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I THINK THAT HATS OFF TO
CONGRESSWOMAN BLACK FROM
TENNESSEE FOR WINNING THIS
I SUPPOSE THE ONE WHO
PRESTIGIOUS GOLDEN TURKEY AWARD,
TECHNICALLY WON IT WAS THE
E.P.A., IS THAT RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU HIGHLIGHTED IT,
YOU GET TO BE -- ISN'T THERE
ACTUALLY LIKE A GOLDEN -- SOME
SORT OF A BOWLING TROPHY WITH A
BIG GOLDEN TURKEY ON THE TOP OF
IT OR SOMETHING?
YOU'RE SO RIGHT AND
DESK.
IT'S PROUDLY DISPLAYED ON MY
IT IS A TROPHY THAT STANDS ABOUT
12 INCHES HIGH AND IT IS GOLDEN
AND HAS A GOLDEN TURKEY ON THE
TOP OF IT AND I'M CHALLENGING
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES TO FIND
PLACES THAT WE'RE HAVING
OVERREGULATION AND KILLING OUR
BUSINESSES AND STIFLING THE
GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY AND
STIFLING JOB GROWTH.
WHO SAYS WE CAN'T HAVE
FUN IN CUTTING THE WASTEFUL
SPENDING OUT OF GOVERNMENT, AT
LEAST DO IT WITH A LITTLE
TWINKLE IN OUR EYE?
AND IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT A
FRESHMAN CONGRESSWOMAN COULD
WALK AWAY WITH THIS KIND OF A
PRIZE, CERTAINLY THERE WILL BE
COMPETITION TO HAVE THAT GOLDEN
TURKEY PASSED AROUND.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR JOINING US
AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER
TONIGHT.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, MY GOOD
FRIEND, CONGRESSMAN WALBERG, I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU YOU'D LIKE TO
JOIN US.
WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT,
FIRST OF ALL, A BIG PICTURE
ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THERE IS IN
THE ENTITLEMENTS, THE TROUBLE
WITH TRYING TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET AND ALSO WE'VE TALKED
ABOUT JOBS AND HOW JOBS RELATE
TO A GOVERNMENT THAT'S OUT OF
CONTROL, HAS FORGOTTEN THEY'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE SERVANTS AND ARE
JUST RUNNING MAD, MAKING RED
TAPE WHICH IS AGAIN EXCESS
KILLS JOBS.
OVERHEAD FOR THE BUSINESSES AND
BUT, PLEASE, JOIN US WITH YOUR
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
I APPRECIATE MY
COLLEAGUE FROM MISSOURI, I
APPRECIATE YOU HOLDING THIS TIME
ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT IMPACT
THIS EVENING AS WE WITH CAN TALK
-- WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE
THINGS THAT IMPACT OUR WHOLE WAY
OF LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES.
I'M SURE WE UNDERSTAND HERE ON
THE FLOOR THIS EVENING THE
IMPACT OF WHAT OUR FRAMERS AND
FOUNDERS HAD IN MIND OF A
LIMITED GOVERNMENT, A GOVERNMENT
THAT BELIEVE VERY CLEARLY THAT
FREE PEOPLE, WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE AND
USE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY
HAVE, COULD INDEED MAKE A LIFE
THAT WAS FILLED WITH HAPPINESS
IN THEIR PER SUIT, THAT INVOLVED
-- PURSUIT, THAT INVOLVED
PROPERTY AND ALL THAT WENT WITH
IT.
AS THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN FOR
WORKPLACE PRODUCTION AND
WORKERS' PRODUCTION, I'VE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT SOME
THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP RIGHT
NOW THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AS
WORKPLACE SAFETY STANDARDS.
AND THIS GOES INTO COST ISSUES
THAT ARE HUGE REGULATORY COSTS,
BUT ALSO COSTS THAT ULTIMATELY
REDUCE JOBS AND OPPORTUNITY.
ONE SUCH REGULATORY ISSUE
RELATED TO THE NOISE REGULATION
BEING PROPOSED BY OSHA.
UNFORTUNATELY THAT HAS BEEN
PULLED FOR THE TIME BEING, IT
CAME, IT WAS PULLED A COUPLE OF
DAYS AFTER WE INTRODUCED THE
FACT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HOLD
HEARINGS ON IT.
CONTINUE TO HOLD HEARINGS.
WE FOUND OUT IN THE PROCESS THAT
NOISE STANDARDS AND ALL OF US
HERE WOULD SAY THAT A WORKER
OUGHT TO BE SAFE, REASONABLY
SPEAKING, IN THEIR WORKPLACE, I
WORKED AT THE U.S. STEEL
SOUTHWORKS SHORTLY AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL, WORKED IN THE FURNACE
DIVISION.
I WORKED ON THE MOLD PLATFORM,
WORKED IN THE *** SHACK WAS
WHICH -- WHICH WAS LIFTING AND
HOLDING PIG IRON, AND A NUMBER
OF OTHER THINGS.
BE SAFE.
I HAD REASONABLE EXPECTATION TO
INCLUDING USING HEARING
PROTECTION THAT INVOLVED EITHER
EAR MUFFS OR EAR PLUGS.
WHAT THIS NEW STANDARD WOULD
HAVE REQUIRED WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN SIMPLY PUTTING EAR PLUGS
INTO EMPLOYEES, THAT WOULD MEET
THE STANDARD, OR EAR MUFFS, BUT
IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED
BUSINESSES TO PURCHASE MACHINES
THAT WEREN'T ONLY GUARDED OR SHE
ROUDED SAFELY FOR HEARING
PROTECTION -- SHROUDED SAFELY
FOR HEARING PROTECTION BUT
MACHINES THAT WOULD BE REDUCED
TO THE NOISE STANDARD TO A POINT
THAT, AS WE LOOKED AT IT MOST
CAREFULLY, WEREN'T EVEN MACHINES
MADE YET.
THEY HADN'T BEEN PRODUCED.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO EMPLOY
PEOPLE THAT INCREASE THE
ECONOMY, BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH
KNOW THAT THE ECONOMY IS
PRODUCED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,
NOT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THAT
THE PRIVATE SECTOR ENTREPRENEUR,
THE TAKER OF RISK, PRODUCED AN
IDEA, COMES UP WITH IT,
ULTIMATELY HIRES EMPLOYEES TO
CARRY OUT THE JOB AND THEN WE
PUT REASONABLE REGULATIONS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES
ARE SAFE, THAT THE HEARING IS
PROTECTED AS WELL, BUT WE DON'T
SAY TO THE EMPLOYER, YOU MUST
BUY A MACHINE THAT ISN'T EVEN
PRODUCED YET, THAT ISN'T MADE
YET, IN ORDER TO PROTECT --
I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR EXAMPLE.
THAT'S THE TROUBLE WITH THESE
THINGS.
IT'S NOT THAT MAYBE THERE
SHOULDN'T BE SOME WORKPLACE
SAFETY RULES, BUT THESE THINGS
HAVE JUST GONE BEYOND THE REALM
OF WHAT EVEN MAKES SENSE.
I HAVE EVEN GREATER RESPECT FOR
YOU NOW.
I'VE ALSO WORKED IN THE STEEL
MILL AND THE NOISY PLACE AT OUR
STEEL MILL WAS THE PIPE SHOP
PIPE.
WHERE THEY WERE LOADING THE
AND YOU TAKE A WHOLE BIG BUNDLE
OF PIPE AND DROP IT OR HIT IT
AGAINST SOMETHING, AND, BOY,
DOES IT MAKE A RACKET.
THEY HAD EAR PROTECTIONS AND
THINGS IN THE PIPE MILL THERE.
CERTAINLY BUSINESSES KNOW THAT
THAT'S NECESSARY TO DO THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU START LOADING THAT
KIND OF EXTREME RED TAPE AND
REGULATIONS ON A BUSINESS, THE
BUSINESS HAS TO USE THEIR MONEY
TO PAY FOR THAT AND THEY CAN'T
HIRE EMPLOYEES.
SO RED TAPE, FIRST OF ALL TAXES,
RED TAPE, THOSE ARE JOB KILLERS.
I THINK AS I RECALL, I THINK IT
WAS A GENTLEMAN LAST WEEK THAT
SHARED, SOMEBODY THAT HAD A DRY
CLEANING FACILITY, AND THEY
FOUND SOMETHING LIKE A SPOONFUL
OF SOME WATER UNDERNEATH A
CONCRETE SLAB THAT HAD A SMALL
AMOUNT OF CLEANING FLUID, I
GUESS CARBON IN THE WATER OR
SOMETHING.
AND THEY HAD TO DO LIKE A
$60,000 REMEDIATION WHICH FOR A
SIMPLE DRY CLEANER JUST ABOUT
TOOK EVERY PENNY THAT THE OWNERS
HAD OUT OF THEIR BANK, BECAUSE
OF ONE TEASPOON FULL WITH SOME
WATER THAT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF,
YOU KNOW, THE CLEANER FLUID THEY
USE ON PEOPLE'S CLOTHES.
ABOUT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING
THIS IS JUST BIZARRE KINDS OF
STUFF.
WE HAVE DR. BOUSTANY FROM
LOUISIANA HERE AND I THINK HE
WAS GOING TO SHARE WITH US FOR A
MINUTE AND, CONGRESSMAN WALBERG,
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
CONGRESSMAN WALBERG IS FROM
MICHIGAN.
AND A GREAT MEMBER OF THE
CAUCUS.
AND, DOCTOR, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
I THANK MY FRIEND FROM MISSOURI
FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK
HERE.
YOU KNOW, AS WE TALK ABOUT
AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS AND
GROWING JOBS, PRIVATE SECTOR
JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY, COMING OFF
THE HEELS OF THIS RECESSION
WHERE WE STILL HAVE HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT, THERE'S TWO
ASPECTS TO IT.
ONE IS CUTTING BACK ON
GOVERNMENT SPENDING AS YOU'VE
ALREADY SUGGESTED WITH THE PIE
CHART YOU HAVE THERE, WE HAVE TO
GET OUR DEBT UNDER CONTROL, THIS
IS IMPERATIVE BECAUSE IT'S GOING
TO STRANGLE PRIVATE INVESTMENT
IN THE FORM OF HIGHER TAXES ON
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS
THE GROWTH SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
STIMULATING ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT HOW TO DO
THAT, WE WANT ECONOMIC GROWTH IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH WILL
HELP SPUR JOB GROWTH, THE WAY WE
HAVE TO DO THAT IS WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT AN ENERGY STRATEGY FOR
THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE SO
MUCH OF WHAT WE DO DEPENDS ON
CHEAP, AFFORDABLE ENERGY TO FUEL
OUR PLANTS, OUR FACTORIES,
TRANSPORTATION, YOU NAME IT.
SO IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE AN
ENERGY STRATEGY FOR THE COUNTRY.
WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.
AND WE NEVER HAVE HAD ONE.
IN FACT, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW,
INSTEAD OF THE LACK OF AN ENERGY
STRATEGY, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING
ENERGY PROPOSALS THAT ARE DERT
MENTAL TO THE COUNTRY --
DETRIMENTAL TO THE COUNTRY, THAT
ADMINISTRATION.
