Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
I WISH THE POSTMASTER GENERALS
WILL CONSIDER THIS LEGISLATION.
I HOPE WE'LL SAVE THE U.S.
POSTAL OFFICE.
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
ONE-MINUTE REQUESTS?
THE CHAIR LAYS BEFORE THE HOUSE
THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL REQUEST.
LEAVES OF BE A
REQUESTED FOR MR. MORENO FOR
TODAY.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE REQUEST
IS GRANTED.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
GOHMERT, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE
HURTING ACROSS AMERICA NOW.
WE TAKE UP A FEW SUSPENSION
BILLS HERE THAT ONLY THE
CONGRESS COULD DEAL WITH.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO.
WE'RE PROUD TO DO.
IMPORTANT TO THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS IN TWO STATES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, IT'S
WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO COME
FORWARD AND TRY TO MAKE INTO A
JOBS DEBATE WHEN IT WOULD SEEM
THAT SOME OF THE BEST DEBATE
WOULD BE IF ALL OF US EN MASSE
WALKED DOWN TO THE OTHER END OF
THE HALL OF THIS BILL AND BEGIN
TO SEEK TO DEBATE THE SENATE,
THE SENATE LEADERSHIP, THAT IS,
AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY ON WHY
THEY ARE SO INTENT ON STOPPING
LEGISLATION THAT COULD PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS
IS A DO-NOTHING CONGRESS, AND
BECAUSE THE SENATE DOES SO VERY
LITTLE THEY GIVE CREDENCE TO
THAT ARGUMENT.
ONE NEED ONLY LOOK TO ALL THE
BILLS WE'VE BEEN PASSING HERE
IN THE HOUSE THAT COULD HELP
THE ECONOMY, WOULD HELP THE
ECONOMY, WOULD PUT PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK, WOULD BRING DOWN
DRAMATICALLY THE COST OF ENERGY
WHICH WOULD BRING DOWN
INFLATION AND THE STAGNATION
AND STAGFLATION THAT'S BEEN PUT
IN PLACE BY THIS PRESIDENT AND
ALSO THE TWO YEARS PRIOR TO
THIS PRESIDENT WHEN OUR
DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS ACROSS THE
AISLE CONTROLLED CONGRESS AND
JUMPED UP SPENDING LIKE WE
COULD NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED.
OUR FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE
CORRECTLY POINTED OUT THAT
REPUBLICANS IN 2006 WERE
SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY.
THEY WERE RIGHT IN POINTING OUT
WE SHOULD NEVER BE SPENDING
$160 BILLION MORE THAN WE WERE
TAKING IN.
THEY WERE RIGHT.
AS A RESULT OF THEIR BEING
RIGHT ON THAT AND THEIR
PROMISES THAT THEY WOULD REIN
IN THAT RUNAWAY SPENDING, OUR
FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE WERE
GIVEN THE MAJORITY IN NOVEMBER
2006.
WHAT FOLLOWED IN 2007, 2008,
2009, 2010 UNDER THE DEMOCRATIC
MAJORITY WAS RUNAWAY SPENDING
AT A LEVEL NEVER EVEN DREAMED
OF, AT LEAST ON OUR SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER DREAMED
THAT THE SAME -- THE SAME PARTY
THAT CONDEMNED REPUBLICANS
CORRECTLY FOR OVERSPENDING THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING INTO THE
FEDERAL TREASURY BY $160
BILLION WOULD UP THAT ANTE AND
OVERSPEND BY 10 TIMES THAT MUCH
OVER $1.5 TRILLION DEFICIT IN
ONE YEAR.
IT IS JUST UNFATHOMABLE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SO
CONCERN ME ABOUT TARP, NOT ONLY
THE BILL WHEN I READ IT, BUT
IT DESENSITIZED
AMERICANS TO JUST HOW MUCH $700
BILLION IS AND HOW MUCH IT WAS
IN LATE 2008.
IT'S MY BELIEF THAT IF WE HAD
NOT PASSED TARP AND PEOPLE
WOULD BE SO DESCENT TIESED TO
HOW MUCH $7 -- DESCENT TIESED
TO HOW MUCH $700 -- DESENT
TIESED TO HOW MUCH $700 BILLION
WAS, THEN PRESIDENT OBAMA
WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH
THE $800 BILLION PORK LUSS,
STIMULUS, WHATEVER -- POKKULUS,
STIMULUS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO
CALL IT, IT'S LIKE A $1
TRILLION GIVEAWAY PROGRAM.
ONLY IF YOU CONSIDERED GIVING
AWAY AMOUNTS LIKE $500 MILLION
TO $600 MILLION TO SOLYNDRA
WHICH GOES BANKRUPT AS THROWING
AWAY MONEY.
WE HAVE SET THIS COUNTRY ON A
COURSE TOWARD RUIN, AND NOW THE
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, MR.
GEITHNER, WHO WE RECALL HAD
TIME WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
MONETARY FUND HAS CAME TO LIGHT
DURING HIS UNFORTUNATE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS, FOUR
YEARS IN A ROW HE WAS PAID BY
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
AND WAS SAID TO BE AN
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, THOUGH
HE MANIFESTED CONTROL AND SOME
LEVEL OF GOVERNANCE WITHIN THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, HE
HAD A JOB WITH THE SPER
NATIONAL MONETARY FUND BUT --
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND BUT
THEY PAID HIM AS A CONTRACT AND
THEREFORE WHEN HE SIGNED A
DOCUMENT SWEARING HE WOULD PAY
OF THE TAXES DUE ON THOSE
DOCUMENTS THAT WAS LISTED ON
THOSE FOUR DOCUMENTS, THEN HE
WAS ALLOWED TO RECEIVE ALL OF
THE MONEY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
PAID TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IN TAXES IN RETURN FOR HIS
SWORN AGREEMENT TO PAY THAT TAX
INDEPENDENTLY ON HIS OWN.
AS WE FOUND OUT DURING THOSE
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS, HE DID
NOT FULFILL HIS OATH, HE BROKE
HIS OATH, HE DID NOT PAY THOSE
TAXES AND NOW HE'S IN CHARGE OF
THE TREASURY.
HOW AMAZING.
I'VE PRIVATELY HAD INTERNALLY
REVENUE SERVICE EMPLOYEES TELL
ME HOW GRIEFED THEY WERE TO
HAVE HAD -- GRIEVED THEY WERE
TO HAVE SOMEONE NOT PAY HIS
TAXES WHEN HE WAS REQUIRED TO
DO SO BY LAW, WENT EVEN FURTHER
AND HE SIGNED A SWORN DOCUMENT
THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT
AND DIDN'T.
BECAUSE DESPITE ALL THE JOKES
ABOUT THE I.R.S. AND DESPITE
THERE BEING SOME PEOPLE WITH
THE I.R.S. WHO CAN BE A BIT
BRUTAL AT TIMES, THERE'S SOME
WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
WHO ARE ABUNDANTLY FAIR, WANT
TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND HAVE
INCREDIBLY CLEAN BACKGROUNDS.
AND IN FACT, THE RULE, AS I WAS
GIVEN, BY I.R.S. EMPLOYEES IS
IF YOU EVER HAVE UNDERPAID YOUR
TAXES OR FAILED TO PAY TAXES,
YOU'RE OUT.
YOU CANNOT WORK FOR THE I.R.S.
THERE HAVE BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE
AN I.R.S. AGENT HAS OVERPAID
TAXES AND THEN RECALLED SOMEONE
GIVING THEM CASH AND WITHOUT
ANYONE EVER BEING ABLE TO HOLD
THEM ACCOUNTABLE, NO ONE WOULD
HAVE EVER REPORTED IT BUT TO
KEEP A CLEAN CONSCIENCE BECAUSE
THE I.R.S. AGENT WAS SO CLEAN
AND HAD A CONSCIENCE AND WANTED
SO TO ABIDE BY HONESTY AND
TRUTH AND THE U.S. LAW, FILED
AN AMENDED TAX RETURN WHICH
STILL ALLOWED A REFUND COMING
BACK AND AS A RESULT THEIR
EMPLOYMENT WAS IN JEOPARDY.
