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THE SCHOOLS BETTER AND
REBUILDING THE CRUMBLING ROADS
AND WATER SYSTEMS.
THAT WHAT WE CAN DO AND I
APPRECIATE THE TIME THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS HAS
PROVIDED ME.
THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US HERE ON THE FLOOR
TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO -- WE DON'T HAVE A LOT
OF TIME SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT I YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM COLORADO.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MICHIGAN FOR HIS WORDS BECAUSE
WHILE WE ALL MAY DISAGREE ON HOW
TO GET THERE, WE DO WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE FINAL GOAL IS
BETTER AMERICA, AN AMERICA THAT
HAS A STRONG THAT'S PUTTING
PEOPLE TO WORK.
THIS IS THE 31ST STRAIGHT MONTH
WHERE UNEMPLOYMENT HAS EXCEEDED
8%.
IT HAS TO END, IT'S GOT TO STOP.
THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO GET AN
ECONOMY THAT'S BACK ON TRACK.
IN AUGUST I SPENT A LOT OF TIME
VISITING WITH BUSINESSES AROUND
MY DISTRICT IN EASTERN AND
NORTHERN COLORADO AND ONE OF THE
INITIATIVES THAT WE LAUNCHED WAS
AN INITIATIVE CALLED THE ONE
MORE JOB INITIATIVE.
AND THE IDEA WAS TO LEARN FROM
JOB CREATORS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ARE ON THE FRONTLINES OF OUR
ECONOMY, WHAT IT TAKES FOR THEM
TO CREATE ANOTHER JOB.
WHAT WOULD HELP
THEIR BUSINESS GROW AND EXPAND
TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD
HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE?
AND SO THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE
RETURNING, SO THEY'RE ABLE TO
SELL THEIR GOODS, THEIR PRODUCT,
THEIR SERVICES, SO THAT BUSINESS
COULD EXPAND AND GROW AGAIN.
IN COLORADO, IF EVERY BUSINESS,
IF JUST 10% OF BUSINESSES IN
COLORADO HIRED ONE PERSON, IF
JUST 10% OF COLORADO BUSINESSES
HIRED ONE PERSON WE'D CREATE
60,000 JOBS IN THE STATE OF
COLORADO ALONE.
IN MY HOME STATE.
60,000 JOBS.
THAT'S NOT BY TELLING BUSINESSES
THAT THEY HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE.
THAT'S NOT BY TELLING PEOPLE
THAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO X, Y OR
Z, BUT IT IT'S SAYING, ALL
RIGHT, IF WE CAN GET THIS
ECONOMY GROWING AGAIN, WHAT IS
IT THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO
SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH THE
CONGRESS, MY COLLEAGUES, IDEAS
THAT JOB CREATORS IN COLORADO
HAVE ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO
GET THEIR BUSINESSES HIRING
AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT AND
BUSINESS OWN HEIR THIS TO SAY IN
RESPONSE TO OUR ONE MORE JOB
AS A STARTUP CONSULTANT AND
OWNER OF MY OWN BUSINESS, I SEE
THE DAY TO DAY REGULATORY
BURDENS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT
MANY EMPLOYERS, BOTH SMALL AND
LARGE, FACE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES INCLUDING HIGH-TECH
STARTUPS ARE OPERATING ON THE
EDGE OF KNOWING.
THEY OPERATE MONTHLY -- MONTH TO
MONTH OR EVEN DAY TO DAY ONLY TO
FIND OUT THAT A GOVERNMENT FEE,
REGULATION OR TAX THREATENS TO
CLOSE THEIR DOORS.
WE HAVE A CUR FULL OF EVERY DAY
ON THIS FLOOR ABOUT WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE THIS
ECONOMY FORWARD AND CREATE JOBS
AGAIN.
LET'S LISTEN TO A CAR DEALER.
TOURISM.
BUILD A STRATEGY OF PROMOTING
THE STATE'S BEAUTY ON A
CONSISTENT BASIS.
I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT LAST NIGHT
THIS BODY, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, PASSED A BILL
TO INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
TOURISM IN COLORADO, AROUND OUR
SKI RESORTS, OUR SKI SLOPES IN
COLORADO.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST
GENERATE JOBS DURING THE SKI
SEASON ITSELF, BUT TO ALLOW
OFFSEASON USES, MULTIPLE SEASONS
OF USE, ZIP LINES, ALPINE
SLIDES, CREATING JOBS IN TOURISM
IN COLORADO.
THIS BODY PASSED THAT BILL LAST
I HOPE THE SENATE WILL PASS IT
SOON.
SO THAT WE CAN START CREATING
JOBS.
WHEN I HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES
AROUND WASHINGTON, D.C., AROUND
THE COUNTRY, SAYING THAT THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HASN'T
PASSED A JOBS BILL, WE PASSED A
JOBS AND ENERGY PERMITTING ACT,
IT WOULD CREATE 54,000 JOBS.
LAST NIGHT WE PASSED A BILL THAT
WOULD ADD TOURISM JOBS.
IN COLORADO, ACROSS THE STATE.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO WE ARE PASSING THESE
BILLS, THEY NEED TO MOVE THROUGH
THE SENATE, THEY NEED TO BE
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.
THE FACT IS WE'VE GOT A LOT OF
WORK TO BE DONE AND I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS FOR
ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TODAY TO
SHARE THAT MESSAGE.
I WANT TO YIELD
BACK TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
THE ONLY OTHER THING
I WOULD HAVE TO OFFER IS TO SAY
THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE
NEXT COMING MONTHS AND WEEKS IS
THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIND COMMON
GROUND.
WITH YOU WE DO NOT HAVE TO --
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO FORFEIT
OUR PRINCIPLES IN COG SO.
WE STAND BY THE THINGS -- BY
DOING SO.
WE STAND BY THE THINGS THAT
CONSERVATIVES STAND BY.
IT'S A THREE-LEGGED STOOL WHERE
FISCAL -- FISCALLY
RESPONSIBILITY, WE'RE SOCIALLY
CONSERVATIVE AND WE ARE PRO
MILITARY, PRO DEFENSE.
AND WE STILL STAND ON THAT
STOOL, BUT YET CONTINUE TO SEEK
OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND COMMON
THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT THE
SENATE IS NOT EVENLY HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION.
WE WATCHED TWO WEEKS AGO AS THEY
STABLE -- TABLED THE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED IN THE
HOUSE MEANING THEY'RE NOT EVEN
GOING TO TAKE AN UP OR DOWN D
VOTE ON THIS AND ULTIMATELY
PASSED SOMETHING MUCH DIFFERENT.
WE ARE ASKING OUR FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, IN THE
SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE, TO
HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH US.
WE HAVE PASSED ALL OF THESE
BILLS THAT WILL LIFT THE HEAVY
HAND OF GOVERNMENT OFF THE VERY
JOB CREATORS IN THIS COUNTRY AND
WE JUST WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO
DEBATE AND THEN FIND WHERE WE DO
HAVE -- SHARE THAT COMMON
GROUND.
AGAIN, WITHOUT EVER COMPROMISING
OUR CORE CONSERVATIVE
PRINCIPLES.
THANK YOU, AGAIN, TO THE
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THIS HOUR
WITH YOU.
SURE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINS IF
-- THINGS IF I COULD ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT'S SO-CALLED JOBS BILL.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE DESIRE FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP, WE'VE HEARD
ABOUT THE DESIRE TO WORK
TOGETHER AND FIND COMMON GROUND.
WELL, NOT TOO LONG AGO THE
PRESIDENT VISITED US HERE IN THE
HOUSE AND HE SPOKE FROM THE
PODIUM AND HE TALKED ABOUT HIS
NEW JOBS BILL.
WELL, HE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT
FINDING COMMON GROUND, HE DIDN'T
REALLY TALK ABOUT MEETING US
HALFWAY, FINDING AREAS WE COULD
AGREE ON.
HE JUST SAID, PASS MY BILL.
PASS IT AS IT IS.
THEN HE RAN AROUND THE COUNTRY
SAYING, PASS MY BILL, PASS IT AS
IT IS.
WELL, AT THAT TIME THERE WASN'T
EVEN A BILL HERE IN THE HOUSE TO
PASS.
AND WHEN WE FINALLY DID GET THE
TEXT OF IT, WE SAW THAT IT
CERTAINLY DIDN'T REFLECT
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.
CERTAINLY DIDN'T REFLECT MEETING
HALF WAY.
IT WAS STIMULUS TWO.
STIMULUS THE SEQUEL.
AND WE KNOW HOW INEFFECTIVE THE
FIRST STIMULUS WAS.
I'M HERE TO WORK WITH OTHER
FOLKS, FIND AREAS WHERE WE CAN
AGREE, AND MOVE FORWARD.
THERE HASN'T
BEEN A SHORTAGE OF BILLS AND
LEGISLATION PASSED IN THIS
AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER,
WE'VE PASSED BILL AFTER BILL
AFTER BILL THAT WILL HELP CREATE
AN ENVIRONMENT IN THIS COUNTRY
WHERE THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL
WANT TO DO BUSINESS AND GROW
JOBS.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT'S BILL
FINALLY GOT HERE, THE SO-CALLED
JOBS PLAN, WE FOUND OUT THEY'RE
NOT EVEN -- THERE ARE NOT EVEN
ENOUGH DEMOCRATS TO PASS IT IN
THE SENATE.
I SEE JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE
WANTED TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE VOTE
ON THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS BILL.
HE'S BEEN BLOCKED BY THE
DEMOCRAT MAJORITY LEADER IN THE
SENATE.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO ALLOW A VOTE
ON THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS BILL.
I SUSPECT THAT HAS SOMETHING TO
DO WITH THE FACT THAT MOST OF
THE DEMOCRATS OVER THERE AREN'T
GOING TO VOTE FOR IT EITHER.
THEY DIDN'T JUST GET HERE, THEY
WERE AROUND WHEN THE LAST
STIMULUS PASSED.
AND THEY REALIZED HOW IN
EFFECTIVE IT WAS.
AND SO HE CAN'T -- THE PRESIDENT
CAN'T EVEN CONVINCE HIS OWN
PARTY TO SUPPORT HIS SO-CALLED
JOBS BILL.
I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WE
CAN AGREE HERE THAT WE WANT TO
PASS LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP
THE PRIVATE SECTOR GROW AND
CREATE JOBS.
NO QUESTION.
NO QUESTION.
AND WE'VE PASSED A NUMBER OF
THOSE HERE AND WE'RE WILLING TO
WORK ON MORE.
WHAT WE NEED IS THE SENATE TO
ACTUALLY TAKE UP SOME OF THE
STUFF THAT WE'VE PASSED.