ARE BEING PROPOSED BY THIS
LET ME LIST WHAT'S GOING ON.
FIRST OF ALL, THE MORATORIUM ON
DRILLING FOR AMERICAN ENERGY IN
THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS BEEN IN
PLACE SINCE MAY.
THIS IS KILLING JOBS BACK HOME
IN LOUISIANA, ALONG THE GULF
COAST, BUT IT'S ALSO HURTING OUR
ENERGY SECURITY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AS WE LOSE THESE JOBS, THESE ARE
HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS, AS THEY
LEAVE THIS INDUSTRY AND GO TO
FIND OTHER JOBS AND MOVE, YOU
CANNOT TURN THAT LIGHT
SWITCHBACK ON AND GET THAT KIND
OF SKILL BACK ON THESE
PLATFORMS.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
SO AS --
WAIT JUST A MINUTE.
JUST ON THE SURFACE OF WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING, IF SOMEBODY WERE
REALLY TO LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE
SAYING, IT SOUNDS LIKE INSANITY.
BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT MY THINKING
WOULD BE.
YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE'VE GOT ALL
THIS UNREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST
WHICH THREATENS THE OIL
PRODUCTION THERE, WHICH
INCREASES THE COST OF MIDDLE
EASTERN OIL, SO WE PAY THEM EVEN
MORE TO COUNTRIES THAT DON'T
LIKE US AND USE THE MONEY FOR
ADVANCING TERRORIST KINDS OF
CAUSES AND WE HAVE OIL RIGHT
UNDER OUR FEET AND WE'RE SAYING,
NO, YOU CAN'T DRILL FOR THAT
STUFF, AND GASOLINE IS $3 AND
SOMETHING A GALLON AND WE'RE NOT
EVEN DRILLING FOR THE SILLY OIL
THAT WE'VE GOT.
LET ME ADD ONE THING THAT GETS
ME EVEN MORE HARD UP AND THAT
IS, YOU GO NORTH, NORTH OF
LOUISIANA, I MEAN, WHERE IT'S
COLD, OK?
WE'RE TALKING OUT IN THE OCEAN,
OUTSIDE ALASKA, AND YOU'VE GOT
FOREIGN COUNTRIES THAT ARE
DRILLING ON WHAT IS BASICALLY
OUR COASTAL PLAIN AND THEY'RE
DRILLING FOR OIL.
AND HERE WE ARE PAYING $3
SOMETHING AND WE'RE NOT DRILLING
FOR ANY OF THIS STUFF.
I MEAN, ISN'T THIS WEIRD?
WE HAVE BASICALLY
SHUT DOWN OUR PRODUCTION IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO AND IT'S A
BONEHEADED POLICY TO DO THAT.
BUT NOT ONLY THAT, THE
ADMINISTRATION IN ITS BUDGET
PROPOSAL IS NOW PROPOSING NEARLY
$50 BILLION IN NEW TAXES ON
SMALL, INDEPENDENT OIL AND GAS
PRODUCING COMPANIES.
NOW, THAT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT
OF THESE GUYS OUT OF BUSINESS.
THEY CAN'T CASH FLOW AND THEY DO
A LOT OF THE WORK ON THE
CONTINENTAL SHELF AND IN SHALLOW
WATER AREAS AND ALSO ONSHORE
PRODUCTION.
IN OIL AND GAS.
AND THERE'S A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN OIL AND GAS.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN.
I STARTED JUST A LITTLE WHILE
AGO, WE TALKED ABOUT, IF YOU
WANT TO KILL JOBS, FIRST OF ALL,
TAX SMALL BUSINESSES, TAX THEM
SO MUCH THEY CAN'T RUN THEIR
BUSINESS OR AT LEAST CHASE
PEOPLE OUT OF THEM SO THERE GOES
THE JOBS.
THE SECOND THING YOU DO IS BURY
THEM IN RED TAPE.
NOW WE'RE COMING BACK TO WHAT
YOU'RE SAYING IS, THE VERY
PEOPLE WE SHOULD WANT TO BE
WORKING AND DRILLING FOR OIL FOR
OF EXISTENCE?
US, WE'RE GOING TO TAX THEM OUT
ISN'T THAT RIDICULOUS?
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
AND THESE TAXES ARE
INDISCRIMINANT.
THEY HIT OIL COMPANIES, YOU
KNOW, THOSE DRILLING FOR OIL,
BUT ALSO NATURAL GAS AND EVEN
OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WILL ADMIT THAT
NATURAL GAS USAGE IS A VERY
IMPORTANT TRANSITION STRATEGY AS
WE LOOK AT OUR ENERGY NEEDS
GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
WHETHER TRANSPORTATION FUEL,
ELECTRICITY GENERATION.
THOSE TAXES PROPOSED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL PUT A LOT OF
THESE GAS COMPANIES OUT OF
BUSINESS AND KEEP IN MIND, 97%
OF THE GAS USED -- NATURAL GAS
USED IN THIS COUNTRY IS PRODUCED
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY BY THESE
.
SMALL COMPANIES.
A GIVEN RIG WILL EMPLOY 65
PEOPLE ON ONE RIG.
SO A COMPANY THAT HAS, LET'S
SAY, THEY HAVE TO CUT BACK 50
RIGS, DO THE MATH.
YOU'RE TALKING 3,000-PLUS JOBS.
THESE ARE --
THE VERY THING WE
SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING BECAUSE
WE'RE SO DEPENDENT ON FOREIGN
OIL.
THEY'RE PRIVATE
SECTOR JOBS AND GOOD PAYING
JOBS AND HELP PROMOTE CRITICAL
ENERGY.
AND EVERYTHING COUNTERS OUR
ENERGY POLICY AND HURTS THE
NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION
IN THE COUNTRY OF ORMAN AND
STRAIGHT ACROSS THE STRAIGHT OF
HORMUZ AND IF THE STRAIT WERE
TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF UNREST
IN OMAN BECAUSE OF THE IRANIAN
MISCHIEF WE COULD SEE OIL
PRICES SPIKE UP TO $400 A
BARREL AND WILL HURT OUR RICE
FARMERS BACK HOME TRYING TO
EXPORT RICE AND GROW RICE FOR
DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION.
IT WILL HURT OUR CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURING.
AND SPEAKING OF THE NATURAL GAS
PIECE --
HE MAYBE I COULD STOP
BECAUSE I WANT TO HIT YOU WITH
A G-WIZ STATISTIC BECAUSE I'M
KIND OF AN OLD GEEZER AND BEEN
HERE A WHILE AND WATCHED VOTING
PATTERNS.
HERE'S SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE
INTERESTING TO YOU.
AND I TELL THIS TO SOME OF MY
CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME.
IF I WERE TO SAY THE
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN
THE HOUSE ARE DIVIDED ON THE
ABORTION ISSUE, PEOPLE WOULD
GO, NO BIG SURPRISE.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT
IF YOU LOOK BACK OVER THE
YEARS, AT LEAST THE 10 YEARS
I'VE BEEN HERE, THE TWO PARTIES
ARE MORE DIVIDED ON DEVELOPING
AMERICAN ENERGY THAN THEY ARE
ON THE ABORTION SUBJECT.
AND I FIND THAT JUST AMAZING TO
ME BECAUSE IT SEEMS SO OBVIOUS
THAT WE'RE STILL USING GASOLINE
IN CARS, UNTIL WE GET AWAY FROM
THAT, WE NEED TO BE TRYING TO
PRODUCE OUR OWN GASOLINE.
WE HAVE VERY LARGE RESERVES OF
OIL THAT WE COULD BE DRILLING,
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS ON
MANY, MANY OF THOSE LOCATIONS
WHERE WE COULD DRILL AND HOPE
TO FIND OIL, THERE ARE
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUITS BLOCKING
DRILLING IN ALL THESE DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS WHERE WE COULD
LEGALLY DRILL, NOT MENTIONING
ANWR WHICH IS OFFBOUNDS TO US
RIGHT NOW AND NOW THE
REGULATIONS IN THE GULF WHICH,
AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM
WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO SAY HEY,
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG
WITH THE OIL SPILL, HOW DO WE
MAKE SURE WE GET A VERY DEEP,
HIGH PRESSURE SITUATION THAT
WE'VE GOT THE PROPER DEVICES TO
STOP THAT UP IF WE NEED TO.
BUT JUST TO BASIC LOY SHUT DOWN
AND TAX EVERYBODY, THIS IS JUST
BIZARRE.
MR. BOUSTANY, IT IS BIZARRE AND
AGAIN, AMERICANS WANT TO
COMPETE AND WE KNOW IF GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE WE
CAN WIN IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE ENERGY
PRODUCTION IN THIS COUNTRY TO
ALLOW OUR COMPANIES TO COMPETE.
NOW, LET ME POINT OUT
SOMETHING.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST AREAS OF
EXPORTS FOR THE UNITED STATES
ARE CHEMICALS, PETRACHEMICALS
AND FERTILIZER PRODUCED HERE,
MANUFACTURED HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES.
MANUFACTURED WITH?
NATURAL GAS AND
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
AND IF YOU SHUT DOWN OUR
NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION, THE
COMPANIES WHICH ON A BASIS OF
PRICE WE CAN COMPETE BECAUSE WE
HAVE CHEAP NATURAL GAS IN THIS
COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD.
OUR COMPANIES ARE COMPETITIVE.
YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED
THE NUMBER OF SUPPLYS FOUND
UNDER PENNSYLVANIA.
THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FIND.
WE KNOW WE HAVE
THE WORLD'S LARGEST RESERVES IN
COAL, WE HAVE POTENTIALLY THE
LARGEST RESERVES IN THE WORLD
OF NATURAL GAS HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES AND SOME ARGUE
THE ESTIMATES ON OIL ARE VASTLY
UNDERESTIMATED BECAUSE OF TWO
THINGS, ONE, THE SHALE OIL
THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT'S
CURRENTLY OFFLIMITS BECAUSE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES, AND
SECONDLY ON THE EAST COAST AND
WEST COAST, OUTER CONTINENTAL
SHELF AREA, WE DON'T HAVE
ACCURATE SEISMIC INFORMATION SO
WHEN THEY SAY WE ONLY HAVE 3%
OF THE WORLD'S RESERVES, THAT'S
AN INACCURATE FIGURE.
THAT'S NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY
ACTIVITIES.
LOOKED AT WITH MODERATE SEISMIC
BUT OUR COMPANIES THAT
MANUFACTURE THESE CHEMICALS AND
FERTILIZER HAVE A COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE BECAUSE OF THE LOW
PRICE OF NATURAL GAS IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IF WE TAX IT, AS THIS
ADMINISTRATION IS PROPOSING, IT
WILL MAKE US LESS COMPETITIVE,
OUR EXPORTS WILL GO DOWN AND
WILL BE COUNTER TO WHAT THE
PRESIDENT WANTS TO DO BY
EXPANDING EXPORTS AND MAKES NO
SENSE WHATSOEVER.
WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
INTO, DOCTOR, IS SOMETHING I
WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT TONIGHT AND THAT IS THE
ASSUMPTION YOU CAN GO TAXING
AND TAXING AND WE ALWAYS TALK
ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO TAX THE
RICH GUY AND THINK YOU CAN GET
AWAY WITH THAT WITHOUT
CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE IT SEEMS
TO ME THERE'S A DISCONNECT WITH
THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, AND
THE DEMOCRATS AS WELL
POLICYWISE BECAUSE THEY TALK
ABOUT THE FACT THEY WANT JOBS
BUT THEN DESTROY THE COMPANIES
THAT CREATE THE JOBS.
AND YOU CAN'T KILL THE COMPANY
IF YOU WANT JOBS BECAUSE THE
COMPANY IS THE ONE THAT HIRES
PEOPLE AND THEY SEEM TO MISS
THAT CONNECTION IN THERE.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO MY GOOD
FRIEND FROM MICHIGAN.
I HAD TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE AND
GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO JUMP IN
BUT TALK ABOUT TAXES AND HOW IT
IS WE CAN DEAL WITH THE TOUGH
PROBLEMS BUDGETWISE AND AT
LEAST ONE PART OF THAT WHICH IS
THE PROPER TAX POLICY.
I THINK YOU'RE
HERE.
LEADING INTO THE KEY POINT
BECAUSE BOTTOM LINE, WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT ENTITLEMENT
SPENDING, THOSE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS WE'VE COME TO EXPECT
IN THE UNITED STATES, WHETHER
IT BE MEDICAID, MEDICARE,
SOCIAL SECURITY, AND MOST OF
US, AT LEAST IN THIS ROOM
TONIGHT HAVE PAID INTO SOCIAL
SECURITY A LONG TIME.
LET'S NOT GET
PERSONAL ABOUT AGE HERE.
IT'S NOT A
VOLUNTARY TAX AND IN A COUPLE
SHORT YEARS I WILL BE CAPABLE
OF RECEIVING THAT MYSELF.
I'VE NOT HAD A CHOICE TO DO
THAT AND YET THE ONLY WAY THAT
WE CAN SEE THOSE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS CONTINUE, AT LEAST IF
WE DID IT RIGHT, IS HAVE AN
ECONOMY THAT'S GROWING, HAVE
PEOPLE THAT ARE EMPLOYED, THAT
ARE PAYING INTO THE
SWILINGTSMENT PROGRAMS, THE
TAXES THAT ARE THERE, EVEN IF
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT ANY
ALTERNATIVE WAY FOR YOUNGER
EMPLOYEES COMING DOWN THE ROAD
IN THE FUTURE, WE STILL HAVE TO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT DOLLARS
IN.
THAT COMES FROM HAVING A JOB.
AND SO WHEN WE GO BACK TO WHAT
DR. BOUSTANY WAS TALKING ABOUT
ON THE ISSUE OF ENERGY, WHEN
YOU TALK ABOUT THE REGULATORY
CONCERNS THAT I EXPRESSED THAT
ARE DESTROYING JOBS, I GO BACK
TO MY OWN HOME STATE OF
MICHIGAN, MY OWN DISTRICT, THE
SEVENTH DISTRICT, MICHIGAN WHO
LED THE NATION FOR FOUR
STRAIGHT YEARS ON EMPLOYMENT
AND A STATE KNOWN FOR ITS
MANUFACTURING, ITS AUTO
INDUSTRY, ALWAYS HAVING JOBS, A
HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING AND AS
A RESULT OF GOVERNMENT GROWING
TOO LARGE, TOO STRONG, TOO
INTRUSIVE AND SPENDING TOO MUCH
AND TAXING TOO MUCH, WE'VE
DESTROYED THE ECONOMY OF
MICHIGAN AND NOW THE NEW
ADMINISTRATION COMES IN AND HAS
TO GO THROUGH ALMOST
INSURMOUNTABLE ODDS TO TRY TO
RESTORE AN ECONOMY THAT HAS
JOBS SO THEY CAN PAY INTO THIS.
LET ME ASK YOU
WHETHER THIS GETS UNDER YOUR
SKIN, BECAUSE I'M ON THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE.
BUT I HEAR ALL THE TIME MY
DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES ARE SAYING
THE RECOVERY IS FRAGILE,
THEREFORE DON'T YOU GO CUTTING
ANY OF THIS GOVERNMENT
SPENDING.
I'M JUST THINKING, WOW.
BECAUSE I TOTALLY DON'T SEE IT
THAT WAY AT ALL.
WHEN YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT
THAT'S BUSY SPENDING MONEY
TRYING TO REGULATE A MILK SPILL
IN A BARN, YOU HAVE A
GOVERNMENT THAT'S WANTING TO
TALK ABOUT ROGUE DUST THAT
COMES OFF OF A FARM WHEN YOU'RE
BASICALLY RUNNING A COMBINE
THROUGH A ROW OF CORN, AND
YOU'VE GOT A GOVERNMENT WITH
DUPLICATION AFTER DUPLICATION
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LET'S
CUT JUST SOME OF THE EDGE OF
THIS STUFF AND THEY'RE SAYING
CAREFUL, DON'T DESTROY A
FRAGILE ECONOMY.
HEY, THE ECONOMY IS FRAGILE
BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING
EVERYTHING WRONG TO IT.
EVERYTHING WRONG,
TRYING TO DESTROY IT.
AND RONALD REAGAN
SAID WE'RE BUYING TOO MUCH
GO AHEAD.
GOVERNMENT.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET OFF.
I ASSUMED I'D GET
YOU INTO A RANT ON THAT BECAUSE
I KNOW YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT
THAT.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
I CAN SHOW YOU FROM EXPERIENCE
IN MICHIGAN, AS WE WENT THROUGH
THIS TYPE OF DOWNTURN BACK IN
THE 1980'S, TOO LARGE
GOVERNMENT, INCREASE TAXATION,
INCREASE SPENDING FOR ALL SORTS
OF PROGRAMS.
WE RAN BUSINESSES OUT OF THE
STATE.
WE TURNED THAT AROUND IN THE
1990E'S AND CUT TAXES 26 TIMES
AND RIGHT-SIDED GOVERNMENT AND
PUT WORK-FARE IN PLACE OF
WELFARE AND ENCOURAGED
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND GROW
BY REDUCING TAXES AND CUTTING
SPENDING THE ECONOMY GREW AND
MORE REVENUE CAME IN AND THE
GOVERNMENT HAD TO CONTROL
ITSELF FROM SPENDING THOSE
REVENUES FROM LESS TAXES BUT
STILL INCREASE REVENUE BECAUSE
PEOPLE WERE WORKING, THEY WERE
SPENDING, THEY WERE SAVING,
THEY WERE INVESTING AND TAKING
CARE OF THEMSELVES.
LO AND BEHOLD, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN INTELLECT
AND OWN INTELLIGENCE AND OWN
CREATIVITY BEGAN TO GROW AN
ECONOMY THAT MADE THINGS RIGHT
FOR THEMSELVES AND THEN THEY
HAD CHOICE, THEY HAD
OPPORTUNITY.
THEY COULD BE CREATIVE, THEY
COULD BUILD NEW MACHINES.
THEY COULD BUILD MACHINES THAT
MET THE NOISE STANDARDS THAT
WERE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE AS
OPPOSED TO SAYING WE'RE GOING
TO CREATE JOBS BY SAYING YOU
CAN'T HAVE THIS NOISE STANDARD
HERE AND YOU CAN'T TAKE CARE OF
IT WITH AN EARPLUG OR AN
EARMUFF, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
THERE.
TO PRODUCE A MACHINE THAT ISN'T
SO LOOK WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND MY GOOD COLLEAGUE, I HAVE A
LETTER FROM OSHA THAT SAYS THAT
WAS PART OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO ENCOURAGE
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MACHINES
THAT WOULD MEET THESE NOISE
STANDARDS SO THAT THEN YOU
WOULD HAVE NEW JOBS.
WELL, WAIT A SECOND, THE PEOPLE
THAT WOULD PRODUCE THOSE AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY THE PEOPLE
THAT WOULD BUY THOSE MACHINES
COULD NOT DO THAT BECAUSE THEY
COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
SO HERE'S BIG GOVERNMENT AGAIN
WITH ITS OWN IDEAS THAT
ULTIMATELY DESTROYS AN ECONOMY
AND YOU GET INTO ENTITLEMENTS.
YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT
AN EXAMPLE FROM THE GREAT STATE
OF MICHIGAN.
AND JUST HEARING YOU TALK ABOUT
IT MADE ME FEEL GOOD.
IT'S AMERICA ON THE MOVE AGAIN.
IT'S INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS TAKING
RISKS, GOING OUT THERE, WORKING
HARD, MAKING A GOOD LIVING, AND
THEN BECAUSE OF THE THINGS
THEY'VE DONE, OTHER PEOPLE GET
BETTER JOBS AND THEY MAKE A
BETTER LIVING, AND EVERYBODY
DOES BETTER.
I MEAN, YOU CAN'T -- YOU CANNOT
IGNORE THE FACT THAT THE
STANDARD OF LIVING THAT WE
ENJOY IN AMERICA IS BECAUSE A
WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE
FREE, FREE TO SUCCEED OR FREE
TO FAIL.
BUT IT'S CALLED FREE
ENTERPRISE.
NOW, LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER
EXAMPLE THAT OCCURRED WHEN I
WAS A CONGRESSMAN HERE, AND I
THINK THE BEGINNING OF WHEN YOU
WERE, AND THAT WAS THAT BUSH,
THE SECOND BUSH, G.W. BUSH,
COPIED THE EXAMPLE OF J.F.K.
AND RONALD REAGAN.
AND BOTH OF THOSE PRESIDENTS
UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN THE
GOVERNMENT CUTS TAXES IN THE
RIGHT WAY, IT ACTUALLY GETS THE
ECONOMY GOING.
IN FACT, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
CUT TAXES THE RIGHT WAY, THE
GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY GETS MORE
REVENUE.
NOW THAT SOUNDS WEIRD.
LET ME TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS.
I'VE DONE IT A COUPLE TIMES
BEFORE.
TELL ME IF IT MAKES SENSE.
HOW IS IT A GOVERNMENT CAN CUT
TAXES AND GET MORE REVENUE IN?
WELL, THINK ABOUT IT.
LET'S SAY YOU'RE KING FOR A
WHOLE YEAR AND THE ONLY THING
YOU CAN TAX IS A LOAF OF BREAD
AND YOU START THINKING IF I PUT
A PENNY TAX ON THAT LOAF OF
BREAD, I CAN FIGURE OUT HOW
MUCH BREAD PEOPLE ARE EATING
AND FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH I GET
FOR TAX REVENUE.
THEN YOU THINK HEY, HOW ABOUT I
PUT $10 TAX ON EVERY LOAF OF
BREAD BUT THEN YOU THINK MAYBE
PEOPLE WOULDN'T BUY ANY BREAD.
YOU START TO THINK THERE'S
PROBABLY AN OPTIMUM POINT YOU
CAN PUT SOME TAX ON THE BREAD,
PEOPLE STILL WOULD BE EATING
BREAD BUT YOU'D GET YOUR MOST
REVENUE.