IMAGINE THE FEELING OF INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE EMPLOYEES WHO
THROUGHOUT THEIR STELLAR
CAREERS, HAD TO KEEP ALL OF
THEIR AFFAIRS CLEAN, OPEN,
HONEST TO FIND OUT THEY WERE
GOING TO BE RULED AND GOVERNED
BY SOMEONE WHO MISREPRESENTED ON
A SWORN DOCUMENT THAT
THEY WOULD PAY TAXES, THAT THEY
DIDN'T UNTIL SOMEONE CALLED IT
TO THEIR ATTENTION AND
APPROACHED TO BEING APPOINTED TO
THAT ROLE.
IT'S GOT TO BE TOUGH FOR I.R.S.
AGENTS, WHO HAVE HAD SUCH
STELLAR CAREERS TO HAVE DEALT
WITH THAT.
SO WHAT'S WRONG WITH HAVING
SOMEBODY WHO PLAYED SO FAST AND
LOOSE SIGNING DOCUMENTS, NOT
PAYING TAXES, PLAYING WITH OTHER
PEOPLE'S MONEY IN THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
I WOULD SUBMIT THAT WE GET TO
THINGS AS WE HAVE RECENTLY WITH
OUR SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
WHO ENJOYED SPENDING HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM TARP,
WHO'S ENJOYED THE POWER OF
GIVING AWAY MONEY, PAYING MONEY
-- UNDER TARP, IT ALLOWS THE
OF TREASURY TO PAY
MORE THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE.
THIS IS HIS SOLE OPINION, WHICH
SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW, SOME DAY HELPS
OUR ECONOMY, EVEN A FOREIGN
THAT'S THE MENTALITY THAT THE
I.M.F. AND THE MENTALITY AT THE
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
I DID NOT THINK WE COULD GET A
WORST TREASURY SECRETARY THAN
HANK PAULSEN THAN WE GOT OUR
CURRENT TREASURY SECRETARY,
MAKING THE MISTAKES HE HAS AND
TAKING THE POSITIONS HE HAS AND
NOW WANTING AMERICANS TO COME IN
AND BAIL OUT FOREIGN COUNTRIES
WHO ARE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF US ON
THE ROAD TO SOCIALISM.
YOU GO BACK TO THE ROMAN EMPIRE,
THE ROMANS FOUND THAT OVER TIME
PEOPLE
BREAD AND CIRCUSES, THEY COME TO
RELY ON THOSE.
THEY COME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK, THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE THEM
ENTERTAINMENT AND WILL GIVE THEM
MONEY TO USE FOOD THAT THEY NEED
AND IT MATERIALLY AFFECTS WORK.
SOCIALISM OF A SORT WAS TRIED IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, AND ON
THIS EARTH, ON THIS PLANET WITH
FALL I BELIEVE INDIVIDUALS, IT
RESULTED AS IT ALWAYS HAS AND
ALWAYS WILL AND THE APOSTLE PAUL
COMING TO THE CONCLUSION AND
ISSUED THE ORDER, OK, NEW RULE,
IF YOU DON'T WORK, YOU DON'T
EAT.
THE PILGRIMS HAD A BEAUTIFUL
COMPACT.
THEY WERE GOING TO BRING
TOGETHER ALL INTO A COMMON STORY
HOUSE AND SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE.
WINTER CAUSED THEM
TO LOSE SO MANY.
EVENTUALLY THEY GOT TO A NEW
THING THAT WE NOW CALL PRIVATE
PROPERTY WHERE PEOPLE WOULD OWN
THEIR OWN PROPERTY, PRODUCE FROM
IT AS THEY WISHED, WITH FULL
FREEDOM TO DO SO.
THEY COULD EAT WHAT THEY
RAISEDED, THEY COULD TRADE WHAT
THEY RAISED AND USE IT AS THEY
SAW FIT, THAT KIND OF MENTALITY
AND THAT KIND OF STRUCTURE THAT
AFFORDS PRIVATE PROPERTY TO
PEOPLE TO OWN AND USE ON THEIR
PROPERTY OR RENTAL PROPERTY THEY
CAN USE TO PRODUCE INCOME, THOSE
KINDS OF FREEDOMS HAVE ALLOWED
THE ENTREPRENEURISM THAT HAS
BROUGHT US TO THE POINT IN
HISTORY WHERE WE ARE THE
GREATEST NATION IN THE HISTORY
OF MANKIND WITH MORE FREEDOMS
THAN ANY IN THE HISTORY OF
MANKIND.
BUT OVER TIME, WE HAVE SEEN AS
THOSE WHO FLED EUROPE AND
ENGLAND TO COME TO AMERICA TO
START A NEW LIFE, SO MANY OF
THEM FLEEING PERSECUTION AS
CHRISTIANS COMING TO A NEW LAND
WHERE THEY WOULD NOT BE
PERSECUTED AS CHRISTIANS.
THEY CAME TO AMERICA.
AND WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY
ENGENDERING THE KIND OF THOUGHT
PROCESSES THAT LED OUR FOUNDERS
THROUGH THE GUIDANCE, THAT THEY
GOT AS POINTED TO BY SO MANY OF
THE FOUNDERS, WE GOT OUR
CONSTITUTION.
WE HAVE A STRUCTURE OF
GOVERNMENT FROM FOUNDERS WHO DID
NOT TRUST GOVERNMENT, WHO WANTED
TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT AS
POSSIBLE TO PASS LAWS.
AND EVEN ONCE THEY WERE PASSED,
THEY COULD BE VETOED AND STRUCK
AND SAW GRIDLOCK AS BEING A
GOOD THING.
THE MORE DIFFICULT IT WAS TO
PASS LAWS, THE LESS CHANCE THAT
GOVERNMENT WOULD INTERFERE IN
PERSONAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND
PERSONAL FREEDOMS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL.
EUROPE, AFTER WORLD WAR II
SEEMED TO MOVE INTO THIS
SOCIALIST TYPE OF THINKING WHERE
THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE CARE OF
PEOPLE.
SOME IN THIS COUNTRY AFTER WORLD
WAR II, FOR 60 YEARS, GOING ON
70 YEARS NOW, HAVE BEEN PUSHING
AN AGENDA TO GET US TO A
SOCIALIST STATE WHERE WE TAKE ON
THE ATTRIBUTES OF THOSE SYSTEMS
THAT HAVE REPEATEDLY FAILED OVER
AND OVER IN TIME.
I WAS RECENTLY IN ISRAEL.
WENT TO A FORMER KABUTZ.
TRULY COMMUNES, SHARE
AND SHARE ALIKE, SOCIALISM,
COMMUNISM, IT CAN SOUND SO NICE,
EVERYONE BRING INTO THE COMMON
STORE HOUSE, SHARE AND SHARE
WORKS.
AND I SAW THAT SO CLEARLY IN AN
EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN THE SOVIET
UNION BACK IN 1973, WHEN IT
REALLY WAS THE SOVIET UNION.
AND ON VISITING A COLLECTIVE
FARM, A SOCIALIST FARM, YOU LOOK
OUT THE FIELDS DID NOT LOOK VERY
I WORKED ON FARMS AND RANCHES
PRODUCTIVE.
BUT I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE MORNING THE
FARMERS WERE SITTING IN THE
SHADE IN THE CENTER OF THE
VILLAGE, AND I SPOKE SOME
RUSSIAN BACK THEN AND ASKED AS
NICELY AS I COULD WITHOUT
MEANING TO INSULT BECAUSE I WAS
WORK OUT IN
AND THEY LAUGHED.