BECAUSE I'LL JUST SAY THIS, I'VE
TALKED TO A LOT OF JOB CREATORS
IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS, WHICH IS
BASICALLY CENTRAL ARKANSAS, WITH
LITTLE ROCK AT THE CORE.
AND A LOT OF THEM, THEY HAVE
MONEY TO INVEST AND EXPAND AND
CREATE JOBS, BUT THEY'RE HOLDING
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY'RE UNCERTAIN ABOUT
THE FUTURE.
THEY DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
THE DIRECTION OF THIS COUNTRY.
THEY'RE WORRIED.
SO THEY DO BUSINESSES, JOB
CREATORS DO WHAT FAMILIES DO.
THEY HOLD TIGHTLY TO THEIR MONEY
, SAVE UP, HOPING THAT THINGS
WILL GET BETTER, HOPING THAT
THEY WILL GAIN SOME CONFIDENCE
IN THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY
SO THAT THEY CAN THEN SPEND THAT
MONEY TO EXPAND A PLANT AND HIRE
MORE PEOPLE AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO WHAT MAKES THEM UNCERTAIN?
WHAT MAKES THEM WORRIED?
WELL, WHAT I HEAR IS
OVERREGULATION, THE NEED FOR TAX
REFORM SO THAT WE CAN BE
COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
, THE HEALTH CARE BILL THAT
PASSED LAST YEAR, THAT'S GOT A
BUNCH OF FOLKS WORRIED BECAUSE
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
IMPACT'S GOING TO BE.
THE DODD-FRANK BILL IS
ABSOLUTELY KILLING OUR SMALLTOWN
COMMUNITY BANKS THAT ARE A
CRITICAL SOURCE OF CREDIT FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES.
THEY'RE WORRIED TO DEATH.
ALL OF THE STUFF, AND LET'S NOT
LEAVE OUT THE DEBT.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
BECAUSE THE NATIONAL DEBT
AFFECTS THE MARKETSINGS IT
AFFECTS INTEREST RATES, IT
AFFECTS THE VALUE OF OUR
CURRENCY AND FOLKS SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON IN EUROPE AND THEY SAY,
WE DON'T GET THIS UNDER
CONTROL, WE'RE NEXT.
ALL OF THAT IS ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT CONCERNS, THOROUGH
WORRIED -- THOSE WORRIES ADD TO
THE UNCERTAINTY.
I WANT TO YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARKANSAS.
TO YOUR POINT, WHAT YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT, THE DIRECT
CONSEQUENCES THAT REGULAR LYINGS
ARE HAVING ON JOB CREATORS
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES,
ANOTHER EEMBINGS MAYLE I GOT
FROM A BUSINESS -- EMAIL I GOT
FROM A BUSINESS OWNER IN
COLORADO.
HE ENDS HIS COMMENTS WITH THIS.
RIGHT NOW DODD-FRANK APPEARS TO
HAVE COMPLETELY KILLED MY
BUSINESS.
WE DEALT EARLIER TODAY, WE'LL
CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE CEMENT
MACT RULE AND THAT TALKS ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO BASIC
MANUFACTURING ELEMENTS IN OUR
COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO CEMENT.
IF WE'RE GOING IT PAVE THE ROAD
TO A BETTER ECONOMY, WE BETTER
NOT DO IT WITHOUT CEMENT BECAUSE
THIS GOVERNMENT'S ABOUT TO SAY
NO MORE CRENENT IN THIS COUNTRY
-- CEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS FOR HIS PASSION FOR JOB
CREATERS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHEN WE HAD A
VISIT FROM SOME FOLKS IN THE
CEMENT, CONCRETE INDUSTRY, I
WAS TAUGHT YESTERDAY THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CEMENT AND
CEMENT IS HAD A WE USE TO
CREATE CONCRETE.
AND HE SAT THERE AND HE SAID,
LOOK, I GOT A LOT OF EMPLOYEES.
I WANT TO HIRE MORE.
I WANT TO GROW.
BUT THIS REGULATION, THIS
CEMENT MACT REGULATION IS GOING
TO KILL A LOT OF OUR BUSINESSES
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO SET A
STANDARD WAY BEYOND THE
EUROPEAN STANDARD AND THE GOING
TO SET A STANDARD, A REGULATORY
STANDARD THAT OUR BUSINESSES
CANNOT MEET NO MATTER HOW MUCH
THEY SPENT.
I THINK HE MENTIONED THAT ONE
COMPANY SPENT $20 MILLION
TRYING TO COMPLY, TRYING TO
TIGHTEN UP THEIR OPERATIONS TO
THESE REGULATIONS.
HE EVEN SAID, THIS REGULATION
IS SO STRINGENT YOU CAN'T EVEN
MEASURE, YOU CAN'T EVEN MEASURE
WHAT THE E.P.A.'S TRYING TO
ACHIEVE.
IT'S BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO
MEASURE.
IT'S NOT THAT THESE GUYS ARE
AGAINST REGULATIONS.
HE SAID IN OUR MEETING, HE
SAID, WE'VE BEEN REGULATED FOR
YEARS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO
WE'RE COOL WITH THAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THIS TYPE OF REGULATION
WILL PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS AND
THE ONLY PEOPLE MAKING CEMENT
WILL BE ELSEWHERE.
HE SAID THE CEMENT BUSINESS IS
GROWING BIG TIME IN CHINA, AND
TO COMPETE WE GOT TO HAVE
COMMONSENSE REGULATION.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO.
THANK YOU.
I THINK IN THAT SAME
WE TALKED ABOUT AN
EDITORIAL, AN OP-ED PIECE BY
CHARLES SCHWAB, VERY WELL
RESPECTED BUSINESSMAN WHEN IT
COMES TO THIS COUNTRY.
IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL"
EDITORIAL IT BASICALLY SAID
THIS, A QUOTE FROM CHARLES
SCHWAB, WHAT WE CAN DO AND
ABSOLUTELY MUST IS KNOCK DOWN
ALL HURDLES THAT CREATES
DISINCENTIVES IN BUSINESS.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE
TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF
MAKING SURE BUSINESSES HAVE THE
ABILITY TO GROW AND HAVE THE
GOVERNMENT GETTING OUT OF THE
WAY.
THANK YOU.
I WANT TO YIELD
YORK.
I WANT TO END THIS
CONVERSATION AS I GET READY TO
LEAVE AND AS OUR COLLEAGUE FROM
KANSAS HAS JOINED US IS THAT I
THINK -- THE GENTLELADY FROM
ALABAMA SAID IT BEST.
WE CAME HERE AS A NEW
BREED OF ELECTED OFFICIALS,
PART OF THIS FRESHMAN CLASS.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO COMPROMISE
OUR PRINCIPLES, BUT WE'RE HERE
TO GOVERN RESPONSIBLY.
GET THINGS DONE.
MR. REED WE ARE GET THINGS
DONE.
I WAS SO PLEASED THAT OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM MICHIGAN JOINED
US TODAY.
EVEN THOUGH WE MAY DISAGREE ON
MANY THINGS, THERE IS COMMON
GROUND THERE.
HE RECOGNIZED LOWER TAXES
CREATES A BUSINESS CLIMATE UPON
WHICH ENTREPRENEURS CAN PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
WE'RE ALL TRYING TO ACHIEVE THE
SAME GOAL.
NOW IT'S TIME TO HAVE THE
SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT ENGAGE
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN AN
OPEN AND HONEST FASHION AND
DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES ONCE AND
FOR ALL BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE
TO PLAY POLITICS OF YESTERDAY,
THEN AMERICA'S BRIGHTEST DAYS
ARE BEHIND HER.
AND TO ME THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND I KNOW TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES
HERE TODAY THAT IS ALSO
UNACCEPTABLE TO THEM.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
APPRECIATE IT.
I WANT TO YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN AND
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS.
I THINK WE COME TO
MAKE SURE THAT POLICY WILL
CREATE JOBS.
AND WE DON'T CARE IF IT'S A
REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT IDEA.
JUST WE WANT IDEAS THAT ARE
SO THE PARTISANSHIP GOES AWAY.
ITS IDEAS THAT PUT OUR FAMILIES
BACK TO WORK.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TAXES,
THOUGH, QUICKLY.
I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN
ENGAGEMENT IN CLASS WARFARE.
I KNOW THE PRESIDENT, HE TALKS
ABOUT TAXING MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES, CORPORATE JET
OWNERS AND BIG OIL COMPANIES.
I DON'T HAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN MY
I COME FROM SMALL TOWN AREA,
AND HE TALKS ABOUT TAXING THOSE
PEOPLE, BUT WHAT HE LEAVES OUT
IS HE'S HERE TO TAX THE SMALL
BUSINESS MAN, THE SMALL
MANUFACTURER, THE PEOPLE MAKING
$250,000 A YEAR.
THOSE ARE THE SMALL BUSINESS
MEN AND WOMEN IN MY COMMUNITY
THAT EMPLOY 10 PEOPLE TO 100
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
LOOKING FOR ACCESS TO CAPITAL
TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES THAT
ARE GOING TO PUT OUR
WORK.
AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE GOING TO PAY THE BRUNT OF
THESE TAX INCREASES THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S TALKING ABOUT.
SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE
BILLIONAIRES, I DON'T CARE.
BUT I DO CARE ABOUT MY JOB
CREATEORS IN MY COMMUNITY --
CREATORS IN MY COMMUNITY THAT
WILL BE HIT BY HIS PROPOSED TAX
WE ALL COME TO THIS HOUSE FLOOR
AND TALK ABOUT JOB REDUCTION
AND JOB GROWTH.
SIMPLE POINT I WANT TO MAKE
HERE.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT 1955, THE
TOP TAX RATE WAS AROUND 90%.
THE REAGAN YEARS, IT WAS AROUND
25%.
90% TO 25%.
GREAT SPAN OF TAX RATE.
WHAT'S UNIQUE IS THAT NO MATTER
WHAT THE TAX RATE IS, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUOUSLY
BRINGS IN ABOUT 19% TO 20% OF
REVENUE AS IT RELATES TO THE
SIZE OF THE ECONOMY OR G.D.P.
TAX INCREASES, TAX RATE
INCREASES DON'T ACTUALLY BRING
IN MORE REVENUE.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT
IN MORE REVENUE TO THE
FEDERAL COFFERS, IT'S ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
WHEN G.D.P. GROWS SO TOO DOES
REVENUE TO THE FEDERAL COFFERS
AND THAT'S BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE
ARE GOING TO WORK WHICH MEANS
MORE PEOPLE ARE PAYING TAXES.
SO IF WE WANT TO REDUCE OUR
DEBT AND PUT OUR PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK, LET'S FOCUS ON POLICIES
THAT GROW OUR ECONOMY.