THAT'S WHAT GOES ON.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE, MAY OF 2003,
WERE YOU HERE IN CONGRESSMEN?
I WAS NOT.
YOU WERE THINKING
ABOUT IT PERHAPS?
I WAS THINKING
ABOUT IT.
GOOD FOR YOU.
IN MAY OF 2003 WE CUT TWO
TAXES, NOT POPULAR, IT WAS
CAPITAL GAINS, DIVIDENDS AND
DEATH TAX.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE A RICH
GUY IF YOU'RE DEAD.
BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAX
DEATH, WE TAX EVERYTHING ELSE,
SO WHY NOT THAT?
WE CUT CAPITAL GAINS DIVIDENDS
AND DEATH TAXES AT THIS TIME,
RIGHT HERE.
I'VE GOT THREE CHARTS AND IT
SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED.
THIS IS JOB CREATION BEFORE AND
AFTER THE TAX RELIEF.
THIS IS SOME OF THE TAXES WE
EXTENDED INTO THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE LINES THAT GO DOWN
LOSS BY MONTHS AND THE
LINES THAT GO UP ARE JOB GAINS.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT HERE,
THAT'S THE TAX RELIEF THAT GOES
INTO EFFECT AND TAKE A LOOK AT
THE MORE LINES COMING UP OVER
HERE.
THAT'S REALLY PRETTY
SUBSTANTIAL AND PRETTY
INTERESTING, WHEREAS THESE
YOU'RE LOSING HE -- SO THIS TAX
APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A GOOD
EFFECT.
LET'S CHECK IT NOT ON JUST JOB
CREATION --
THE TAX CUTS.
IT GAVE INCENTIVE.
THE TAX CUTS GO INTO
EFFECT HERE, THIS LINE, THIS IS
THE G.D.P., AND IT'S ACTUALLY
LOSING -- OR GAINING.
HERE'S 1.1%.
AFTER THE TAX CUTS IT JUMPS TO
3.5% AND THIS IS A LOT STRONGER
ECONOMY.
THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO DO BETTER
WHEN YOU ALLOW BUSINESS PEOPLE
TO TAKE THE MONEY, PUT IT IN
THEIR BUSINESS, CREATE JOBS,
THERE'S MORE PEOPLE WORKING,
MORE TAX REVENUE COMES IN.
WELL, DOES MORE TAX -- WAIT A
MINUTE, YOU CUT TAXES AND THAT
GO DOWN?
MEANS YOUR REVENUE IS GOING TO
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO
REVENUE.
HERE'S THE STORY.
HERE'S THE TAX CUT RIGHT HERE.
THE REVENUE HAS BEEN GOING
DOWN, THEY'VE CUT THE TAXES IN
FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF INCREASE
IN REVENUE.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE IS
THAT ACTUALLY IF YOU DO THE
RIGHT KIND OF TAX CUT, JUST AS
YOU SAY YOU GET THE FREE
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM WORKING, AND
YOU CAN TURN THE ECONOMY
AROUND.
HE DID IT.
J.F.K. UNDERSTOOD THAT.
IT WORKED FOR HIM.
RONALD REAGAN DID IT.
THEY SAID OH, TRICKLE DOWN
ECONOMICS AND ALL THIS KIND OF
STUFF, BUT IT WORKED.
.
IN FACT, HERE'S ANOTHER CHART.
THIS IS THE TAX RATE OP THE MOST
WEALTHY PEOPLE.
IT STARTED AT 90%, IT'S COME
DOWN.
YOU NOTICE THE TAX ON THE
WEALTHY PEOPLE COME DOWN, THE
AMOUNT OF FEDERAL REVENUES GOES
UP.
THAT'S WEIRD.
WHY WOULD THAT SNB IT'S THE SAME
PRINCIPLE.
YOU CAN OVER-- WHY WOULD BE THAT
-- WHY WOULD THAT SNB IT'S THE
SAME PRINCIPLE.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
YOU GIVE INCENTIVE TO PEOPLE TO
USE THEIR OWN RESOURCES, WITH
AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, AND LET
EVERYBODY BENEFITS.
THE MARKET FORCES WORK,
AND WE STARTED OUT TONIGHT
TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL FISCAL
PROBLEM WE HAVE IN AMERICA AND
THE FACT THAT IT'S REALLY, IT'S
REALLY UNIQUE.
THIS IS A PRETTY SCARY SITUATION
THAT AMERICA'S IN.
AND THE SOLUTION, AS REAGAN
REAGAN SAID, THE SOLUTION IS
SIMPLE BUT IT'S NOT EASY.
AND THE SOLUTION REALLY COMES IN
TWO SIDES.
THE FIRST IS, WE HAVE TO BE
CUTTING ALL OF WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING, WE HAVE
TO DO SOME CUTS, BUT ON THE
OTHER HAND, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO
IS SELECTIVELY DO THE TAX CUTS
TO ALLOW THE ECONOMY TO REALLY
GET BACK IN A STRONG RECOVERY.
THE ONE THING I AGREE WITH THAT
THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING IS THAT
THE RECOVERY IS FRAGILE.
I THINK THEY PICKED THAT UP FROM
BERNANKE, BUT THE SECRETARY, BUT
I THINK IT IS.
I THINK IT'S FRAGILE BECAUSE OF
THE FACT WE'VE STILL GOT THE
PROBLEM OF EXCESSIVE TAXES,
EXCESSIVE RED TAPE AND A WHOLE
LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE
MARKETS.
AND A LOT OF
SPENDING.
THE FIRST THING IS
WE'VE GOT TO CUT TAXES BUT WE
TREMENDOUSLY HAVE TO CUT THE
OVERHEAD AND THE THING HERE, AND
I THINK THE PUBLIC IS BECOMING
AWARE OF THIS FACT, WE CAN'T
MAKE IT BY CUTTING DEFENSE AND
NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY.
THAT WAS THE BUDGET WE WERE
DOING TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE
FLOOR.
IF YOU KNEE WHAT THE REAL
WE CUT $100 BILLION OUT OF THAT.
PROBLEM IS, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
EARLIER, THE TOTAL OF THESE
ENTITLEMENTS PLUS DEBT SERVICE
IS $2.2 TRILLION.
THE FEDERAL REVENUE IS $2.2
TRILLION.
YOU CAN ZERO THIS AND THIS OUT
AND YOU'D JUST BARELY HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET AND THAT'S NOT
TALKING ABOUT THE OUT YEARS WHEN
IT GETS WORSE.
SO THESE AREAS MUST BE DEALT
WITH.
NOW, SUPPOSEDLY IF YOU TALK
ABOUT CHANGING -- CHANGING
ANYTHING WITH SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE OR MEDICAID, LIGHTNING
WILL FALL AND YOU'LL BE STRUCK
DEAD POLITICALLY.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE
MUST DEAL WITH THESE.
HOW WE DEAL WITH THEM IS ONE OF
THOSE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION ON IT.
BUT TO DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID
AND SUBMIT THE 2012 BUDGET AND
NOT DEAL WITH THESE AT ALL IS
BEING DISINGENUOUS.
IT'S KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD AND IGNORING THIS MASSIVE
PROBLEM WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT
LIKE THAT GORILLA IN THE TENT.
I STARTED, MY DEAR FRIEND FROM
MICHIGAN, I STARTED BY TALKING
ABOUT, AND SOMETIMES I THINK
ABOUT THIS, WHAT WOULD IT BE
LIKE TO BE IN THE YEAR 1850 AND
BE A CONGRESSMAN OR A SENATOR
AND YOU HAVE THIS HUGE ISSUE OF
SLAVERY AND WE DIDN'T DEAL WITH
IT?
WE JUST IGNORED IT AND THEN WE
GOT SLAMMED BY THE CIVIL WAR.
AND MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE AS
AMERICANS GOING TO DEAL WITH THE
FACT THAT OUR ENTITLEMENTS ARE
USING -- DEBT SERVICE IS USING
UP THE ENTIRE REVENUE OF THE
COUNTRY?
I MEAN, THAT'S NOT JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF A BUDGET PROBLEM.
THAT SAYS WE HAVE A FISCAL
CRISIS ON OUR HANDS AND WE'RE
RESPONSIBLE AND OUR AMERICAN
CITIZENS THAT ELECTED US HERE
EXPECT US TO DEAL WITH THIS
PROBLEM.
AND THE FIRST WAY TO DEAL WITH
IT IS TO AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE GOT THE PROBLEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE, EVEN THOSE
THAT ARE USING THE ENTITLEMENTS,
SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE,
UNDERSTAND THAT.
AND ARE GROWING IN THEIR FEAR
THAT UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING THEY
INDEED WILL BE HURT.
BUT I THINK THAT YOU AND I
TOGETHER AND MANY WHO ARE OF
LIKE MIND UNDERSTAND THAT WE
MUST DO SOMETHING BUT WE CAN DO
SOMETHING THAT'S BETTER.
AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING THAT
ASSURES PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL
HAVE WHAT THEY EXPECT.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE
POINT.
AND WE CAN DO IT
THE RIGHT WAY WITHOUT THE BIG
GOVERNMENT ISSUES AN GETTING
DOWN TO THAT AMERICAN
EXCEPTIONALISM THAT SAYS, WE CAN
TRUST PEOPLE TO DO FOR
THEMSELVES IF GIVEN THE
INCENTIVE AND OPPORTUNITY BETTER
THAN WHAT BIG GOVERNMENT CAN DO.
THE POINT OF THE
MATTER IS THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEPENDENT ON THESE PROGRAMS,
OLDER PEOPLE.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN
THIS THING.
TROUBLE IF THE WHEELS FALL OFF
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS CRAFT A
SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS THE OLDER
PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THESE
PROGRAMS TO STAY THERE AND THEN
AS PEOPLE BECOME YOUNGER, GIVE
THEM ALTERNATIVES AND TO HAVE A
TRANSITION SO THAT YOU CAN GET
THESE COSTS UNDER CONTROL.
THAT IS THE WAY TO MANAGE A
SOLUTION, EVERYBODY'S GOT TO
SUFFER A LITTLE BIT.
BUT AT LEAST WE'RE NOT ALLOWING
THE QUHOLE THING LITERALLY TO
CRASH, LIKE SOME SORT OF A TRAIN
OFF THE EDGE OF A CLIFF.
I THINK WE GIVE NOT
NECESSARILY THE SUFFERING IDEA,
I THINK IN DOING SOMETHING
THAT'S CREDIBLE AND THE RIGHT
THING TO DO IT GIVES PEOPLE
OPTIMISM.
THAT THE ANSWER IS HERE, IT WILL
TAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS BUT
ULTIMATELY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
NEED WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
THE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE GREAT
CREATETIVITY, THE AMERICAN
EXCEPTIONALISM THAT'S THERE,
WILL FIND WAYS TO DO IT AND DO
IT BETTER AND ULTIMATELY GREATER
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUTURE AND
THAT'S OPTIMISM.
AND I THINK THAT IS
THE THING THAT'S SO EXCITING
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU'RE
BEING A POLL JANNA BY SAYING
WHAT YOU JUST -- POLLYANNA BY
SAYING WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AS AMERICANS
A LOT OF DICEY SITUATIONS.