AND ONE OF THEM WHO SEEMED TO BE
THE MOST BOISTEROUS AND SAID I
MAKE THE SAME NUMBER OF RUBLES
IF I'M OUT THERE OR HERE IN THE
SHADE, SO I'M HERE IN THE SHADE.
THAT'S SOCIALISM.
THAT'S WHY IT FAILS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN THE RIOTS IN
GREECE AS THE GOVERNMENT TRIED
TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND SAY LOOK,
WE'RE GOING BROKE, WE'RE OUT OF
BUSINESS.
WE HAVE GOT TO STOP SPENDING
MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
WE HAVE TO REIN IT IN AND PEOPLE
ARE SAYING, DON'T CUT BACK WHAT
I'M GETTING FROM THE GOVERNMENT,
NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT IF IT'S
NOT THERE, YOUR GOVERNMENT WILL
BE TAKEN OVER BY SOME TYPE OF
RADICAL FORM, AT LEAST
HISTORICALLY THAT'S WHAT OFTEN
HAPPENS, AND SOME DICTATOR,
A
BEEN EFF LENT DICTATOR WOULD
TAKE OVER AND GET THE RIOTING
UNDER CONTROL AND SET THE
GOVERNMENT ON A COURSE.
WE SAW A GOVERNMENT AFTER WORLD
WAR I IN GERMANY, TRYING TO WORK
TOWARD A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.
ECONOMIC TIMES WERE TOUGH AND SO
A LITTLE GUY WITH A MOUSTACHE
ENDS UP ACTUALLY GETTING ELECTED
TO OFFICE.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY TAKING OVER
THE COUNTRY AND WE KNOW THE
RESULTS OF THAT.
AT LEASE -- AT LEAST MOST OF US
DO, AHMADINEJAD DOESN'T THINK
THE HOLOCAUST HAPPENED BUT WE
KNOW IT DID.
WHY IN THE WORLD WHEN WE SEE HOW
IT WORKS OUT AND THAT A COUNTRY
WILL NOT ACCEPT ITS OWN
RESPONSIBILITY, AS INCREDIBLE AS
A COUNTRY LIKE
GREECE, YOU MEET PEOPLE FROM
GREECE, YOU LOVE THEM.
THEY'RE JUST GREAT FOLKS.
AS BEAUTIFUL AS A COUNTRY CAN
BE, AS RICH A HISTORY THAT A
COUNTRY CAN HAVE LIKE GREECE,
YOU WANT TO EMBRACE THEM.
BUT WHEN A PEOPLE SUCH AS THOSE
IN GREECE WANT TO CONTINUE DOWN
A BANKRUPT COURSE AND YOU SEE
THEM HEADING FOR THE EDGE OF A
CLIFF, AND THEY SAY COME JOIN
HANDS WITH US, IT DOESN'T MAKE
ME FEEL ANY BETTER TO HEAR
PEOPLE LIKE SECRETARY GEITHNER
SAY, LET'S, FIGURATIVELY
SPEAKING, JOIN HANDS AS THEY
JUMP OFF THE CLIFF AND TAKE US
WITH THEM.
BUT WE'RE TOLD, GEE, SOME OF THE
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THEY'LL FEEL
BETTER ABOUT TRYING TO BAIL OUT
GREECE IF THEY KNOW THAT THE
UNITED STATES WILL COME IN IF
THINGS DON'T WORK OUT AND BAIL
THEM OUT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE HAD SUCH
RADICALIZED SPENDING, IT'S BEEN
OUT OF CONTROL, AND UNTIL WE GET
THAT UNDER CONTROL, WE'RE A VERY
LITTLE USE TO MUCH OF THE WORLD
ECONOMICALLY.
THE BEST THING WE COULD DO FOR
GREECE, FOR ALL OF EUROPE, IS
GET OUR SPENDING UNDER CONTROL,
COME BACK FROM A POINT OF
STRENGTH FINANCIALLY, SHOW THEM
BY EXAMPLE HOW YOU GET OUT OF
YOUR PROBLEMS AND THEN THE WORLD
WILL BE BETTER OFF FINANCIALLY,
BECAUSE YOU SEE REPEATEDLY IN
HISTORY, WHEN A COUNTRY GETS IN
TROUBLE FINANCIALLY, IT OPENS
THE DOOR TO DICTATORS OR RADICAL
GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS WE
SEE IN IRAN TODAY.
THAT WASN'T ENTIRELY ECONOMIC.
WE DO RECALL -- I WAS IN THE
ARMY AT THE TIME WHEN PRESIDENT
CARTER FAILED TO SUPPORT OUR
ALLY THE SHAH.
NEVER MET THE MAN, BUT
APPARENTLY, HISTORICALLY, NOT A
WARM FUZZY FELLOW.
WASN'T FINE WITH THE FOLKS IN
BUT USING VERY POOR JUDGMENT,
PRESIDENT CARTER HAILED THE
AYATOLLA IN HIS RETURN TO IRAN
AS A MAN OF PEACE.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT MAN OF
PEACE, AS PRESIDENT CARTER
HAILED HIM, THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES
OR HAD THEIR LIVES TAKEN FROM
THEM.
THERE ARE PRICES THAT ARE PAID
BAD JUDGMENT.
AND THIS COUNTRY HAS PAID A
PRICE FOR BAD JUDGMENT.
AND NOW WE HAVE MORE EFFORTS AT
BAD JUDGMENT.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE TELLING
THE WORLD THAT AS WE'VE
OVERSPENT MORE THAN $1 TRILLION
MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE COMING
IN, DON'T WORRY, WE'LL COME BAIL
YOU OUT.
I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THIS
SUMMER THAT WE'RE NOT PRINTING
MONEY TO GET US OUT OF OUR
PROBLEM.
WE'RE NOT PRINTING MONEY.
I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND OUT,
BECAUSE I HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE,
I THINK WE ARE PRINTING MONEY TO
PAY OFF OUR DEBT THAT CAUSED
RUNAWAY INFLATION.
I STAND CORRECTED.
WE AREN'T PRINTING MONEY TO GET
OUT OF OUR FINANCIAL DILEMMA.
NO.
I WAS TOLD WE AREN'T PRINTING
THIS MONEY BUT ADDING ZEROS,
IN A COMPUTER TO
SAY WE'VE GOT MORE MONEY.
WE AREN'T EVEN PRINTING IT
ANYMORE.
HOW IRRESPONSIBLE IS THAT?
THERE IS A PRICE THAT WILL BE
PAID FOR THAT KIND OF
IRRESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS VERY
TRAGIC THAT IT MAY WELL BE PAID
BY OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN, THE HEIGHT OF
IRRESPONSIBILITY, TO LEAD THAT
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND THEN TO HAVE OUR TREASURY
SECRETARY SAY, LET'S GO BAIL
THESE FOLKS OUT, WELL, IT'S NOT
REALLY US, IT'S THE
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND,
KIND OF REMINISCENT OF PRESIDENT
OBAMA SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO GO
GET GADDAFI AND WE ARE GOING TO
HELP THE SO-CALLED REBELS, BUT
WE AREN'T ACTUALLY GOING TO DO
LET NATO DO IT.
WE STARTED OUT A LITTLE BIT
THERE, BUT NOW IT'S NOT THE
UNITED STATES AT ALL, IT'S NATO.
FIND OUT,
65% OF NATO'S MILITARY IS UNITED
STATES ARMED SERVICES.
OH, NO, IT WASN'T NATO MUCH.
65% WAS THE UNITED STATES.
IT WAS THE UNITED STATES.
AND NOW THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY WANTS US TO DO THIS
WITH COUNTRIES THAT ARE FAILING
AND YET STILL UNWILLING TO
EMBRACE THE PROBLEM THEY'VE
CREATED.
AND THEN WE HEAR THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED FROM
9.1% TO 8.6% OR 9.0% TO 8.6%
AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT IS A
WONDERFUL THING.
