE FORMER CANNOT BE RESOLVED
WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE LATTER.
YOU CAN'T ADDRESS THE DEBT
CEILING ISSUE UNLESS YOU
ADDRESS THE DEBT ISSUE THAT IS
BEFORE US.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT TODAY'S
PROCESS AND THE AMENDMENT THAT
WE ARE PUTTING TO THE MEASURE
THAT WE DEBATED ALL DAY
YESTERDAY IS ALL ABOUT.
AND THE RULE BEFORE US IS
MOVING US TOWARD ADDRESSING THE
ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.
WE'RE ADDING ANOTHER LAYER OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, SOMETHING THAT
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE
TALK ABOUT.
IT IS BEING ADDED TO THE PLAN
THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER IS MOVING
FORWARD.
WITH THE AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO CONSIDER THAT THIS
RULE WILL MAKE IN ORDER, THE
HOUSE WILL PROCEED WITH THE
CRITICAL BUSINESS AT HAND.
WE WILL PASS A BOLD AND
CREDIBLE PLAN TO REIN IN OUR
DEBT AND RESPONSIBLY AVERT THE
CRISIS THAT LOOMS JUST A FEW
DAYS FROM NOW.
IT'S EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE THAT
THIS PROCESS HAS BECOME SO
LENGTHY AND PARTISAN.
I THINK EVERYONE FEELS VERY
SADDENED AT THE FACT THAT IT'S
BECOME SUCH A LENGTHY AND VERY,
VERY PARTISAN PROCESS.
BUT, MADAM SPEAKER, TIME IS
RUNNING OUT.
TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO DO OUR WORK AND WITH PASSAGE
OF THIS MEASURE WE WILL BE
MOVING THE PROCESS FORWARD TO
HELP AVERT THE CRISIS THAT WE
POTENTIALLY FACED ON AUGUST 2.
WE WILL SEND THE MEASURE TO THE
SENATE AND AS WE ALL KNOW THIS
IS THE ONLY PROPOSAL, THIS IS
THE ONLY PROPOSAL THAT WHEN WE
PASS IT TODAY THAT WILL HAVE
PASS EITHER HOUSE OF CONGRESS.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT TO
DO THAT.
I HOPE VERY MUCH THAT WHILE
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES MAY NOT
BE SUPPORTIVE OF ALL THE
PROVISIONS IN THE BOEHNER PLAN
OR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE, I HOPE VERY MUCH TO MOVE
THE PROCESS FORWARD SO THAT WE
CAN ENSURE THAT OUR
CONSTITUENTS GET THOSE SOCIAL
SECURITY CHECKS ON AUGUST 3
SINCE WE ALL KNOW THE PRESIDENT
IN HIS JULY 12 SPEECH SAID IF
WE DON'T INCREASE THE DEBT
CEILING BY AUGUST 2 HE COULDN'T
GUARANTEE THE SOCIAL SECURITY
CHECKS WILL GO OUT.
SO TO KEEP THE PROCESS MOVING,
TO ENSURE WE GET THOSE CHECKS
OUT AND ADDRESS THE OTHER VERY,
VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITIES THAT
WE NEED TO HAVE FUNDING FOR, WE
CAN PASS THIS IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE
SENATE, WORK OUT OUR
DIFFERENCES AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS
POSSIBLE AND COME BACK WITH
WHAT CLEARLY HAS TO BE A
BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE TO ENSURE
THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DECREASE
SPENDING, GETTING TO THE ROOT
CAUSE AT THE PROBLEM AND AT THE
SAME TIME DO WHAT WE ALL KNOW
HAS TO BE DONE AND THAT IS TO
INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM RESERVE -- THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK.
AND I THANK MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA,
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RULES
COMMITTEE, FOR YIELDING ME THE
CUSTOMARY 30 MINUTES, AND I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
MADAM SPEAKER, TODAY WE FACE A
SELF-INFLICTED CRISIS AND THE
MAJORITY-PROPOSED SOLUTION IS
NO SOLUTION AT ALL.
THE DEBT CEILING WAS CREATED
IRONICALLY TO AVOID CONGRESS TO
AVOID EVERY NEW ISSUE OF DEBT.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE HOUSE IS NOT
IN ORDER.
THE
GENTLELADY IS CORRECT.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO PLEASE
TAKE THEIR CONVERSATIONS OFF
THE FLOOR.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
THE DEBT CEILING
WAS REASONABLY INTRODUCED TO
PAY FOR WORLD WAR I AND WAS
DESIGNED TO BE A FORMALITY THAT
WILL HELP OUR COUNTRY AND
ECONOMY OPERATE SMOOTHLY AND
WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
AND ALL THESE YEARS LATER IT
HASN'T DONE THAT.
THE DEBT CEILING HAS OUTLIVED
ITS USEFULNESS.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD ABOLISH THE DEBT LIMIT
ALTOGETHER AND NEVER FACE A
CRISIS LIKE THIS AGAIN OF
WHETHER WE WILL BE A
RESPONSIBLE COUNTRY THAT PAYS
OUR BILLS.
ONLY ONE OTHER COUNTRY HAS THE
DEBT LIMIT AND THAT IS DENMARK.
I THINK WE CAN -- WE CAN LOOK
AT THIS AS AN ACK ROWMISM FROM
1917 -- ACK ROWMISM FROM 1917.
RAISING THE DEBT CEILING HAS
NEVER BEEN A QUESTION.
SINCE 1960 THE DEBT CEILING HAS
BEEN RAISED 17 TIMES.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN NO QUID
PRO QUO.
NO RANSOM AND PREVENTING
DEFAULT.
BRINGING OUR NATION TO THE
THAT IS UNTIL TODAY.
BRINK OF COLLAPSE HAS BEEN A
CONSCIOUS DECISION OF THE
MAJORITY PART.
PLACING IDEOLOGY BEFORE
COUNTRY, THEY ARE DEMANDING
CONTROVERSIAL AND UNACCEPTABLE
CUTS OR ELSE THEY ARE WILLING
TO LET OUR NATION DEFAULT.
WE HAVE BEEN WARNED BY THE
UNITED STATES SENATE, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION
WILL NOT BE PASSED INTO LAW.
THEY HAVE SAID IT REPEATEDLY.
THEY HAVE SAID IT CLEARLY.
YET, THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO
BELIEVE THIS BILL CAN AVERT THE
DANGER OF DEFAULT.
THEY'RE PLAYING A DANGEROUS
CAME OF CHICKEN, ASKING THE
NATION TO GIVE INTO THEIR
DEMAND IF WE WANT THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY TO LIVE TO SEE ANOTHER
DAY.
I SIMPLY CANNOT AGREE TO THE
EXTREME DEMANDS BEING PUT FORTH
AFTER PULLING YESTERDAY'S
BY THE MAJORITY TODAY.
LEGISLATION FROM THE FLOOR, THE
MAJORITY HAS INTRODUCED A PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT DEMANDS THE
IMPOSSIBLE.
TODAY'S BILL DOESN'T JUST
REQUIRE A VOTE ON A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IT
DEMANDS THAT BEFORE THE SIX
MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE TO -- FACE
DEFAULT AGAIN THAT WE VOTE ON A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND
THAT IT BE APPROVED BY BOTH
CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS THIS FALL.
IF THE AMENDMENT DOESN'T PASS,
THEN WE ARE NOT ONLY FACING THE
PROSPECT OF DEFAULT AGAIN SIX
MONTHS FROM NOW BUT WE HAVE
EVEN FEWER OPTIONS TO AVOID
DEFAULT.
IF PREVIOUS PROPOSALS ARE ANY
GUIDE, THE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT WOULD PLACE THE
BURDEN OF DEBT REDUCTION
SQUARELY UPON THE MIDDLE CLASS,
THREATENING SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL BE
GIVEN A SEW FEE'S CHOICE.
DO WE PROTECT MEDICARE OR DO WE
AVOID THE AMENDMENT TO AVOID
ECONOMIC DEFAULT?
THIS IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.
IN FACT, THIS LEGISLATION
RELEASES ONE HOSTAMMING AND
TAKES ANOTHER.
-- HOSTAGE AND TAKES ANOTHER.
SIX MONTHS FROM NOW WE WILL BE
FORCED TO VOTE ON A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND
PUT THIS NATION ON THE BRINK OF
DEFAULT.
I REFUSE TO PROLONG THIS ISSUE.
I THINK WE NEED TO COME
TOGETHER TO SOLVE AN URGENT
CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING
IT'S OUR DUTY TO PUT THE
TODAY.
WELFARE OF THE COUNTRY BEFORE
ALL.
THAT IS WHY WE WERE ELECTED BY
THE PEOPLE WHO EXPECT US TO DO
AND THAT IS WHAT WE SWEAR TO
JUST THAT.
DO.
IT IS TIME WE ANSWERED THE
CALL.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO
ON TODAY'S BILL AND URGENTLY,
URGENTLY GET BACK TO SERVING
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE SPENT FAR TOO MUCH TIME ON
THIS USELESS BILL.
I RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HER
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF 15 SECOND TO SAY
TO MY GOOD FRIEND THAT I'D LIKE
TO TOTALLY ASSOCIATE MYSELF
WITH HER REMARKS AT THE END IN
WHICH SHE SAID THAT IT IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR US TO
WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY FOR US TO RESOLVE THIS
ISSUE.
I KNOW THIS WILL COME AS A
SURPRISE.
WHEN SHE BEGAN HER REMARKS AND
SAID WE ON OUR SIDE ARE WORKING
OVERTIME, MAKING A CONSCIOUS
DECISION TO BRING OUR NATION TO
THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE, THAT
THAT IS A SLIGHT
MISCHARACTERIZATION OF EXACTLY
WHERE WE ARE.
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES, TWO
MINUTES TO MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
SPRINGHILL, HARD WORKING AND
NOT TOO WELL RESTED MEMBER OF
THE RULES COMMITTEE, MR.
NUGENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE
DISTINGUISHED CHAIR OF THE
RULES COMMITTEE, MR. DREIER,
FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'LL BE PERFECTLY HONEST WITH
YOU.
THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THIS RULE
THAT I DON'T LOVE.
BUT QUITE FRANKLY, WE DON'T
HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.
WE NEED TO BET SOMETHING DONE,
AND WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING
DONE NOW.
THIS RULE PROVIDES US WITH THE
TOOLS AND MECHANISMS THAT WE
NEED TO GET OUR JOBS DONE AND
BRING OUR ECONOMY -- OUR
COUNTRY BACK FROM THE BRINK OF
DEFAULT.
DEFAULT IS NOT AN OPTION.
THE UNDERLYING LEGISLATION, THE
BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011,
SAVES US FROM DEFAULT.
MOST OF ALL, I SUPPORT THE
BUDGET CONTROL ACT OF 2011
BECAUSE IT MEANS BOTH CHAMBERS
OF CONGRESS MUST PASS A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
BEFORE THE PRESIDENT CAN RAISE
DO I LIKE EVERYTHING IN THE
THE DEBT CEILING ONCE AGAIN.
BILL?
NO, I DON'T.
DOES IT DO WHAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
NEED AND DESERVE?
YES, IT DOES.
AND THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT BOTH
THE RULE AND THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA YIELDS
BACK HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER,
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD 1 1/2
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN, THE RANKING MEMBER ON
WAYS AND MEANS, MR. LEVIN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
--
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN TALKING
ABOUT MOVING THE PROCESS
FORWARD.
IT DOES NOT MOVE THE PROCESS
FORWARD TO PASS A BILL THAT'S
DEAD BEFORE ARRIVAL IN THE
SENATE.
IT DOESN'T MOVE THE PROCESS
FORWARD TO PASS A BILL.
IT IS EVEN MORE PARTISAN THAN
THE ONE YESTERDAY.
YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY HAS TO BE
WONDERING, WE'RE ONE DAY CLOSER
TO DEFAULT AND INDEED ONE STEP
BACKWARDS.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO
SQUEEZE OUT A MAJORITY HERE,
AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS
INSERTING THE PROVISION THAT
REQUIRES A 2/3 VOTE IN THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
THAT'S COMPLETELY A NONSTARTER.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS LOOKING
FOR A SOLUTION, NOT A STALEMATE
, AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
HAVE BECOME THE PARTY OF
GRIDLOCK, PASSING THIS ONLY
INCREASES IT.
AND TO MOVE BACKWARDS.
MAYBE TO PROTECT YOUR -- BUT TO
PROTECT AMERICA.
THE
BACK.
GENTLEMAN FROM MICHIGAN YIELDS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF 10 SECONDS TO SAY
TO MY GOOD FRIEND, THERE IS A
BIT OF DISCONNECT FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE.
GRIDLOCK.
SO FAILURE TO ACT IS NOT
PASSING LEGISLATION OUT OF THE
FACT GRIDLOCK.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS IN
WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO YIELD A MINUTE TO MY
FRIEND FROM CINCINNATI, MR.
CHABOT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING.
OUR NATIONAL DEBT STANDS AT A
STAGGERING $14.3 TRILLION, AND
WE CURRENTLY BORROW MORE THAN
40 CENTS ON EVERY $1 WE SPEND
AND OUR PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATS
IN THE OTHER BODY SAY THAT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT IS,
QUOTE, DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
15 YEARS AGO, THE BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT PASSED THE
HOUSE WITH A BIPARTISAN VOTE
ONLY TO LOSE BY ONE VOTE IN THE
SENATE.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS
FUTURE CONGRESSES LIVE WITHIN
THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THAT
THEIR MEANS AND END THE
SPENDING BING.
OUR COLLEAGUE, -- SPENDING
BINGE.
OUR COLLEAGUE, REPRESENTATIVE
MCCLINTOCK, SUMMED IT UP WELL
HE SAID IMAGINE A FAMILY THAT
EARNS $50,000 A YEAR AND IS
SPENDING MORE THAN $88,000 A
YEAR AND HAS A CREDIT CARD
$330,000.
BALANCE OF $330,000 A -- OF
THAT'S US.
WHY IS THE PRESIDENT SO AFRAID
BALANCE OUR BUDGET?
OF MAKING A COMMITMENT TO
STOP THE SPENDING.
NO MORE EMPTY PROMISES, NO MORE
EXCUSES.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MR.
DOGGETT.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
WHEN THE SPEAKER
FAILED TO SECURE THE VOTES FOR
HIS MISBEGOTTEN DEAL, I THOUGHT
THE REPUBLICANS WOULD WANT TO
GET UNDER WAY WITH A
PROFESSIONAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST
TO HELP HEAL THE TWISTED ARMS
AND SPRAINS AS THE PRESSURE WAS
APPLIED TO GET THE VOTES.
BUT NO, THE PROFESSIONAL
OBSTRUCTIONISTS AMONG THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE YIELDED FOR
FAR LESS THAN A DEEP MUSCLE
ALL THEY NEED IS A MEANINGLESS
MASSAGE.
VOTE ON AN AMENDMENT THAT IS
DESIGNED TO FAIL.
THAT THEY KNOW WILL NEVER
REWRITE THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION.
-- THE CONSTITUTION, THE WAY
THEY WOULD LIKE TO REWRITE IT
TO ENSHRINE REPUBLICAN DOGMA
INTO THE SUPREME LAW OF THE
LAND.
I'LL ADMIT THAT THROUGH THE
YEARS THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT HAS GAINED MORE
INTEREST ON MY PART.
IT BECAME MUCH MORE APPEALING
AS I SAW YEARS OF REPUBLICANS
ENTERING WARS WITHOUT PAYING
FOR THEM.
INSISTING UPON THE MYTHOLOGY,
NO, INDEED, IT'S REALLY A
POLITICAL THEOLOGY OF
REPUBLICANS, THAT YOU CAN CUT
TAXES, RAISE SPENDING AND
EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT OK.
THEIR APPROACH, EVEN THOUGH
THEIR EXPERTS TOLD US THEIR TAX
CUTS WOULD DRIVE US INTO
DEFICIT, THEY INSISTED ON THE
POLITICAL ALCHEMY THAT THEY
COULD TAKE TAX CUTS AND TURN
THEM INTO SURPLUSES JUST AS IF
THEY COULD TURN HAY INTO GOLD.
IF THERE WERE ONE VOTE I COULD
TAKE ABOUT THE GEORGE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION DRIPPING IN RED
INK, I WOULD TAKE IT.
BUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
IS NOT A SOLUTION, IT'S AN
EXCUSE FOR NOT HAVING A
SOLUTION AND THE ONLY REASON
IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP THIS
WEEKEND IS JUST TO DELAY THIS
CRISIS NEARER AND NEARER TO THE
PRECIPICE TO WHICH THIS
REPUBLICAN IRRESPONSIBILITY HAS
TAKEN US.
THE CREDIT WORTHINESS, THE FULL
FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED
STATES IS IN DANGER BY THE
REFUSAL TO ADOPT A BALANCED
APPROACH THAT WOULD CLOSE TAX
LOOPHOLES AND REDUCE SPENDING
ALL AT ONCE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
INSTEAD OF PUTTING ALL THE
BURDEN ON THE MANY, DEMAND A
LITTLE FROM THE FEW AT THE TOP.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO ONE OF OUR
CAPABLE AND THOUGHTFUL NEW
MEMBERS OF THE 112TH CONGRESS,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. MEEHAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK.
AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING SO MUCH,
APPROACH.
I HEAR ABOUT A BALANCED
WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A
BALANCED BUDGET.
THE CONCERN RIGHT NOW AS I TALK
TO THE MANY PHONE CALLERS WHO
ARE COMING IN IS THAT AMERICA
HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO TIGHTEN
THEIR BELTS AT HOME.