OUR OWN PARENTS, KNOWN AS THE
GREATEST GENERATION, AS THEY
WOULD SAY, IT DID THEIR BIT.
MY FATHER WAS IN EUROPE AND THEY
FAULT WORLD WAR II.
THEN THERE WAS THE DAYS WHEN
RONALD REAGAN CAME TO A
DISCOURAGED NATION AND HE SAID,
AMERICA'S GOT BRIGHTER DAYS
AHEAD AND WITH THAT TWINKLE IN
HIS EYE AND HE HAD SUCH A WAY OF
PUTTING IT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE
EASY.
SOLUTION IS SIMPLE, BUT IT'S NOT
WE HAVE COME TO ANOTHER ONE OF
THOSE PIVOTAL TIMES IN HISTORY
WHERE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY
TO DEAL WITH A MASSIVE PROBLEM
AND NOT TO IGNORE AND TRY TO
PRETEND IT DOESN'T EXIST AND
JUST TRY TO LIE TO BEAM AND LET
THE GOVERNMENT RUN A LITTLE
LONGER UNTIL WE'RE GONE AND THEN
EVERYTHING COMES DOWN IN A BIG
HEAP.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC WANT OF THEIR LEADERSHIP.
AND AS LONG AS YOU AND I ARE
KICKING, MY FRIEND, WE'RE GOING
TO STAY HERE, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
GREAT DAYS AHEAD FOR AMERICA AND
SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS
THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE.
YOU KNOW, WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME
OF MEES MEDICAL COSTS -- THESE
MEDICAL COSTS, THEY'RE REALLY
BUSTING THE BUDGET.
MAYBE ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED
TO DO IS SAY, HEY, I THINK IT
WAS 1950, SOMEBODY CALCULATED
THE COST OF POLIO, THAT IT COST
US $1 TRILLION A YEAR IN AMERICA
TODAY THAT POLIO COSTS.
BUT THEY FORGOT SOMETHING.
WE FIGURED OUT A CURE FOR POLIO.
MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR US TO TARGET
THE MOST EXPENSIVE DISEASES,
THINGS LIKE DIABETES OR
ALZHEIMER'S', THINGS THAT ARE
VERY BIG-TICKET I'MS AT THE, AND
MAYBE THAT'S PART OF THE
AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM, TO
LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE,
TO LIVE OUR KIDS FREER, NOT
TAXED INTO THE DIRT, TO LEAVE
OUR ECONOMY THE STRONGEST OF ANY
IN THE WORLD, THAT AMERICA COULD
BE A SHINING CITY ON A HILL, A
LIGHT TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THE
WORLD.
THAT WAS THE VISION OF OUR
FOREFATHERS.
WHY DON'T WE GRAB A HOLD OF THAT
AND SAY, HEY, WE HAVE GOT WAY
TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT THAN WE CAN
AFFORD, LET'S TURN LOOSE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND LET'S NOT
TRUST SO MUCH IN GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION
COMING UP.
DO WE REALLY WANT MORE
GOVERNMENT, MORE TAXES, MORE
AND LESS FREEDOM?
SPENDING, MORE DEBT?
OR DO WE WANT MORE FREEDOM AND A
WHOLE LOT LESS GOVERNMENT AND
REALLY BE A SERVANT TO THE
THE GOVERNMENT THAT'S HERE TO
PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE THE ATTITUDE
THAT THEY KNOW BETTER THAN
EVERYBODY ELSE?
DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT WE
WANT?
I THINK THE PEOPLE
SPOKE IN NOVEMBER.
AND I THINK THAT SPEECH THEY
GAVE TO US, MY GOOD FRIEND, IS
THAT WE MUST TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS OUR POINT
IN TIME, THIS IS OUR DATE WITH
DESTINY, AS IT WERE.
IF WE BACK OFF FROM TACKLING THE
BIG THINGS, THEN WE WILL NOT
ONLY LOSE THERE, BUT ALL OF
THOSE LITTLE SPECIAL THINGS WILL
CONGRESSMAN WALBERG,
BE TAKEN AWAY AS WELL.
WITH YOU AND THE OTHER GREAT
PEOPLE THAT WORK DOWN HERE, AND
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, I BELIEVE
WE CAN DO IT AND IT'S TIME FOR
US TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES, LET'S
GET BUSY CUTTING, LET'S DO THE
THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, DESIGN
PROGRAMS THAT WORK AND NOT
THREATEN PEOPLE AND LET'S MOVE
FORWARD BECAUSE THERE ARE
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, WE YIELD
BACK WHAT LITTLE OF OUR TIME IS
LEFT.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ILLINOIS, MR. JACKSON, FOR
30 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, LET ME EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO YOU AND TO THE
LEADERSHIP OF THIS CONGRESS FOR
ALLOWING ME 30 MINUTES TO SPEAK
TO MY CONSTITUENTS, BUT ALSO TO
SPEAK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ABOUT THE CENTRAL ISSUE THAT
CONFRONTS OUR NATION AND THIS
ECONOMIC CRISIS.
MR. SPEAKER, THE CENTRAL ISSUE
THAT HAS CONFRONTED EVERY
CONGRESS, THAT REMAINS
UNADDRESSED, FOR WHICH I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, IS
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN OUR
COUNTRY IS TOO HIGH.
THE DEMOCRATIC MESSAGE, JOB
CREATION.
AND CREATE JOBS.
I RESPECT THAT MESSAGE.
REPUBLICANS BELIEVE IN TAX CUTS
AND TAX BREAKS AND PROBUSINESS
PERSPECTIVE WHICH MANY DEMOCRATS
SUPPORT AS WELL, AND I BELIEVE
THAT CLEARLY ECONOMIC GROWTH IS
THE PATH TO JOB CREATION.
BUT FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IN OUR
NATION, A VERY, VERY DIFFERENT
CATEGORY, THE DEBATE LED BY
DEMOCRATS AND LED BY REPUBLICANS
IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES ALL TOO OFTEN IGNORES
PEOPLE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS A VERY SPECIAL
CATEGORY.
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS KNOWS
THE NUMBERS.
ARE FEELING THEM.
BUT IT'S THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO
ABOUT 9% OF THE COUNTRY IS
UNEMPLOYED.
BASED ON THE DEFINITION OF
UNEMPLOYED THAT THE BUREAU OF
LABOR STATISTICS USES.
BUT IN COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE,
IT'S AROUND 15% AND THAT'S
CONSERVATIVE.
SOME COMMUNITIES AS HIGH AS 30%
UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND SO WHEN DEMOCRATS COME TO
THE FLOOR OF THE CONGRESS AND
TALK ABOUT JOB CREATION, FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS, FOR
MINORITIES AND FOR WOMEN, WHEN
WE HEAR THAT LANGUAGE, BECAUSE
WE'RE USUALLY THE LAST HIRED AND
THE FIRST FIRED, JOB CREATION
ISN'T A MESSAGE THAT TOUCHES MY
CONSTITUENTS.
IT'S NOT A MESSAGE THAT TOUCHES
THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED WHO
FIND THEMSELVES IN THE GHETTOS
AND THE TRAILER PARKS OF OUR
NATION.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN
CONGRESS BOTH PROMOTING GROWTH,
REPUBLICANS PROMOTING TAX BREAKS
AND TAX CUTS AND LIMITED
GOVERNMENT AS WAY TO STIMULATE
THE ECONOMY, DEMOCRATS FOCUSING
ON JOB CREATION AS A WAY TO
STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, WHICH
MIGHT INCLUDE REASONABLE
SPENDING AND DEFICIT REDUCTION
MEASURES, WHY IN THE MIDST OF
OUR CONVERSATION LED BY
REPUBLICANS IN THE MA JORT AND
DEMOCRATS, UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS
CONTINUE TO GROW?
THERE'S THIS HUGE CATEGORY THAT
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT SPEAKING TO
AND REPUBLICANS ARE NOT SPEAKING
TO, BUT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN
AND CHANGE THE PRESENT
ORDER TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY
DIRECTION.
YOU SEE, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE CAN
PROVIDE A JOB FOR EVERY
AMERICAN, IF WE CAN ELIMINATE
UNEMPLOYMENT JUST LIKE WE
ELIMINATED SLAVERY, IF WE CAN
ELIMINATE UNEMPLOYMENT JUST LIKE
AS A NATION WE ARE TRYING TO
ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
WOMEN AND AGAINST THE DISABLED
AND AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS OF
OUR NATION, IF WE CAN ELIMINATE
UNEMPLOYMENT, THE WAY OUR SYSTEM
IS ACTUALLY SET UP, IF EVERY
AMERICAN IS WORKING THEY PAY
INTO THE SYSTEM.
AND IF THEY'RE PAYING INTO THE
SYSTEM IT PAYS FOR FUTURE
SCOMBREN RATIONINGS OF AMERICANS
-- FUTURE GENERATIONS OF
AMERICANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WHO JUST LEFT THE
FLOOR WERE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IF THERE'S HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT
IN ANY GIVEN GENERATION IT
PROFOUNDLY IMPACTS THE KINDS OF
RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT TO HANDLE BASIC
PROGRAMS THAT KEEP OUR NATION
STRONG IN EVERY SUCCEEDING
GENERATION FOR EVERY AMERICAN.
MR. SPEAKER, MANY AMERICANS HAVE
BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR MANY
MONTHS, THEY STOPPED LOOKING FOR
WORK.
SO EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NO
JOBS, THEY ARE NOT COUNTED AS
UNEMPLOYED.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS I'VE
CALLED ON UNEMPLOYED,
UNDEREMPLOYED AND ECONOMICALLY
INSECURE AMERICANS TO SEND ME
THEIR RESUMES AND THEIR STORIES
SO THAT I CAN KEEP UNEMPLOYMENT
FRONT AND CENTER BEFORE OUR
GOVERNMENT.
UNEMPLOYMENT, I DID NOT SAY JOB
CREATION, I DID NOT SAY DEFICIT
REDUCTION OR TAX REDUCTION, TO
CORPORATIONS, I SAID
UNEMPLOYMENT.
THAT THING THAT PRESIDENT
ROOSEVELT TALKED ABOUT WHEN HE
SAID, WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR
BUT FEAR ITSELF.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT WASN'T
TALKING ABOUT THE RUSSIAN BEAR,
HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT NAZIS IN
GERMANY, HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT
FASCISM IN ITALY UNDER
MOOSELYNY, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
THE DETERIORATION OF OUR
NATIONAL FIBER AND FABRIC FROM
WITHIN.
UNEMPLOYMENT.
AND THAT THE TIME THAT HE WAS
DELIVERING THAT SPEECH, MR.
SPEAKER, I KNOW THAT MY CHART
HERE IS PROBABLY INADEQUATE FOR
THE C-SPAN CAMERAS, BUT THE
LARGEST SPIKE IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT,
BETWEEN 1930 AND 1945, IS DURING
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S
ADMINISTRATION.
