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QUORUM CALL: PROCEEDINGS UNDER
THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
JOHN WOODEN, THE
LEGENDARY UYLA BASKETBALL COACH
WHO WON MORE DIVISION ONE NCAA
CHAMPIONSHIPS THAN ANYONE ELSE
ONCE SAID -- QUOTE -- "DO NOT
LET WHAT YOU CAN NOT DO
INTERFERE WITH WHAT YOU CAN DO."
END QUOTE.
IT TAKES TEAM WORK TO WIN TEN
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
I RISE TODAY TO RECOGNIZE THE
REMARKABLE TEAMWORK,
CHAMPIONSHIP-LEVEL TEAMWORK
MONTANA.
WE'RE SEEING BACK HOME IN
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE COME
TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO SHARE
STORIES ABOUT THE REMARKABLE
ACROSS MONTANA.
ACTIONS TAKEN BY REGULAR FOLKS
DIFFERENCE.
THEIR TEAMWORK IS MAKING A HUGE
JOHN WOODEN WOULD HAVE BEEN
PROUD TO COACH THIS TEAM.
THIS IS A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.
AND WE NEED THIS KIND OF
TEAMWORK.
FLOODING CONTINUES TO DAMAGE
ACROSS MONTANA.
PROPERTY AND DESTRUCT LIVES
THE PRESIDENT HAS ISSUED A MAJOR
DISASTER DECLARATION.
WARM WEATHER THREAT TONS UNLOCK
WATER STORED AT RECORD LEVELS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE
THIS.
THE OLD TIMERS AT HOME HAVE
NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS,
QUICKLY.
SO MUCH SNOW YET MELTING SO
THE CHART TO MY LEFT IS PART OF
ANYWAY, WOLF POINT, MONTANA.
IT SITS ALONG THE MIGHTY
MISSOURI RIVER.
FLOOD WATERS HIT HARD, HIT FAST,
FORCING 40 FAMILIES FROM THEIR
HOMES.
MANY STILL UNABLE TO RETURN.
DARRIN FALCON, PICTURED HERE, IS
DEPARTMENT.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROADS
HE HAS USED HIS EXPERTISE AS AN
ENGINEER TO HELP HIS NEIGHBORS
ON PROJECTS OF EVERY SCALE.
HE CONSTRUCTED DIKES TO PREVENT
FLOOD WATERS FROM DAMAGING MORE
HOMES.
HE DELIVERED SANDBAGS TO
TKREPBTS TO PROTECT MAY --
RESIDENTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE.
IN ONE INSTANCE AN HE ELDERLY
NEIGHBOR WAS STRANDED.
FALCON GOT RIGHT TO WORK AND
HELPED BUILD A NEW ROAD SO HIS
NEIGHBOR COULD SPEND THAT NIGHT
AT HOME.
FALCON'S WORK ETHIC MAKES HIM A
REAL MONTANA HERO.
THE MALK RIVER HAS BEEN DUMPING
WATER INTO GASGLOVE FOR WEEKS.
THE COUNTY ROADS SUPERVISOR
WORKED ENDLESS HOURS TO KEEP
ROADS OPEN AFTER THE RIVER BURST
ITS BANKS.
IN A CRISIS LIKE THIS ROADS ARE
LIFELINES.
ROADS MEAN ACCESS TO A DOCTOR.
ROADS MEAN GROCERIES, FRESH
WATER, AND RICK AND WAYNE
TEAMING UP WITH THE VALLEY
COUNTY ROAD CREW WENT ABOVE AND
BEYOND TO KEEP THESE VITAL
LIFELINES OPEN.
MEANWHILE ACROSS TOWN, TONYA
FRANCIS, METEOROLOGIST FOR THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, HAS
TAKEN EXTRAORDINARY STEPS TO
HELP HER FRIENDS AND HER
NEIGHBORS.
THIS IS TONYA.
SHE NEVER ABANDONED HER POST.
SHE SERVED AS THE VOICE OF
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ACROSS
NORTHEASTERN MONTANA.
TONYA KNEW HER NEIGHBORS.
SHE KNEW THEY DEPENDED ON HER
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER REPORTS.
AND BEYOND THAT, OF ALL THINGS,
TONYA, DESPITE A BROKEN LEG IN A
CAST, SPENT HOURS FILLING
SANDBAGS TO PROTECT HOMES ALONG
CHERRY CREEK.
TONYA
WENT BEYOND THE CALL FOR DUTY TO
MIKE SURE HER NEIGHBORS WERE
SAFE THROUGHOUT THE DISASTER.
TON YARKS I MIGHT SAY TO YOU,
TAKE SOME TIME OUT.
LET THAT BROKEN LEG HEAL.