AND WHEN YOU TALK TO BUSINESS
PEOPLE, THEY'VE MADE THE TOUGH
DECISIONS.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO US NOW
TO MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS AS
WELL.
AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THIS
LEGISLATION HAS DONE.
LEGISLATION WHICH WE CAN LOOK
AT RIGHT NOW AND PUT AWAY THE
ARGUMENTS FROM EACH SIDE.
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
THIS IS ABOUT AMERICA RIGHT
NOW.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLING IN,
WHO ARE WATCHING, THEY'RE
WATCHING RIGHT NOW AND GREATLY
CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE FACT
THAT THEY FEEL THEIR ECONOMIC
SECURITY IS AT RISK BECAUSE WE
CAN'T DEAL WITH THE LONG-TERM
IMPLICATIONS OF THIS BUDGET AND
THIS DEBT.
THERE IS A PLAN.
AND THE REPUBLICANS IN THIS
HOUSE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PLAN.
I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE
PARTISAN RHETORIC.
LET US GO AROUND THIS PLAN, IF
WE'VE GOT DIFFERENCES, LET US
RESOLVE THOSE DIFFERENCES
EFFECTIVELY FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
LET US GET TO WORK IN THIS
HOUSE, GET IT TO THE SENATE,
PASS IT TODAY, SO WE CAN GET
THE GOOD WORK DONE THAT ALLOWS
AMERICA TO GET BACK TO WORK
WITH A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE IN
THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY, GET
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK CREATING
JOBS.
I'D LIKE TO
COMPLIMENT THE GENTLEMAN ON HIS
REMARKS AND SAY AS I LISTEN TO
THIS NEWLY ELECTED MEMBER OF
THE HOUSE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO
IMAGINE HE WOULD CONSCIOUSLY
ENGAGE IN AN EFFORT TO BRING
OUR NATION TO THE VERGE OF
COLLAPSE BECAUSE WE WANT TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND ENSURE
THAT WE CAN HAVE A STRONG AND
VIBRANT UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA CREATING JOBS AND
GETTING OUR ECONOMY GROWING.
I THANK MY FRIEND FOR HIS
THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MS. SLAUGHTER SPM I'M --
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO
MR. SCOTT, A CONSTITUTIONAL
SCHOLAR.
THE
AND A HALF MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA FOR ONE
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THIS RULE PROVIDES FOR DEBATE
OF LEGISLATION THAT WAS SLAPPED
TOGETHER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
PROVIDING FOR TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN UNSPECIFIED CUTS.
THE FINAL VERSION WAS SPRUNG ON
THE HOUSE AFTER BEING MADE
PUBLIC JUST THIS MORNING AND
NOW WE ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE THE
WHOLE THING UP OR DOWN WITHOUT
AMENDMENT IN SPITE OF THE FACT
THAT 53 NARTS ARE ALREADY ON
RECORD SAYING THEY'LL OPPOSE
IT.
THIS LEGISLATION IS IN RESPONSE
TO A MANUFACTURED SO-CALLED
CRISIS.
WE CAN AVOID DEFAULT ON OUR
OBLIGATIONS THE SAME WAY WE'VE
DONE IT ALMOST ONCE A YEAR OVER
THE LAST HALF CENTURY, JUST
INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING.
AND NOW THIS FINAL VERSION
CALLS FOR DEFAULT ON OUR
OBLIGATIONS UNLESS WE PASS A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
MISLABELED A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
THE SO-CALLED BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT REPORTED FROM THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE DOES NOT
REQUIRE A BALANCED BUDGET.
IN FACT, IT WILL MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET
AND WILL CERTAINLY JEOPARDIZE
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE
PROVISION THAT REQUIRES A 3/5
VOTE TO INCREASE THE DEBT
CEILING AS IF THIS WEEK'S DRAMA
ISN'T ENOUGH OF A SPECTACLE.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE SHOULD END
THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS,
INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING TO
AVOID DEFAULT AND THEN
SERIOUSLY FOCUS ON LEGISLATION
THAT WILL CREATE JOBS AND
RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
I'D LIKE TO RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MS. SLAUGHTER SPM I'M PLEASED
TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
ANDREWS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED --
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THE INEVITABLE
CONSEQUENCE OF THIS BILL IS
WHEN THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO
EXTEND THE DEBT CEILING TO PAY
OUR BILLS, WE WILL HAVE TO
REDUCE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY.
THAT'S THE INEVITABLE
CONSEQUENCE OF THE BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
THEREFORE, INEVITABLY, THIS
WILL ILL -- BILL WILL NOT SEE
THE LIGHT OF DAY IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO IS GET TO
OUR OBLIGATION, TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE DEBT
CEILING AND MAKE A RESPONSIBLE
DOWN PAYMENT ON OUR DEFICIT.
THE PRESIDENT OUTLINED A WAY TO
DO THAT AND THAT'S WHAT WE
OUGHT TO BE WORKING ON.
HE TALKED ABOUT COMMONALITY
BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES AND THE
TWO PARTIES ON CUTS IN ANNUAL
PROGRAMS IN THE AREA OF 5%, 6%,
OR 7%.
PAINFUL, BUT NECESSARY.
HE TALKED ABOUT A FAIR PROCESS
WHERE A BODY THAT WOULD ACT
BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE
OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO
SENATE WOULD CONSIDER ALL THE
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS,
PROTECTING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY BENEFITS AND LOOKING
AT A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS, THE FORM
OF REVENUE CONSIDERED AND VOTED
ON.
THAT WOULD GET OUTOUS -- GET US
OUT OF THIS PERIOD OF
UNCERTAINTY WHERE WE HAVE NOT
EXTENDED THE DEBT CEILING AS
WAS DONE 17 TIMES WITHOUT
CONDITION FOR PRESIDENT REAGAN.
SEVEN TIMES WITHOUT CONDITION
FOR PRESIDENT BUSH.
LET'S GET ON TO THE BETTER IDEA
OF APPROACHING THE PROBLEM AND
FIXING THE PROBLEM FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
VOTE NO ON THIS UNDERLYING BILL
AND THIS RULE AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
CONTINUES TO TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO ANOTHER
CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLAR, A
MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
THE
COMMITTEE, MR. WATT.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I THINK THIS MIGHT BE
THE WORST RESOLUTION I'VE SEEN
TPWHEVER HOUSE IN THE 19 YEARS
I'VE BEEN HERE.
IT BRINGS TO CONTINUING DEBATE
A BILL THAT IS ALREADY -- THAT
HAS ALREADY BEEN DEBATED
YESTERDAY WITH AN AMENDMENT BUT
THERE'S ONLY ONE MINUTE LEFT IN
THE THE BAIT.
AND THE CHANGE THAT IS BEING
MADE REQUIRES THE PASSAGE OF AN
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES IN ORDER
TO EVER RAISE THE DEBT LIMIT
AGAIN.
THE EFFECT OF THAT IS THAT WE
HAVE ONE MINUTE, WE DON'T EVEN
HAVE IT, THE MAJORITY HAS THE
ONE MINUTE THAT'S LEFT IN THE
DEBATE.
WE HAVE NO TIME LEFT IN THE
DEBATE.
ON OUR SIDE TO DEBATE WHETHER
WE WILL PASS AN AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES THAT LITERALLY HOLDS A
GUN TO THE HEAD OF THE ECONOMY
OF THE UNITED STATES.
WE OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF
OURSELVES, LEGISLATING IN THIS
WAY.
THIS IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO
LEGISLATE TO PROVIDE FOR A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE
GOOD FAITH.
OUGHT TO AT LEAST DEBATE IT IN
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, LET
ME CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
MORAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS
IS A SELF-CONTRIVED BANKRUPTCY.
A DECADE AGO, THE MAJORITY
PARTY INHERITED SURPLUSES AS
FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE.
AND THEN THEY PROMPTLY TOOK
AWAY THE REVENUE THAT ENABLED
US TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
THEY CRIPPLED THIS COUNTRY --
COUNTRY WITH DEEP TAX CUTS.
WE HAVE THE LOWEST REVENUE
WE'VE HAD AT ANY TIME SINCE
BEFORE MEDICARE AND BASICALLY
AT ANY TIME SINCE THE 1920'S.
AND WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO
AND THE WAY WE -- THE REASON WE
OPPOSE THIS IS IF THIS WAS ON
THE BOOKS, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE
HAD THE ABILITY TO RESCUE THE
WORLD FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION
IN THE 1930'S.
WE NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD THE
ABILITY TO WIN THE WAR FOR
DEMOCRACY IN THE 1940'S.
WE NEVER WOULD HAVE WON THE
RACE TO SPACE FOR THE FREE
WORLD IN THE 1960'S.
WE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO ESTABLISH MEDICARE AND CIVIL
RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN THE MID
1960'S.