NOW, ONE WOULD THINK THAT THE
GOAL WOULD BE IN ORDER TO KEEP
MEN CONTENT AND WOMEN CONTENT IN
THEIR HOMES, IN THEIR JOBS AND
ACTUALLY BELIEVING IN OUR
COUNTRY, THAT WE WOULD BE
WORKING COLLECTIVELY AS
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO
ELIMINATE THE IDEA OF
UNEMPLOYMENT AS A POTENTIAL
FACTOR IN THE LIFE OF THE
.
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BUT NO.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOB
CREATION AND DEFICIT REDUCTION.
AND SOMEHOW WE BELIEVE BY
MOVING THE INTEREST RATE AND
THE LEVERS OF OUR ECONOMY AND
CORPORATIONS THAT REHAVE CHOSEN
TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES AND
LOCATE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
ABROAD, THAT SOMEHOW THEY ARE
GOING TO COME BACK TO AMERICA
AND PROVIDE US WITH ENOUGH WORK
FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO
FIND THEMSELVES UNEMPLOYED,
UNDEREMPLOYED, AND OUT OF WORK.
SO TO DEMONSTRATE THIS SHAMEFUL
CONDITION I'VE CALLED ON
UNDEREMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED
AND EQUALLY UNSECURE AMERICANS
TO SEND ME THEIR RESUMES.
THOUSANDS HAVE RESPONDED AND
SENT THEIR RESUMES TO ME AT
RESUMESFORAMERICA@.GOV.
IF WE CAN END UNEMPLOYMENT ONCE
AND FOR ALL WE CAN SAVE SOCIAL
SECURITY WITHOUT ANY CUTS TO
SOCIAL SECURITY.
IF WE CAN END UNEMPLOYMENT ONCE
AND FOR ALL, WE CAN TAKE THE
ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS OFF OF THE
TABLE.
BUT THERE IS VERY LITTLE FOCUS
ON ENDING UNEMPLOYMENT.
CONGRESS IS FOCUSED ON JOB
CREATION.
HOWEVER, CONGRESS' EFFORTS
HISTORICALLY AT JOB CREATION
HAVE GOTTEN IT PROBABLY AT
LEAST ABOUT A C MEANOUS IN
TERMS OF WHAT MOST ECONOMISTS
ACTUALLY BELIEVE CONGRESS HAS
THE POWER TO CREATE JOBS.
CONGRESS DOESN'T CREATE JOBS.
JOBS.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR CREATES
CONGRESS CAN OFFER INCENTIVES
FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO
CREATE JOBS, BUT CONGRESS
CANNOT CREATE JOBS UNLESS
CONGRESS IS GOING TO HIRE
EVERYBODY, WHICH, MR. SPEAKER,
NOT NECESSARILY A BAD IDEA OF
CONGRESS HIRING EVERYBODY, BUT
THAT'S ANOTHER SPECIAL ORDER.
I WANT TO TALK TONIGHT, MR.
SPEAKER, ABOUT THESE AMERICANS
WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND, AND
AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY REMARKS
HOPEFULLY OFFER SOME INSIGHT IN
WHAT I THINK COULD SERVE AS A
CONSTRUCTIVE PART OF A
CONVERSATION ABOUT ENDING
AMERICANS.
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT FOR ALL
FIRST I WANT TO START WITH
LINDA STABLE.
LINDA WROTE A LETTER TO SPEAKER
BOEHNER AND SAID, I'M A
63-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN
LAID OFF FROM MY JOB IN MID
JUNE OF 2001.
SHE GOT LAID OFF HER JOB SHE
LOVED.
EVERY DAY I'VE SPENT TIME
LOOKING FOR WORK
UNSUCCESSFULLY.
I'M A FOUR-TIME BREAST CANCER
SURVIVOR AND IN DECEMBER
UNDERWENT MY SECOND MASTECTOMY
IN THREE YEARS.
I HAVE A SMALL CONDO WITH A
MODEST MORTGAGE AND SOLD MY CAR
LAST WEEK TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
UNLESS I'M ABLE TO FIND A
PART-TIME JOB IN A FEW MONTHS I
WILL JOIN THE RANKS OF THE 99
-ERS WITH AN UNSURE FUTURE.
WILL I LOSE MY HOME?
MANY AMERICANS FACE THE
FRIGHTENING PROSPECT, AND I'M
SURE YOU RECEIVED MANY
COMMUNICATION SUCH AS MINE BUT
I HOPE YOU'LL LEND YOUR SUPPORT
FOR EXTENDING BENEFITS FOR THE
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED, THE
EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS OF
DAY-TO-DAY JOB HUNTING IS
PAINFUL AND DAMAGING BEYOND
WORDS.
I BEGIN EACH DAY WITH A HOPEFUL
OUTLOOK BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY, RESTORATIVE SLEEP IS
BEYOND MY REACH.
I'M TALENTED, HAVE GOOD SKILLS,
BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
PLEASE WON'T YOU MAKE JOBS A
PRIORITY.
RESPECTFULLY, LINDA STABLE.
LINDA, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD MAKE
JOBS A PRIORITY AND ENDING THE
SHAMEFUL CONDITION OF
UNEMPLOYMENT OUGHT TO BE A
PRIORITY OF THIS CONGRESS.
FOR MICHAEL B. ALEXANDER,
MASTER OF SCIENCE AND REAL
ESTATE MANAGEMENT, MASTER OF
URBAN DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT.
HELLO, I RECENTLY LEFT MY JOB
WITH FLORIDA TO PURSUE AN
2008.
M.C.S. DEGREE IN AUGUST OF
I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR WORK ALL
OVER THE UNITED STATES ACTIVELY
SINCE AUGUST OF 2010 WHEN I
RECEIVED MY DEGREE.
I HAD FOUR INTERVIEWS AND
EASILY APPLIED OVER 250 JOBS
BETWEEN AUGUST AND FEBRUARY.
IT IS WORTH NOTING I HAVE
ACCRUED A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF
DEBT FROM ALL MY EDUCATION OVER
THE YEARS AND AM CURRENTLY
UNABLE TO MAKE MY PAYMENTS.
THE LOANS ARE CONTINUING TO
ACCRUE INTEREST AND CURRENTLY
ARE IN HARDSHIP DEFERMENT.
I'VE HAD A PRETTY GOOD LIFE FOR
SOME TIME NOW WHEN I WAS
WORKING A FEW YEARS AGO, TIMES
WERE OK BUT WHEN I RETURNED TO
THE U.S.A. AFTER GRADUATE
SCHOOL LATE LAST YEAR, I WAS
DISPOINTED I TRIED TO MAKE LIFE
BETTER BY GOING BACK TO SCHOOL
ONLY TO REGRET LEAVING MY
PREVIOUS STABLE JOB IN FLORIDA.
I KNOW MY LIFE IS NOT AS BAD AS
SOME AMERICANS, BUT I'M NOW
STARTING TO FEEL HOPELESS.
PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED ON THE
STATUS OF THIS CAMPAIGN TO
COLLECT RESUMES AT
RESUMES4AMERICA@MAIL DOT
HOUSE.GOV.
MICHAEL ALEXANDER HAS SENT ME
HIS RESUME I HOPE TO INSERT IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
MR. SPEAKER, WHAT ABOUT ALL OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO VALIANTLY
AND BRAVELY SERVE OUR NATION IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ?
MANY OF WHOM CAME FROM
COMMUNITIES WHERE THE JOBLESS
RATE WAS HIGH AND SOUGHT NOT
ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
THEIR NATION WHICH THEY HAVE
DONE VALIANTLY, BUT AFTER
HAVING SERVED THEIR NATION ARE
RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES
TO FIND UNPRECEDENTED
UNEMPLOYMENT IN OUR COUNTRY.
AFTER HAVING SERVED OUR NATION,
AFTER HAVING RISKED THEIR
LIVES, AFTER HAVING PUT THE
LAST FULL MEASURE OF THEIR
DEVOTION ON THE LINE TO PROTECT
OUR FREEDOM, CAN THIS CONGRESS,
WILL THIS CONGRESS NOT STOP FOR
A MOMENT TO GUARANTEE THEM RE
MUNERABBLE WORK, WORTHY OF THE
SACRIFICE THEY MADE FOR OUR
NATION OR ARE THEY, TOO TO JOIN
THE LONG LIST OF AMERICANS?
ARE THEY TO JOIN THE LONG LIST
OF AMERICANS WHO FIND THEIR
HOMES IN FORECLOSURE, WHO FIND
THEMSELVES WITHOUT HEALTH CARE
OR WITHOUT THE NECESSARY
BENEFITS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR
FUTURE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEIR LOVED ONES?
MR. SPEAKER, THIS CONGRESS CAN
DO BETTER.
I'VE BEEN UNEMPLOYED,
REPRESENTATIVE JACKSON,
ACCORDING TO SHARON INGLIMA,
SINCE DECEMBER OF 2008, WITH
A.I.G. FOR 10 YEARS.
I READ ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT
EXAMINER YOU WERE LOOKING FOR
RESUMES FROM THE 99-ERS.
I'VE BEEN ON 20 INTERVIEWS IN
THE TWO-PLUS YEARS AND I'VE NOT
FOUND A JOB.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M LAZY, MR.
SPEAKER, SHARON INGLIMA IS
LOOKING.
I'VE LOOKED ONLINE, ATTENDED
JOB FAIRS AND MEETINGS, I'VE
CONTACTED BUSINESSES AND
PERSONAL CONTACTS, CONSTANTLY
LOOKING FOR POSITIONS FOR ME.
I WANT AND NEED TO GET BACK TO
BENEFITS.
WORK AND HAVE HEALTH CARE
RIGHT NOW I'M ON MEDICAID.
I'M EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL AND
A HARD WORKER.
AND LIKE SO MANY I CAN'T
BELIEVE THIS ECONOMY.
OUR GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE US
SERIOUSLY AND FEEL OUR PAIN.
THEY ALSO NEED TO EXTEND OUR
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
IF WE CAN'T PRINT MONEY FOR
EVERY COUNTRY WHO NEEDS MONEY
FROM US, WHY DOES OUR
DUST?
GOVERNMENT LEAVE US OUT IN THE
I AM SURE I FEEL AS OTHER
99-ERS DO, HUMILIATED AND
DEPRESSED.
IT'S TOUGH FOR US TO KEEP GOING
BUT WE MUST.
PLEASE STAND UP FOR US.
I WROTE SENATOR SCHUMER AND
GILLIBRAND TO SUPPORT 589 AND
WE NEED TO PASS IT AND IF
REPUBLICANS WANT IT PAID FOR,
PLEASE FIND THE MONEY.
MY RESUME IS ATTACHED, THANK
YOU, SHARON IGLIMA WHO IS
WRITING CONCERNING HER JOB AND
THE ABSENCE THEREOF IN OUR
ECONOMY.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, WE ARE AT AN
IMPASSE HERE.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
A CLOSE AND DEAR FRIEND OF MINE
CAME BEFORE THIS CONGRESS MOST
RECENTLY, I BELIEVE HE
MENTIONED THE WORD JOB CREATION
31 TIMES.
HE MENTIONED THE WORD
INNOVATION I THINK 11, MAYBE 15
TIMES AND NEVER MENTIONED
UNEMPLOYMENT ONE TIME, NOT ONE
TIME.