NOW, I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF "THE
NEW YORK TIMES," BUT THERE'S AN
ARTICLE IN DECEMBER 2'S "NEW
YORK TIMES," AN EDITORIAL
ENTITLED "BEEN DOWN SO LONG."
AND I THINK IT'S WORTH ENTERING
INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
BY ITS READING, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED TO
8.6% IN NOVEMBER FROM 9% IN
OCTOBER IN THE JOBS REPORT
RELEASED FRIDAY.
THE ECONOMY ADDED 120,000 JOBS
AND JOB COMBROTHE WAS REVISED
UP-- GROWTH WAS REVISED UPWARD
IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.
THAT'S BETTER THAN FOLLOWING
PAYROLLS BUT THE NEW FIGURES
WOULD BE MORE ABOUT THE DEPTH
OF DISTRESS OF THE JOB MARKET
THAN ABOUT REAL IMPROVEMENT IN
THE JOB PROSPECTS.
MOST OF THE DECLINE IN
NOVEMBER'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
WAS NOT BECAUSE JOBLESS PEOPLE
WORK.
RATHER IT IS BECAUSE 315,000
PEOPLE DROPPED OUT OF THE WORK
FORCE, A REFLECTION OF
EXTRAORDINARILY WEAK DEMAND BY
EMPLOYERS FOR NEW WORKERS.
IT IS ALSO A SIGN OF
SOCIOECONOMIC DECLINE OF WASTED
RESOURCES AND OVEN TAPPED
POTENTIAL, THE HUMAN EQUIVALENT
OF BOREDED UP MAIN STREETS AND
SHUTTERED FACTORIES.
THE JOB GROWTH NUMBERS ALSO
CAME WITH CALF YOTS.
MORE -- CAVEOTS.
MORE JOBS WERE CREATED, BUT
WITH THE JOB MARKET SO WEAK FOR
SO LONG, THAT IS A LOW BAR.
IT WOULD TAKE NEARLY 11 MILLION
NEW JOBS TO REPLACE THE ONES
THAT WERE LOST DURING THE
RECESSION AND TO KEEP UP WITH
THE GROWTH AND THE WORKING AGE
YEARS.
TO FILL THAT GAP WOULD REQUIRE
275,000 NEW JOBS A MONTH FOR
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S NOT IN THE CARDS.
EVEN WITH THE BETTER THAN
EXPECTED JOB GROWTH IN THE PAST
THREE MONTHS, THE ECONOMY ADDED
ONLY 143,000 JOBS ON AVERAGE.
AND MOST OF THOSE NEW JOBS ARE
LOW-END JOBS.
IN NOVEMBER, FOR EXAMPLE, BIG
JOB GROWTH AREAS INCLUDED
RETAIL SALES, BARTENDING AND
TEMPORARY SERVICES.
TEACHERS AND OTHER PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO LOSE JOBS
AND JOB GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION
AND MANUFACTURING WERE
BASICALLY FLAT.
INDEED, WORK, ONCE THE PATHWAY
TO A RISING STANDARD OF LIVING,
HAS BECOME FOR MEN A ROUTE
TOWARD DOWNWARD MOBILITY.
IN THE
"TIMES" RECENTLY SHOWING THAT
MOST PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR
JOBS IN RECENT YEARS NOW MAKE
LESS AND HAVE NOT MAINTAINED
THEIR LIFESTYLES.
WITH MANY EXPERIENCING WHAT
THEY DESCRIBE AS DRASTIC AND
PROBABLY IRREVIRSIBLE DECLINES
IN INCOME.
INCOME.
AMONGST THE BACKDROP, THE
MODEST IMPROVEMENT IN THE JOBS
REPORT EVEN IF SUSTAINED IN THE
MONTHS TO COME WOULD NOT BE
ENOUGH TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE
FROM THE RECESSION AND THE SLOW
GROWTH AFTERMATH.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" GOES ON,
HELP IS NEEDED, YET CONGRESS IS
TIED IN KNOTS EVEN BASIC
RECOVERY MEASURES LIKE
EXTENDING FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AND THE TEMPORARY
PAYROLL TAX CUT.
MEANWHILE, THE INCREASING
OF A RECESSION IN
EUROPE OR ANY OTHER SETBACK
COULD EASILY DERAIL THE WEAK
AMERICAN ECONOMY SENDING
UNEMPLOYMENT BACK UP TO
DOUBLE-DIGIT RECESSION LEVELS.
NOW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING A GREAT
DEAL LATELY FROM THE PRESIDENT
AND FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON
THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ABOUT HOW
WE JUST NEEDED TO EXTEND THIS
WONDERFUL PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY.
WELL, AS THE PERSON WHO CAME UP
WITH THE IDEA OF A PAYROLL TAX
HOLIDAY THREE YEARS AGO, I'M
OFFENDED AT THE USE OF THE TERM
PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY TO CUT 6.2%
SOCIAL SECURITY TAX DOWN TO
4.2% SOCIAL SECURITY TAX WHEN
IT IS NOT INCREASED JOBS, IT
HAS NOT HELPED JOBS.
WE ARE TALKING $30, $40, $50,
$60 WHEN THE PAYROLL TAX
HOLIDAY WAS A TRUE HOLIDAY.
IT WOULD ALLOW EVERY WORKER IN
AMERICA NOT TO PAY ANY SOCIAL
SECURITY TAX, ANY MEDICARE TAX,
ANY INCOME TAX FOR AT LEAST TWO
MONTHS, AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE
HURT SOCIAL SECURITY, THE TRUST
FUND, AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE
HURT THE MEDICARE SYSTEM
BECAUSE IT WAS TOTALLY PAID FOR
MY BILL SAID THAT MONEY THAT
WAS LEFT OVER, WHICH WAS
AVAILABLE AT THE TIME BEFORE
OUR SECRETARY OF TREASURY JUST
STARTED GIVING IT AWAY, THAT
MONEY WOULD BE MOVED OVER AND
WOULD COVER THE SOCIAL SECURITY
TRUST FUND MONEYS THAT WERE
NECESSARY, SO THE TAX WOULD NOT
IT WOULD COVER THE MONEYS THAT
WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO COVER
MEDICARE.
AND SO THE ONLY WAY THAT MONEY
WOULD BE MISSED IS THAT
SECRETARY GEITHNER WOULD NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE IT AWAY
AND SUPPORT THOSE 4-1 DEMOCRATS
TO REPUBLICANS THAT ARE
EXECUTIVES ON WALL STREET AND
WHO RESIDE IN CONTROLLING OUR
INVESTMENT BANKS.
AND THAT'S A SHOCK TO SOME
PEOPLE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY DO
THEIR RESEARCH AND FIND OUT
WALL STREET IS 4-1 DEMOCRAT
OVER REPUBLICAN BECAUSE THEY'VE
BEEN LISTENING TO DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS FOR YEARS TALK ABOUT
THOSE SORRY FAT CAT REPUBLICANS
ON WALL STREET.
WELL, THEY HADN'T DONE THEIR
RESEARCH EITHER.
OR IF THEY HAD THEY WOULD HAVE
BEEN JUST SO DISINGENUOUS IN SO
SAYING.
THAT MONEY, AS I AND MANY
OTHERS CONTENDED, THAT WAS IN
TARP AND WAS IN THE SLUSH FUND
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR
BETTER USED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO
EARNED IT.
BY JUST SAYING YOU GET EVERY
DIME BACK THAT YOU WERE PAYING
IN THIS MONTH AND NEXT MONTH
AND I ALSO KNEW PRIVATELY IN MY
HEART THAT IF WE COULD HAVE
THAT PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY, A
TRUE PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY FOR
TWO MONTHS, AND INITIALLY I
SAID A YEAR, BUT IF WE COULD
HAVE THAT FOR EVEN TWO MONTHS
THEN I KNEW TAXPAYERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY WOULD SEE MANY,
MOST FOR THE FIRST TIME, JUST
HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WERE
SENDING FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO USE AND THEY
WOULD DEMAND BETTER FROM THEIR
CONGRESS, FROM THEIR PRESIDENT.
THEY WOULD DEMAND BETTER FROM
THE BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON
THAT GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR
AND SEE THEY GOT MONEY LEFT AND
RUSH OUT AND THROW IT AWAY,
SPEND IT ON WHATEVER THEY CAN.
HAVE DEMANDED BETTER
GOVERNMENT AND THEY WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN IT OR THEY WOULD HAVE
FIRED EVERYBODY AT THE NEXT
ELECTION AND GOTTEN BETTER.
BUT WE DIDN'T GET A TRUE
PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY, AND I WAS
VERY HONORED TO HAVE A CHANCE
TO EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT OF A
PAYROLL TAX HOLIDAY WHEN
PRESIDENT BUSH CAME TO OUR
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE BACK AT
THE FIRST OF THE YEAR IN 2009,
AND AS I EXPLAINED TO HIM, THIS
IS IMMEDIATE.
IT IMMEDIATELY HELPS THE
ECONOMY.
MOODY'S SAID THE TAX HOLIDAY
IDEA, A TRUE TAX HOLIDAY IDEA,
NOT THIS BASTARDIZATION OF ONE,
THE TRUE TAX HOLIDAY WOULD HAVE
INCREASED THE G.D.P. MORE THAN
ANY OTHER PROPOSAL, MORE THAN
ANY DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL OR MORE
THAN ANY OTHER REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL.
AND AS I EXPLAINED TO THE
PRESIDENT, WE PASS THIS AND YOU
SIGN IT AND IF YOU SAY YOU WERE
WILLING TO SIGN IT WE WOULD GET
IT PASSED.
AND THE DAY YOU SIGN IT ON A
THURSDAY, THEN ON FRIDAY ALL OF
THAT MONEY, ALL OF THE INCOME
TAX, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE
TAX, ALL OF THAT WILL BE IN THE
IT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH
WASHINGTON AND WASHINGTON TAKE
ITS CUT OUT AND DRIBBLE OUT
WORKER.
THEY GOT IT ALL.
AND TO KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO
BE PAID FOR BY STOPPING THE
GIVEAWAYS TO THE AUTO
COMPANIES, TO THE INVESTMENT
BANKS, TO THE FAT CATS AS THE
PRESIDENT CALLS THEM, THAT IS
WHAT I WANTED TO SEE AND THAT
MONEY WOULD GO INTO THE HANDS
OF THE PEOPLE THAT EARNED IT.
DECIDED.
WE DID A SURVEY IN OUR DISTRICT
ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE WOULD USE
THEIR MONEY FOR.
LOOK AT YOUR CHECK.
THINK ABOUT IT FOR TWO MONTHS,
WHAT WOULD YOU USE IT FOR?
AND WE WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT
$20, $30, $40, $50, $60 LIKE
THIS PRESIDENT HAS.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $2,000,
AND WHEN
PEOPLE DID THAT THEY TOLD US,
FOR EXAMPLE, WE GOT A GAS
GUZZLER AND GAS IS SO HIGH NOW.
WE CAN BARELY PAY OUR GASOLINE
BILL.
BUT WE'RE UNDERWATER ON OUR
CAR.
WE OWE MORE THAN WHAT THE CAR
IS WORTH SO WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
TRADE IT IN SO WE'RE STUCK.
YOU LET US HAVE OUR MONEY FOR
TWO MONTHS, WE'LL BUY A NEW
AND THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA WOULD
HAVE DECIDED WHICH CAR
COMPANIES DESERVE TO BE BAILED
OUT.
AND THEY WOULD DO THAT BY
DECIDING WHICH CAR THEY WOULD
BUY AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
TO HAVE AN AUTO TASK FORCE
SECRETIVELY MEETING IN THE
WHITE HOUSE, AN AUTO CZAR, AND
ALL THOSE FOLKS BREACHING THE
CONSTITUTION, BREACHING
BANKRUPTCY LAW AND DECIDE WHICH
DEALERS WOULD KEEP THEIR
DEALERSHIP AND WHICH WOULD HAVE
AWAY THAN YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD SAY, WHOOPS, TOO
WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL THAT.
AND TRYING TO SHORE UP THE REAL
ESTATE MARKET, WE HAD PEOPLE
TELL US, LOOK, WE GOT BEHIND ON
OUR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS WHEN GAS
HIT $4 A GALLON.
YOU LET US HAVE THE $6,000 WE
GET TO KEEP OVER TWO MONTHS,
WE'LL CATCH UP ON OUR MORTGAGE,
WE'LL CATCH UP ON THE OTHER
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE SOME BIG
FINANCIAL BAILOUT SITUATION
BECAUSE WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT
OURSELF AND WE HAVE OUR OWN
MONEY.
THEN AGAIN TO KNOW THAT THAT
WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY THE
TARP MONEY AND SOCIAL SECURITY
WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HURT.
THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE
TAX MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE COME
IN AND JUST COME FROM TARP
INSTEAD OF THE INDIVIDUAL
TAXPAYERS AND TO KNOW THAT
MEDICARE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
HURT BECAUSE THAT MONEY WOULD
HAVE GONE DIRECTLY INTO
MEDICARE, NOT FROM THE
TAXPAYER, FOR TWO MONTHS BUT
FROM TARP, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
RIGHT THING TO DO IF YOU
REALLY WANT A STIMULUS.
LET THE PEOPLE EARN IT SPEND
IT.
THEY'LL KNOW MORE THAN THE
PEOPLE HERE IN WASHINGTON DID.
AND IT DIDN'T PASS AND
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS CHOSEN TO
TAKE THE NAME PAYROLL TAX
HOLIDAY THAT I WAS USING THREE
YEARS AGO AND USE IT FOR A 2%
WHY?
BECAUSE IT WILL LOOK GOOD FOR
WHY?
BECAUSE IT LOOKS TO BE SO GRAND
BECAUSE, SEE, YOU CAN TELL
PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING THAT,
GEE, THE PRESIDENT'S GOT YOU A
PETTY $30 EXTRA IN YOUR CHECK
AND THESE REPUBLICANS DON'T
WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
WE DO.
BUT WE ALSO AT THE SAME TIME
DON'T WANT SOCIAL SECURITY NOT
TO HAVE THE MONEY THAT IT
NEEDS.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT
TELLING PEOPLE AS HE HAS PITTED
THOSE WHO ARE WORKING NOW
AGAINST OUR SENIORS AND TO THE
ONE GROUP SAYING, HEY, WORKERS,
I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT LITTLE
EXTRA $30 IN YOUR PAYCHECK.
AND REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT YOU
TO HAVE IT.
AND THEN GO INTO SENIORS
SAYING, YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
THOSE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE
OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
NEVER BOTHERING TO MENTION THAT
WHEN HE SAYS WE'RE ALLOWING YOU
TO KEEP THIS MONEY IN YOUR
CHECK NOW, IT MEANS THAT MONEY
WILL NOT BE IN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY TRUST FUND, NOT EVEN
THE I.O.U. WILL BE IN THE
SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND TO
TAKE CARE OF OUR SENIORS.
WE WERE TOLD WHEN THIS
PRESIDENT WAS RUNNING THAT HE
WAS A UNITER, NOT A DIVIDER.
AND YET WE SEE IN THIS CAMPAIGN
PLOY THAT WORKING PEOPLE ARE
BEING PITTED AGAINST OUR
SENIORS.
WE'VE SEEN CLASS WARFARE.
IN ESSENCE IF YOU SEE SOMEBODY
HAS MORE THAN YOU DO, YOU NEED
TO WANT IT AND GO AFTER IT.
AFTER ALL, THAT BASICALLY SEEMS
TO BE THE ONE COMMON THREAD
RUNNING THROUGH ALL THE OCCUPY
WALL STREET, WASHINGTON, ALL
THE OCCUPY GROUPS.