WHEN WE GROW OUR ECONOMY, MORE
MONEY COMES INTO THE FEDERAL
COFFERS AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
WORKING, SUPPORTING FAMILIES
AND PAYING TAXES.
AND THOSE ARE THE POLICIES THAT
WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR HERE IN
THE HOUSE.
I YIELD BACK.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS.
I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS
DEBATE AS WE DISCUSS WHAT TO
MOST PEOPLE COMMONSENSE
AMERICAN VALUES.
HARD WORK, FREE ENTERPRISE
SYSTEM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALL.
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM WE BELIEVE
IN THAT MADE OUR COUNTRY SO
THE MOST PROSPEROUS
NATION IN THE WORLD.
WE SEE IT BEING THREATENED
EVERY DAY BY POLICIES THAT ARE
COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
AND IT'S A HEARTACHE FOR A LOT
OF US BECAUSE WE SEE THE VERY
PRINCIPLES THAT BUILT THIS
COUNTRY BEING THREATENED IN
THIS VERY PROCESS.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARKANSAS AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM WISCONSIN, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM COLORADO ARE ALL ARGUING
SO PASSIONATELY TODAY FOR WHAT
THEY SEE IS THE FUTURE OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
CONFUSES A LOT OF FOLKS BACK
HOME IS THEY SEE BOTH SIDES OF
THIS DEBATE ON THE FLOOR SAYING
WE'RE ALL FOR JOBS.
IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE COME DOWN
JOBS.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
WE KEEP SAYING JOBS OVER AND
OVER AGAIN TO TRY TO GET THE
PRIVATE SECTOR CREATING JOBS
AGAIN.
SO THEY COME UP WITH WASHINGTON
SOLUTIONS.
BORROWING, SPENDING, CREATING
JOBS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT JOBS ARE
NOT CREATED HERE IN WASHINGTON.
THEY'RE CREATING HERE AT HOME
THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
AND -- THEY'RE CREATED AT HOME
THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
THE REASON IT'S SO CHALLENGING
AND THE REASON WE'RE HAVING
SUCH A HARD TIME I THINK
GETTING THE TWO SIDES TO COMBRE
AND THE TWO CHAMBERS TO AGREE
AND THE PRESIDENT TO AGREE IS
BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT
PRINCIPLES BY WHICH WE'RE
ARGUING THIS DEBATE.
AND I WANT TO LAY OUT A COUPLE
COMMONSENSE PRINCIPLES THAT I
WISH THIS CONGRESS COULD AGREE
TO AND THIS GOVERNMENT COULD
AGREE TO SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD
WITH JOB CREATION.
THE FIRST ONE IS REGULATIONS
DON'T CREATE JOBS.
AND IF WE CAN GET THIS BODY
SIMPLY TO AGREE THAT
REGULATIONS DON'T CREATE JOBS
WE WOULD BE MOVING A LONG WAY
DOWN THE PATH TOWARD JOB
CREATION.
CAN I INTERJECT
THAT OVERREGULATION KILLS JOBS?
THAT'S CORRECT.
THE REGULATIONS WE'RE PUTTING
FORWARD, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS IS CORRECT, THEY KILL
JOBS.
YET I HEAR FOLKS ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR, I SEE FOLKS IN THE LEFT,
I SEE FOLKS IN THE MEDIA
ARGUING REPEATEDLY THAT THESE
REGULATIONS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD
FOR BUSINESS.
ROBERT REICH SAID THERE'S NO
NECESSARY TRADEOFF BETWEEN
REGULATIONS AND JOBS.
IN FACT, REGULATIONS THAT ARE
DESIGNED WELL CAN GENERATE
INNOVATION AND INNOVATION CAN
PRODUCE MORE JOBS.
THEY SPUR MORE JOBS IN
INDUSTRY.
REGULATIONS DON'T CREATE JOBS.
THEY ARE A JOB KILLER.
THIS IS A COMMONSENSE PRINCIPLE
THAT I KNOW, THE MAJORITY OF
AMERICANS AGREE WITH AND THIS
ONE IS COMPLETELY REFUTED DAY
AFTER DAY ON THIS HOUSE FLOOR.
IF WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT
THAT REGULATIONS DON'T CREATE
JOBS WE COULD GET SOMEWHERE.
THEY CREATE ADDITIONAL BURDENS,
ADDITIONAL HOOPS AND ADDITIONAL
CHALLENGES.
IN FACT, JUST FOR UNFUN I
BROUGHT DOWN THE STACK OF RULES
AND REGULATIONS THAT HAVE COME
OUT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK.
THOSE WATCHING ON THE FLOOR AND
AT HOME, EVERY DAY WE HAVE TO
DEAL WITH ANOTHER ONE OF THESE.
THERE'S LAST TUESDAY, THERE'S
LAST WEDNESDAY, THERE'S LAST
THURSDAY, THERE'S LAST FRIDAY.
A PILE OF NEW REGULATIONS FOR
BUSINESS OWNERS.
EVEN IF THEY DON'T AFFECT THEM
THEY HAVE TO READ THEM AND FILE
YOU TALK AT FOLKS AT HOME AND
SAY, ARE YOU HIRING AT FOLKS?
WE ARE HIRING AT FOLKS IN THE
COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT.
SO YOU MIGHT CREATE A NEW JOB
BUT YOU'RE KILLING THE JOBS IN
INNOVATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AND FREE ENTERPRISE.
THE OTHER PRINCIPLE I WANT TO
LEAVE WITH THE FOLKS HERE IS
THAT TAXES DON'T CREATE JOBS.
TAXING AND SPENDING DOESN'T
CREATE WEALTH.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S IN
DISPUTE ON THIS HOUSE FLOOR.
IF WE CAN GET AN AGREEMENT WITH
BOTH PARTIES THAT REGULATIONS
DON'T CREATE JOBS AND TAXING
AND SPENDING DOESN'T CREATE
JOBS WE WOULD BE GOING A LONG
WAY TO SOLVING THIS DEBATE.
WHEN FOLKS AT HOME WONDER, WHY
ARE WE ARGUING SO MUCH, WHY
AREN'T THEY MOVING FORWARD?
BECAUSE WE'RE ARGUING BASIC
COMMONSENSE PRINCIPLES OF THE
FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
HEY, THESE NEW TAX INCREASES,
THESE WILL CREATE NEW JOBS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE
FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM GOING.
WE'RE SMACKING WITH THEM WITH
NEW REGULATIONS EVERY DAY.
I APPRECIATE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARKANSAS AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
COLORADO HAVING THIS DEBATE.
IT'S ESSENTIAL IN THIS FREE
ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.
I YIELD BACK.
GENTLEMAN.
WANT TO USE A LITTLE ANALOGY
AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN FOR A
SECOND.
IF YOU HAVE TWO RUNNERS AND
THEY'RE LINED UP READY TO RACE
AND ONE RUNNER IS SIMPLY GOING
TO RUN STRAIGHT TO THE FINISH
LINE AND THE OTHER RUNNER HAS
TO RUN THROUGH AN OBSTACLE
COURSE, WHO DO YOU THINK'S
GOING TO WIN?
WELL, I THINK WE WOULD ALL
AGREE THAT THE ONE THAT'S GOING
TO RUN STRAIGHT, NOT GOING TO
HAVE TO JUMP OVER EVERYTHING,
NOT GOING TO HAVE TO SWIM OR
CLIMB A ROPE, JUST RUN STRAIGHT
TO THE FINISH LINE, THAT RUNNER
WILL HAVE A BIG ADVANTAGE OVER
THE OTHER RUNNER.
THE OTHER RUNNER WILL HAVE TO
CLIMB A ROPE, GO OVER A WALL,
GO THROUGH THE TIRES, DO ALL
THE THINGS THAT YOU DO IN AN
OBSTACLE COURSE.
WELL, THE OBSTACLE COURSE,
REGULATION.
AND WE NEED BASIC FUNDAMENTAL
REGULATION TO KEEP US SAFE,
KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH.
YOU HAVE SOME COUNTRIES WHO
HAVE LITTLE OR NO REGULATIONS
SO THEIR RUNNERS ARE JUST
RUNNING DOWN THAT TRACK
STRAIGHT, UNIMPEDED AND WE'RE
PUTTING UP WALLS FOR OURS AND
THEN WE WONDER, WHY CAN'T WE
WHY AREN'T PEOPLE INVESTING?
WHY AREN'T THEY CREATING JOBS
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?
WELL, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH
WASHEDS, MY FRIEND.
YES, SIR -- WASHINGTON, D.C.,
MY FRIEND.
YES, SIR, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PEOPLE THAT CHASE
ECONOMICS WILL NOT WORK.
IT'S WHEN YOU REMOVE BARRIERS,
THAT'S WHEN WE CAN CREATE JOBS.
IF YOU'RE MAKING PEOPLE JUMP
OVER WALLS AND THROUGH WATER
HAZARDS, I MEAN, PEOPLE HAVE
PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT
THEY ARE FAILURES.
COLLEAGUE FROM KANSAS HAS
SHOWN A GREAT VISUAL AID OF
WHAT EVERY BUSINESS OWNER IN
THIS COUNTRY IS FACING WHEN IT
COMES TO THEIR OWN BUSINESS,
WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING JOBS,
WHEN THEY HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE
THEY'RE GOING TO INVEST THEIR
HARD-EARNED CAPITAL, THEY HAVE
TO GO THROUGH PAGES AND PAGES
AND VOLUMES AND VOLUMES OF TAX
CODES AND REGULATORY DECISIONS
AND COURT DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT
IT IS THAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT
DO IN THEIR BUSINESS.
MAKING THIS ECONOMY SO THAT IT
ACTUALLY UNLEASHES THE
INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS.
AND I'D MAKE A
QUICK POINT ON THAT IF I COULD.
SOME FOLKS THAT WANT TO INVEST,
THEY HAD THE DREAM ALL THEIR
LIFE TO CREATE A SMALL
BUSINESS, A LITTLE SHOP, MAYBE
IT'S A BIKE SHOP, BUT TO CREATE
THAT BUSINESS, A LOT OF THEM
ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE
METAPHORCAL RACE, SEE THE
OBSTACLES AND REFUSE TO ENTER
THE RACE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I THANK THE
SPEAKER AND I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR JOINING ME
TONIGHT HERE ON THE FLOOR.
THANK Y'ALL.
THE
CHAIR IS PREPARED TO RECOGNIZE
THE MEMBER OF THE MINORITY
PARTY FOR 30 MINUTES.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
GOHMERT FOR 30
MINUTES.
SPEAKER.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK HERE TODAY.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE MY
FRIENDS ENLIGHT -- ANYMY
FRIENDS ENLIGHTENING THE
CHAMBER AND THOSE THAT MAY BE
SPEAKER.
I WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO
THE ENLIGHTENMENT AS WE'VE SEEN
THAT THE PRESIDENT IS OUT THERE
SAYING, HERE'S AN ARTICLE FROM
THE A.P., DATED OCTOBER 4,
SAYING THAT PRESIDENT BARACK
OBAMA IS CRITICIZING HOUSE
MAJORITY LEADER ERIC CANTOR FOR
BILLION JOBS
BILL WILL NOT GET A VOTE IN ITS
HOUSE.
THE PRESIDENT SINGLED OUT MR.
CANTOR, ACCORDING TO THE
ARTICLE, IT SAYS, QUOTE, I'D
LIKE MR. CANTOR TO COME DOWN
HERE TO DALLAS AND EXPLAIN WHAT
IN THIS JOBS BILL HE DOESN'T
BELIEVE IN, UNQUOTE.
IT SAYS, OBAMA SAID IN REMARKS
PREPARED FOR DELIVERY TUESDAY
AT A TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
AS WE KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WOULD
HAVE BEEN READING THOSE REMARKS
BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T WANT TO
STRAY FAR FROM THE TELEPROMPTER
WITH REMARKS, WE'VE SEEN WHAT
HAPPENS ON THOSE OCCASIONS AND
IT ISN'T PRETTY.
BUT THE ARTICLE SAYS, THREE
WEEKS AFTER OBAMA SENT THE
LEGISLATION TO CONGRESS, THE
PROPOSAL HAS RUN INTO
RESISTANCE FROM REPUBLICANS AND
EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS.
WELL, SEE THE ARTICLE IS NOT
THAT.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE
PRESIDENT CAME IN HERE IN THIS
VERY BODY AFTER HE DEMANDED TO
COME SPEAK, WHICH REQUIRES AN
INVITATION, YOU CAN'T JUST COME
SPEAK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR UNLESS
YOU'RE RECOGNIZED BY THE
SPEAKER, YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OR IF THE HOUSE VOTES TO
ALLOW SOMEONE TO COME IN WHO IS
NOT A MEMBER.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED WHEN
THEY COME IN, MR. SPEAKER, THAT
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT UP THERE
WHERE YOU ARE.
BUT THE RULES MAKE VERY CLEAR,
THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
AND SO THE PRESIDENT CAN ONLY
COME, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER
LEADER THAT'S INVITED, PRIME
MINISTER NETANYAHU, THEY SPEAK
FROM THE SECOND PODIUM, THEY'RE
INVITED GUESTS.
IT'S A LITTLE RUDE TO DEMAND TO
COME SPEAK IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE
AND THEN YOU COME IN AND
LECTURE THEM AND YOU STATE
THINGS LIKE, REPEATEDLY SAYING,
YOU'VE GOT TO PASS THIS BILL
RIGHT AWAY, RIGHT NOW, PASS
THIS BILL, AND IT TURNSOUT YOU
DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A BILL, YOU
HAVE THE GAL TO COME -- THE
GALL TO COME IN AND DEMAND WE
PASS A BILL AND YOU DONE HAVE A
BILL.
ON FRIDAY, THE PRESIDENT HIT
THE CAMPAIGN -- MAYBE NOT THE
CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT,
HE WAS OUT THERE SPENDING
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
DEMAND WE PASS THIS BILL.
TELL CONGRESS PASS MY BILL.
AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A BILL.
SATURDAY, SUNDAY, HE'S OUT
THERE SAYING, PASS MY BILL.
RIGHT NOW, PASS IT RIGHT AWAY.
PEOPLE GO TO WORK IMMEDIATELY.
NEVER MIND HE HAD TO TAKE A
VACATION BEFORE HE COULD GET
AROUND TO PRODUCING A BILL THAT
WAS THAT IMPORTANT.
NEVER MIND HE'S GOING AROUND
TELLING EVERYBODY, WE SHOULD
MAKE CONGRESS PASS A BILL THAT
DOESN'T EXIST.
WELL, ON MONDAY, MY OFFICE, I
WAS LITTLE BOTHERED THAT WE
WERE BEING CONDEMNED FOR NOT
PASSING A BILL THAT DIDN'T
EXIST.
SO WE WERE PUSHING TO GET A
COPY OF THIS PHANTOM BILL.
AND LATE THAT AFTERNOON WE
FINALLY GOT A COPY, EMAILED, I
PRINTED IT OUT, THAT MONDAY
NIGHT AROUND 11:00 P.M., I
STARTED GOING THROUGH THE
PRESIDENT'S BILL, NOW BY
WEDNESDAY, WHEN NO BILL WAS
FILED, AND THE PRESIDENT WAS
STILL RUNNING AROUND SPENDING
MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS
CONDEMNING CONGRESS FOR NOT
PASSING THIS BILL WHEN HE WAS
SO BUSY OUT THERE TELLING
PEOPLE TO MAKE CONGRESS PASS MY
BILL, HE FORGOT TO HAVE ANYBODY
FILE THE BILL.
SIX DAYS WE WERE CONDEMNED HERE
IN THIS CHAMBER FOR NOT PASSING
THE PRESIDENT'S BILL.
HE WAS SO BUSY CONDEMNING
CONGRESS FOR NOT PASSING THIS
BILL, HE FORGOT TO ASK SOMEBODY
FILE IT FOR HIM.
WELL, BY WEDNESDAY, I GOT TIRED
OF BEING CONDEMNED FOR NOT
PASSING THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT,
SO I FILED AN AMERICAN JOBS
ACT.
MIN IS TWO PAGES.
H.R. 2911, AND IT WOULD CREATE
MORE JOBS IN AMERICA THAN
ANYTHING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
EVER EVEN TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE
THOUGH YOU HAVE BUSINESSMEN,
VERY SUCCESSFUL, LIKE DONALD
TRUMP SAYING WE SHOULD SLAP A
25% TARIFF ON EVERYTHING WE BUY
FROM CHINA, THAT STARTS A TRADE
WAR, I'M SURE WE DON'T WIN, I
DON'T THINK CHINA WINS, I DON'T
THINK ANYBODY WINS.
BUT IT WOULD BE MESSY.
AND CHINA OWNS SO MUCH OF OUR
DEBT, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S
PROBABLY NOT A SMART MOVE RIGHT
THIS DEBT.
THE BIBLE TALKS CLEARLY ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BECOME --
WHEN YOU ALLOW SOMEBODY TO OWN
YOUR DEBT, BASICALLY, YOU
BECOME A SLAVE TO THEM.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
DAY WE DON'T OWE CHINA, WE
DON'T OWE FOREIGN COUNTRY, WE
GET OUT OF DEBT BECAUSE WE
BALANCE OUR BUDGET, LOOKS LIKE
IT'LL TAKE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT TO DO THAT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THERE'S NO
TREATY THAT WOULD BE VIOLATED,
NO TRADE AGREEMENT, NO COURT
ORDER ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
THAT WOULD PREVENT US FROM
ELIMINATING THE 35% TARIFF THAT
WE PUT ON ALL AMERICAN-MADE
SELL THEM ABROAD.
IT'S CAURLED A 35% CORPORATE
TAX, LARGEST CORPORATE TAX IN
THE WORLD.
NUMBER ONE REASON THAT I'VE
HEARD FROM C.E.O.'S AS TO WHY
THEY MOVED THEIR BUSINESSES TO
OTHER COUNTRIES.
SO MY TWO-PAGE BILL, THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT, AND I DO
APPRECIATE THE PRESIDENT
PROMOTING THE AMERICAN JOBS
ACT, THAT'S MY BILL, IT REDUCES
THE 35% CORPORATE TAX TO 0%.
NOW THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT
NEVER REALLY GOT ECONOMICS AND
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY
THE REAL WORLD WORKS.
THEY THINK THE REAL WORLD WORKS
LIKE C.B.O.'S ARCHAIC RULES
THAT SAY YOU CAN'T TAKE ACTUAL
HISTORIC PRECEDENT TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT EFFECT A BILL WILL
NEVER MIND EVEN IF THE SAME
RESULT ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER A
CERTAIN THING IS DONE, YOU
CAN'T CONSIDER THAT BECAUSE THE
1974 LIBERAL CONGRESS THAT RAN
US OUT OF VIETNAM AND LEFT ALL
OUR ALLY THERE IS TO BE KILLED
BY OUR ENEMIES THAT SAME
CONGRESS PUT IN THE RULES FOR
BILLS.
SO YOU DON'T GET A FAIR LOOK AT
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WITH C.B.O.
RULES AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE
THAT THINK THOSE RULES ARE THE
WAY YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THINGS.
BUT THE FACT IS, THAT IF YOU
REDUCED THE CORPORATE TAX,
ESPECIALLY TO ZERO, JOBS WOULD
COME FLOODING BACK INTO
AMERICA.
NOW, I WOULD THINK UNIONS WOULD
LOVE THIS BILL.
IF YOU REALLY WANT UNION JOBS
BACK IN AMERICA, IF YOU REALLY
ARE WILLING TO SAY YOU KNOW
WHAT, FORGET THIS BUSINESS
ABOUT AMERICA BEING NOTHING BUT
A SERVICE ECONOMY, LET'S GET
MANUFACTURING JOBS, YOU REALLY
WANT MANUFACTURING JOBS BACK,
ELIMINATE THE 35% INSIDIOUS
TARIFF WE PUT ON AMERICAN-MADE
GOODS BEFORE THEY CAN BE SOLD
ABROAD.
BUT AS I'VE SAID HERE ON THE
NEGOTIATE.
BE BIPARTISAN.
THE PRESIDENT CAN'T BRING
HIMSELF TO GET TO ZERO, THEN
LET'S NEGOTIATE SOMEWHERE IN
BETWEEN.
WE COULD DO THAT.
SOMEONE'S TALKING ABOUT 9%.
BUT TO HAVE THE PRESIDENT OUT
THERE DEMANDING THAT WE PASS
HIS BILL AND THEN HE'S SAYING
THINGS ABOUT IT THAT SIMPLY ARE
NOT FACTUAL, NOT FACTUAL AT
ALL, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I READ
THE BILL.
AND I'M VERY IRTATED WITH
PEOPLE WHO THINK THE PRESIDENT
IS LYING ABOUT HIS BILL BECAUSE
I BELIEVE I CAN PROVE HE'S NOT
LYING ABOUT HIS BILL, HE'S JUST
-- HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS IN
HIS BILL.
YOU CAN'T LIE ABOUT SOMETHING
YOU DON'T KNOW.