AS IF UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOT A
FACTOR IN THE LIVES OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I COME TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND I
HEAR DEMOCRATS IN ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES AND FIVE-MINUTE
SPEECHES AND HEAR REPUBLICANS
TALK ABOUT AUSTERITY MEASURES
AND WHY THEY NEED TO CUT THE
BUDGET AND CUT PROGRAMS WHICH
BY THE WAY WILL LEAD STATES TO
CUT BUDGETS AND CUT PROGRAMS.
AND GUESS WHAT?
THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS WHO ARE GOING TO
WAKE UP ONE OF THESE DAYS AND
GUESS WHAT?
THERE'S GOING TO BE NO FEDERAL
PROGRAM THERE FOR THEM.
THERE'S GOING TO BE NO STATE
PROGRAMS THERE FOR THEM.
AS STATES PURSUE AUSTERITY
MEASURES.
IS THERE ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT AROUND HERE?
THAT SOME AMERICANS ARE GOING
TO WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND
THERE WON'T BE A GOVERNMENT FOR
THEM EITHER AT THE STATE LEVEL
OR FEDERAL LEVEL BECAUSE A
GOVERNMENT THAT IS OF THE
PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR
THE PEOPLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE
CARING FOR THE PEOPLE?
CAROL TOMASETTI, CONGRESSMAN
JACKSON, I'M WRITING MY STORY
TO BE ENTERED INTO THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
I'M A 53-YEAR-OLD, EDUCATED
WITH A BACHELOR AGREE WOMAN WHO
WORKED HER WHOLE LIFE.
I HAVE 20 YEARS OF HUMAN
RESOURCES EXPERIENCE AND WORKED
MY WHOLE LIFE.
I WAS LAID OFF TO MY JOB AT
NURSE FINDERS DUE TO THE
ECONOMY TANKING AND HERE I AM 2
1/2 YEARS LATER WITH NO JOB AND
NO PROSPECTS.
I HAVE SENT THOUSANDS OF
RESUMES OUT AND TRIED TO
NETWORK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO
HELP ME LAND SOMETHING.
I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I FEEL
MY SPIRIT IS BROKEN.
I LIVE IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
NEED I SAY MORE?
THE ECONOMY HERE IS SO BAD,
OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT THERE ARE NO
I'VE EVEN STARTED TO REDIRECT
MY EFFORTS TOWARDS
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CUSTOMER
SERVICE POSITIONS.
MY UNEMPLOYMENT RAN OUT LAST
WEEK AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE
IN A PANIC MODE.
MY HUSBAND WORKED AT EASTMAN
KODAK FOR 30 YEARS AND I WAS
BECAUSE THERE'S NO
DOWNSIZED 3 1/2 YEARS AGO
MANUFACTURING LEFT HERE.
HE WAS OUT OF WORK FOR ALL THAT
TIME AND HAS SINCE GONE BACK TO
WORK AT A JOB HE'S MUCH TOO
OVERQUALIFIED FOR AND IS MAKING
HALF OF WHAT HE WAS MAKING AT
KODAK.
I'M ASHAMED THAT OUR STANDARD
OF LIVING HAS GONE DOWN TO WHAT
IT IS.
WE OWN A HOME AND WE'VE NOT
LIVED ABOVE OUR MEANS.
WE PAY OUR BILLS, WE GIVE BACK
TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE LIVE TO
TRY TO SAVE FOR OUR RETIREMENT
AND BUY WHAT WE HAVE TO AND
WANT TO SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY.
WE HAVE NEVER WORKED, NOW ALL
OF THIS IS JEOPARDIZED BECAUSE
ONLY ONE INCOME IN OUR HOME AND
WE CANNOT MEET OUR BILLS AND
COMMITMENTS.
WE NOW HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE
BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD IT
SINCE THE UNEMPLOYMENT RAN OUT.
THE COMPANY WHERE MY HUSBAND
WORKS DOES NOT OFFER IT BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
I CANNOT BELIEVE AT OUR AGE
WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION AND
GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR ANY
HANDOUTS, CAROL TOMASETTI IS
SAYING.
I WANT TO GET BACK AND WORK.
I HAVE A LIFE.
I NEED ASSISTANCE UNTIL I CAN
FINALLY FIND A JOB.
WHEN ARE THE POLITICIANS IN
THIS COUNTRY GOING TO FINALLY
START WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND NOT THEMSELVES?
YOU'RE ALL SELF SERVING.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING
COUNTRY AROUND.
WHAT IT TAKES TO TURN THIS
I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN ANY OF
YOU AND I DON'T BELIEVE
ANYTHING THAT IS SAID.
WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE OUR LIVES
WILL BE RUN AND HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO BE AFFECTED?
MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP SENDING
MONEY TO EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD AND START WORRYING
ABOUT OUR OWN BACK YARD.
WE NEED HELP NOW.
THAT'S CAROL J. TOMASETTI FROM
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
SHE SENDS HER RESUME HOPING,
MR. SPEAKER, SHE WON'T BE
IGNORED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES AND YOU WILL
ACCEPT IT INTO THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
HOW ABOUT ANNIE MOSLEY?
I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
STEPPING UP AND SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF THE UNEMPLOYED AND
NOT TO BORE YOU, IN 2006 ME AND
MY HUSBAND MOVED INTO A HOME
WITH $1,500 AND WERE WORTH
WORKING.
IN JULY OF 2008 MY HUSBAND WAS
ARRESTED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND SPOUSAL ABUSE THAT
ESCALATED ON JULY 27.
THIS IS AFTER MY BROTHER
COMMITTED SUICIDE, MY MOTHER
HAD A SEVERE STROKE.
I TOOK CARE OF MY BROTHER'S
FUNERAL WITH THE HELP OF A
STATE ASSISTANCE FAN AND
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE I MET IN A
LONG LIFE JOURNEY IN THE TUNE
HALL HOME BUSINESS AND THROUGH
IT ALL IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008 I
BROUGHT MY MOM TO LIVE WITH ME
BECAUSE I REFUSED TO ALLOW HER
TO LIVE IN A NURSING HOME.
I WORKED IN AS WELL AS VISITED
HOMES FOR LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND
DESTITUTE PEOPLE AND I BROUGHT
MY OLDEST DAUGHTER TO LIVE WITH
ME BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE WERE
NOT MIDDLE CLASS AND HAVE NO
COLLEGE FUND SHE WAS SPELLMAN
OR GEORGIA STATE MAJORING IN
PEDIATRIC MEDICINE IN HER
FUTURE, A DREAM SHE'S HAD SINCE
THE AGE OF 4.
I FILED BANKRUPTCY IN JANUARY
OF 2009 TO SAVE MY HOME AND I
LOST MY JOB IN 2009 AND WAS
FORCED OUT OF BANKRUPTCY IN
APRIL OF 2010.
MY HOME WAS SAVED AGAIN IN JULY
OF 2010 DUE TO THE UNETHICAL
PRACTICES OF THE BANK OF
AMERICA WHO TOOK OVER
COUNTRYWIDE.
AND BY MY RIGHT, SHOULD I LOSE
MY HOME BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TO PAY AN $1,800
MORTGAGE, MR. SPEAKER?
I AM DIVORCED AND UNEMPLOYED
BUT GOD MADE A PROMISE TO ME
ABOUT MY HOME AND TAKING CARE
OF MY MOM AND I'M STANDING ON
THOSE BUT HERE'S MY RESUME AND
I THANK YOU AGAIN.
THAT'S FROM ANNIE MOSLEY.
SHE REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS WHO ARE TAKING CARE
OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR
LOVED ONES AND BRINGING THEIR
CHILDREN BACK HOME BECAUSE
THERE ARE NO RESOURCES
AVAILABLE IN OUR ECONOMY TO
MAKE SURE SHE GETS HOME.
WHILE WE'RE SITTING AROUND HERE
IN CONGRESS PASSING BILLS THAT
AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE, WE HAVE
YET TO ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTAL
ISSUE OF UNEMPLOYMENT THAT
CONFRONTS ALL AMERICANS.
I WANT TO DEVIATE FROM THE
RESUMES FOR A MOMENT AND TALK
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS
AT STAKE HERE.
I'VE BEEN DOING A ALSO
RESEARCH, MR. SPEAKER, AS I'VE
BEEN LAMENTING UPON READING THE
RESUMES OF UNEMPLOYED AMERICANS
ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S
NOT JUST ENOUGH TO COMPLAIN
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING WRONG HERE.
SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN.
SOMETHING IS PROFOUNDLY WRONG
IN OUR DEMOCRACY, IN OUR
REPUBLIC THAT NEEDS TO BE
FIXED.
I HEARD THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS
TALK ABOUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
AND HOW THEY ULTIMATELY
OUTLAWED SLAVERY IN THE PASSAGE
OF THE 13TH AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION AFTER ABRAHAM
LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION
PROCLAMATION IN 1863, AND IT
OCCURRED TO ME, MR. SPEAKER,
THAT FROM 1619 WHEN THE FIRST
SLAVES ARRIVED IN OUR COUNTRY
TO 1776, THE GREATEST
CAPITALIST IN THE HISTORY OF
OUR WORLD LIVED.
THEY WERE THE COLONISTS AND THE
TRADERS, THOSE WHO TOOK THE
GREATEST RISKS TO TRAVEL ACROSS
OCEANS TO LAND HERE ON THE
SHORES OF AMERICA.
THEY WERE CAPITALISTS, THEY
BELIEVED IN TRADING BEANS AND
CORN AND GOLD AND NATURAL
RESOURCES AND THEY WERE SEEKING
A NEW LIFE WHEN THEY CAME TO
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
OR CAME TO THESE SHORES, MORE
.
ACCURATELY STATED.
AFTER THE DECISION OF 1774 AND
THE REACTION IN THE COLONIES
THAT LED TO THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE IN 1776 AND THOSE
FAMOUS WORDS, ALL MEN ARE
CREATED EQUAL, THE FOUNDERS OF
THIS REPUBLIC, THE FOUNDERS OF
THIS REPUBLIC, HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SAY NO TO
GOVERNMENT, NO NEED FOR
GOVERNMENT.
WE DON'T NEED A FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE NO LONGER HAVE
THE CROWN PURSUING US, WE'RE
GOING TO WIN AND WE'VE WON THE
GOVERNMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WE DON'T NEED
THAT WAS THEIR CHOICE.
BUT INSTEAD, MR. SPEAKER, YOU
KNOW WHAT THEY DID?
THEY CHOSE GOVERNMENT.
THEY SAID THAT THE AMERICAN
ENTERPRISE THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ENGAGED IN FOR A CENTURY AND A
HALF BEFORE THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE IS AN ENTERPRISE
THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE.
THAT FREEDOM SYSTEM, THAT OPEN
SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS BARTERING AND
TRADE, THAT ALLOWS ACTIVITY,
THAT ALLOWS POTENTIAL ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
NOW, HOWEVER NARROW, IN THEIR
THINKING, THERE WAS FULL
EMPLOYMENT AT THAT TIME FOR
WHITE MALE LAND OWNERS.