TONYA ASKED THAT THE ENTIRE TEAM
AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
BE RECOGNIZED.
THAT'S JUST HOW GENEROUS SHE IS.
SHE DOESN'T WANT IT FOR HER.
IT IS HER TEAM.
WORKING TOGETHER, THEY HELPED
GLASSGLASCO WEATHER THIS.
IN NORM AT WEEKS, JEFF ROSENBERG
HELPS.
HE MAKES SURE STUDENTS HAVE A
SAFE AND COMFORTABLE PLACE TO
STAY DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS MONTH JEFF HAD EXTRA WORK,
WORK HE VERY MUCH ENJOYED DOING.
HE CONVERTED A RESIDENCE HALL
FAMILIES.
INTO A HALL FOR DISPLACED
I SAW IT.
I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.
JEFF WORKING 15-HOUR DAYS TO
MAKE SURE EVERYONE FELT WELCOME,
HE DELIVERED FOOD, WATER TO
HUNGRY FAMILIES, ALSO MADE SURE
EVERYONE HAD THE LATEST
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLOODS.
ASK ANYONE ON THE TEAM HELPING
THESE FAMILIES, THEY'LL TELL YOU
JEFF WAS THE TEAM CAPTAIN.
HIS GENERAL GENEROSITY WILL LONG BE
REMEMBERED.
THE TEAMWORK BETWEEN OUR LOCAL
EMERGENCY COORDINATORS AND CREWS
HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
THE COORDINATORS ARE THE GO-TO
LEADERS TO HELP THEIR
COMMUNITIES RESPOND TO AND
RECOVER FROM FLOODS.
THEY ARE THE FIRST TO BE CALLED
TO HELP AND THE LAST TO LEAVE.
MONTANA'S DISASTER EMERGENCY
NONSTOP.
SERVICES TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING
THEY ARE A MODEL OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, AND I HOPE MONTANANS
EVERYWHERE WILL REACH OUT AND
SHAKE THEIR HAND, E-MAIL, WRITE
THROWER THANK THESE HEROES FOR
THEIR SERVICE.
THESE REMARKABLE MONTANANS
REMIND US THAT SOMETIMES IT'S
ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK.
WE'RE THE STRONG WHEFT WE WORK
TOGETHER, AND I AM PROUD OF
THESE STORIES AND ASK MONTANANS
SHARE THEIR STORIES ARE ORDINARY
FOLKS DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
FOR THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,
WHETHER USING FACEBOOK, CALLING
MY OFFICE, WHATEVER WORKS.
WE WANT TO HELP BRING MONTANANS
EVEN CLOSER TOGETHER SHOWING
THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER.
SOMEONE ONCE OBSERVED,
MR. PRESIDENT, IN MONTANA IT IS
A BIG STATE, BIG GEOGRAPHY, NOT
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
MONTANA IS REALLY ONE SMALL
TOWN.
WE KNOW EACH OTHER.
WE'RE THERE TO HELP EACH OTHER
OUT, SPREAD OUT IN SPACE, BUT
TOGETHER IN SPIRIT.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SHARE A
HUMBLE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
MONTANA'S HEROES BACK HOME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO
WITHOUT YOU.
THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR YOUR
SERVICE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR
AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MISSOURI.
A SENATOR: I MOVE TO VITIATE
THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
A SENATOR: THANK YOU.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK
WE SHOULD BE DOING.
WE ARE DISCUSSING WHO WE'RE
GOING TO BE AS A COUNTRY.
ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A
COUNTRY THAT BELIEVES THAT WE
NEED TO HELP CREATE OPPORTUNITY?
ARE WE GOING TO BE A COUNTRY
THAT BELIEVES THAT THE
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO ACCEPT MORE
AND MORE OF THE CHALLENGES OF
LIFE?
OUR DEBT IS OVER $14 TRILLION
AND APPARENTLY THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
SO EVERY DISCUSSION IN
WASHINGTON, INCLUDING SOME AT
YOUR END, ARE FOCUSING ON THE
IDEA OF HOW DO WE GET EVEN MORE
ABILITY TO BORROW MORE MONEY SO
WE CAN PAY OFF THE MONEY WE'VE
ALREADY BORROWED.
THERE ARE 13
MILLION AMERICANS OUST WORK
TODAY LOORKING FOR A JOB, AND WE
CONTINUE DURING THAT PROCESS TO
SPEND MONEY WE DON'T HAVE FOR
THINGS WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED
TOTALLY ON TWO THINGS COME
DOMESTICALLY RIGHT NOW.
AT THE TOP OF EVERY LIST SHOULD
BE WHAT DO WE DO TO CREATE MORE
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS, AND HOW DO
WE GET FEDERAL SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL?
NOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T CREATE PRIVATE-SECTOR
JOBS, AND IN VERY MANY INSTANCES
THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHERE THE
PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT -- BY THE
WAY, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR
FOR 30 YEARS, I HOPE WE'RE
INVESTING IN SOMETHING THAT
WOULD LAST FOR 30 YEARS.
BUT MOST OF WHAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT COULD DO THAT IMPACTS
JOBS IS CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE
THAT TAKES ALL THE UNCERTAINTY
OUT OF THAT DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS THAT GOVERNMENT CAN.
THERE ARE ENOUGH RISKS IN
CREATING JOBS WITHOUT HAVING THE
AADDITIONAL RISK OF HOW FAST CAN
THE UTILITY BILL GO UP, HOW HIGH
ARE THE TAXES GO TO BE, WHAT NEW
UNKNOWN REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO DEAL WITH?
AND FRANKLY THOSE ARE THE WRONG
MESSAGES IN ALL THREE OF THOSE
AREAS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HOPE TO
BE FOCUSED ON THAT IDEA OF HOW
DO WE CREATE JOBS FOR THOSE 13
MILLION AMERICANS THAT ARE
LOOKING FOR JOBS AND BETTER JOBS
FOR THE AMERICANS THAT HAVE
JOBS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENCOURAGE
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOB CREATION FOR
THE FUTURE?
IN SPENDING, WE'RE NOW SPEND AT
THE FEDERAL LEVEL ALMOST $1 OUT
OF $4, RIGHT AT $1 OUT OF $4
THAT THE ECONOMY CAN CREATE IN
GOODS AND SERVICES.
THE NUMBER FOR 40 YEARS ENDING
IN 2008 WAS $1 OUT OF $5.
THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN
AN ECONOMY -- WHO COMPETES FOR
THAT DOLLAR THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS NOW SPENDING THAT
FOR 40 YEARS WAS AVAILABLE FOR
SOMEBODY ELSE TO GET THEIR HANDS
ON AND USE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
WE'VE GOT TO GHAT UNDER CONTROL.
-- WE'VE GOT TO TBHEAT UNDER
CONTROL.
THE COCHAIRS OF THE PRESIDENT'S
OWN FISCAL COMMISSION SAY THAT
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE MOST
PREDICTABLE ECONOMIC CRISIS IN
THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY.
THERE IS A TRAIN MOVING DOWN A
TRACK TO A DESTINATION THAT
NOBODY WANTS TO GO, AND IT
CONTINUES TO MOVE AT THAT SAME
SPEED.
IT IS TOTALLY PREDICTABLE.
IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT.
AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SPEND
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $3.7 TRILLION
AND $3.8 TRILLION IN THIS
SPENDING YEAR AND COLLECT $2.2
TRILLION.
AND I'VE SAID ON THIS FLOOR
BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
SURE ANYBODY REALLY HAS A GOOD
GRASP OF WHAT $3.8 TRILLION IS,
BUT WE DO KNOW IF YOU'RE MAKING
$22,000, AND YOU'RE SPENDING
$38,000, AWRCHEDZ A ALREADY
BORROWED ALL -- AND YOU'VE
ALREADY BORROWED ALL THE MONEY
ANYBODY SHOULD HAVE LOANED YOU,
YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU
CAN'T DEAL WITH FOR VERY LONG
WITHOUT CHANGING BEHAVIOR.
CHANGE.
I THINK THAT BEHAVIOR HAS TO
IT HAS TO CHANGE IN WAYS THAT
LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS THAT WIPE
UNTIL NOW HAVE JUST BEEN ABLE TO
DEFINE WHO BENEFITS FROM THE
PROGRAM WITHOUT ANY REAL
CONTROLS OVER HOW THAT MONEY IS
SPENT.
WE'VE GOT THIS YEAR THE $2.2
TRILLION THAT I MENTIONED THAT
COLLECTED.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
THAT ALL WAS SPENT BY THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE NORMALLY DON'T
EVEN APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR
BECAUSE WE'VE DEFINED WHO GETS
THAT MONEY.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,
THOSE PROGRAMS EXCEEDED ALL THE
MONEY THAT CAME IN.
MOST OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE OF
COURSE THE BIG PROGRAMS THAT WE
WANT TO BE SURE ARE THERE AS
SAFETY NETS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN TOLD THEY NEED TO RELY ON
THEM.
I THINK 80% OF THAT SIDE OF THE
BUDGET IS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
WE NEED TO SEE WHAT WE DO SO
THOSE PROGRAMS CAN CONTINUE TO
WORK, BUT IF ALL OF THAT SIDE OF
THE BUDGET SPENT AUTUMN OF THE
MONEY D. -- SPENT ALL OF THE
MONEY, THAT MEANS EVERY OTHERY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENT FOR
AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, FOR
SOMEBODY TO OPEN THE GATES TO A
NATIONAL PARK, SADLY FOR
SOMEBODY TO PUT ON A MILITARY
UNIFORM, OR TO PUT A GALLON OF
A PLANE OR TO BUY A
GALLON OF PAINT FOR A SHIP, THAT
MONEY.
WAS ALL DONE WITH BORROWED
BORROWED MONEY.
WE ARE DEFENDING THE COUNTRY ON
THE NUMBER-ONE OBLIGATION OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS JUST THAT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
WE DO THAT STRUCTURALLY BEGINS
TO DEFINE HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY
THAT COMES IN AND WE DON'T SPEND
MORE MONEY THAT COMES IN.
THAT'S WHY, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M
AMENDMENT.
SUPPORTING THE BALANCED BUDGET
I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND A LOT
OF JULY TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE DO
TO GET THIS BUDGET BACK IN
BALANCE, HOW LONG IT TAKES, AND
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT THE
DEBATE BEING THE PRINCIPAL
DEBATE OF THE NEXT MONTH.
AND I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR MY
TIME BACK.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I'VE BEEN LISTENING VERY
CAREFULLY TO MY FRIEND'S REMARKS
ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, WHAT
IS IN FRONT OF US.
AND HIS PUSH, AS HE IS SPEAKING
FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, FOR A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
WELL, LET ME SAY THIS: I WANT A
BALANCED BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
AND I DON'T NEED AN AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION TO GET ME TO
VOTE FOR A BALANCED BUDGET.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS FOR ALL THE
SIDES TO COME TOGETHER, THAT'S
WHAT I WANT, AND WRITE A
BALANCED BUDGET.
AND DO IT IN A WAY THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE AND DO IT IN A WAY
THAT IS FAIR AND DO IT IN A WAY
THAT PROTECTS OUR MIDDLE CLASS,
PROTECTS OUR KIDS, AND
STIMULATES ECONOMIC GROWTH BY
MAKING SMART INVESTMENTS AND
CUTTING OUT SPENDING IN AREAS
WHERE WE REALLY DON'T NEED IT.
SO ALL THIS YAK ABOUT A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT -- AND I CALL
IT THAT AND I APOLOGIZE IF IT
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A DEROGATORY
TERM -- IS JUST SO MUCH TALK.
LET'S GET TO IT.
AND I THINK WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO
IS GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE AND THE
PARTY THAT WAS THE ONLY PARTY
AND THE ONLY PEOPLE TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET IN 40 YEARS.
AND I HATE TO BREAK IT TO MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, BUT IT'S THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WE'RE THE ONES WHO DID IT.
WE DID IT WHEN BILL CLINTON CAME
INTO OFFICE, WE DID IT AFTER
HARD WORK, WE DID IT AFTER
PAINFUL CUTS, WE DID IT WITH
SMART INVESTMENTS, WE DID IT
WITH EVERYBODY PAYING THEIR FAIR
SHARE, AND WE DIDN'T NEED A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION TO DO IT.
IT'S A GIMMICK.
WE NEED A BALANCED BUDGET, NOT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SO LET'S GO AND LOOK AT WHAT WE
DID THE LAST TIME THIS COUNTRY
EVER HAD A BALANCED BUDGET, AND
LUCKY FOR US IT WASN'T THAT LONG
AGO, AND LUCKY FOR US A LOT OF
FAITHFUL VOTE.
US ARE STILL HERE WHO MADE THAT
WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE REPUBLICAN
VOTING FOR THAT BUDGET.
AND WHEN THEY CAME TO THE FLOOR,
I HAVE ALL THE QUOTES, CHAPTER
AND VERSE.
THEY SAID THIS IS HORRIBLE, IT
WILL NEVER BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO A
DEPRESSION.
HISTORY.
THIS IS THE WORSE THING IN
DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?
WE NOT ONLY BALANCED THE BUDGET
BUT WE HAD A SURPLUS.
WE NOT ONLY HAD A SURPLUS BUT
THE DEBT WAS GOING DOWN SO FAST
THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER
AGAIN.
HAVE TO HAVE TREASURY BONDS
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WE CREATED
23 MILLION JOBS.
SO WHEN YOU -- I HOPE THE PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDS.
WHEN THEY HEAR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUE AFTER REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUE COME DOWN TO THE FLOOR
AND SAY WE NEED TO STAY IN ALL
THROUGH JULY, FINE WITH ME, I'LL
STAY HERE THROUGH AUGUST, I WILL
SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE
CLOAKROOM, I DON'T CARE.
LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
LET'S TALK ABOUT DOING THE HARD
WORK OF BALANCING THE BUDGET.
AND THE WAY YOU DO IT AGAIN IS
TO FOLLOW THE LEAD OF -- OF THE
PLAN THAT WAS LAID OUT BY
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND WORKED IN
THE MOST AMAZING WAY BEYOND OUR
GREATEST EXPECTATIONS.
WHAT DID WE DO?
WE LOOKED AT THIS DEFICIT AND WE
SAID THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WE WENT AFTER PROGRAMS THAT
MADE NO SENSE AND WE CUT THEM.
WE EITHER ELIMINATED THEM OR WE
CUT THEM BACK.
THEN WE SAID WHAT ARE SOME
INVESTMENTS WE COULD MAKE THAT
WOULD ACTUALLY STIMULATE GROWTH
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR?
AND MY FRIEND, SENATOR BLUNT, I
THOUGHT WAS RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT
WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO STIMULATE GROWTH IN
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND AT THAT
TIME THE INVESTMENTS WERE IN THE
HIGH TECH SIDE, HIGH TECH,
BIOTECH.
TODAY, CLEARLY IT'S CLEAN
ENERGY.
THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE WORLD
WANTS, THAT'S WHERE WE OUGHT TO
BE LEADING, THAT'S WHAT OUR
PRESIDENT KNOWS.
SO YOU CUT OUT PROGRAMS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE, YOU INVEST
WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO CREATE
DO.
JOBS, AND THEN GUESS WHAT YOU
YOU MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH
REVENUES COMING IN TO PAY FOR
YOUR PRIORITIES.
AND I GOT NEWS FOR MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS, IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
GO AFTER THE BILLIONAIRES.
YOU CAN'T GET YOURSELF TO DO IT,
CAN YOU?
THE BILLIONAIRES AND THE
MILLIONAIRES, THE PEOPLE WHO
AREN'T PAYING WHAT THEY SHOULD
BE PAYING.
BUT WHEN THE HOUSE HAD ITS
CHANCE, MADAM PRESIDENT, WHAT
DID IT DO?
IT ALLOWED THE BIGGEST TAX
BREAKS EVER TO CONTINUE FOR THE
BILLIONAIRES AND THE
MILLIONAIRES, AND THEY KILLED
MEDICARE.
MEDICARE IS GONE.
IT'S BECOMING SOME KIND OF A
VOUCHER PROGRAM OR YOU CAN
IMAGINE SOME 90-YEAR-OLD WOMAN
SUFFERING FROM A DISEASE HAS TO
NOW GO OUT AND TRY TO FIND OUT
WHERE SHE CAN BUY AN INSURANCE
PLAN, TELL ME WHO IS GOING TO
COVER HER, A, AND B, TELL ME IF
SHE HAS THE STRENGTH TO DO THAT.
AND C, HER MEDICARE BENEFIT NO
LONGER GOES TO HER.
IT GOES RIGHT TO THE INSURANCE
COMPANY.
THAT'S THE PLAN THE REPUBLICANS
PASSED IN THE HOUSE.
AND THEY CUT EVERYTHING THAT'S
NEAR AND DEAR TO THE HEARTS OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IN ADDITION TO MEDICARE, THEY
CUT EDUCATION, THEY CUT FUNDING
FOR CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER.
HIGHWAYS, THEY CUT BY A THIRD
AND HERE THEY TALK ABOUT JOBS ON
THE OTHER SIDE, PRIVATE SECTOR
JOBS.
THE HIGHWAY BILL CREATES
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF JOBS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
THEY CUT THAT BILL BY 36%.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF BALANCING THE
BUDGET -- AND THERE IS TALK FOR
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION -- WHY DON'T
YOU ASK THEM SHOW US YOUR
BALANCED BUDGET, BECAUSE THE ONE
THEY SHOWED US FROM THE HOUSE
WAS SUCH A DISASTER THAT THEY
LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT THEY
HAD HELD FOR ETERNITY.
IT'S EASY TO TALK ABOUT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
IT'S HARDER TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET IN A FAIR WAY, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
NOW, MY FRIEND, SENATOR BLUNT,
ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF JOBS.
HE IS SO RIGHT.
I JUST RAN FOR RE-ELECTION.
JOBS, JOBS, JOBS, THE TOP THREE
ISSUES.
GUESS WHAT?
MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS HAVE
FILIBUSTERED EVERY SINGLE JOBS
BILL WE BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.
THE LAST ONE, REALLY, I'M VERY
FAMILIAR WITH BECAUSE IT WAS A
BILL THAT CAME OUT OF MY
COMMITTEE.
THE WHOLE COMMITTEE VOTED WITH
ONE DISSENTING VOTE FOR THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE SEED
MONEY TO AREAS IN THE COUNTRY
THAT NEED JOB CREATION.