I BELIEVE I CAN PROVE THE
PRESIDENT IS NOT A LIAR.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
HE GAVE THAT SPEECH IN HERE ON
THURSDAY NIGHT, THE NEXT DAY
HE'S ON THE ROAD CONDEMNING
CONGRESS FOR NOT PASSING HIS
THERE WAS NO BILL YET.
SATURDAY, ON THE ROAD,
CONDEMNING CONGRESS FOR NOT
UP ALL DAYMOND.
IT WASN'T UNTIL MONDAY THAT HIS
BILL GOT FINISHED.
THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD KEEP
GIVING THOSE SPEECHES EVERY
SINGLE DAY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
AND HAVE HAD THE SIX OR SEVEN
HOURS I DID BETWEEN 11:00 P.M.,
5:00 TO 6:00 A.M., I SAID 5:00
BUT I WAS STILL GOING A WHILE,
BUT AT LEAST SIX HOURS I HAD TO
GO THROUGH THE BILL.
HE HADN'T HAD THAT TIME.
THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD WORK
THAT SIX HOUR TIME IN HIS
SCHEDULE TO GO THROUGH THE BILL
LIKE I DID.
THERE'S NO WAY TO CONDEMN THE
PRESIDENT FOR NOT KNOWING
WHAT'S IN HIS BILL WHEN HE
HASN'T HAD TIME, HE'S BEEN TOO
NOT PASSING IT.
HOW COULD HE KNOW WHAT WAS IN
IT.
AND THEN TODAY, OF COURSE, WE
SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
KNOCKING THE G.O.P. LEADER SHP
AND HE'S -- LEADERSHIP AND HE'S
TELLING PEOPLE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL, THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM
YAHOO NEWS BY CHRIS MOODY,
PRESIDENT OBAMA, IT SAYS HERE,
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS IN DALLAS
TODAY URGING AMERICANS WHO
SUPPORT THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT
TO DEMAND THAT CONGRESS PASS IT
ALREADY.
THOUGH IT'S BEEN NEARLY A MONTH
SINCE HE LAID OUT HIS PLAN, OR
THIS PLAN, HOUSE REPUBLICANS
HAVEN'T ACTED TO PASS IT.
AND HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ERIC
CANTOR IS OUT THERE ACTUALLY
BRAGGING THAT THEY WON'T EVEN
PUT THE JOBS PACKAGE UP FOR A
VOTE, EVER.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHICH PART OF
THE BILL THEY NOW OBJECT TO,
BUILDING ROADS, HIRING
TEACHERS, GETTING VETERANS BACK
TO WORK, THEY'RE WILLING TO
BLOCK THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT AND
THEY THINK YOU WON'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
APPARENTLY, THOSE ARE THE
PRESIDENT'S WORDS, ACCORDING TO
THIS.
OH, THIS WAS THE PRESIDENT'S
RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN SENT OUT
AN EMAIL BLASTING HOUSE
REPUBLICANS FOR NOT VOTING ON
THE PROPOSAL.
WELL, AS OF -- JUST IN THE LAST
HOUR, WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS
CONDEMNING THE REPUBLICANS FOR
NOT PASSING THIS BILL, SENATE
MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNEL,
REPUBLICAN, OF KENTUCKY, TRIED
TO FORCE A VOTE ON THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN IN THE UPPER
CHAMBER TUESDAY AFTERNOON BUT
REID USED A PROCEDURAL TACTIC
TO BLOCK THE BILL FROM COMING
TO THE FLOOR.
HE CALLED THE REPUBLICANS'
INSISTENCE ON A VOTE A
PUBLICITY STUNT.
SO THE PRESIDENT, HE HASN'T HAD
TIME TO READ THE BILL, HE
HASN'T TODAY HAD TIME TO FIND
OUT WHO IS BLOCKING HIS BILL,
TURNS OUT IT'S HARRY REID IN
THE SENATE AND BASED ON THE
THINGS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID,
I KNOW HE HASN'T READ THIS.
BECAUSE I KNOW THE PRESIDENT
WOULD NOT BE DISHONEST.
WHEN HE'S OUT THERE AND HAS
REPEATEDLY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE, I KNOW HE WOULDN'T GO
OUT THERE AND SAY THAT IF HE
KNEW THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WAS
IN HIS BILL.
BECAUSE IN HIS BILL, AT PAGE
134 AND 135, IT GIVES THE
DEFINITION OF WHO IS RICH AND
WHO IS GOING TO GET IT SOCKED
TO THEM, THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
SAYING REPEATEDLY MILLIONAIRE
AND BILLIONAIRE.
BUT BLESS HIS HEART IF HE HAD
TIME TO READ THE BILL AND I
HOPE SOMEBODY WILL CARVE OUT
SOME TIME FOR HIM TO DO THAT, I
KNOW HIS SPEECH SCHEDULE OUT
THERE CONDEMNING CONGRESS HAS
KEPT HIM TIED UP, BUT IF THEY
CAN WORK IN SOME TIME FOR HIM
TO READ HIS OWN BILL AND JUST
STOP CONDEMNING CONGRESS FOR
JUST A LITTLE BIT, HE COULD
FINALLY, IF HE HAS ENOUGH TIME
TO GET TO PAGE 135, HE'LL FIND
OUT THAT THE PEOPLE HE'S GOING
AFTER, THAT HE SAYS ARE
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES,
IN HIS BILL, IT'S NOT A JOBS
BILL, SINCE I'VE USED THE NAME
THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS
ORIGINALLY PLUGGING, I THINK
IT'S -- HIS BILL WOULD BE
BETTER CALLED THE SAVING
OBAMA'S JOB BILL, BUT THAT MAY
NOT BE FAIR EITHER BECAUSE IF
PEOPLE REALLY FIND OUT WHAT'S
IN THIS BILL, I DON'T THINK
THEY'D BE VERY HAPPY.
I'M NOT SURE IT SAVES HIS JOB.
BUT HE DEFINES MILLIONAIRE AND
BILLIONAIRE RIGHT HERE ON PAGE
135 AS ANY TAXPAYER WHOSE
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME IS ABOVE
AND -- LET'S SEE, $125,000 IN
MARRIED, FILING
SEPARATELY RETURN, AND THAT'S
$250,000 IN THE CASE OF A JOINT
RETURN, MARRIED FILING JOINTLY,
BUT -- AND HERE AGAIN THIS MAY
BE SOMETHING NICE HE'S THROWING
OUT FOR GAY FOLKS THAT ARE
LIVING TOGETHER SO HE CAN TELL
THEM ACTUALLY, YOUR BETTER OFF
NOT GETTING MARRIED BECAUSE
THERE'S A MARRIAGE PENALTY
HERE, YOU'RE THE HEAD OF A
SINGLE HOUSEHOLD, YOU'VE GOT AN
EXEMPTION OF $225,000.
IF YOU'RE ALL OTHER CASES,
IT PENALIZES MARRIED
INDIVIDUALS AND APPARENTLY
ACCORDING TO THIS BILL, A
MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRE IS
SOMEBODY THAT MAKES $125,000.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS, IF YOU THINK
THIS IS GOOD NEWS, IF YOU WANT
TO GET DIVORCED IT IS GOOD NEWS
FOR YOU BECAUSE IF YOU'RE
MARRIED AND YOU'RE FILING A
JOINT RETURN AND TWO PEOPLE GET
$250,000 EXEMPTION OR YOU'RE
MARRIED FILING SINGLE AND YOU
GOOD NEWS IF YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT DIVORCE IS YOU CAN GET
DIVORCED AND HAVE $75,000 TO
$100,000 EXEMPTION.
THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S
PROPOSAL.
LIVE TOGETHER AND YOU GET A
WHOLE LOT MORE OF AN EXEMPTION
THAN IF YOU GET MARRIED.
OF COURSE, THE FOUNDERS, THEY
ALL UNDERSTOOD MARRIAGE TO BE
BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THE HISTORY
OF THE COUNTRY'S BEEN.
AND STUDY AFTER STUDY HAVE
SHOWN THAT CHILDREN, THE ODDS
ARE CHILDREN WILL BE BETTER
ADJUSTED IF THEY HAVE THE
TWO-PARENT HOME, THE
TRADITIONAL TWO-PARENT HOME.
OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE SOME HOMES
THAT AREN'T GOOD AND CHILDREN
ARE NOT WELL SERVED THERE, BUT
THIS PRESIDENT BY VIRTUE OF THE
POWER -- AS THE OLD SAYING --
THE POWER TO TAX, THE POWER TO
DESTROY -- TAKES A SHOT AT
TRADITIONAL, CONVENTIONAL
MARRIAGE.
OH, AND THEN THERE'S AN
ADDITIONAL A.M.T. AMOUNT.
THAT'S SUBSECTION LITTLE C.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE
OR A BILLIONAIRE AND YOU'RE
MAKING -- WHICH MEANS YOU MAKE
MORE THAN $125,000 AND YOU'RE
MARRIED, THERE'S AN EXTRA
PENALTY FOR YOU THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S GOT LINED, WAITING
FOR YOU IN HIS SO-CALLED JOBS
I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S AWARE.
I JUST DON'T SEE HOW HE COULD
BE BECAUSE HE'S BEEN SO BUSY
OUT MAKING SPEECHES EVERYWHERE,
BUT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK, MR.
SPEAKER, AT THE STUFF IN HERE,
SAYS IT'S ABOUT JOBS
SO I BET THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT
KNOW THAT HERE AT PAGE 75 WE
GOT A NEW FEDERAL ENTITY --
ALTHOUGH IT'S DEFINED ON PAGE
76 AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT
CORPORATION CALLED THE PUBLIC
SAFETY BROADBAND CORPORATION.
BECAUSE THIS PRESIDENT BELIEVES
THERE'S DANGER IN PEOPLE HAVING
BROADBAND IN THEIR HOME.
CAN YOU REALLY TRUST THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE?
HAS TO BE THE THEME OF THIS
PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S
SO-CALLED JOBS BILL.
APPARENTLY HE THINKS THERE'S A
PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT IN
BROADBAND THAT PEOPLE HAVE
COMING INTO THEIR HOME AND
BUSINESS, SO HE'S CREATED THIS
PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION.
YOU MAY SAY, GOOD, THANK
GOODNESS IT'S NOT GOVERNMENT,
IT'S A PRIVATE-NONPROFIT
CORPORATION THAT WILL CONTROL
EVERYBODY'S BROADBAND.
GOOD NEWS, IS IT?
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT
SECTION 285, HALFWAY DOWN PAGE
76, YOU SEE WHO'S ON THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S A PRIVATE,
NONPROFIT CORPORATION THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS IS COMPRISED OF
THE -- THE FEDERAL MEMBERS ARE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE,
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED
STATES, THE DIRECTOR OF OFFICE
OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL
HOW ABOUT THAT?
CORPORATION.
SO SURELY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T TRY TO
BUT THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
AND ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL
APPOINT 11 OTHER INDIVIDUALS
WHO SERVE AS NONFEDERAL MEMBERS
OF THE BOARD.
HAPPY NEWS?
THEY REALLY AREN'T FEDERAL EVEN
THOUGH THE PRESIDENT'S
APPOINTEES WILL BE ON THE BOARD
WITH THOSE FOLKS.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR APPOINTMENT
TO THEM.
IT'S INTERESTING.
I BET THE PRESIDENT HAS NO
IDEA.
OF COURSE -- I KNOW THE
PRESIDENT'S AWARE OF WHAT A
FIASCO TO OUR FEDERAL BUDGET
FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC HAVE
BEEN AND THE DANGER THAT IT
POSED TO OUR FEDERAL ECONOMIC
SYSTEM.
WELL, HE'S PROBABLY NOT AWARE
THAT IN HERE HE CREATES -- HIS
BILL DOES.
THERE'S NO WAY HE KNOWS WHAT'S
IN THIS BILL.
NO WAY HE COULD HAVE SPENT SIX
HOURS READING THIS.
SIX TO SEVEN HOURS LIKE I DID.
BUT, ANYWAY, IF HE'LL DOUBLE
CHECK HE'LL FIND, MR. SPEAKER,
WHOEVER WROTE
THIS BILL THINKS FANNIE MAE AND
FREDDIE MAC WERE A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL THING.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
INSURING ALL THOSE HOME LOANS
AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE PASS
LAWS, AND I DO REMEMBER OUR
FRIEND FROM MASSACHUSETTS, MR.
FRANK, ASSURING EVERYBODY IT'S
IN GOOD SHAPE, NOT A PROBLEM.
TURNED OUT THEY WEREN'T IN GOOD
HE DIDN'T KNOW.
MR. FRANK WOULDN'T COME DOWN
THAT.
I KNOW HE WOULDN'T.
HE JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
JUST LIKE THE PRESIDENT HAS NO
CLUE WHAT ALL IS IN THIS BILL.
BUT IF HE'LL CHECK AT THE
BOTTOM OF PAGE 40 HE'LL FIND
THE AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING AUTHORITY.
SAYS IT'S ESTABLISHED AS A
WHOLLY OWNED GOVERNMENT
CORPORATION.
SO IF YOU LIKED FANNIE MAE,
FREDDIE MAC, IF YOU THINK THEY
THIS BILL.
IT'S LIKE BOTH OF THEM
COMBINED, EXPONENTIALLY
INCREASED AND PUT ON STEROIDS
BECAUSE WE KNOW HOUSES COMPARED
TO INFRASTRUCTURE DON'T COST
ALL THAT MUCH.
BUT, BOY, YOU COMPARE THEM TO
INFRASTRUCTURE, MAN.
AND WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT --
THIS HAS TO BE THE THINKING OF
WHOEVER PUT THIS BILL TOGETHER.
I KNOW IT WASN'T THE PRESIDENT
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T HAVE PUT
THIS TOGETHER AND GONE AROUND
TELLING PEOPLE THINGS THAT ARE
IN IT NOT KNOWING THIS KIND OF
-- THIS KIND OF STUFF IS IN IT.
BUT THE AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING AUTHORITY -- AND WE
FLOOD INSURANCE.
YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SAID, WE NEED A
FEDERAL PLAYER IN THE INSURANCE
BUSINESS, AND SO WE PROVIDED A
FEDERAL OPTION.
WELL, GUESS WHAT, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT RUNS IN THE RED ON
THE FLOOD INSURANCE.
PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN'T KEEP UP
WITH THAT.
AND SO PEOPLE QUIT PROVIDING --
INSURANCE COMPANY QUIT
PROVIDING FLOOD INSURANCE IN
THOSE PARTS AND THE FEDERAL
INSURER.
SAME WAY WITH STUPET LOANS.
BANKS, LENDING INSTITUTIONS
COULD LEND MONEY FOR STUDENT
LOANS AND THEY WERE BACKED BY
THE GOVERNMENT, BUT UNDER
SPEAKER PELOSI AND THIS BILL,
HARRY REID, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DECIDED WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE OVER ALL THE STUDENT
LOANS.
WELL, THAT CREATES A CONCERN
FOR SOME BECAUSE IF YOU ARE AS
OUTSPOKEN AS SOME OF US ARE,
I'M JUST GRATEFUL MY DAUGHTER
HAS JUST FINISHED HER COLLEGE
DEGREE SO I WON'T HAVE TO COME
BEGGING TO THE PRESIDENT FOR A
STUDENT LOAN SO MY CHILDREN CAN
GO TO COLLEGE.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT?
IS THAT WHERE WE WANT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING TO GO,
EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN,
COUNTY, STATE HAS TO COME
BEGGING TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE RUN
EVERYBODY ELSE OUT OF THE
BUSINESS LIKE WE DID STUDENT
LOANS, FLOOD INSURANCE?
SURELY THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T
KNOW THIS IS IN HERE.
THIS IS NOT A JOBS BILL.
IT'S A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER.
SAME WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY
BROADBAND AUTHORITY OR
CORPORATION.
AND HOW ABOUT THIS -- I BET A
LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THE SHORTTIME COMPENSATION
IT'S A NEW PROGRAM.
NEVER CREATED BEFORE, BUT IT'S
IN THE PRESIDENT'S BILL.
IF -- AND THE PARTICIPATION
SAYS IT'S VOLUNTARY BUT IF AN
EMPLOYER UNDER THIS PROGRAM
REDUCES HOURS WORK BY EMPLOYEES
INSTEAD OF LAYING THEM OFF,
THEN -- AND THAT'S ANYBODY
THAT'S BEEN REDUCED BY AT LEAST
10% -- THEN IT SAYS THEY'RE
ELIGIBLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
GIVES OUT THE TERMS FOR THAT.
I BET THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T KNOW
THAT'S IN THERE.
NOW, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM,
IT IS A JOBS BILL FOR
PLAINTIFFS' LAWYERS BECAUSE WE
HAVE SEEN OVER AND OVER, A LOT
OF STATES DOING TORT REFORM.
IT'S MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO
SUE PEOPLE.
AND SO WE HAVE GOT A NEW
PROGRAM HERE THAT WILL HELP
WITH LAWYERS THAT ARE OUT OF
WORK BECAUSE HERE IN THE BILL
IF YOU -- WE CREATED A NEW
CLASS OF PROTECTED INDIVIDUALS
SO THAT IF YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED
AND YOU GET LAID OFF, YOU HAVE
-- YOU OUGHT TO SEE A LAWYER IF
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WEREN'T HIRED
BECAUSE YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED
BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE, YOU CAN
FILE A CLAIM AT LEAST AGAINST
YOU.
NOW, A PRACTICAL LOOK AT THAT
PROVISION ALLOWING EMPLOYERS TO
BE SUED IF THEY FAIL TO HIRE
SOMEONE WHO'S UNEMPLOYED WOULD
MAKE EMPLOYERS -- I'VE ALREADY
HEARD FROM IT.
IF THAT ENDS UP IN THE LAW, I'M
NOT GOING TO BE HIRING ANYBODY.
I CAN'T TAKE A CHANCE ON BEING
SUED OR HAVING CLAIMS FILED
AGAINST ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T
HIRE FIVE PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED
COME IN, FOUR OF THEM DON'T GET
THE JOB AND THEY ALL FOUR FILE
CLAIMS AGAINST ME.
I CAN'T DEAL WITH THAT.
IF THE PRESIDENT LOOKS AT HIS
BILL THEN HE'LL UNDERSTAND THIS
IS.
AND THEN HE PROMISED AMERICA
WE'RE GOING AFTER MAJOR OIL
THERE'S NO WAY THIS PRESIDENT
COULD KNOW THAT PAGE 151
THROUGH 154, THE PART THAT GOES
AFTER OIL COMPANIES, WILL NOT
AFFECT HIS FRIENDS AT BRITISH
PETROLEUM, THE EXXON, SHELL,
THEY WON'T BE AFFECTED BECAUSE
THE MOST IMPORTANT DEDUCTIONS
THAT ARE REPEALED HERE ARE ONLY
FOR SMALLER PRODUCERS, THE
INDEPENDENT PRODUCERS WHO DRILL
94% OF ALL THE OIL AND GAS
WELLS ON THE LAND IN THE
CONTINENTAL U.S.
HE'S -- THERE'S NO WAY HE COULD
KNOW THAT UNLESS HE READ THIS
UNLESS HE REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY.
SO WHAT HE'LL DO, HE DRIVES UP
TO THE CAPITAL FOR COMPANIES
TRYING TO DRILL WELLS AND THIS
WILL BE A DISASTER UNLESS
YOU'RE A MAJOR OIL COMPANY.
IN WHICH CASE YOU'LL MAKE MORE
PROFIT BECAUSE YOU'LL KILL OFF
MORE OF THE COMPETITION.
THIS IS WHAT HIS BILL DOES.
I'M SURE HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT.
AND OUT THERE BLAMING
REPUBLICANS FOR INCREASING
THIS WAS IN AN ARTICLE.
WE GOT IT UP ON MY WEBSITE.
THE HOUSE WEBSITE SO PEOPLE CAN
REALLY SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
IT'S A GREAT ARTICLE FROM "THE
ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION,"
AND THIS IS ONE OF THE
DIAGRAMS.
THE DEBT.
WE KNOW FROM THE CONSTITUTION
THAT IT IS THE CONGRESS THAT
HOLDS THE PURSE STRINGS.
SO REALLY THE ONE RESPONSIBLE,
MOST RESPONSIBLE IS THE
CONGRESS AND WHO'S MOST
RESPONSIBLE, THE BIGGEST MOST
POWERFUL BODY IS CONTROLLED BY
THE SPEAKER.
YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THAT IS WHILE YOU'RE THE PRO
TEMPORE.
THIS SHOWS THE INCREASE IN DEBT
AS A PERCENTAGE OF G.D.P. AND
WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED UNDER
SPEAKER O'NEIL.
WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED UNDER
SPEAKER JIM WRIGHT.
DIDN'T REALLY INCREASE MUCH IN
DEBT AS A PERCENTAGE OF G.D.P.
UNDER SPEAKER FOLEY IT
INCREASED A GREAT DEAL.
AND UNDER SPEAKER GINGRICH AND
SPEAKER HASTERT AS A PERCENTAGE
OF DEBT AS A PERCENT OF G.D.P.
WENT WAY DOWN.
AND THEN WE GOT THE LAST FOUR
YEARS WITH SPEAKER PELOSI AND
IT WENT THROUGH THE ROOF LIKE
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED IN THIS
COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
WELL, I HOPE I PROVIDED AN
ADEQUATE DEFENSE TO THOSE WHO
WOULD SAY THE PRESIDENT IS
MISREPRESENTED BECAUSE I THINK
DIDN'T LIE ABOUT ANY OF THIS
STUFF.
HE HADN'T HAD TIME TO READ IT.
HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S IN IT
AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE CAN
ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE SAVING
OBAMA'S JOBS BILL.
THE PRESIDENT'S SUPPORT FOR THE
AMERICAN JOBS ACT, WHICH BILL
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE CHAIR
RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, MR. BARLETTA, FOR
MR. SPEAKER, ON
SEPTEMBER 7, 8, AND 9, THE US
IS QUA HANNA RIVER AND SOME OF
ITS TRIBUTARIES, SWOLLEN BY
REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE,
OVERFLOWED THEIR BANKS.
THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA WAS
SOAKED BY HURRICANE IRENE,
WHICH BROUGHT LOCAL RIVERS AND
CREEKS TO THEIR BANKS.
SO WHEN TROPICAL STORM LEE
MOVED IN OVER MY DISTRICT, THE
RESULTS WERE CATASTROPHIC.
IN SOME COMMUNITIES, THE FLOOD
WATERS CAME QUICKLY.
CREEKS RAGED OUT OF CONTROL.
HOMES WERE SWEPT OFF THEIR
FOUNDATIONS, AND TOPPLED INTO
MUDDY PITS.
ROADS WERE WASHED AWAY.
IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, THE WATER
ROSE MY SLOWLY.
BUT IT DID NO LESS DAMAGE.
I WAS THERE IN THE TOWN -- IN A
TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA WHEN THE
LACKAWANNA RIVER TOPPED THE
LEVEE AND BEGAN FLOODING HOMES.
IT WAS LIKE WATCHING SOMEONE
FILL AN AQUARIUM ONLY MUCH,
MORE DESTRUCTIVEFUL.
I SPENT MANY DAYS IN MY
DISTRICT SEEING THE DAMAGE
CAUSED BY FLOODING.
LOOKS LIKE.
THINK OF EVERYTHING ON THE
FIRST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME,
COUCH, RECLINING CHAIRS,
REFRIGERATOR, STOVE,
DISHWASHER, TELEVISION, MAYBE A
BEDROOM ON THE FIRST FLOORING
YOUR MA CRESS -- MA DRESS, YOUR
DRESSER.
THINK OF EVERYTHING YOU HAVE IN
YOUR BASEMENT A WASHER A DRYER,
YOUR FURNACE, OUR HOT WATER
HEATER, YOUR WINTER CLOTHING.
NOW IMAGINE ALL OF THAT ON THE
SIDEWALK.
READY FAR DUMPSTER BECAUSE IT
IS SOAKED WITH RIVER WATER.
IT'S DIRTY, WITH RIVER MUD.
AND IT'S CONTAMINATED BY
WHATEVER ELSE FLOWED INTO THE
RIVER WHEN THE WATER ROSE.
GO BEYOND THESE POSSESSIONS.
THINK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON
YOUR WALLS AND ON YOUR END
TABLES.
THINK OF YOUR CHILDREN'S TOYS
BASEMENT.
THINK OF THE MEMENTOS, FAMILY
TREASURES HANDED DOWN BY YOUR
PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS.
IMAGINE ALL OF THAT ON THE
SIDEWALK TOO.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST YOUR HOUSE.
IT'S YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE NEXT
AND THE HOUSE ACROSS THE
STREET.
AND ALL OF THOSE HOUSES UP AND
DOWN YOUR STREET.
IMAGINE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS,
BLOCK AFTER BLOCK OF
DESTRUCTION, AND IMAGINE THE
SMELL OF IT.
WET FABRIC, SPOILED FOOD,
SPILLED FUEL OIL, RAW SEWAGE,
AND MUD.
MUD TWO FEET DEEP IN BASEMENTS
AND COVERING LAWNS AND FILLING
SWIMMING POOLS.
THAT IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED.
THAT IS WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS
EXPERIENCED.
IT'S WHAT THEY'RE CONTINUING TO
COPE WITH AS THEY TRY TO
REBILL.
I WILL NEVER FORGET STANDING IN
A LIVING ROOM WITH A WOMAN IN
ONE TOWN, MOST OF HER
BELONGINGS WERE PILED ON THE
IN FRONT OF HER HOME.
SHE WEPT AS SHE TOLD ME THAT
BOTH HER HUSBAND AND HER SON
DIED IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
DURING THIS FLOODING, SHE LOST
ALMOST EVERYTHING SHE OWNED.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
SHE LOST HER HUSBAND, SHE LOST
HER SON, SHE LOST MOST OF HER
BELONGINGS, SHE LOST HER HOME,
ALL IN SIX MONTHS.
THE LOSS IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
I'VE SEEN CHILDREN CONSOLE
THEIR PARENTS, SAYING MOMMY,
DON'T CRY.
A MOTHER POINTED TO A LEATHER
JACKET AND REMEMBERED THE FIRST
TIME HER DAUGHTER WORE IT.
SHE BROKE DOWN AS SHE TOLD ME
WEAR IT SOMEDAY.
IT, TOO, WAS RUINED AND HAD TO
BE THROWN AWAY.
AN OLD BLACK AND WHITE
PHOTOGRAPH OF A WOMAN SAT ON A
PILE OF BELONGINGS IN FRONT OF
A HOME IN WEST PITSTON.
THE SURFACE OF THE PHOTO WAS
COVERED IN MUDDY STREAKS, AS IF
THE OWN E-- OWNER TRIED TO SAVE
IT.
BUT SHE COULDN'T SAVE IT FROM
THE MUD, IT HAS TO BE THROWN
ANOTHER MEMORY LOST.
IN BLOOMSBURG, A FAMILY STAYED
IN THEIR HOME TO MOVE THEIR
POSSESSIONS TO AN UPPER FLOOR.
BUT THE CREEK ROSE TOO QUICKLY.
THE HOUSE NEXT TO THEIRS WAS
KNOCKED FROM ITS FOUNDATION.
WATER STARTED GUSHING THROUGH
THEIR FRONT WINDOWS AS THEY
CALLED FOR HELP.
THEY HAD TO BE SAVED BY
HELICOPTER.
THE WOMAN THERE TOLD ME THAT
SHE CAN NEVER LIVE IN THAT HOME
AGAIN.
A WOMAN NEAR ORANGEVILLE CRIED
AS SHE TOLD ME HER NEIGHBOR'S
HOUSE, CARRIEDY THE SAME RAGING
CREEK, SMASHED INTO HERS,
DEMOLISHING A LIFETIME OF
MEMORIES.
AN ELDERLY MAN BROKE DOWN AS HE
TOLD ME HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY
HE PUT INTO MAKING HIS HOUSE A
HOME FOR HIS FAMILY ONLY TO SEE
IT RUINED BY HIGH WATER.
IN EXETER, BOROUGH OFFICIALS
MADE A GUT-WRENCHING DECISION.
THEY HAULED IN 200 TRUCK ROADS
OF DIRT AND CREATED A MAKESHIFT
*** RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF A
RESIDENTIAL STREET.
SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES WERE SAVED
BUT DOZENS MORE WERE RUINED.
SEEMS LIKE THIS -- SCENES LIKE
THIS WERE REPEATED HUNDREDS,
THOUSANDS OF TIMES IN TOWN
AFTER TOWN IN NORTHEASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.
IN ALL OF THESE DAMAGED HOMES
AND BUSINESSES, IF ALL OF THESE
HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE IN
ONE CITY, IT WOULD MAKE THE
EVENING NEWS EVERY DAY.
BUT THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY MY
CONSTITUENTS IS SPREAD OUT OVER
MILES OF THE SUSQUHANNA RIVER
THE SCOPE GOES FAR BEYOND WHAT
LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS CAN
FIX ON THEIR OWN.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST
STEP IN.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK, WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO DO TO MAKE THESE
PEOPLE'S LIVES WHOLE AGAIN?
OFFICIALS FROM THE FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
TOLD MY CONSTITUENTS WHAT THEY
WILL RECEIVE FOR THEIR LOSSES.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS FOR AN
AMERICAN FAMILY TO BUY A DECENT
CAR NOWADAYS.
THAT'S FOR ALL OF THEIR
FURNITURE.
THAT'S FOR ALL OF THEIR
CLOTHES.
FOR ALL OF THEIR TREASURED
BELONGINGS.
FOR MANY OF MY CONSTITUENTS,
IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
I REMEMBER STANDING IN FRONT OF
ONE FAMILY'S HOME WHICH HAD
RIVER WATER FLOWING MORE THAN A
FOOT DEEP ON ITS SECOND FLOOR.
MOST OF THIS FAMILY'S
SIDEWALK.
SOME WERE DRIPPING WET.
THE MOTHER LOOKED AT HER
CHILDREN'S TOYS, RUINED BY THE
FLOOD, SHE POINTED TO ONE
LITTLE TOY AND SAID, HOW CAN
THE GOVERNMENT PUT A PRICE ON
THAT?
MY SON PLAYED WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE MEMORIES.
HOW CAN YOU PUT A PRICE ON
THAT.
SHE'S RIGHT.
WE CANNOT PUT A PRICE TAG ON
MEMORIES.
BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN
AND SHOULD DO MORE FOR OUR
NEIGHBORS.
THAT IN THESE BUDGET
CONSCIOUS TIMES WE WORRY ABOUT
OFFSETS TO INCREASES IN ANY
OTHER SPENDING.
I ALSO KNOW WE CAN FIND SOME
DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM, SOME
EXCESSIVE SPENDING, SOME
ADDITIONAL FUNDING, SOMEWHERE
IN THE VAST FEDERAL BUDGET AND
PROVIDE MORE HELP FOR FLOOD
VICTIMS.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS
ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS,
COMPASSIONATE COUNTRIES WHEN IT
COMES TO PROVIDING GLOBAL AID
THIS GOVERNMENT HAS NO PROBLEM
SENDING MONEY OVERSEAS TO BUILD
ROADS AND BRIDGES AND HOSPITALS
AND SCHOOLS IN FOREIGN
COUNTRIES.
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD, THE UNITED STATES
IS THE FIRST COUNTRY TO HELP
REBUILD.
BUT NOW THAT A DISASTER
OCCURRED RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN
BACKYARD, WE NEED TO START
REBUILDING HERE FIRST.
LET'S HELP AMERICANS FIRST.
WE MUST RESTORE AMERICAN LIVES,
AMERICAN BUSINESSES, AND
PROTECT AMERICAN JOBS.
AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE SO FOCUSED
ON CREATING JOBS AN HELPING
BUSINESSES, THE UNITED STATES
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
WILL OFFER DISASTER RECOVERY
LOANS AT 6%.
THAT'S RIGHT, 6%.
AND THAT RATE, IS IF BUSINESS
OWNERS CAN GET CREDIT
ELSEWHERE.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I'VE TALKED TO DOZENS OF
EVERYTHING.
THEIR SHOPS, THEIR INVENTORIES,
THEIR FIXTURES, THEIR
EQUIPMENT.
A SMALL BUSINESS OWN FOR THE
JENKINS TOWNSHIP SAID HE'S NOT
SURE HE CAN RECOVER AFTER
SUFFERING MORE THAN $7 MILLION
IN FLOOD LOSSES.
HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING
TO REBUILD AND REOPEN.
OR MAYBE CLOSE HIS DOORS
FOREVER.
I DON'T KNOW ANY BUSINESS OWNER
IN MY DISTRICT WHO THINKS A 6%
GOVERNMENT DISASTER RECOVERY
LOAN WILL HELP THEM GET BACK ON
THEIR FEET.
MY DISTRICT HAS ONE OF THE
HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN
THE STATE.
AND A RATE HIGHER THAN THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THE PEOPLE OF THE 11TH DISTRICT
IN NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
NEED THEIR JOBS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD FOR THESE
BUSINESSES TO CLOSE.
FOR THE S.B.A. TO OFFER
RIDICULOUSLY HIGH INTEREST RATE
IN THE NAME OF DISASTER RELIEF
TO THESE BUSINESS OWNERS IS
DOWN RIGHT INSULTING.
WHAT RATE DO WE CHARGE FOREIGN
INFRASTRUCTURE?
THE ANSWER IS ZERO.
WE DON'T CHARGE FOREIGN
COUNTRIES ANY INTEREST.
THE MONEY THEY RECEIVE FROM THE
UNITED STATES IS A GIVEAWAY.
THIS GOVERNMENT GAVE $215
MILLION INTEREST-FREE FOR FLOOD
RELIEF TO PAKISTAN.
A COUNTRY THAT HARBORED OSAMA
BIN LADEN.
AND IT'S CHARGING AMERICAN
HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS
INTEREST RATES ON LOANS THEY'RE
USING TO REBUILD.
THAT'S WRONG.
WE MUST TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT
HOW THE INTEREST RATE FOR
S.B.A. DISASTER RECOVERY LOANS
ARE CALCULATED.
THAT'S WHY I INTRODUCED THE
DISASTER LOAN FAIRNESS ACT OF
2011, H.R. 3042.
THIS BILL WOULD SET THE
INTEREST RATE FOR ALL RECOVERY
LOANS, HOME DISASTER LOANS,
BUSINESS PHYSICAL DISASTER
LOANS AND ECONOMIC INJURY
DISASTER LOANS AT 1% FOR THE
LIFE OF THE LOAN UP TO 30
YEARS.
THE RATE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR
PRESIDENTIALLY DECLARED MAJOR
DISASTERS.
AND A 1% INTEREST RATE IS
RETAINED MERELY TO PAY
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR THE
PROGRAM.
THIS BILL WOULD NOT COST --
WOULD NOT CAUSE THE GOVERNMENT
TO SPEND ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY.
IT WOULD MEAN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TAKES IN LESS IN
INTEREST FROM DISASTER RECOVERY
LOANS.
BUT CAN ANYONE HONESTLY SAY
THAT PROVIDING DISASTER
RECOVERY LOANS FOR AMERICAN
HOMEOWNERS AND AMERICAN
BUSINESSES SHOULD BE A MONEY
MAKING OPERATION?
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT H.R.
3042, THE DISASTER LOAN
FORGIVENESS ACT.
GIVE AMERICANS A LOW INTEREST
RATE AND HELP THEM RECOVER.
WHILE MY NEIGHBORS IN
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA
RECOVER AND REBUILD, THEY'RE
ALSO ASKING WHAT STEPS ARE
BEING TAKE TON PROTECT THEM IN
THE FUTURE.
THIS IS THE -- ARE BEING TAKEN
TO PROTECT THEM IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS THE ROLE OF THE FEDERAL
WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT DISASTER
ON THIS SCALE DOESN'T HAPPEN TO
THESE PEOPLE AGAIN.
FIRST THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS MUST COMPLETE A
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE
RIVER BASIN IN MY DICT.
AFTER THE FLOODING CAUSED BY
HURRICANE AGNES, IN 1972, THE
CORPS BUILT MASSIVE LEVEES TO
PROTECT THE MOST POPULATED
AREAS OF THE 11TH DISTRICT.
THOSE LEVEES PROTECTED
THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND
BUSINESSES, BUT MANY PEOPLE
BELIEVE THEY ALSO FUNNELED
WALLS OF WATER, OF FLOODWATER,
INTO UNPROTECTED AREAS UPRIVER
AND DOWN RIVER.
SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS WERE
TOLD THEY DIDN'T NEED TO BUY
FLOOD INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY
DON'T LIVE IN A FLOODPLAIN.
AS THESE PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO
REBUILD THEIR LIVES TODAY, THEY
WANT TO KNOW IF THE FLOODPLAIN
HAS CHANGED.
MY CONSTITUENTS DESERVE TO KNOW
WHAT ROLE, IF ANY, THESE NEW
FLOODWALLS PLAYED IN THIS
EVENT.
WHAT IS KNOWN IS THAT SOME
COMMUNITIES WERE DEVASTATED
BECAUSE THEY LACKED ADEQUATE
FLOOD PROTECTION.
FOR 40 YEARS, THE TOWN OF
BLOOMSBURG HAS BEEN ASKING FOR
FLOOD PROTECTION.
THERE IS A PLAN TO PROVIDE IT
BUT THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WILL
NOT FUND IT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT
ARBITRARY BENEFIT TO
COST RATIO, THE B.C.R.
NOW BECAUSE OF THE WELCOME OF
ADEQUATE FLOOD PROTECTION IN
BLOOMSBURG, 1,000 JO -- 1,000
JOBS ARE ON THE VERGE OF BEING
LOST.
TWO OF COLOMBIA -- COLUMBIA
COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS SIT
IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
WHEN FISHING CREEK AND THE
SUSQUHANNA RIVER FLOOD, THESE
EMPLOYERS HAVE TO NOT ONLY SHUT
DOWN PRODUCTION BUT MOVE
EQUIPMENT THAT COSTS THEM
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS.
DURING THIS FLOOD EVENT, MORE
THAN SIX FEET OF WATER POURED
THROUGH THEIR SHOPS, DESTROYING
EQUIPMENT AND INVENTORY.
AT A TIME WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TO CREATE JOBS, WE'RE
NOT DOING ENOUGH TO PROTECT
THESE.
WHAT IS THE NEGATIVE BENEFIT TO
COST RATIO OF THE BLOOMSBURG
FLOOD PROTECTION PROJECT IF WE
LOSE THESE JOBS?
WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS TOWN THIS
COUNTY, AND MY DISTRICT IF WE
JOBS?
THAT'S JUST ONE COMPONENT TO
THE BLOOMSBURG PROJECT.
THIS YEAR, ABOUT 1/3 OF THE
FLOODED.
1/3 OF AN ENTIRE TOWN.
WORSE, THE BLOOMSBURG FAIR, ONE
OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIC DRIVERS
FOR THE TOWN, THE COUNTY AND
DOZENS OF COMMUNITY AND CHARITY
GROUPS HAD TO BE CANCELED FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE CIVIL
WAR DUE TO THE EPIC FLOODING.
WHAT HAPPENED TO BLOOMSBURG
COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DROPPED
IT FAILED TO PROTECT HOMES AND
BUSINESSES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, NOT TO
BLOOMSBURG AND NOT TO OTHER
COMMUNITIES ALONG THE RIVER
THAT NEED PROTECTION.
SADLY, FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE
I'VE SPOKEN WITH, FLOOD
PROTECTION WILL COME TOO LATE.
SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE
TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT MOVE BACK
INTO THEIR HOMES.
GREAT FLOOD OF 2011 WAS
JUST THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE
OF FLOODS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO
ENDURE.
THEY'RE TIRED OF PICKING UP THE
PIECES OF THEIR SHATTERED
LIVES.
SOME WERE BEING IN THE PROCESS
OF BROUGHT OUT BY THE
NOW THEY'RE IN LIMBO.
NOT SURE WHETHER TO ACCEPT
FEDERAL AID OR IF ACCEPTING
HELP WILL JEOPARDIZE THEIR
PENDING BUYOUTS.
THIS CONGRESS NEEDS TO LOOK AT
THE BUYOUT PROCESS.
I FEEL IT IS TOO CONFUSING, IT
TAKES TOO LONG AND DISCOURAGES
PEOPLE FROM TRYING TO RECEIVE
THE HELP THEY NEED.
MR. SPEAKER, OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL WEEKS I HAVE SEEN
TERRIBLE DESTRUCTION AND
HARDSHIP ENDURED BY MY
BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN TREMENDOUS
GOOD AS NEIGHBORS HELP STRICKEN
NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY GROUPS
BANDED TOGETHER, CHARITIES
MOBILIZED QUICKLY AND
EFFECTIVELY.
IN PLUMB OUT TOWNSHIP, I --
PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, I MET WITH
RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP
PEOPLE THEY'VE NEVER MET.
IN BLOOMSBURG, I VISITED A
LOCAL MINISTRY THAT PROVIDED
FLOOD VICTIMS FROM EVERYTHING
MEALS.
CHURCH GROUPS, SCOUT TROOPS,
COLLEGE CLUBS, SPORTS TEAMS,
PEOPLE FROM ALL ACROSS NORTHERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND BEYOND CAME
TOGETHER TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
THE RECENT FLOOD WAS A TERRIBLE
BUT IT ALSO DROUGHT OUT THE
BEST IN OUR -- BROUGHT OUT THE
BEST IN OUR PEOPLE.
AS I WAS DRIVING THROUGH WEST
PISTON, A SMALL BOROUGH THAT
WAS DEVASTATED BY FLOODING, I
SAW A SIGN ON A PORCH "THE
VALLEY WITH A HEART.
THANK YOU."
MY CONSTITUENTS WERE KNOCKED
DOWN BUT NOT OUT.
THE PEOPLE OF NORTHERN
PENNSYLVANIA ARE STRONG AND
RESILIENT, BUT THEY NEED HELP
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
NEEDS TO HELP THEM.
IF THEY GET THAT HELP, MY
NEIGHBORS WILL COME BACK,
STRONGER AND BETTER THAN
BEFORE.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN HAVE A
MOTION TO ADJOURN?
I DO.