THE WHITE WOMAN, YOU COULDN'T
VOTE, IF YOU WERE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU
WERE IN A CONDITION OF SLAVERY.
BUT FOR THE ARCHITECTS OF THE
REPUBLIC WHO PROTECTED THE RIGHT
TO VOTE FOR WHITE MALE LAND
OWNERS, CLEARLY ALL THE WHITE
FINE, THEY HAD FULL EMPLOYMENT.
MALE LAND OWNERS WERE DOING JUST
FULL EMPLOYMENT.
SO THE STRUGGLE FROM THE
FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY ALL THE
WAY TO THE 13TH AMENDMENT WAS
ABOUT AMENDING THAT WHICH THEY
ESTABLISHED SO THAT MORE
AMERICANS, MR. SPEAKER, COULD
PARTICIPATE IN THE AMERICAN
ENTERPRISE.
I ASKED CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH
SERVICE THE OTHER DAY, HOW MANY
JOBS ARE TIED TO THE FIRST
AMENDMENT?
THAT AMENDMENT ADDED TO THE
CONSTITUTION IN 1791 BY THE
FOUNDERS OF OUR REPUBLIC.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TOLD ME?
CONGRESSMAN, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
CALCULATE HOW MANY JOBS ARE TIED
TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
I SAID, IMPOSSIBLE TO CALCULATE?
I SAID, WHY?
HE SAID, BECAUSE TO BE AN
AMERICAN IS TIED TO THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
HE SAID, CONGRESSMAN, YOU MUST
UNDERSTAND, WHICH I DID, THAT
ALL CORPORATE ACTIVITY IN
AMERICA IS FIRST AMENDMENT
ACTIVITY.
LOOK AT THE JOBS THAT COME FROM
THE FIRST AMENDMENT.
"WASHINGTON POST," "WASHINGTON
TIMES."
"NEW YORK POST," "NEW YORK
TIMES," "CHICAGO TRIBUNE,"
"CHICAGO SUN TIMES" AND ALL OF
THE RADIO STATIONS, FIRST
AMENDMENTS.
ABC, NBC, CBS, C-SPAN, ALL OF
THE JOBS, FIRST AMENDMENT.
THE MAGAZINES, FIRST AMENDMENT.
IPODS, IPHONES, APPLICATIONS,
FIRST AMENDMENT.
TIMES SQUARE, FIRST AMENDMENT
ACTIVITY.
ADVERTISING, THE SUPER BOWL,
FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITY.
ALL OF THESE JOBS, THE ORIGINAL
CAPITALIST WHO CAME TO THE
CONCLUSION THAT THIS WAS WORTH
PROTECTING IN OUR CONSTITUTION,
ESTABLISHED IN THE FREEDOM
SYSTEM, THE GREATEST JOBS
PROGRAM IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
THEY CALLED IT FREEDOM OF
SPEECH.
AND IN THAT SAME AMENDMENT THEY
INCLUDED FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
THINK ABOUT THE JOBS TIED TO
501-C-3, 501-C-5'S.
ALL OF THAT FIRST AMENDMENT
ACTIVITY.
ALL CHARITABLE GIVING, ALL
FOUNDATION ACTIVITY, ALL TIED TO
FIRST AMENDMENT ACTIVITY.
SO, THE GREATEST JOBS PROGRAM
THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS
BEQUEATHED TO US IS THE FIRST
AMENDMENT.
NOW, TELL ME WHY, AS WE REFLECT
UPON THE CONCLUSION OF
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH,
AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS IN
CONGRESS TODAY AS A RESULT OF
THE NATION'S STRUGGLE TO MAKE
OUR COUNTRY BETTER, A UNIQUE
GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE
CONSTITUTION WHOSE FREEDOM CAME
FROM THE CONSTITUTION, WHY WE
SHOULD NOT, WITH HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT, LOOK TO OUR
CONSTITUTION FOR THE ANSWER.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE THAT THE
ANSWER TO LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT
IS ACTUALLY IN THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES.
WELL, LET ME SAY THAT A LITTLE
DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES.
IT SHOULD BE IN THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONE OF
THESE DAYS WE'RE GOING TO GET
THERE.
BUT I WANT TO BRING TO THE
HOUSE'S ATTENTION AN IMPORTANT
SPEECH DELIVERED BY OUR
PRESIDENT, FRANKLIN DELL NOR
ROOSEVELT.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID, ON
JANUARY 11, 1944, FROM THAT
MICROPHONE AND THAT PLATFORM, IT
IS OUR DUTY NOW TO BEGIN TO LAY
PLANS AND DETERMINE THE STRATEGY
FOR WINNING A LASTING PEACE AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN AMERICAN
STANDARD OF LIVING HIGHER THAN
EVER KNOWN BEFORE.
HE SAYS, WE CANNOT BE CONTENT,
NO MATTER HOW HIGH THE GENERAL
STANDARD OF LIVING MAY BE, IF
SOME FRACTION OF OUR PEOPLE,
WHETHER IT BE 1/3, 1/5 OR 1/10
IS ILL FED, ILL CLOTHED, ILL
HOUSED AND INSECURE.
THIS REPUBLIC HAD AT ITS BEGIN
AND GREW TO ITS PRESENT STRENGTH
UNDER THE PROTECTION OF CERTAIN
RIGHTS, AMONG THEM, FREEDOM OF
SPEECH, EVEN ROOSEVELT IS
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT 50% OF ALL
JOBS IN 1944 COME FROM FREEDOM
OF SPEECH.
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, TRIAL BY
JURY, FREEDOM FROM UNREASONABLE
SEARCHES AND SEIZURES.
THEY WERE ALL RIGHT, MR.
ROOSEVELT SAYS, TO LIFE AND
LIBERTY.
AS A NATION, HE CONTINUES, HAS
GROWN IN STATURE, HOWEVER, AS
OUR INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY HAS
EXPANDED, THESE POLITICAL RIGHTS
PROVED INADEQUATE TO ASSURE US
EQUALITY IN THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS.
WE HAVE COME TO A CLEAR
REALIZATION OF THE FACT THAT
TRUE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM CANNOT
EXIST WITHOUT ECONOMIC SECURITY
AND INDEPENDENCE.
NECESSARY TO US MEN, OUR
PRESIDENT SAYS, ARE NOT FREE
MEN.
PEOPLE WHO ARE HUNGRY AND OUT OF
A JOB ARE THE STUFF OF WHICH
DICTATORSHIPS ARE MADE.
AND IN THESE ECONOMIC TRUTHS,
WE'VE COME TO ACCEPT THEM AS
SELF-EVIDENT.
WE'VE COME TO ACCEPT, SO TO
SPEAK, A SECOND BILL OF RIGHTS
UNDER WHICH A NEW BASIS OF
PROSPERITY CAN BE ESTABLISHED
FOR ALL, REGARDLESS OF STATION,
RACE OR CREED.
SO WHAT DOES ROOSEVELT DO?
THE ONLY PRESIDENT WHO'S EVER
HAD TO CONFRONT UNEMPLOYMENT AT
THE LEVEL THAT WE ARE
CONFRONTING IT RIGHT NOW, YOU
KNOW WHAT HE DOES, MR. SPEAKER?
HE TURNS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES ANSWERED SAYS,
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE NEED TO
ADD.
IF THE FIRST AMENDMENT CAN
GUARANTEE US 51% OF ALL JOBS AND
FROM IT CAN COME IPODS AND
LAPTOPS AND THE INTERNET AND
UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH, WE NEED TO
ADD TO THE CONSTITUTION THE
RIGHT TO A FAMILY TO HAVE A
DECENT HOME.
WHAT WOULD THAT DO FOR HOME
CONSTRUCTION IN THIS NATION?
WHAT WOULD THAT DO FOR MILLIONS
OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE?
HE SAYS, WE NEED TO ADD TO THE
CONSTITUTION THE RIGHT TO
MEDICAL CARE.
HOW MANY DOCTORS WOULD SUCH A
RIGHT CREATE?
HE SAYS, WE NEED TO ADD TO THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES THE RIGHT TO A DECENT
EDUCATION FOR EVERY AMERICAN.
HOW MANY SCHOOLS WOULD SUCH A
RIGHT BUILD FROM MAIN TO
CALIFORNIA?
-- MAINE TO CALIFORNIA?
HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE PUT TO
WORK BUILDING ROOFS AND
DESIGNING CLASSROOMS AND
PROVIDING EVERY STUDENT WITH AN
IPOD AND A LAPTOP?
HOW MANY GHETTOS WILL ACTUALLY
BE TOUCHED BY SUCH AN AMENDMENT?
IN FACT, VERY LITTLE THAT WE
PASS IN THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES EVEN TOUCHES THE
LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED.
ONLY THING THAT TOUCH IT'S THEM
THAT THIS CONGRESS HAS ACCESS TO
THAT CAN TOOLLY CHANGE THEIR
STATION IN LIFE IS THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
SO ROOSEVELT CONCLUDES, AFTER
THIS WAR IS WON, TALKING ABOUT
WORLD WAR II, WE MUST BE
PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD, HE
SAYS, IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THESE RIGHTS, TO NEW GOALS OF
HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING,
AMERICA'S OWN RIGHTFUL PLACE IN
THE WORLD DEPENDS IN LARGE PART
UPON HOW FULLY THESE AND SIMILAR
RIGHTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED INTO
PRACTICE, MR. SPEAKER, BY OUR
CITIZENS.
WELL, MR. SPEAKER, THAT 50, 60,
70 YEARS AGO AND HERE WE ARE
TODAY TRYING TO PASS
LEGISLATION, TALKING ABOUT
AUSTERITY AND GOVERNMENT, RATHER
THAN TAKING THE ADVICE FROM THE
GREATEST CAPITALIST IN THE
HISTORY OF OUR WORLD WHO SET OUR
FREEDOM SYSTEM IN MOTION IN
1776.
THAT FREEDOM SYSTEM IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESENT
AMERICA.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE IS AN EVEN
GREATER AMERICA THAT'S IN FRONT
OF US.
IT'S THE AMERICA THAT ADDS TO
OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENT THESE
BASIC RIGHTS.
NOT AT ONE TIME, BUT ONE AT A
TIME.
AND THE WAY OUT OF THIS ECONOMIC
AND FISCAL DISASTER THAT OUR
COUNTRY CONFRONTS ISN'T TO CUT
THE POOR AND TO LEAVE THEM ON
THE STREETS, IT ISN'T TO IGNORE
UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.
THE WAY TO CHANGE THIS CRISIS IS
TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ONE
MORE REASON TO BELIEVE IN
AMERICA AGAIN.
THAT 308 MILLION PEOPLE CAN
COALESCE, WIPE OUT UNEMPLOYMENT
ONCE AND FOR ALL, REBUILD OUR
UNION, STRENGTHEN IT AND CHANGE
THE DIRECTION OF AMERICA
FOREVER.
I THANK THE SPEAKER AND I THANK
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR THIS
TIME.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS AND
INSERT EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS INTO
THE RECORD ON THE SUBJECT OF
THIS SPECIAL ORDER.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED