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TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE A PART
OF THAT DEFICIT-REDUCTION
PACKAGE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
WHAT'S THE PENDING
BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE?
THE
PETRAEUS NOMINATION, THE SENATOR
FROM ARIZONA IS RECOGNIZED.
AND,
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ENGAGE IN A COLLOQUY
WITH THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN
A FEW MINUTES WE WILL BE
CASTING, I'M SURE, A 100-0 VOTE
TO CONFIRM GENERAL DAVID
PATRAEUS AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF
THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY,
AND OBVIOUSLY HIS NOMINATION IS
SUPPORTED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE, AND I'M SURE ALL
AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIKE
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
AND MYSELF WHO HAVE HAD THE
GREAT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR OF
KNOWING GENERAL PETRAEUS FOR
MANY YEARS AND WATCHING HIM LEAD
THE MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN OUR
MILITARY IN A FASHION THAT I
HAVE NEVER SEEN SURPASSED.
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
HAS HAD THE UNIQUE PRIVILEGE AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO SERVE UNDER
GENERAL PETRAEUS IN UNIFORM
BECAUSE, AS MOST OF OUR
COLLEAGUES KNOW, THE SENATOR
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA ALSO SERVES
AS A COLONEL IN THE SOUTH
CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD AND IN
OFFICER.
THE LEGAL CORPS AS A J.A.G.
AND THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA HAS WORKED WITH GENERAL
PETRAEUS BOTH IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN ON MANY OF THE
IMPORTANT ISSUES CONCERNING
DETAINEES AS WELL AS OTHER
ISSUES.
AND BEFORE I ASK THE SENATOR
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA FOR HIS
COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO REPEAT
WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IN MY LIFE,
WHICH HAS BEEN BLESSED TO KNOW
MANY OUTSTANDING MILITARY
LEADERS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE
SERVICE, THAT I HAVE EVER QUITE
ENCOUNTERED A MILITARY LEADER OR
CIVILIAN LEADER, FOR THAT
MATTER, WITH THE COMBINATION OF
CHARISMA AND INTELLECT THAT
GENERAL PETRAEUS POSSESSES.
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
AND I AND THE SENATOR FROM
CONNECTICUT, SENATOR LIEBERMAN,
AND I HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
AMONG MANY VISITS THAT WE'VE
MADE TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN --
ONE, 4th OF JULY IN 2007, TO
BE PRESENT AT A REENLISTMENT
PALACE IN BAGHDAD.
SERVICE THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF HOW TO
SPECTATORS, AND THERE WAS WELL
OVER 200 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO
HAD AGREED TO REENLIST, TO
CONTINUE TO SERVE IN IRAQ WHEN
THEY COULD HAVE FULFILLED THEIR
COMMITMENT THAT THEY MADE TO
SERVE US IN THE MILITARY AND GO
HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES AND A
GRATEFUL NATION.
INSTEAD, THEY CHOSE TO REENLIST,
TO STAY AND CONTINUE THE FIGHT.
THAT THE SAME CEREMONY THERE WAS
-- AT THAT SAME CEREMONY, THERE
WAS -- PART OF THAT CEREMONY WAS
TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF
CITIZENSHIP TO OVER 75 PEOPLE
WHO WERE NOT BORN IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, WHO WERE NOT
CITIZENS, WHO WERE GREEN
CARDHOLDERS, WHO WERE LEGALLY IN
THE UNITED STATES AS GREEN
CARDHOLDERS, BUT HAD JOINED THE
MILITARY IN ORDER TO SERVE AND
TO ACHIEVE AN ACCELERATED PATH
TO CITIZENSHIP.
WHAT STRUCK ME AT THAT CEREMONY
WAS THAT IN THE FRONT ROW THERE
WERE THREE EMPTY SEATS WITH
BOOTS ON THEM OF INDIVIDUALS WHO
WERE GREEN CARDHOLDERS WHO WERE
SCHEDULED TO TAKE THE OATH OF
CITIZENSHIP AND WHO HAD BEEN
KILLED IN THE PREVIOUS FEW DAYS
IN ACTION, SERVING THEIR COUNTRY
IN IRAQ.
I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SPEAK.
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
SPOKE.
THE SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT
SPOKE.
BUT WHEN GENERAL DAVID PATRAEUS
SPOKE TO THOSE ASSEMBLED MEN AND
WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING THEIR
COUNTRY, IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS OF
THE NOT ONLY RESPECT BUT
ADORATION THAT EVERY ARE YOU ONE -- THAT
EVERY ONE OF THOSE YOUNG
AMERICANS FELT FOR THE
INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP THAT
GENERAL PETRAEUS HAD PROVIDED
THEM.
AND I MIGHT POINT OUT THAT IT
WAS A TIME WHEN MOST EXPERTS AND
MANY POLITICIANS AND MEMBERS OF
THIS BODY PREDICTED THAT THE
SURGE WOULD FAIL.
WELL, I THINK WHAT THEY DIDN'T
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WAS THE
INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRATEGY
THAT WAS EMBODIED BY GENERAL
DAVID PATRAEUS AND THE YOUNG MEN
AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING.
SO I AM CONFIDENT THAT AS WE
CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST
AL QAEDA AND THE RADICAL ISLAMIC
EXTREMISTS THAT WANT TO ATTACK
AND DESTROY OUR COUNTRY THAT
GENERAL DAVID PATRAEUS, NOW
DIRECTOR OF THE C.I.A. -- SOON
TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE C.I.A.,
WILL PROVIDE OUR NATION WITH THE
VERY BEST STRATEGY, TACTICS, AND
THOUGHT AND ACTION TO KEEP OUR
NATION SAFE.
SO I DON'T VERY OFTEN,
MR. PRESIDENT, COME AND TALK
ABOUT NOMINEES AND SPEND THE
SENATE'S TIME.
BUT I KNOW THAT I EXPRESS THE
APPRECIATION AND AFFECTION OF
ALL THOSE MEN AND WOMEN BOTH
SERVING NOW AND IN THE PAST WHO
HAD THE GREAT HONOR AND
PRIVILEGE OF SERVING UNDER
GENERAL PETRAEUS AND TO WISH HIM
WELL-DONE AND SMOOTH SAILING AND
FOLLOWING WINDS AS HE ASSUMES
HIS NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH
WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AMERICA
MR. PRESIDENT?
SAFE.
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WELL, I JUST WANT
TO ECHO WHAT SENATOR McCAIN
SAID.
I THINK OUR AMERICAN MILITARY
WILL BE STUDYING THE PETRAEUS
TACTICS AND STRATEGY THAT HE
IMPLEMENTED IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN FOR GENERATIONS TO
COME.
AND IN JANUARY OF 2007, WHEN THE
SURGE WAS ANNOUNCED, I HAD THE
PLEASURE OF BEING OVER IN IRAQ
IN APRIL.
BUT I REMEMBER A LETTER ISSUED
BY GENERAL PETRAEUS TO ALL THOSE
UNDER HIS COMMAND, AND IT WAS
BASICALLY ENTITLED "HEART "HARD IS NOT
HOPELESS."
HE EXPLAINED IN GREAT DETAIL IN
THE LETTER HOW WE WOULD MOVE
FORWARD AS A NATION, THAT IT
WOULD BE DIFFICULT, IT WOULD BE
HARD, BUT IT IS NOT HOPELESS,
AND I HAVE SEEN THE INSPIRATION
HE PROVIDES TO OUR MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM, AND I CANNOT TELL
YOU HOW MUCH THIS COUNTRY OWES
GENERAL PETRAEUS AND HIS FAMILY.
HE'S BEEN DEPLOYED ALMOST
CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 2001, BUT
WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH
IN IRAQ WITH THE HELP OF THOSE
UNDER HIS COMMAND -- AND HE'LL
BE THE FIRST TO SAY THEY DESERVE
THE CREDIT -- AND NOW
AFGHANISTAN -- HE CAME INTO
AFGHANISTAN UNDER VERY DIFFICULT
CIRCUMSTANCES, LOSING A
COMMANDER IN THE FIELD, AND THE
PROGRESS IN OF THE IN THE LAST YEAR HAS
BEEN STUNNING.
THEWE HAVE A NEW TRAINING PROGRAM
TO TRAIN AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES
THAT WILL PAY GREAT DIVIDENDS.
TO THE PRESIDENT, HE YOU HAVE
CHOSEN WISELY.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT DIRECTOR
PETRAEUS WILL DOS A GOOD A JUBE
-- WILL DO AS GOOD JOB AS
DIRECTOR PETRAEUS.
FOLLOWING LEON PANETTA WHO DID A
GOOD JOB, WE ARE IN GOOD HANDS.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANY SINGLE
PERSON UNDERSTANDS THE THREATS
AMERICA FACES BETTER THAN
GENERAL PETRAEUS.
AND AT THE C.I.A. HE'LL HAVE
CHANCE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE
ENEMY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
WE WILL NOT HAVE AVAILABLE
FOREVER 100,000 TROOPS TO BE
USED IN THEATERS OF BATTLE.
WE'RE GOING TO BRING OUR TROOPS
HOPEHOME IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
CONDITIONS.
I HOPE WE DO IT SMARTLY BASED ON
BUT THIS FIGHT IS MORPHING INTO
OTHER COUNTRIES, AND THE C.I.A.
IS PLAYING A MORE CRUCIAL ROLE
IN OUR NATION'S DEFENSE THAN IN
ANY TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE
C.I.A.
SO WE WILL BE BLESSED TO HAVE
DAVE PETRAEUS TO BE DRERVEGHT
C.I.A.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE THREATS.
I THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO
MARSHAL THE RESOURCES OF THE
C.I.A. TO KEEP THE ENEMY ON
THEIR HEELS AND TO REINFORCE TO
OUR ALLIES THAT WE ARE A
RELIABLE PARTNER AND TO OUR
ENEMIES THERE IS NO PLACE YOU
CAN HIDE.
THERE'S NO PASSAGE OF THYME WILL
KEEP YOU SAFE FROM -- PASSAGE OF
TIME THAT WILL KEEP YOU SAFE
FROM AMERICAN JUSTICE.
I HOPE THE SENATE WILL LISTEN TO
GENERAL PETRAEUS, WHO WILL SOON
BE DIRECTOR PETRAEUS, ABOUT HOW
TO MAKE SURE THE C.I.A. IS
EQUIPPED AND FUNDED TO TAKE THEN
MI ON.
IN THIS WAR ON TERROR, WE ARE
FIGHTING AN IDEA.
THERE IS NO CAPITOL TO CONQUER,
NO A 5EU6RS TO SHOOT DOWN, NO
NAVY TO SINK.
WE ARE BATTLING AND IDEA.
AND THE WAY WE ULTIMATE ULTIMATELY BECOME
SAFE IS THE TO FIGHT THE WILL OF
THOSE WITH THE TERRORISTS IN
THEIR BACKYARD.
LET THE TERRORISTS KNOW THAT WE
WILL FOLLOW TO YOU THE GATES OF
HELL, THAT WE WILL NEVER RELENT
AND THE C.I.A. AND THE BRAVE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THAT
ORGANIZATION ARE BECOMING THE
TIP OF THE SNEER THIS BATTLE.
WHAT HAPPENED IN SOMALIA
YESTERDAY WAS, WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IN YEMEN
AND SOMALIA IS A DIRECT RESULT
OF GOOD INTELLIGENCE AND
NATIONAL L SO TO SENATOR
McCAIN, AND THOSE WHO HAVE GOT
TO KNOW GENERAL PETRAEUS, I CAN
ASSURE YOU THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
CHOSE WISELY.
THIS IS THE PERFECT JOB FOR DAVE
NATION.
PETRAEUS TO TAKE UP FOR THE
HE HAS THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE
THREATS THAT WE FACE AND THE
C.I.A. IS THE PLATFORM WE'LL BE
USING AGAINST THE ENEMY MORE
EFFECTIVELY THAN ANY OTHER
PLATFORM I KNOW.
SO WITH THAT, I LOOK FORWARD TO
QUAFTCASTING MY VOTE FOR DIRECTOR OF
THE C.I.A., DAVE PETRAEUS.
AINTDZ HOPE EVERYBODY IN THIS
BODY WILL PROVIDE A VOTE OF
CONFIDENCE TO GENERAL PETRAEUS.
HE'S EARNED THIS.
AMERICA IS IN GOOD HAND WITH
DAVE PETRAEUS BEING THE C.I.A.
DIRECTOR.
WITH THAT, I YIELD.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
STPHAO
QUORUM CALL:
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
QUESTION IS ON THE PETRAEUS
NOMINATION.
THERE APPEARS A SUFFICIENT
SECOND.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY SENATORS WHO HAVE NOT YET
VOTED OR WHO WISH TO CHANGE
THEIR VOTE?
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY SENATORS WHO HAVE NOT YET
VOTED OR WHO WISH TO CHANGE
THEIR VOTE?
IF NOT, ON THIS VOTE, THE YEAS
ARE 94, THE NAYS ARE 0, AND THE
NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS
CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID UPON
THE TABLE, THE PRESIDENT WILL BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION AND THE SENATE
WILL RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
I ASK UNANIMOUS
MAJORITY LEADER.
CONSENT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BE
AUTHORIZED TO MEET TODAY AT 3:00
P.M.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
MR. PRESIDENT,
I OBJECT.
OBJECTION
IS HEARD.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOW
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT AT
4:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JULY 5,
THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF CALENDAR NUMBER
88, S. J. RES. 20, A JOINT
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE
LIMITED USE OF THE UNITED STATES
ARMED FORCES IN SUPPORT OF THE
NATO MISSION IN LIBYA.
[INAUDIBLE]
A SENATOR: I REALIZE THIS IS A
VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT A NUMBER OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE WORKED VERY HARD
TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE FLOOR
FLOOR.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IT
SIMPLY DOESN'T ADDRESS THE FACT
NATION.
THAT WE'RE BANKRUPTING THIS
OBJECTION
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I DO OBJECT.
IS HEARD.
NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THERE WILL BE NO --
MR. PRESIDENT, PRIOR TO THE
CHAIR CALLING FOR THE QUORUM
THERE, WILL BE -- I'VE CONFERRED
WITH MY FRIEND, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER, AND THERE WILL BE NO
MORE VOTES TODAY OR TOMORROW.
THE FIRST VOTE WILL BE NEXT
TUESDAY.
NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT, ARE WE
IN A QUORUM CALL?
YES.
I ASK CONSENT THAT BE
TERMINATED.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
PROCEED FOR A PERIOD OF MORNING
BUSINESS FOR DEBATE ONLY UNTIL
6:00 P.M. TONIGHT WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN
MINUTES EACH DURING THAT PERIOD
WITHOUT
OF TIME.
OBJECTION.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I -- I REGRET THAT OUR
COLLEAGUES HAVE OBJECTED TO
CONSENT TO GO TO SOME OF THE
MOST CRITICAL ISSUES THE COUNTRY
ARE FACING, TO HAVE THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE MEET ON TRADE
AGREEMENTS THAT COULD EXPAND
MARKETS AND ULTIMATELY CREATE
JOBS HERE IN AMERICA, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE NEED IN AMERICA IS
CREATING JOBS.
THAT ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER
THERE SHOULD BE A LIMITED USE OF
FORCE THAT THE COUNTRY AND
PARTICULARLY THE SENATE SHOULD
SPEAK AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO
THAT IS PRETTY AMAZING TO ME.
AND SO I HEAR A LOT ABOUT
WANTING TO GET THE PEOPLE'S WORK
DONE BUT THEN I HEAR OBJECTIONS
TO TRYING TO MOVE ON GET THE
PEOPLE'S WORK DONE.
IT'S A PRETTY -- PRETTY
OUTRAGEOUS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO -- I
CAME ORIGINALLY TO THE FLOOR
AFTER THIS VOTE TO THANK
PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR YESTERDAY
CALLING AND ECHOING MY CALL TO
END SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL.
IT'S A CALL THAT RECEIVED A
BIPARTISAN VOTE HERE IN THE
SENATE, A BIPARTISAN MAJORITY
VOTE HERE IN THE SENATE, BUT, OF
COURSE, DID NOT PASS.
DID NOT AS IF BECAUSE OF OUR
COLLEAGUES'COLLEAGUES' INSISTENCE ON A
AMOUNT.
FILIBUSTER FOR A SUPERMAJORITY
BUT IT'S TIME THAT OUR FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
PUT THE INTERESTS OF TAXPAYERS
AHEAD OF BIG OIL AND ALLOW THESE
WASTEFUL SUBSIDIES TO FINALLY
END.
AS THE PRESIDENT SAID, WE HAVE
DEFICIT.
STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE
LIKE MY LEGISLATION TO CUT OIL
SUBSIDIES THAT ARE ALREADY
INTRODUCED AND READY TO GO.
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PASS
IT.
AND A VOTE TO ALLOW THAT TO
EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER.
HAPPEN IS A SIMPLE CHOICE FOR
ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF
SENIORS?
WORKING-CLASS FAMILIES AND
OR ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF BIG
OIL?
NOW, THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS TO
CUT THE DEFICIT, BUT SAVING
TAXPAYER SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL
WHILE ENDING MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
IT AND CUTTING STUDENT LOANS IS
NOT, IN MY MIND, A SOLUTION.
IT MAKES NO SENSE,
MR. PRESIDENT, TO GIVE A
TAXPAYER H. FUNDED OF IT FUNDED DISOIB TO
THE BIG FIVE OIL COMPANIES
EARNING HUGE PROFITS A MONTH,
THEY'RE GOING TO EARN ABOUT $144
BILLION THIS PROFITS THIS YEAR
ALONE AND SAY TO FAMILIES, OH,
NO, YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE EVEN
MORE.
NOW, THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WOULD TELL A
MIDDLE-CLASS STUDENT, WHOSE
FAMILY EARNS A MEDIUM FAMILY
INCOME OF ABOUT A LITTLE OVER
$50,000, THAT, NO, YOU CAN'T GO
TO COLLEGE.
YOU CAN'T GET A PELL GRANT FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT EXXONMOBIL, A COMPANY THAT
WILL EARN $42.6 BILLION IN
PROFITS THIS YEAR, NEEDS
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO COME
TO THIS FLOOR, LOOK AMERICA IN
THE EYE, AND SAY THAT THAT
SOMEHOW IS COMMONSENSE DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, THERE SIMPLY IS
NO COMMONSENSE EXPLANATION FOR
BALANCING THE BUDGET ON THE
BACKS OF WORKING FAMILIES AND
LETTING MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR OIL
COMPANIES KEEP BILLIONS IN
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
SO, WE HAVE THIS DEBATE ABOUT
THE DEFICIT AND HOW WE DEAL WITH
THE DEBT CEILING, BUT WE DON'T
SEEM TO WANT TO HAVE THE SHARED
SACRIFICE OF HAVING THE SPECIAL
INTERESTS IN THIS COUNTRY,
WHETHER IT IS BIG OIL OR
ETHANOL, WHICH HAD A HUGE
BIPARTISAN VOTE HERE IN THE
SENATE, THAT THEY SHOULD NOT
FACE ANY CONSEQUENCES BUT THAT,
IN FACT, MIDDLE-CLASS WORKING
FAMILIES SHOULD.
WE ALL KNOW THAT OIL COMPANIES
ARE AMONG THE LARGEST, MOST
PROFITABLE COMPANIES IN THE
WORLD.
BUT SOMEHOW IT'S HARD TO
UNDERSTAND THE SCALE OF THEIR
WEALTH, AND I THINK THIS CHART
SHOWS IT VERY CLEARLY.
HERE'S OUR CHOICES.
THIS IS THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR
FAMILIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS BIG OIL'S PROFITS.
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON?
AND YOU KNOW IT IS ABOUT CLOSING
LOOPHOLES, WHICH GIVEN THE
CURRENT BUDGET CLIMATE, YOU
WOULD THINK THAT WE'RE ALL FOR
CLOSING THOSE LOOPHOLES.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE
ARE.
OF WHAT ONE OF THOSE LOOPHOLES
UNDER THE LAW AS IT EXISTS
TODAY, WE ALLOW THE BIG FIVE OIL
COMPANIES TO GO TO OTHER
COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, TO SAY
TO THEM, YOU KNOW, TAX US IN A
WAY THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT AND
ULTIMATELY REDUCE OUR
OBLIGATIONS HERE IN THE U.S.
SO SINCE U.S. TAXPAYERS ARE
TAXED ON THEIR INCOME WORLDWIDE
BUT ARE ENTITLED FOR A
DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR TAX CREDIT FOR
ANY INCOME THEY PAY TO A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT, WHICH MAKES SENSE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO TAX
OUR COMPANIES TWICE, BUT U.S.
OIL AND GAS COMPANIES HAVE VERY
SMART LAWYERS AND ACCOUNTANTS
AND THEY FIGURED OUT THAT IF YOU
GO IF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT LIKE
I UNDERSTAND NIECE SHAH AND YOU
STY THEM, DON'T CHARGE ME A
LICENSE FEE, DON'T CHARGE ME A
ROYALTY, WHEYS WE DO HERE IN THE
-- WHICH IS WHAT WE DO HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES TO PERMIT
THESE COMPANIES TO EXPLORE ON
FEDERAL LANDS AND WATERS FOR OIL
AND GAS, WE CHARGE THEM A
ROYALTY.
NO, THEY SAY TO INDONESIA AND
OTHER COUNTRIES, CHARGE ME A
TAX.
WHY?
BECAUSE THEN I CAN TAKE ALL OF
THAT TANCHES WHICH REALLY IS A
LICENSE FEE, BUT NOW PAY IT AS A
TAX, AND I CAN DEDUCT IT BACK
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN,
THAT MEANS THAT AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING
FOREIGN OIL PRODUCTION.
THAT'S NOT IN THE NATIONAL
INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES.
IT IS NOT IN THE INTEREST OF
TAXPAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IT ISN'T ABOUT SHARED
SACRIFICE WHEN WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH DEFICIT
AND DEBT IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND JUST CLOSING THAT LOOPHOLE
WOULD CLOSE $6.5 BILLION TO THE
TREASURY THAT COULD BE PUT DRAIL
TO DEFICIT REDUCTION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'M ONLY
TALKING ABOUT CLOSING TWO
LOOPHOLES FOR THE BIG FIVE OIL
COMPANIES WHO ARE GOING TO MAKE
$144 BILLION IN PROFIT.
JUST CLOSING THOSE TWO LOOPHOLES
WOULD SAVE THE U.S. TAXPAYER $21
BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
NOW, SOME OF MY FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THEY
SAY, OH, WELL IF YOU DO THAT TO
THOSE POOR OIL COMPANIES,
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO RAISE THE
PRICE OF GASOLINE.
AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT $21 BILLION OVER TEN
YEARS, OR ROUGHLY $2 BILLION A
YEAR.
SO THOSE POOR OIL COMPANIES, IF
THEY'D ONLY MAKE $142 BILLION IN
PROFITS THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF
$144 BILLION IN PROFITS THIS
YEAR, WOULD NOT HAVE TO RAISE
GAS PRICES, BECAUSE THEY'RE
MAKING $142 BILLION A YEAR, SO
THEY CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO
RAISE GAS PRICES.
AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T NEED TO
INCENTIVIZE THEIR EXPLORATION
BECAUSE THEY'RE MAKING RECORD
PROFITS IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND IN THE WORLD.
THEY DON'T NEED US TO
INCENTIVIZE THEM WHEN THEY'RE
MAKING $144 BILLION IN PROFITS.
$21 BILLION.
SO LET'S SAVE THE TAXPAYERS THAT
LET'S PUT IT DIRECTLY TO DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
AND ONLY IN WASHINGTON -- ONLY
IN WASHINGTON WOULD MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS SUGGEST THAT
STOPPING THOSE SUBSIDIES TO BIG
OIL IS SOMEHOW GOING TO BE A TAX
INCREASE.
ONLY IN WASHINGTON COULD ENDING
$21 BILLION IN SUBSIDIES TO THE
BIG FIVE OIL COMPANIES -- WE'RE
NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE
INDEPENDENTS WHO ARE GOINGINDEPENDENTS -- WHO ARE GOING TO
MAKE $144 BILLION IN PROFITS
THIS YEAR, THAT'S SOMEHOW A TAX
INCREASE.
YET WE'LL TAKE AWAY PELL GRANTS
OR DRAMATICALLY REDUCE THEM.
WE'LL CUT SENIORS UNDER
MEDICARE, THE POOR UNDER
COMAIRKSD AND THAT'S OKAY.
THAT VISION OF AMERICA.
WELL, SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH
AND DWROWS BACK UP MYAND JUST
TO BACK UP MY POINT THAT THE
ARGUMENT IS FELL LAY SCHUSS, YOU
NEED TO LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE
BEGINNIVE REPORT BY THE
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
THAT EXPLAINS THAT IT WILL NOT
LOWER THE PRODUCTION OF OIL AND
WILL NOT RAISE GASOLINE PRICES.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU DRIVE UP
TO THE PUMP, YOU PAY NEARLY $4 A
GALLON ALREADY, IT HAS A REAL
IMPACT ON YOUR FAMILY, HAS A
REAL IMPACT ON YOUR INCOME, HAS
A REAL IMPACT ON YOUR CHOICES,
HAS A REAL IMPACT ON FOOD
PRICES, HAS A REAL IMPACT IN SO
MANY WAY, AND YET WE'RE STILL
SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE OIL
COMPANIES ANOTHER $21 BILLION IN
TAX BREAKS BY THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYER.
IT'S TIME TO STAND UP FOR THE
PEOPLE'S INTEREST, NOT THE
SPECIAL INTERESTS.
BREAKS.
IT'S TIME TO END THESE TAX
IT'S TIME TO PUT IT AS A REVENUE
SOURCE INTO OUR CHALLENGES IN
TERMS OF MEETING OUR DEBT AND
DEALING WITH OUR DEFICIT.
AND OUR PROPOSAL WOULD DO
EXACTLY THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND LOOK
THEM IN THE EYE AND SAY, WE'RE
GOING TO CUT SO MANY THINGS THAT
ARE GOING TO AFFECT YOUR LIFE,
BUT ON THIS ISSUE, WE'RE GOING
TO KEEP BIG OIL WHOLE.
WE'RE GOING TO NOT TOUCH A PENNY
FROM THEIR POCKETS.
THAT'S FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG AND
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IT.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ENTER
INTO A COLLOQUY WITH MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES FOR UP TO
30 MINUTES.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
A SENATOR: THANK YOU,
MR. CHAIRMAN.
FIRST OF ALL, I
WOULD LIKE TO SAY I AM VERY