WE HAD THEM COME THROUGH
WASHINGTON SCREAMING IN THE
HALLWAYS TODAY.
. WASN'T ENOUGH THEY ARE
TRYING TO DISRUPT A BEAUTIFUL
PARK.
AND WHY?
THEY HAVE NO REGARD FOR PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME ENVIOUS
AND JEALOUS, AND I CAN SAY THAT
BECAUSE I'M REPEATEDLY TOLD IN
THE ANALYSIS THAT I HAVE LESS
ASSETS THAN MOST PEOPLE -- ONE
TIME I HAD THE LEAST ASSETS THAN
FROM TEXAS IN CONGRESS.
MY WIFE AND I CASHED OUT ALL OUR
ASSETS EXCEPT OUR HOUSE SO I
COULD RUN FOR CONGRESS, SO I
COULD TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I AM NOT JEALOUS OF ANYONE
WHO HAS MORE THAN ME.
I THANK GOD WE HAVE A COUNTRY
WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE
ENTREPRENEURS AND I HAVE
SEPTEMBERSED THAT AS A ROLE I
CAN PLAY IN HELPING TRY TO DO
THAT. SO IT BREAKS MY HEART WHEN
I SEE A PRESIDENT DIVIDING
AMERICA ON CLASS WARFARE,
ENCOURAGING ENVY AND JEALOUSY,
YOU OUGHT TO WANT WHAT THEY HAVE
AND DEMAND AND GET THEIRS.
LEADERS COMING OUT AND SAYING
THEY FULLY EMBRACE THE OCCUPY
MOVEMENT.
IT'S A GREAT THING WHEN EVEN THE
OCCUPY FOLKS CAN'T EXPLAIN
ANYTHING OTHER THAN THEY HATE
WHO GOT MORE THAN
THEY DO.
THERE IS A REPORT, CNBC.COM,
MORE AMERICANS ARE GOING ABROAD
FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
IT SAYS THE STATE DEPARTMENT
ESTIMATES 6.38 MILLION AMERICANS
ARE WORKING OR STUDYING ABROAD,
THE HIGHEST NUMBER ON RECORD.
WE'RE TOLD THAT 70% OF
AMERICANS, ADULTS BELIEVE THEIR
CHILDREN WILL NOT HAVE AS MUCH
OPPORTUNITY AND FREEDOM AS
THEY'VE HAD.
THAT'S WHY I RAN FOR CONGRESS.
THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
WE CAN CHANGE THAT.
BUT I'M MYSTIFIED WHEN I THINK
ABOUT THE RECORD SPENDING IN
2007 THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY
ADDITIONAL RECORD SPENDING IN
2008 UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
REID
BECAUSE WE KNOW ALL SPENDING
ORIGINATES IN CONGRESS.
THIS IS WHERE BUDGETS ARE
PASSED.
IT'S WHERE APPROPRIATIONS ARE
PASSED.
IF MONEY IS APPROPRIATED, IT HAS
TO BE APPROPRIATED FROM HERE.
2007, 2008, I NEVER HERE
ANYBODY, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN
COMPLAIN THAT THOSE BUDGETS
DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH MONEY.
EACH YEAR GOING BEYOND WHAT WE
HAD SPENT THE YEAR BEFORE.
A THEN TO HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT
COME IN IN 2009 AND WITH SPEAKER
PELOSI AND LEADER REID STILL AT
THE REIGNS JUMP UP SPENDING AN
EXTRA TRILLION DOLLARS AND COME
BEFORE CONGRESS AND THE COUNTRY
AND SAY, LOOK, YOU HAVE TO RAISE
TAXES TO GET UP TO WHERE THIS
EXTRA TRILLION DOLLAR IS THAT I
ALREADY SPENT.
WHY COULDN'T WE JUST SAY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?
NOBODY COMPLAINED IN 2007 OR
2008 ABOUT TOO LITTLE MONEY
BEING SPENT.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE PELOSI-REID
BUDGET THAT WAS SO MUCH MORE
THAN THE REPUBLICAN BUDGETS OF
2005 AND 2006.
WE'LL GO BACK TO THOSE.
IT MEANS WE DROP A TRILLION IN
SPENDING.
THERE YOU GO.
BOOM, WE DIDN'T NEED A
SUPERCOMMITTEE.
AND ANOTHER EASY SOLUTION THAT
ISN'T TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH, BUT
THIS HOUSE VOTED TO CUT OUR OWN
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET 5% LAST YEAR
AND 6.4% THE YEAR WE'RE IN.
THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY, THOUGH
SIGNIFICANT TO MOST OF US, IS A
DROP IN THE BUCKET WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE OVERALL FEDERAL BUDGET,
AND THE WAY THAT THAT SHOULD BE
USED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IS FOR
THIS HOUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE
IT TO OURSELVES, NOW HAVING THE
MORAL AUTHORITY TO SAY TO EVERY
FEDERAL DEPARTMENT, EVERY
FEDERAL AGENCY, WE CUT OURSELVES
5% LAST YEAR, YOU ARE CUTTING
YOURSELVES 5% NEXT YEAR AND THE
YEAR AFTER THAT, YOU ARE CUTTING
YOURSELF ANOTHER 6.4%, 11% CUT
AND THERE YOUR WE DIDN'T NEED A
YOUR CUTS.
I'M GRATEFUL TO CHAIRMAN PAUL
RYAN.
WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION BACK IN
JULY AND I WAS SO THRILLED TO
HEAR THAT SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN
CONGRESS LIKE I HAVE, THE FOUR
TERMS I HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS, I
FILED A ZERO-GLINE BUDGET BILL
THAT SAYS NO MORE AUTOMATIC
INCREASES FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT.
BUT WE ARE LIVING UNDER THE
RULES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED FOR
BACK IN 1974, A VERY,
VERY LIBERAL CONGRESS THAT ENDED
PARTICIPATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
WE SHOULD HAVE ENDED IT BECAUSE
WE HAD NOT GIVEN OUR SOLDIERS,
SAILORS, AIRMEN, WE HAD NOT
GIVEN THEM THE GO-AHEAD TO WIN
THAT WAR.
WE HAD TIED THEIR HANDS.
WHEN WE HEAR PEOPLE SAY WE OUGHT
VIETNAM.
THE LESSON IS UNLESS YOU ARE
WILLING TO COMMIT 100% OF THE
RESOURCES AND GIVE THE RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT THAT ALLOW OUR
MILITARY TO WIN, THEY SHOULD
NEVER HAVE BEEN SENT.
IT IS OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE OUR
MILITARY IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
WITH RULES OF ENGAGEMENT THAT
DON'T ALLOW THEM TO ADEQUATELY
PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THAT'S THE LESSON THAT SHOULD
HAVE BEEN LEARNED FROM VIETNAM.
SAM JOHNSON CAN TELL YOU THE
LEADERS IN HANOI AS THE P.O.W.'S
WERE
LAUGHING, YOU STUPID AMERICANS,
COULD HAVE DONE THAT YEARS
SAVED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
AMERICAN LIVES IN VIETNAM.
BUT WE DIDN'T COMMIT IT TO WIN
IT.
WE SHOULDN'T SEND ANYONE
ANYWHERE UNLESS WE CAN WIN.
IT COSTS THE GREATEST AMERICAN
TREASURE AND THAT'S AMERICAN
LIVES.
WE ARE IN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.
AND AS PETER MARSHALL, CHAPLAIN
OF THE U.S. SENATE PRAYED IN THE
1940'S, WHAT WE CALL CRISES, GOD
CALLS AS OPPORTUNITIES.
IT TURNS OUT THOSE OF US IN THE
HOUSE, THOSE OF US IN THE
SENATE, EVEN THE PRESIDENT, HAVE
OPPORTUNITY.
WE'LL NEVER BE CALLED THE
GREATEST GENERATION, BUT 100
YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE BRING
SPENDING DOWN, UNDER CONTROL,
PEOPLE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY,
WOW, THEY HAD ABOUT 60 YEARS, 65
YEARS UNCONTROLLED SPENDING, IT
GREW AND GREW AND GREW, AND THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE IN GOVERNMENT
THEN DID SOMETHING THAT MOST
HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO WHEN
THEY GET TO THAT POINT WHEN
NEARLY 50% ARE GETTING MORE BACK
THAN THEY ARE PAYING IN.
THEY WERE ABLE TO RESTRAIN THEIR
SPENDING AND GET CONTROL OF
THEIR FINANCIAL DESTINY AND WE
HAVE ANOTHER 200 YEARS OF THE
GREATEST NATION IN HISTORY.
THE OTHER IS POSSIBLE.
THEY LOOK BACK AND SAY, WOW.
THE UNITED STATES FOLLOWED THE
PATH TO THE DUST
BIN OF HISTORY.
THEY SPENT MORE THAN THEY HAD.
PEOPLE FOUND THAT THEY COULD GET
CONGRESS TO VOTE THEM MONEY OUT
OF THE TREASURY, AND ONCE AGAIN,
THAT SOCIALIZED CONCEPT,
SOCIALIST CONCEPT FAILED AND THE
NATION FAILED.
AND THE NATION THAT PROVIDED FOR
THAT BRIEF TIME OF CAMELOT, A
TIME OF HOPE, RELATIVE PEACE,
EVOLVING TOWARD MORE PERFECT
FREEDOM WAS LOST BECAUSE OF
FINANCIAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.
PEOPLE HAVE HEARD ME SO MANY
TIMES QUOTE BEN FRANKLIN.
ABOUT IT'S EASY TO SEE FROM PRO
TO SEE FREE
SPEECHES FROM PEOPLE LIKE BEN
FRANKLIN, OUR PROBLEM IS A
SELFISH PROBLEM.
ANY TIME WE SPEND MORE MONEY
THAN WE HAVE WITH COMPLETE AND
UTTER DISREGARD, GROSS NEGLIGENT
DISREGARD FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR
CHILDREN AND ONE DAY THEIR
CHILDREN AND ONE DAY THEIR
CHILDREN, COMPLETE DISREGARD, WE
WANT TO SPEND IT ON OURSELVES
NOW.
IT'S TIME TO TELL GREECE, TO
TELL EVERYONE, LET'S HOLD HANDS
AND DO THIS TOGETHER, NOT JUMP
OVER THE CLIFF SPENDING GOOD
MONEY AFTER BAD, LET'S DO IT BY
NOT SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T
HAVE.
AND THERE'S NO WAY A COUNTRY
WOULD NOT BE UPGRADED WHEN S&P
AND THE WORLD SEE THAT THESE
PEOPLE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT
NOT SPENDING MORE THAN THEY HAVE
COMING IN.
THIS IS A BRAVE COUNTRY.
THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE
COMMITMENTS.
AND THAT WOULD GET US BACK TO
HAVING TRUE FREEDOM AND NOT
HAVING THE AMERICAN CITIZENS
HAVE TO COME BEGGING TO
CONGRESS, PLEASE, PLEASE THROW
US MORE MORSELS.
INSTEAD, CONGRESS WOULD BE A
BODY THAT INSPIRED GREATNESS AND
INSPIRED POTENTIAL AGAIN AND
WOULDN'T LURE YOUNG WOMEN INTO
THE RUT OF HAVING CHILDREN OUT
OF WEDLOCK BECAUSE THEY ARE
BORED WITH HIGH SCHOOL BUT
INSTEAD GIVE THEM ENCOURAGEMENT,
FINEISH HIGH SCHOOL, GO TO
COLLEGE, LET'S HAVE INCENTIVES
NOT TO STAY OUT OF WORK, LET'S
HAVE INCENTIVES TO GET BACK TO
WORK AND HAVE INCENTIVES TO SELL
OUR PRODUCTS AROUND THE WORLD
AND DECREASE THE TARIFF THAT WE
ON AMERICAN-MADE GOODS,
THAT WOULD HELP US GET US BACK
ON THE ROAD TO FIN IS --
FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE.
WHEN YOU ARE BLESSED WHEN WE
HAVE OUR OWN ENERGY, WE OUGHT TO
USE IT.
WE ARE BLESSED AND I SUGGEST
THAT THIS PRESIDENT GET OUT OF
THE WAY, STOP PREVENTING OUR USE
OF OUR OWN ENERGY AND ALLOW US
TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT AND
GREAT NATION AGAIN.
AND WITH THAT, MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD BACK.
THE JAR
YIELDS BACK.
THE CHAIR LACE BEFORE THE HOUSE
AR COMMUNICATION.
THE HONORABLE, THE
SPEAKER, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, SIR, PURSUANT
TO THE PERMISSION GRANTED IN
CLAUSE 2-H OF RULE 2 OF THE
RULES OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, THE CLERK
RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE
FROM THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE
AT 2:04
P.M., THAT THE SENATE PASSED
SENATE 384.
I AM WITH BEST WISHES SIGNED
SINCERELY, KAREN L.H.A.A.S.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
GARAMENDI, IS RECOGNIZED AS THE
LEADER.
MADAM SPEAKER.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO, MS.
KAPTUR, IS RECOGNIZED FOR 60
MINUTES AS THE DESIGNEE OF THE
MINORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
I'M PLEASED TO JOIN MY
COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING JOHN
GARAMENDI OF CALIFORNIA, THIS
EVENING, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE STANDOFF THAT APPEARS
TO BE HAPPENING IN DISCUSSIONS
BETWEEN THE SENATE AN THE HOUSE
AND THE SEEMINGLY IRRESOLVEABLE
ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT AVERAGE
AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A TAX
BENEFIT ON THEIR PAYROLL TAX
DEDUCTION RELATING TO SOCIAL
SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE
AVERAGE FAM -- CONTRIBUTIONS.
FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY, THIS IS
ABOUT $1,000 A YEAR.
WHETHER THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN THAT TAX BENEFIT OR
WHETHER OR NOT THAT MONEY IS
GOING TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM
THEM AND TAX BREAKS GIVEN TO
MULTIMILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT APPEARS THAT THE REPUBLICAN
QUITE AVERSE TO HAVING
EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTRY PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD
AS SAYING THAT AT THIS POINT IN
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY NOTHING
COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN
KEEPING THAT TAX BENEFIT IN THE
HANDS AND POCKETS OF AMERICA'S
FAMILIES.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY
TAKE THOSE DOLLARS EVERY MONTH
AND THEY BUY ESSENTIALS.
NOT EXTRAVAGANT PURCHASES.
THEY MAKE THEIR CAR PAYMENT, IF
THEY'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
HAVE A CAR.
THEY BUY ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR
FAMILY.
THEY BUY CLOTHING.
AND DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON,
THEY MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO BUY
A LITTLE BIT EXTRA, SOMETHING
SPECIAL, FOR THEIR HOLIDAY
DINNERS AND PAY DOWN SOME OF
THE DEBT THEIR KIDS HAVE IN
TRYING TO PAY THEIR COLLEGE OR
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING
BILLS.
AND IT'S REALLY AMAZING TO ME
THAT IN THE RICHEST AND MOST
POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS
TREMENDOUS FRICTION HERE IN THE
CONGRESS TO DO SOMETHING THAT
IS SO REASONABLE, THAT IS JUST
SO EMINENTLY REASONABLE AND
WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
WE KNOW THAT CONSUMER SPENDING
IS THE MOST POWERFUL INSTITUTE
TO HELP LIFT THIS ECONOMY OUT
OF ITS DOLD RUMS.
AS WE SEE -- ITS DOLL DM DRUMS.
AS WE SEE THE AUTOMOTIVE
INDUSTRY RECOVER, AND WE SAW
MORE SIGNS OF THAT WITH AN
ANNOUNCEMENT BY FORD THAT IT IS
MOVING ITS TRUCK LINE BACK UP
FROM MEXICO TO AVON LAKE, OHIO,
AND MAKING OVER A $128 MILLION
INVESTMENT THERE.
AS WE SEE THE INDUSTRY THAT THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND
CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THIS
CONGRESS FOUGHT SO HARD FOR THE
RECOVERY OF THAT INDUSTRY, WE
SEE CAR SALES INCREASING.
THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE
SO WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO, AT
THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY,
ALLOW THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST
NOT TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND
TO TAKE AWAY $1,000 A YEAR ON
AVERAGE FROM MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES WHO WOULD SPEND THOSE
DOLLARS IN HELPING TO PROPEL
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT AT
FIRMS I REPRESENT, LIKE
CHRYSLER-JEEP, FEE AT, THAT THE
-- FIAT, THAT THE WRANGLER, THE
CHEROKEE, THEY ARE SELLING
WELL.
THAT THE CRUZE VEHICLES ARE
SELL LIKE HOT CAKES BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE
MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE
DISCUSSION HERE IN WASHINGTON
MAKES SUCH EMINENT SENSE.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU WANT
TO PENALIZE MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES BECAUSE YOU WANT TO
JUST TAKE CARE OF THE TOP 1%?
IT SIMPLY ISN'T FAIR.
IT SIMPLY ISN'T FAIR.
IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT IN THE
HOLIDAY SPIRIT, THAT BOTH
CHAMBERS SHOULD GET TOGETHER,
THE TAX WRITING COMMITTEES, AND
FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION THAT IS
FAIR TO ALL FAMILIES.
IT'S CLEAR TO ME WHAT THAT IS.
IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT
WITH CORPORATE PROFITS AT
ALL-TIME HIGHS, AND THOSE WHO
RUN THESE CORPORATIONS AND SIT
ON THEIR BOARDS, THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING QUITE WELL, THANK YOU.
AND IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO DO
SOMETHING FOR THE REPUBLIC.
IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.
WHO IS GOING TO MISS AN EIGHTH
HOME OR SEVENTH YACHT.
BUT THE AVERAGE FAMILY IS
HAVING TROUBLE MEETING ITS
CREDIT CARD DEBT, PAYING THEIR
KIDS' BILLS, HAVING ENOUGH AS
PRICES GO UP, ENOUGH TO PAY FOR
FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND TAKING
CARE OF ELDERLY RELATIVES
SOMETIMES WHO NEED EXTRA
MEDICATIONS.
SO I WOULD URGE THOSE IN BOTH
CHAMBERS WHO ARE ON THESE
BUDGET AND TAX WRITING
COMMITTEES TO SPEND THE TIME
BURDEN
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITH
UNNECESSARY DELAY AND GIVE THE
ECONOMY THE BOOST THAT IT NEEDS
BY MAINTAINING THE MIDDLE CLASS
TAX CUTS ON THE PAYROLL TAX
CUTS AND MAKING THOSE AT THE
TOP 1% END PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, THEY PAID
A LOT MORE PERCENTAGE WISE THAN
THEY DO TODAY AND WE HAD LOTS
OF JOB CREATION IN THIS
IT ELUDES ME WHY THOSE AT THE
VERY TOP END OF THE INCOME
SCALE WHO HAVE TAKEN MOSTS OF
-- MOST OF THE BENEFITS OF
GROWTH IN THE LAST 20 YEARS WHY
THEY ARE SO AVERSE, WHEN
THEY'RE DOING SO WELL TO
HELPING OUR COUNTRY AND TO
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A
CHANCE TO PROSPER BECAUSE WHEN
EVERYONE PROSPER, DOES THE TOP
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS CONSUMER
SPENDING INJECTION FROM THE
MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT, PAYROLL
TAX CUT, PLAYS SUCH A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE
TO SAY A WORD ALSO
THAT AS WE BUY FOR THE HOLIDAY
SEASON, NOTHING COULD BE MORE
IMPORTANT THAN BUYING MADE IN
THE U.S.A. GOODS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU
SEE THAT LABEL, MADE IN THE
U.S.A., YOU KNOW THAT THOSE
DOLLARS FLOW BACK TO THAT
COMPANY AND THOSE WORKERS AND
YOU ACTUALLY HELP BUILD WEALTH
IN THIS COUNTRY.
LAST WEEKEND, WHEN WE WERE
DOING SOME SHOPPING FOR THE
HOLIDAYS, WE WENT IN ONE STORE
AND I KEPT LOOKING AT LABELS
AND IT WAS CHINA, CHINA, CHINA,
I'D PUT IT BACK ON THE SHELF.
IT WAS ACTUALLY STAGGERING WHAT
PERCENTAGE OF THOSE GOODS A
MAJORITY OF THE GOODS ON THE
SHELF, WERE ACTUALLY MADE
SOMEPLACE ELSE.
I MADE A POINT OF GOING TO A
CRAFT FAIR IN OUR REGION AND
WAS ABLE TO BUY SEVERAL
CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT WERE
HANDMADE AND I FELT REALLY GOOD
ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNEW THAT
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD TAKEN
THEIR ARTISTIC ABILITIES AND
THEY HAD CREATED TABLEWARE,
TABLE LYNN ENS, OTHER --
LINENS, OTHER ITEMS, JEWELLY,
THAT WAS HANDMADE, I KNEW IT
WOULD BEN FETE THOSE FAMILIES
AND GO TO WORK IN THE
COMMUNITIES THEY CAME FROM.
IT SHOULDN'T BE SO HARD TO FIND
MADE IN THE U.S.A. GOODS ON THE
SHELVES OF OUR MAJOR RETAILERS.
I WOULD, OUR CITIZENS, AS
YOU'RE DOING YOUR HOLIDAY
SHOPPING, AND I KNOW SOMETIMES
IT'S HARD, TO TRY TO LOOK FOR
THAT LABEL, MADE IN THE U.S.A.
AND HELP YOUR OWN COMMUNITY TO
FIND SMALL BUSINESSES TO FIND
PRODUCTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY,
THAT ARE MADE HERE SO THAT
THOSE DOLLARS RECIRCULATE OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND
HELP BUILD THE REAL WEALTH OF
OUR NATION THAT MADE AMERICA
I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT
CANDYMAKERS IN YOUR REGION, AT
THOSE WHO ARE MAKING COOKIES,
THOSE WHO ARE SMALL
ENTREPRENEURS OF DIFFERENT
KINDS, MAKING SCARVES, I WAS
ABLE TO GO TO ONE POTTER IN OUR
REGION AND ORDERED SEVERAL
ITEMS FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON,
LOCAL ARTIST WHO HAS
HER OWN SHOP AND MAKES HER OWN
GOODS RIGHT THERE, EXPORTS OUT
OF THAT SHOP AND I KNOW THAT'S
GOING TO HELP OUR REGION GROW.
SO WE CAN DO A LOT IN OUR OWN
LIVES AND THE WAY WE SPEND
THOSE PRECIOUS DOLLARS TO
REALLY HELP JOB CREATION IN OUR
REGIONS, IN OUR COUNTRY, AT A
TIME WHEN WE REALLY NEED IT.
I SEE THAT SOME OF OUR OTHER
COLLEAGUES HAVE JOINED US HERE
ON THE FLOOR AND I WANT TO
WELCOME CONGRESSMAN PAUL TONKO
OF THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK,
WHO IS SUCH AN OUTSTANDING AND
REALLY RELENTLESS VOICE ON JOB
CREATION, ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN
OUR COUNTRY, FOR JOINING US
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU,
REPRESENTATIVE KAPTUR AND THANK
YOU FOR KICKING US YOU HAVE ON
A WONDERFUL HOUR OF DISCUSSION
FOR A PLAN TO REVITALIZE OUR