IT ATTRACTS $7 OF FUNDS FOR
EVERY DOLLAR OF FEDERAL MONEY.
IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A MILLION
JOBS OVER FIVE YEARS.
OH, THEY FILIBUSTERED IT.
THEY ADDED AMENDMENTS LIKE ABOUT
THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
THEY ADDED AMENDMENTS ABOUT
THINGS THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO
WITH IT JUST TO BRING IT DOWN.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE -- WHAT IS
THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR?
THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE -- SPEAK
AGAINST IT WHEN THEY VOTED
AGAINST IT AT THE END OF THE
DAY.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN COME TO THE
FLOOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTHING
TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S A JOBS BILL,
BECAUSE IT'S PASSED EVERY
CONGRESS SINCE THE 1960'S,
BECAUSE THE LAST TIME IT PASSED,
IT PASSED WITHOUT A DISSENTING
VOTE IN THE SENATE IN 2004,
BECAUSE THE LAST PRESIDENT WHO
SIGNED IT WAS GEORGE W. BUSH.
IT'S A JOBS BILL.
THEY SAID NO.
WHY?
I GO BACK TO WHAT THEIR LEADER
SAID HERE.
HIS TOP PRIORITY, BEATING
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.
SO YOU HAVE TO FIGURE THEY'RE
BRINGING EVERY JOBS BILL DOWN SO
THAT THIS ECONOMY GETS WORSE.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S NOT
GOING TO GO DOWN EASY AT HOME.
IT'S NOT GOING TO GO DOWN EASY
AT HOME.
THEY KILLED A BILL THAT MARCH
LANDRIEU BROUGHT, WAS BROUGHT
OUT OF HER COMMITTEE
UNANIMOUSLY.
SMALL BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESS
BILL.
IT WOULD HAVE CREATED THOUSANDS
OF SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY VOTED IT DOWN.
THAT BILL WAS WRITTEN BY WARREN
RUDMAN, A REPUBLICAN SENATOR.
THEY VOTED IT DOWN.
THEY FILIBUSTERED IT AND VOTED
IT DOWN.
WHY?
PRIORITY.
THEY SAY JOBS ARE THEIR TOP
WHY WOULD THEY VOTE DOWN A BILL
THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A
REPUBLICAN, THAT IS PASSED
WITHOUT OBJECTION YEAR AFTER
YEAR AFTER YEAR?
WHY WOULD THEY VOTE DOWN ANOTHER
BILL THAT WAS LAST SIGNED BY
GEORGE W. BUSH WITHOUT A
DISSENTING VOTE IN THE SENATE?
WHY?
TWO JOBS BILLS.
WHY?
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY.
MAYBE THEY REALLY ARE WILLING TO
REASONS.
SACRIFICE JOBS FOR POLITICAL
THAT'S ALL I CAN COME UP WITH.
I PUT THAT TOGETHER WITH WHAT
MITCH McCONNELL SAID.
NOW THEIR BIG PUSH IS A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
A LOT OF TALK.
BALANCE THE BUDGET, FOLKS.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
END THE WARS.
THAT'S A TRILLION DOLLARS OVER
TEN YEARS.
GO AFTER THE MILLIONAIRES AND
THE BILLIONAIRES WHO DON'T PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
THAT'S ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS
OVER TEN YEARS.
THERE IS $2 TRILLION RIGHT
THERE.
GO AFTER THE PEOPLE WHO NEVER
PAY THEIR TAXES.
GO AFTER THE OIL COMPANIES WHO
ARE RIPPING US OFF AT THE PUMP
AND TAKING THE HIGHEST PROFITS
EVER.
IT'S NOT HARD TO DO.
AND YES, WE'RE WILLING TO CUT
SENSE.
SOME THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE
YOU GET A $4 TRILLION PACKAGE
PRETTY EASILY IF YOU'RE WILLING
TO REALLY LOOK AT IT IN A FAIR
WAY.
I HEARD OUR PRESIDENT TODAY
SPEAKING TO THE NATION THROUGH A
PRESS CONFERENCE, AND HE WAS
ISSUE.
JUST VERY SWEET ABOUT THIS
HE WAS -- I WAS SAYING TO
SENATOR DURBIN AS I WATCHED HIM,
HE JUST -- HE IS EXPLAINING IT
TO THE PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY HAS TO GIVE UP
SOMETHING.
YOU WANT BIPARTISANSHIP, THAT
DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET WHAT YOU
WANT AND I GET NOTHING.
IT MEANS I GIVE UP SOME OF THE
THINGS I WANT AND YOU GIVE UP
SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WANT.
BUT WE HAVE DLAIRGZ BY THE --
DECLARATIONS BY THE REPUBLICANS.
WE WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER AGREE
TO ANY NEW REVENUES.
WHY?
YOU JUST VOTED TO ELIMINATE THE
ETHANOL SUBSIDY.
THAT BRINGS REVENUES.
SO WHY WOULD YOU NOT TAKE THAT
TO THE TABLE?
HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS FAIR
THAT BILLIONAIRES SOMETIMES PAY
LESS IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVE TAX
RATE THAN A SECRETARY OR A
COME ON.
TEACHER OR A NURSE?
COME TO THE TABLE.
DON'T COME TO THE TABLE WITH A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
IT'S A LOT OF TALK.
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
PUT A LITTLE FAITH IN THE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW HOW TO DO IT WHO DID IT
BEFORE.
I WAS PROUD TO VOTE TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET.
I WAS PROUD TO VOTE FOR A FAIR
BUDGET.
I WAS PROUD TO BE HERE WHEN WE
SAW 23 MILLION JOBS COME.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE WE
JUST SAID CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT,
END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW IT.
IT CAME BECAUSE WE'RE WILLING TO
LOOK AT WHAT WAS WORKING, WHAT
WASN'T WORKING, WHERE TO MAKE
THE INVESTMENTS, WHERE TO MAKE
THE CUTS.
YOU HAVE GOT TO COME TO THE
TABLE WITH EVERYTHING ON IT, YOU
HAVE GOT TO SAY THAT YOU'RE
SIDE.
WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER
AND WE NEED A FAIR PLAN AND WE
HAVE THAT AS DEMOCRATS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO END MEDICARE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HURT WORKING
PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IN A FAIR
WAY.
SO I HOPE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WILL PUT TOGETHER AND CONNECT
ALL THE DOTS.
YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO
HAS SAID ON MORE THAN ONE
OCCASION THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IS TO DEFEAT BARACK OBAMA.
YOU HAVE A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT
SAYS IT'S FOR JOBS AND
FILIBUSTERS EVERY SINGLE JOBS
BILL THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE
BROADLY SUPPORTED.
YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS WALKING OUT
ON THE VICE PRESIDENT, TAKING
THEIR LITTLE TEDDY BEAR AND
THEIR BLANKIE AND WALKING OUT OF
THE NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY THE
DISCUSSIONS WERE GOING.
THEY WALKED OUT.
AND THEN MY FRIENDS FROM THE
OTHER SIDE -- AND I THOUGHT
SENATOR BLUNT WAS VERY ELOQUENT
ON THE POINT.
HE SAYS TWO THINGS WE NEED.
WE NEED TO WORK ON JOB CREATION
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND I
JUST SHOWED THAT DESPITE THE
DOWN.
LANGUAGE, THEY VOTE EVERYTHING
AND THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE
UNCERTAINTY OUT OF THE EQUATION.
THAT WAS HIS BIG POINT.
HE'S SO RIGHT.
HOW DO YOU TAKE UNCERTAINTY OUT
OF THE SITUATION?
DON'T PLAY POLITICS WITH THE
DEBT CEILING.
DON'T PLAY POLITICS WITH IT.
BECAUSE I HAVE READ ECONOMISTS
SAY IT WILL -- IF WE DON'T DO
THIS RIGHT AND WE DON'T AGREE
AND THE DEBT CEILING BECOMES A
VICTIM OF THIS PARTISANSHIP,
TREASURY BONDS FOR THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE JUNK
BONDS, WILL BE JUNK BONDS.
SO YOU WAN
-- SO YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES?
GO HOME, GO ON THE CORPS OF
ENGINEERS AND I'LL PLAY YOU A
GAME.
BUT DON'T BRING IT IN HERE.
IT'S TOO SERIOUS.
THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY
THERE EVER WAS.
MY PARENTS, ONE OF WHOM WAS BORN
OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY, TOLD ME
THAT I SHOULD KISS THE GROUND OF
AMERICA.
AND HOW PROUD I AM THAT I AM
HERE.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IF I SEE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO TURN
UNITED STATES TREASURY BONDS
INTO JUNK BONDS, I'M GOING TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN IN MY LIFE TO
MAKE SURE THOSE WHO HAVE DONE
FACELESS.
THIS WILL NOT BE NAMELESS OR
IT IS TOO IMPORTANT.
THE FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN PLAYING
THESE GAMES IS RIDICULOUS.
THE FACT THAT WE CAN'T COME
TOGETHER AND SHAKE HANDS AND
SAY, THIS BUDGET DEFICIT IS
TERRIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO DEAL
WITH IT, WE'RE GOING TO DEAL
WITH THE DEBT, WE'RE GOING TO DO
WHAT WE DID UNDER BILL CLINTON,
WE'RE GOING TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET, CREATE A SURPLUS, WE CAN
DO THIS.