AND CERTAINLY HAD WE STUCK WITH
THIS KIND OF APPROACH TO
GOVERNMENT, WE NEVER WOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO CREATE 20 MILLION
NEW JOBS AS WE DID IN THE
1990'S AND REDUCE POVERTY,
EXPAND THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
CREATE ALL THOSE SURPLUSES THAT
THE MAJORITY INHERITED.
AND PROMPTLY SQUANDERED.
THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING FOR
OUR COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHY IT
SHOULD BE DEFEATED.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO MY FRIEND
GR GLENDALE, ARIZONA, MR.
FRANKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
MR. OBAMA AND THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE CONSTANTLY AND
CONSISTENTLY SAID WE NEED TO
TAKE A BALANCED APPROACH TO THE
DEBT CRISIS FATESING AMERICA.
BUT THEY STEADFASTLY REFUSE TO
EVEN CONSIDER THE ONE TRULY
BALANCED APPROACH TO THIS
PROBLEM, THAT BEING A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED
STATES CONSTITUTION.
THIS EFFORT TODAY WILL BE THE
SECOND TIME THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WILL HAVE
PASSED LEGISLATION REQUIRING A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT WHICH
WOULD ACTUALLY CREATE A
PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS
CRISIS AND MAKE SURE THAT
ECONOMIC FREEDOM CAN BE
AVAILABLE FOR AMERICANS TODAY
AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
YET, MR. REID SAID HE WILL KILL
THIS BILL AS SOON AS IT COMES
TO THE SENATE OR AT LEAST STRIP
OUT THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT IN IT.
MADAM SPEAKER, IF WE COULD GET
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
MR. REID HERE, AND THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF, I GUESS WE'D
HAVE TO PUT OUT AN A.P.B. ON
THE PRESIDENT, WE CAN'T FIND
HIM, HE'S AWOL IN THIS DEBATE.
BUT IF WE COULD, I'D ASK THEM
TWO QUESTIONS.
FIRST, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO
DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE?
SECONDLY, WHAT ON EARTH IS SO
RADICAL ABOUT HAVING A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO CREATE A
PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM?
NOW, I DOUBT WE'LL GET AN APPS,
MADAM SPEAKER SYSTEM OF TODAY
WE WILL HAVE TO DO AS WE HAVE
DONE BEFORE AND WE WILL TRY TO
PROCEED WITHOUT THEM AND TRY TO
DO SOMETHING TRULY HISTORIC
THAT WILL SAVE THIS NATION AND
ITS PEOPLE FROM ECONOMIC RUPE.
MADAM SPEAKER, NOT LONG AGO,
RIGHT AFTER THE CONSTITUTION
WAS FINISHED, THOMAS JEFFERSON
SAID, I WISH IT WERE POSSIBLE
TO OBTAIN A SINGLE AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO DEPEND ON
THAT ALONE FOR THE REDUCTION OF
THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR
GOVERNMENT TO THE GENUINE
PRINCIPLES OF ITS CONSTITUTION.
I MEAN AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE
TAKING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT THE POWER OF
BORROWING.
CLOSE QUOTE.
MADAM SPEAKER, THOMAS JEFFERSON
WAS RIGHT AND HOW I WISH HIS
CONTEMPORARIES HAD LISTENED TO
HIM ABOUT THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT BUT THEY DIDN'T.
BUT NOW, WE HAVE A CRISIS OF
$14 TRILLION FACING US AS A
RESULT OF NOT HAVING THIS
AMENDMENT.
AND IT COULD CRUSH US IN A WAY
THAT NO MILITARY POWER HAS EVER
DONE AND AT THIS MOMENT IN
HISTORY IN AMERICA WE MAY GET A
SECOND CHANCE AND I HOPE MY
COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN US IN THIS
HISTORIC EFFORT.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I YIELD ONE AND
A HALF MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, THE RANKING
DEMOCRAT ON FINANCIAL SERVICES
MR. FRANK.
THE
AND A HALF MINUTES.
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
WE HAVE A SAD
SPECTACLE OF A SUBSTANTIVE MESS
BROUGHT TO US BY A PROCEDURAL
BIGGER MESS.
WE CAN'T ENTIRELY BLAME SPEAKER
BOEHNER.
WE HAVE SEEN HIM TO BE
CONSERVATIVE YET SOMEWHAT
RESPONSIBLE TO A BILL THAT NO
ONE THINKS WILL SOLVE A PROBLEM
BECAUSE IT IS A PREREQUISITE OF
RAISING THE DEBT TO A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT
NO ONE THINKS WILL PASS.
I REMEMBER SPEAKER O'NEIL WHEN
I GOT HERE, AND THEY HAVE
SOMETHING IN COMMON AND THAT'S
A THEME SONG.
IT IS "I WILL BE WITH YOU IN
APPLE BLOSSOM TIME."
SPEAKER BOEHNER'S THEME SONG IS
"IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF
I WANT TO," BECAUSE HIS PARTY
HAS FORCED HIM TO RETREAT FIRST
OF ALL FROM THE POSITION HE
TRIED TO TAKE TO GET THIS THING
DONE AND SECONDLY FROM THE
PROMISES HE MADE PROCEDURALLY.
AS A RESULT OF WHERE WE ARE
WITH MARTIAL LAW RULES AND
AMENDMENTS NOT BEING DONE -- SO
WE HAVE A FLAWED BILL BROUGHT
TO US BY A WEAKENED SPEAKER
UNDER AN UNFORTUNATE AND
UNDEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
ONCE THE OUT OF THE WAY, ONCE
WHATEVER IMPULSES HAVE DRIFFER
HIS OWN PARTY DRIVEN TO
UNDERCUT HIM, MAYBE THEN IN AN
ADULT WAY WE CAN SIT DOWN AND
WORK THIS OUT.
NOW, I SUSPECT TO VOTE FOR
SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE BECAUSE
WE OUGHT TO COMPROMISE, BUT
THIS BILL DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO
MEET ANY KIND OF SERIOUS TEST.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'LL
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM MARYLAND,
MS. EDWARDS.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I'M SHOCKED.
WE SPENT 4 1/2 HOURS ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES READING THE
CONSTITUTION AND NOW WE GET TO
SPEND A MINUTE DEBATING IT.
PRETTY AMAZING HOW MUCH THE
FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE VALUE
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
I AM OPPOSED TO THE RULE, THE
BILL, EVERYTHING THAT'S
CONNECTED WITH IT.
WE HAVE APPROACHED THIS AUGUST
2 DEADLINE, THE MARKETS HAVE
CLOSED DOWN YET ONE MORE TIME
BEFORE THIS WEEKEND BEGINS.
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS BEEN
CRYSTAL CLEAR.
HE SAID ANY AGREEMENT TO
INCREASE THE DEBT CEILING HAS
TO EXTEND TO 2013.
YET, HERE WE ARE CONSIDERING
SOMETHING THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS SAID IS A NONSTARTER, THE
SENATE HAS SAID IS A
NONSTARTER, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAS SAID IT'S A NONSTARTER, AND
HERE WE ARE AGAIN DEBATING
SOMETHING THAT WILL NEVER GO
ANYWHERE.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY REALLY
SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED.
I MEAN, THEY ARE PUTTING
EVERYTHING IN JEOPARDY AND
LEAVING NOTHING UP TO THE
PRESIDENT TO DECIDE COME AUGUST
2 WHEN THIS DEBT CEILING
DEADLINE APPROACHES.
AND PLACING AT RISK OUR
RETIREMENT SECURITY, PLACING AT
RISK OUR ABILITY TO GET CREDIT,
OUR ABILITY TO GET A HOME
MORTGAGE, ALL OF THAT BECAUSE
OF THIS RECKLESSNESS.
THE BILL THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR YESTERDAY
IN THIS CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT -- AND THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WAS
DRAFTED TODAY JUST TO PLEASE
THE FAR RIGHT ELEMENTS OF THE
TEA PARTY.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE WE'RE HERE
TODAY TRYING TO SATISFY THE FAR
RIGHT WHEN WE'RE NOT BUSY
SAVING THE NEEDS OF THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE MARKETS
AROUND THE WORLD.
WHY ARE WE VOTING ON THIS PLAN
AND NOT ONE THAT HAS A FIGHTING
CHANCE OF AVOIDING DEFAULT?
I WANT TO SAY, MADAM SPEAKER,
IT'S TIME FOR AMERICA TO GET
BUSINESSY HERE, UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IS
READY TO INJURY AR DIES OUR
ENTIRE FUTURE -- JEOPARDIZE OUR
ENTIRE FUTURE FOR THIS GARBAGE
AND I YIELD.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
WILL CONTINUE TO RESERVE THE
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER,
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD ONE-TO THE
CONNOLLY.
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK MY
FRIEND.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE BILL
PROPOSED LAST NIGHT BY THE
FAIL AND RISK A CATASTROPHIC
HOUSE REPUBLICANS SET US UP TO
DEFAULT.
SAME.
TODAY'S GIMMICK IS MORE OF THE
BUT TO WIN OVER THE CROWD
CALLING FOR DEFAULT HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WOULD NOW
MAKE DISASTER EVEN MORE LIKELY
BY INCLUDING A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT LIKELY REQUIRING A
3/5 VOTE OF AVOIDING FUTURE
DEFAULT.
THAT THRESHOLD WILL BE
IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET TODAY AND IN
THE FUTURE.
THEIR BLIND ADHERENCE TO THE
DEMANDS OF THE DEFAULT CAUCUS
STANDS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE
DESIRE OF MOST AMERICANS WHO,
ACCORDING TO EVERY POLL, ARE
DEMANDING A BALANCED
COMPROMISE.
THIS BILL IS A BLATANT, CYNICAL
EXERCISE AND RAW POLITICAL
MUZZLE AND NOTHING MORE.
THEY'RE TURNING OUR FOUNDING
FATHERS INTO DEADBEAT DADS.
I WOULD RESPOND BY USING
SPEAKER BOEHNER'S OWN WORDS
FROM LAST YEAR, "HELL NO YOU
CAN'T."
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I CONTINUE TO
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND, MR.
VAN HOLLEN.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED .
I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE.
THERE IS A LITTLE PATTERN
EMERGING HERE.
FIRST, WE HAD OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES WALK OUT OF THE
BIDEN TALKS.
THEN TWICE THEY WALKED OUT OF
THE PRESIDENT.
AND THEN LAST NIGHT THEY SAID
NO TO THE PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD
BY THEIR OWN SPEAKER.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO WHERE WE
ARE TODAY.
IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE
MORE EXTREME ELEMENTS OF THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, THEY HAD TO
CHANGE THE BILL ONCE AGAIN.
AND NOW WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING
IS ULTIMATELY WE TURN BUDGET
AUTHORITY OVER TO NOT TO THE
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES BUT TO
A FEDERAL JUDGE WHO WOULD
ULTIMATELY DECIDE HOW WE'RE
GOING TO DEAL WITH OUR BUDGET.
YOU TALK ABOUT PASSING THE
BUCK.
YOU TALK ABOUT NOT TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY.
NOW IS THE TIME TO COME
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A
REASONABLE COMPROMISE, NOT TO
MOVE THE PARTY FAR APART.
THE LAST POINT, MADAM SPEAKER,
I WANT TO MAKE WITH REGARDS TO
THE DEFICIT, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE HAVE A PLAN, A BALANCED
PLAN TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT, AND
I'M JUST WAITING FOR MY
COLLEAGUES TO SAY, MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO
SAY THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO GET
ONE PENNY, ONE PENNY FROM
ELIMINATING TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES
TO THE OIL COMPANIES OR CLOSING
CORPORATE LOOPHOLES FOR JETS,
JUST ONE PENNY FOR THE PURPOSE
OF DEFICIT REDUCTION, THEN
WE'LL KNOW THAT THEY'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT THAT.
THE PRESIDENT SAID, LET'S DO $3
IN SPENDING CUTS, $1 IN
REVENUE.
BUT APPARENTLY ASKING $1 OF
REVENUE BY ELIMINATING THE
SUBSIDY FOR THE OIL COMPANIES,
THAT'S TOO FAR.
OH, YES, WE OWE CHINA.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
OUR DEBT TO CHINA BUT ASKING
THE OIL COMPANIES TO TAKE LESS
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, FEDERAL
TAXPAYER SUBSIDY DOLLARS?
NO, WE CAN'T DO THAT.
LET'S BE SERIOUS ABOUT
BALANCING THE BUDGET AND
GETTING THE DEFICIT UNDER
CONTROL BUT LET'S DO IT IN A
BALANCED WAY.
THIS PROPOSAL TAKES US FARTHER
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, DOESN'T
BRING US TOGETHER TO SOLVE A
PROBLEM FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SERIOUS.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M HAPPY TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO A VERY
HARDWORKING MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM HOUSTON,
TEXAS, MR. CULBERSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRMAN.
I THINK IT'S VERY REVEALING IN
THE DEBATE TODAY THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT
THE OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL
BEFORE THE HOUSE IS WE'RE
ATTEMPTING TO EVEN SUGGEST THAT
THERE BE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
NOT ANY SPECIFIC AMENDMENT.
WE WANT AS A CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY TO SEE A
VOTE IN THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE ON A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION,
SOMETHING I'VE CO-AUTHORED
SINCE I GOT HERE IN 2001, YET
THE MINORITY IS STRENUOUSLY
OBJECTING TO THAT.
THE MINORITY OBJECTS TO OUR
OBJECTIVE TO CONTROL THE DEBT
AND DEFICIT BY CONTROLLING
TAXES, OBJECTS TO STRONG
SPENDING CAPS IN THE FUTURE.
IT EXEMPTS ANYONE OVER THE AGE
OF 55, THEY ARE EXEMPT UNDER
THE PAUL RYAN BUDGET, THEY ARE
EXEMPT UNDER THE PROPOSAL THAT
SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS BROUGHT TO
US TODAY.
THE SPEAKER HAS ATTEMPTED TO
FIND THE LARGEST POSSIBLE CUTS
WITH THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE AND
ENFORCEABLE BUDGET CAPS THAT
COULD PASS A DEMOCRAT SENATE IN
ORDER TO GET IT ON THE DESK OF
THE PRESIDENT BEFORE THE AUGUST
3 DEADLINE.
THE SPEAKER AND THIS NEW
CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY IS DOING EVERYTHING IN
THEIR POWER TO AVOID A DEFAULT
WHILE HONG THE TRUST THAT THE
MATION -- HONORING THE TRUST
THAT THE NATION PUT IN US WITH
THE LANDSLIDE ELECTION.
THE NATION SPOKE DECISIVELY IN
ELECTING THIS NEW MAJORITY TO
THE HOUSE.
WE WERE SENT HERE TO CONTROL
SPENDING, TO CONTROL THE SIZE
OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO GET THE
GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR LIVES,
OUT OF OUR POCKETS AND BACK
HE BOUNDS OF THE
TION AS DESIGNED BY THE
FOUNDERS AND WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO
DO THAT AND I APPLAUD SPEAKER
BOEHNER FOR WORKING SO
DILIGENTLY TO FIND THE LARGEST
POSSIBLE CUT THAT COULD
POSSIBLY PASS A LIB RAT
DEMOCRATIC CONTROL -- TEMPORARY
LIBERAL CONTROLLED DEMOCRATIC
SENATE.
IF YOU CAN GET 60% TO 70% OF
WHERE YOU NEED TO GO TO GET THE
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK AND AVOID
THE BRICK WALL THAT ALIES OF US
ON AUGUST 3, WE NEED TO DO SO
TO AVOID A DEFAULT.
I URGE ALL THE MEMBERS TO
SUPPORT IT.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD A MINUTE AND A HALF TO
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, A
MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, MS. JACKSON LEE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 1 1/2 MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY VERY MUCH.
LAST NIGHT THE DEMOCRATS WERE
HERE WAITING WHILE THE
REPUBLICANS COULD NOT GET THEIR
OWN CONFERENCE TOGETHER.
ANY OF YOU WERE WATCHING THE
NATIONAL NEWS, IT WAS NOT
BECAUSE WE WERE NOT READY TO
VOTE AND TO MOVE FORWARD ON A
COMPROMISE, IT WAS BECAUSE
THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT HAD A
LANDSLIDE VICTORY ARE STILL
TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS INSTEAD
OF TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE WORST BILL THAT ANY
AMERICAN COULD EVER IMAGINE IN
THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.
I TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE THIS
BILL WILL IN FACT DEFAULT THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT IN SIX
MONTHS.
AND IT WILL NOT ADHERE TO THE
CONSTITUTION WHICH SAYS THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS
THE PROMISE AND THE
CONSTITUTION IS THE
FULFILLMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY,
MR. PRESIDENT, UNDER THE 14TH
AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING BY WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THE PUBLIC DEBT SHOULD
ALWAYS BE RECOGNIZED.
BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION, IN SIX MONTHS IF
WE DO NOT CUT BY $1.6 TRILLION
AND PASS A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT THE NATION WILL
DEFAULT.
AND THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT IS NOT BY MAJORITY.
IT IS 60% OF THIS CONGRESS WILL
STOP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM
RECEIVING THEIR JUST DUE.
WE WILL NO HAVE SOCIAL
SECURITY, WE WILL NOT HAVE
MEDICAID.
MEDICARE, WE WILL NOT HAVE
ACTUALLY, THE MANDATE WILL
CAUSE US TO SUPPORT THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY BUDGET WHICH
IS $9 TRILLION IN CUTS, 70% OF
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
THAT MEANS ALL OF YOUR
MEDICARE, ALL OF YOUR MEDICAID,
ALL OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY.
MR. SPEAKER -- MADAM SPEAKER, I
ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO CALL
IN AND SAY STOP THE MADNESS AND
COMPROMISE.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND, MR.
PRESIDENT, IF NOT, RAISE THE
DEBT CEILING UNDER THE
CONSTITUTION.
YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MEMBERS ARE REMINDED TO DIRECT
THEIR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M VERY PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO ONE OF OUR
THOUGHTFUL, HARDWORKING NEW
MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MANCHESTER, NEW
HAMPSHIRE, MR. GUNTA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR, FOR YIELDING.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IS, LET'S STOP
THE SPENDING.
LET'S NOT CALL THE PRESIDENT OR
THE CONGRESS TO SAY STOP THIS
MADNESS.
CALL THIS BODY AND SAY STOP THE
SPENDING BECAUSE WE HAVE A
$14.3 TRILLION DEBT.
WE HAVE A $1.6 TRILLION
DEFICIT.
MOST AMERICANS KNOW AND
APPRECIATE THAT THAT IS NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
SO WE, TODAY, THROUGH THE WILL
OF THE HOUSE AND THE WORK OVER
THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK AND
PAST SEVERAL WEEKS HAVE A PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE IN THAT IT CUTS
SPENDING, CAPS FUTURE SPENDING,
REQUIRES THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT SO THE COUNTRY CAN
FINALLY HAVE A VOICE, HAVE A
VOICE IN HOW PEOPLE IN THIS
BODY SPEND TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO TELL THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT
HOW THEIR MONEY IS BEING
WASTED.
IT IS TIME TO STOP THAT
SPENDING.
IT IS TIME TO GET RESPONSIBLE
AND SERIOUS, AND WE ARE HERE TO
DO THAT, NOT JUST MY FRESHMEN
CLASS BUT THIS CONGRESS IS HERE
TO DO THAT, AND I ASK MY
FRIENDS FROM THE OTHER SIDE TO
JOIN US IN THAT FIGHT, TO
PROTECT TAXPAYERS AND VOTE FOR
THIS BILL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD A MIN AND A HALF TO THE
GENTLELADY -- A MINUTE AND A
HALF TO THE GENTLELADY, MS. CAP
TUR.
I RISE AGAINST THIS
RULE AND THE UNDERLYING BILL AS
INARTFUL DODGES.
WHEN A PATIENT IS WEAK, DO YOU
PULL OUT THEIR FEEDING TUBES OR
LET THEM GET STRONGER?
WHEN THEY HAVE TROUBLE
BREATHING, DO YOU SHUT OFF
THEIR OXYGEN MACHINES?
THIS ECONOMY IS HAMPERED BY TWO
WARS AND TAX CUTS TO THE RICH
WHO DIDN'T CREATE JOBS WITH IT.
WHAT DOES THE MAJORITY DO TO
THE PATIENT?
THEY PULL OUT THE TUBES AND
THEY NOW SHOVE THEM DOWN THE
ELEVATOR CHUTE.
NO POLITICAL PARTY HAS TRIED TO
HURT AMERICA WHEN SHE IS
RECOVERING BY EDGING TOWARD
DEFAULT.
IT'S ALREADY CAUSED HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF LOSSES IN THE STOCK
MARKET, PENSION FUNDS,
ANNUITIES, SOCIAL SECURITY AND
MEDICARE CHECKS ARE THREATENED
AND JOBS ARE STALLED BECAUSE OF
THE UNCERTAINTY IN THE MARKET.
AMERICA NEEDS A CONGRESS AND
PRESIDENT THAT FOCUSES ON
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND JOB
CREATION.
TO THE LEWD ONESELF OTHERWISE
IS TO TAKE ONE'S SELF DOWN A
PROVERBIAL BACK HOLE.
THESE AMENDMENT TRUCELY DODGE
THE REAL QUESTION WHICH IS FULL
ECONOMIC RECOVERY FOR THE
PEOPLE THIS COUNTRY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, MAY
I INQUIRE OF MY GOOD FRIEND
FROM ROCHESTER HOW MANY
SPEAKERS SHE HAS REMAINING?
I BELIEVE I HAVE
TWO.
IN LIGHT OF THAT,
MR. SPEAKER, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE AND A HALF MINUTES TO
MY COLLEAGUE FROM NEW YORK.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED.
WE HAVE ALL BEEN
GETTING NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS
FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE
RIGHTLY WORRIED THAT THE
INTEREST RATES WILL BE GOING UP
ON THEIR HOMES, ON THEIR CARS,
ON THEIR STUDENT LOANS BECAUSE
THEY SEE THAT THIS CONGRESS IS
IN CHAOS.
ALREADY SINCE LAST FRIDAY,
SHAREHOLDERS AND U.S. MARKETS
HAVE LOST OVER $400 BILLION IN
VALUE JUST DUE TO THE
UNCERTAINTY AND THE LACK OF
ACTION.
OUR CONSTITUENTS RE-- OUR
CONSTITUENTS' RETIREMENT FUNDS
HAVE BEEN TAKING A HIT AND WILL
CONTINUE TO UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS
DECIDED AND WE HAVE LESS THAN
FOUR DAYS.
WE MUST STOP THIS REPUBLICAN
ROULETTE AND GET TO WORK ON A
PLAN THAT IS REALISTIC THAT CAN
PASS BOTH HOUSES.
THIS IS A DANGEROUS GAME,
PUTTING FORWARD A PARTISAN BILL
THAT EACH TIME IT COMES BACK IS
MORE PARTISAN, APPEALING TO A
MORE NARROW SLIVER OF AMERICA.
MADAM SPEAKER, WE NEED TO
REHAVE IT A CLEAN VOTE ON THE
DEBT CEILING AS WE HAVE DONE 78
TIMES SINCE 1960.
AND IF WE DON'T, THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD TO HIS CONSTITUTIONAL
DUTY AND RAISE THE DEBT CEILING
ON HIS OWN UNDER THE AUTHORITY
OF THE 14TH AMENDMENT.
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAVE
WALKED OUT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA,
ON VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN, ON
MCCONNEL, AND EVEN THEIR OWN
LEADER BOEHNER.
AND THEN THEY WANT US TO REHAVE
IT THIS IN SIX MONTHS AND PUT
THE ECONOMY IN UNCERTAINTY.
THIS IS THE WRONG DIRECTION.
I URGE A NO VOTE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I THINK THE
GENTLEWOMAN HAS ONE REMAINING
SPEAKER.
I HAVE THREE OR FOUR.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I OPPOSE THE
REPUBLICAN BILL BECAUSE IT WILL
HAVE DRASTING CUTS TO SOCIAL
SECURITY, I ALSO OPPOSE THE
REPUBLICAN DEFAULT BILL BECAUSE
IT HAS TAX BREAKS AND LOOPHOLES
FOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO MAKE
MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF INCOME
PER YEAR.
I OPPOSE THE REPUBLICAN DEFAULT
BILL BECAUSE IT CALLS FOR
ANOTHER DEFAULT SUMMIT, ANOTHER
DEFAULT CRISIS IN SIX MONTHS.
THEREBY UNDERMINING THE
CERTAINTY THAT AMERICAN
BUSINESSES, INVESTOR, AND
FAMILIES NEED TO CREATE JOBS
AND MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD.
WITH ONLY A SHORT-TERM INCREASE
UNDER THE REPUBLICAN DEFAULT
BILL, THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT
OF THE UNITED STATES WILL ONCE
AGAIN BE HELD HOSTAGE TO THE
DIFFERENCES IN WASHINGTON.
THE REPUBLICAN SHORT-TERM PLAN
THAT CREATES UNCERTAINTY WILL
RESULT IN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN INCREASED INTEREST RATES
THAT WILL HURT EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN AND WILL HURT OUR
COUNTRY.
I URGE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
TO JOIN WITH THE DEMOCRAT, JOIN
WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA IN
CREATING A BALANCED PLAN WITH
SHARED SACRIFICE THAT SOLVE
OURS DEFICIT AND ELIMINATE THIS
IS CLOUD HANGING OVER OUR
ECONOMY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M HAPPY TO YIELD A
MINUTE TO THE FORMER MAYOR OF
ONE OF THE 10 MOST LIVABLE
CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ROGERS, ARKANSAS, MR. WOMACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM
CHAIRWOMAN.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING SOME TIME.
ON MY WAY TO THE CAPITOL THIS
AFTERNOON, I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY
SOME YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MY
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DEBATE
DISTRICT AND WE WERE HAVING A
GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN
WASHINGTON.
THE DEBATE ABOUT THE DEBT
CEILING.
AS I EXPLAINED TO THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE THAT THE CURRENT DEBT OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
THEIR SHARE OF THAT CURRENT
DEBT IS WELL INTO THE MID
$40,000 RANGE, $46,000 OR SO OF
DEBT, AND IT'S FOR THIS VERY
REASON THAT WE ARE PROPOSING
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING BECAUSE
THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THIS DEBT
ON THESE INNOCENT YOUNG PEOPLE
FROM SOARING TO GREATER AND
GREATER LEVELS, AN AREA THAT
THEY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD, IS
TO RESTRAIN, CONSTRAIN
GOVERNMENT.
AND THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DO
THAT THE ONLY GUARANTEED
ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM THAT I
KNOW THAT CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT
VERY THING IS A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT SYSTEM OF ON BEHALF
OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ON
BEHALF OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS
AMERICA, LET'S QUIT PILING MORE
AND MORE DEBT ON OUR CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
LET'S PASS THE RULE, LET'S PASS
I YIELD BACK.
THIS BILL.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER,
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA,
MR. SCOTT.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
IN MY ONE MINUTE, I WANT TO
MAKE A SPECIAL APPEAL THAT WE
PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT I
CONSIDER THE MOST DEVASTATING,
DAMAGING PART OF THIS BILL.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING
AND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE
DOING TO SOCIAL SECURITY, TO
MEDICARE, AND TO MEDICAID.
IN THIS BILL, IT REQUIRES THAT
WE SET UP JOINT SELECT
COMMITTEE.
HERE.
THERE ARE NO PROTECTIONS IN
AND IT SAYS IN ORDER FOR US TO
GIVE THE RAISE TO THE DEBT
CEILING, WE MUST CONCUR AND CUT
$1.6 TRILLION FROM THE BUDGET,
FROM DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
THE CENTER FOR POLICY AND
BUDGET PRIORITIES HAVE SAID,
THAT SINCE 80% OF THE
DISCRETIONARY AREAS COME FROM
SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICAID AND
MEDICARE, IT DOESN'T TAKE A
GENIUS TO KNOW WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT DRASTIC CUTS IN THIS
AREA.
AND THEY WILL COME OUT TO A
TUNE OF ABOUT $1,000 FOR EACH
RECIPIENT.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY WHO ARE HANGING ON BY
THEIR FINGERNAILS.
WE HAVE WIDOWS, WE HAVE
YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE DEPENDENT
UPON SOCIAL SECURITY.
DEPENDENT UPON MEDICARE.
AND TO SAY THAT IN THIS MEASURE
THAT WE WILL MAKE THESE DRASTIC
CUTS IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MED
AIR -- MEDICARE IS TOTALLY
IRRESPOPSABLE AND FOR THAT
REASON, LET US VOTE THIS
MEASURE DOWN.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM SPEAKER, I'D
LIKE TO CONTINUE TO RESERVE MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MR. COSTA.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THIS RULE AND BILL
WILL DRAW A FURTHER WEDGE
BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE THE
BIPARTISAN DISCUSSIONS OVER THE
$4 TRILLION GRAND DEAL BROKE
DOWN AND WE'VE SEEN LITTLE
PROGRESS TOWARD A SOLUTION
SINCE THEN.
MISSING IN TODAY'S DEBATE IS A
BIPARTISAN APPROACH TOWARD OUR
NATION'S FISCAL HOUSE.
WE MUST HAVE A BIPARTISAN
APPROACH.
WE CAN CUT THROUGH THIS
PARTISAN RHETORIC WITH A
BALANCED PACKAGE.
FOR ME, THAT MEANS IMPLEMENTING
THE SIMPSON-BOLE REGULATION,
LOWERING TAX RATES, ENSURING
SOLVENCY OF MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY AND STABILIZING OUR
DEBT.
THE HOUSE SHOULD CONSIDER A
CLEAN BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, H.J.RES. 2 WHICH
SAYS THE COUNTRY CAN'T SPEND
MORE THAN IT TAKES IN.
THIS MUST BE COUPLED WITH A
DEBT LIMIT INCREASE TO GET US
THROUGH THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
IT'S TIME FOR COOLER HEADS TO
PREVAIL WITH THE CLOCK TICKING
DOWN, OUR NATION'S FIRST EVER
DEFAULT IS AT HAND.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT A
MINUTE LONGER.
DEFAULT IS NOT AN OPTION.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
THE
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
MADAM SPEAKER,
I'M PLEASED TO YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, RANKING DEMOCRAT
ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE, MR. MARKEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLELADY.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DEFICIT
PLAN IS VERY SIMPLE.
NUMBER ONE, SENT THE -- SEND
THE FINANCIAL MARKETS INTO A
NOSEDIVE.
NUMBER TWO, DRIVE UP COSTS FOR
HOME MORTGAGES, STUDENT LOANS
AND CREDIT CARDS.
NUMBER THREE, SPOOK BUSINESSES
TO STALL JOB GROWTH BRINGING
THE NATION TO THE BRINK OF
ECONOMIC COLLAPSE.
NUMBER FOUR, REPEAT IT ALL
AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL ELECTION
DAY, 2012.
THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT
COMPROMISE.
THEY WANT CAPITULATION.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BROUGHT TO
THE FLOOR A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET.
THAT'S GOING NOWHERE.
IT IS PHONY.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER, SINISTER
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BEING
DEBATED HERE.
IT'S VERY REAL.
AND IT WILL CAUSE OUR COUNTRY
TO DEFAULT ON ITS OBLIGATIONS.
AMENDMENT 14, SECTION 4, OF THE
CONSTITUTION SAYS THE VALIDITY
OF THE PUBLIC DEBT SHALL NOT BE
QUESTIONED.
BUT THIS BILL WOULD CHANGE THE
CONSTITUTION FOREVER.
FOREVER.
UNDER THIS REPUBLICAN BILL, OUR
COUNTRY WOULD BE PUSHED INTO
DEFAULTING ON OUR OBLIGATIONS.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WOULD TURN
THE 14TH AMENDMENT FROM A
GUARANTEE INTO A QUESTION MARK.
NOW, UNDER THE REPUBLICAN BILL,
THE VALIDITY OF THE PUBLIC DEBT
SHALL BE QUESTIONED.
THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING
THIS WEEKEND.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WOULD HAVE A DISASTROUS
EFFECT UPON OUR ECONOMY AND THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
THE ONLY WAY TO END THIS
HISTORIC NIGHTMARE IS TO
RESOLVE ANOTHER MASSIVE
DEFICIT, THE LEADERSHIP DEFICIT
IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
WE MUST VOTE DOWN THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH
WILL HAVE US NOT HONORING THE
FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE
UNITED STATES, WHICH WAS BUILT
INTO THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF OUR
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
THEY ARE AMENDING THAT
CONSTITUTION HERE THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE LEADING US TO A
DEFAULT WHICH WILL BE A
VIOLATION OF THAT CONSTITUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I RESERVE.
THE
GENTLEMAN CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM NEW YORK.
I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
PELOSI.
THE
MINORITY LEADER IS RECOGNIZED
FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLELADY FOR
HER COLLEAGUES ON THE RULES
YIELDING AND COMMEND HER AND
COMMITTEE FOR THEIR IMPORTANT
WORK IN BRINGING LEGISLATION TO
THE FLOOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, THE CLOCK IS
TICKING.
NOW THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON THE
NEED FOR US TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING SO THAT WE DO NOT THE
FAULT ON OUR PAST OBLIGATIONS
THAT WE UPHOLD THE FULL FAITH
AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
AS WE CONTINUE THIS DEBATE
TODAY, ONE THING IS VERY CLEAR
TO ME.
IF OUR GOAL WERE TO FUND
DEFICIT REDUCTION AND A BALANCE
-- TO FIND DEFICIT REDUCTION IN
A BALANCED, BIPARTISAN WAY.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.
WE'VE HAD MODELS, SIMPSON
BOWLES, GANG OF SIX, WE'VE HAD
THE PRESIDENT'S CONVERSATIONS
WITH SPEAKER BOEHNER, WE COULD
FIND A PATH TO VERY SERIOUS
DEFICIT REDUCTION.
BUT I THINK IT HAS BECOME VERY
CLEAR THAT THAT IS NOT THE GOAL
OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THEY KEEP MOVING THE GOAL POST,
MAKING IT VERY EVIDENT THAT
THEIR GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE
PUBLIC ROLE IN THE LIVES OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHY OUR LEGISLATION ON
THE FLOOR, LIKE THE INTERIOR
BILL THAT'S BEEN DEBATED TODAY,
YOU SEE -- YOU SEE ABANDONING,
CLEAN AIR STANDARDS, CLEAN
WATER, FOOD SAFETY.
I'VE SAID BEFORE, I COME TO
THIS CONGRESS AS A MOTHER AND
GRANDMOTHER.
WE ALL WANT TO DO THE BEST FOR
OUR CHILDREN PERSONALLY BUT WE
NEED A PUBLIC ROLE.
THEIR EDUCATION.
AGAIN, CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER,
FOOD SAFETY.
WE CAN'T DO THAT FOR OURSELVES.
BUT PART OF THIS IS TO UNRAVEL
-- THE REPUBLICAN PLAN IS TO
UNRAVEL 50 YEARS, FIVE DECADES,
AT LEAST, OF BIPARTISAN
PROIMPRESS ON BEHALF OF
AMERICA'S MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY.
FLAT OUT, FLAT OUT THAT THIS
BILL AND THE OTHER BILLS
ACCOMPANYING IT WILL END
MEDICARE, WILL END MEDICARE,
WILL SAY TO SENIORS, YOU WILL
PAY MORE FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE
COSTS, TO GET LESS SO WE CAN
GIVE TAX BREAKS TO -- WE CAN
GIVE TAX SUBSIDIES TO BIG OIL.
WE WILL SAY TO THOSE FAMILIES
WE ARE GOING TO CUT MEDICAID
AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO SENIORS
IN NURSING HOMES SO WE CAN GIVE
TAX BREAKS TO CORPORATIONS
SENDING JOBS OVERSEAS.
WE ARE GOING TO SAY TO YOUNG
PEOPLE, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY
MORE FOR YOUR COLLEGE LOANS SO
WE CAN GIVE TAX CUTS TO PEOPLE
AT THE HIGHEST END.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO
PARTICIPATE IN REDUCING THE
DEFICIT.
EVERYBODY HAS TO ANTE UP.
WHY IS IT THAT THE REPUBLICANS
INSIST ON HAVING THE MIDDLE
CLASS PAY THE PRICE SO THAT THE
HIGH END IS OFF THE HOOK?
IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE WOULD END
THIS DEBATE.
THIS BILL IS GOING NOWHERE.
IT'S A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME.
AND EVERY DAY THAT WE SPEND ON
THESE WASTES OF TIME THAT ARE
NOT GOING ANYWHERE IS ANOTHER
DAY WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WHICH IS JOB
CREATION, JOB CREATION, JOB
CREATION.
THAT IS THEIR PRIORITY.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION, AN
OBLIGATION TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT AND GET ON WITH IT SO
WE CAN CREATE JOBS.
IF WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR
FAMILIES, WE MUST RECOGNIZE
THAT SINCE THE REPUBLICANS'
MOST RECENT WALKING AWAY FROM
THE TABLE -- THEY'VE DONE IT ON
MORE THAN ONE OCCASION BUT LAST
FRIDAY WHEN THE SPEAKER OF THE
REPUBLICANS WALKED AWAY FROM
THE TABLE, SINCE THAT DAY THE
STOCK MARKET HAS DROPPED 483
POINTS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE LOST
OVER $400 BILLION IN THEIR
PERSONAL ASSETS, $400 BILLION,
AND EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY AND
THAT THE MARKET GOES DOWN ANY
MORE IT COMES RIGHT OUT OF WHAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE.
HAVE IN THEIR 401-K'S AND
PENSIONS AND THEIR CHILDREN'S
SAVINGS.
SO I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE
DEBATE ON TARP, WE COOPERATED
WITH PRESIDENT BUSH AT THAT
TIME TO BRING LEGISLATION.
VERY UNPOPULAR.
PROBABLY THE MOST UNPOPULAR
TAKE.
VOTE THAT ANY OF US WOULD EVER
WE WERE ON THE BRINK OF A
FINANCIAL CRISIS AND WE HAD TO
ACT BUT THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT
STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND THE
MARKET WENT DOWN.
WELL, 777 POINTS THE NEXT DAY.
IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE WAITING
FOR, FOR THE MARKET TO GO DOWN
NOT 484 POINTS IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS BUT HUNDREDS OF POINTS
MORE, DIMINISHING THE PERSONAL
ASSETS AND WEALTH OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE?
I CERTAINLY HOPE NOT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SPEAKER
WALKED AWAY AND HE MADE HIS
STATEMENT, SPEAKER BOEHNER, OUR
SPEAKER SAID WE COULDN'T REACH
AGREEMENT, WORDS TO THAT
EFFECT, WE COULDN'T CONNECT
BECAUSE WE HAD DIFFERENT
VISIONS OF AMERICA.
WELL, I BELIEVE THE SPEAKER
WHEN HE SPEAKS, BUT I DON'T
BELIEVE WE HAD DIFFERENT
VISIONS OF AMERICA.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISION OF
AMERICA IS ONE WHERE WE ARE
COMMITTED TO THE EDUCATION OF
OUR CHILDREN SO THEY CAN REACH
THEIR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT IN
OUR COUNTRY, OUR INNOVATION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE NUMBER ONE.
THAT WE ARE CREATED TO HAVE
GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR AMERICAN
WORKERS.
I THINK THAT VISION IS THE
VISION OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
THE HIGH GROUND OF WHERE WE
SHARE VALUES.
THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN,
JOBS FOR OUR WORKERS, THE BIG
ANY FIND RETIREMENT AND HEALTH
SECURITY FOR OUR SENIORS AND A
PERSONAL SAFETY AND NATIONAL
SECURITY FOR OUR PEOPLE, ALL
DONE IN A FISCALLY SOUND WAY.
I THINK THAT THAT'S COMMON
GROUND ON THE HIGH GROUND OF
VALUES.
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, IF YOU
AGREE WITH THOSE VALUES, AS I
THINK SPEAKER BOEHNER MUST
AGREE WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA ON
THAT VISION OF AMERICA, YOU
COULDN'T POSSIBLY VOTE FOR ANY
OF THE LEGISLATION THAT THE
REPUBLICANS ARE BRINGING TO THE
FLOOR IN THESE FEW DAYS.
YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY BECAUSE
THEY DO, THEY DO UNDERMINE THE
EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN, THE
FINANCIAL AND HEALTH SECURITY
OF OUR SENIORS, THE DEEP CUTS
EARLY ON CURTAIL, HURT THE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND THE
CREATION OF JOBS.
AND IT ISN'T IN THE FISCALLY
SOUND WAY.
WE'VE TAKEN REVENUE OFF THE
TABLE.
57% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, AT
LEAST, THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A
BALANCED, BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT
TO END THIS DEFAULT AND TO DO
SO IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T TAKE
US DOWN THIS PATH AGAIN.
SO LET US -- LET'S BE CLEAR.
WHAT IS ON THE FLOOR TODAY,
BALANCED BUDGET, BALANCED IN
WHAT WAY?
BALANCED IN WHOSE FAVOR?
IT LOOKS LIKE A SEE SAW TO ME
IN FAVOR OF THE HALVES AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE GREAT MIDDLE
CLASS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT MUST BE REJECTED.
FOR EVERY DAY WE WASTE ON
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGICAL
PLOY OR SCHEME IS ANOTHER DAY
THAT WE ARE NOT CREATING JOBS.
SINCE THE REPUBLICANS TOOK
OFFICE, WHICH IS OVER 200 DAYS
AGO, LAST SATURDAY IT WAS 200
DAYS, GOING ON 207, THE ONLY
BILLS THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO
THE FLOOR WHICH THEY CLAIM TO
BE JOBS BILLS ARE NOT JOB
CREATORS.
THEY ARE JOB LOSERS.
JOB LOSERS.
H.R. 1 LOSES ABOUT 700,000
JOBS.
H.R. 2, A SIMILAR NUMBER, H.R.
34, A SIMILAR NUMBER.
NEARLY TWO MILLION JOBS LOST.
ALMOST 10,000 JOBS A DAY
THEY'RE LOSING AND THEIR
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT THEY
HAD BROUGHT INTO COMMITTEE AND
NOT VOTED ON, THANK GOD, IS
ESTIMATED TO LOSE ANOTHER
SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND JOBS
WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE
BIG JOB CREATOR.
EVEN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HAS REJECTED IT.
SOMETHING THAT WILL NOT ONLY
CREATE JOBS BUT WILL LOSE
CURRENT JOBS.
SO LET'S GET ON WITH THE
BUSINESS OF JOB CREATION.
LET'S REALLY BE HONEST WITH
WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO IN TERMS
OF DEFICIT REDUCTION.
NOT LOSE IT AS AN ENGINE FOR
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PUBLIC
ROLE THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN
THE DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY, IN
THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN, THE
SECURITY OF OUR SENIORS IN
THEIR RETIREMENT, ABOUT THE
VITALITY AND INNOVATION OF OUR
ECONOMY AND, AGAIN, TO DO IT IN
A WAY THAT IS FISCALLY SOUND.
I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO HOW WE
GOT INTO THIS IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
WE MUST GO FORWARD THE WAY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO DO.
BIPARTISAN, BALANCED AND WITH
AN EYE TO JOB CREATION.
REJECT WHAT IS ON THE FLOOR NOW
AND SUPPORT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
WE OWE IT TO HONOR THE
SACRIFICE OF OUR FOUNDERS, THE
VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS, THE
SACRIFICE OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM, THE ASPIRATION OF
OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
THIS BUDGET SHOULD BE A
ALL OF THAT.
STATEMENT OF VALUES THAT HONORS
AND IF WE ARE TO HONOR THAT WE
MUST REJECT WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED HERE TODAY.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
TIME OF THE GENTLELADY HAS
EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I'D
ASK MY FRIEND IF SHE HAS ANY
OTHER SPEAKERS.
NO, I AM