YOU SMACK SHAKE HANDS ON T YOU HAVE
THE PARAMETERS OF A DEAL.
YOU PASS A DEBT CEILING THAT'S
CLEEFNLT YOU SEND A MESSAGE TO
STOCKBROKER.
THE MARKET -- I USED TO BE A
WHEN THE PRESIDENT WOULD SNEEZE,
THE MARKET WOULD GO DOWN 200
POINTS.
THAT'S HOW THE MARKET RESPONDS
TO THESE THINGS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PLAYING WITH
THE STOCK MARKET, WITH THE FULL
FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE IF EVERYTHING
IS ON THE TABLE.
IF ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS DESTROY
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, IT
ISN'T SIMPLE.
BUT IF YOU'RE WILLING TO TALK TO
US, TO HAVE A FAIR TAXATION
SYSTEM, WHERE THE WARREN BUFFETS
OF THE WORLD ARE AT LEAST PAYING
AS MUCH IN AN EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
AS A NURSE, THERE'S SOMETHING TO
TALK ABOUT HERE.
BUT DON'T GO WALKING OUT OF
DISCUSSIONS AND GOING HOME
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET 100% OF
WHAT YOU WANT.
LIFE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
I SPEAK AS A MOTHER, A
GRANDMOTHER, A UNITED STATES
SENATOR FROM THE LARGEST STATE
IN THE UNION WHEN I SAY THIS:
YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING YOU
WANT.
YOU DON'T GET EVERYTHING YOU
WANT IN A NEGOTIATION.
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE
HOUSE.
THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE
SENATE.
THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE WHITE
HOUSE.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
TWO-THIRDS DEMOCRATIC.
IN A FAIR WORLD, WE GET
TWO-THIRDS OF WHAT WE WANT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP MORE.
IT OUGHT TO BE A 50-50 DEAL.
THAT'S HOW YOU NEGOTIATOR NEGOTIATE.
SO THIS IS A TOUGH TIME, AND IF
THE OTHER SIDE THINKS THAT A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION BALANCES THE BUDGET
BUDGET, IT DOESN'T.
YOU'VE GOT TO DO THE HARD WORK
OF BALANCING THE BUDGET.
YOU'VE GOT TO SIT DOWN IN THIS
TOUGH TIME IN A TOUGH, FRAGILE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY -- REMEMBER,
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK OVER,
WE WERE BLEEDING BLEEDING 800,000 JOBS A
MONTH MONS.
HE HAD TO HANDLE TWO WARS,
UNPAID FOR BY GEORGE W. AND HIS
FRIENDS; A TAX CUT UNPAID FOR TO
THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA;
HE HAD TO DEAL WITH A BANKING
SYSTEM THAT WAS FROZEN SOLID; HE
HAD TO DEAL WITH AN AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY THAT WAS GOING OUT OF
BUSINESS; AND WE HAD TO WORK,
AND A FEW BRAVE SOULS FROM THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WORKED
WITH US -- THANK GOD, OR WHO
KNOWS WHERE WE'D BE TODAY.
AND NOW WHEN WE'RE FINALLY, YOU
KNOW, MOVING OUT OF THIS
NIGHTMARISH ECONOMY, NOT QUICK
ENOUGH, WE'VE GOT REPUBLICANS
FILIBUSTERING JOBS BILLS, THEN
COMING DOWN HERE AND SAYING HOW
IMPORTANT JOBS ARE AND SAYING
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THERE'S
CERTAINTY WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING
GAMES WITH THE DEBT CEILING.
I'M AN OPTIMIST.
THAT'S WHY I STAY IN THIS WORLD
I'M IN.
AND I THANK THE PEOPLE OF
CALIFORNIA FOR GIVING ME THE
CHANCE SO MANY TIMES.
BUT THERE IS A SAYING BACK HOME,
ARE Y'ALL ON THE LEVEL?
ARE YOU REALLY ON THE LEVEL WHEN
YOU'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS?
DEAL?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GISM IT?
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH
US?
AND I JUST DON'T KNOW, WHEN I
SEE THEM FILIBUSTERING JOBS
BILLS, WHEN I SEE THEM WALKING
OUT ON THE VICE PRESIDENT, WHEN
I SEE THEM SAYING, OH, THAT'S
OFF THE TABLE, AND THIS IS OFF
THE TABLE, AND THAT'S OFF THE
TABLE, WHEN THEY DON'T RUN THIS
COUNTRY; THEY RUN THE HOUSE.
I WONDER, WHERE ARE WE GOING?
AND WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING,
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL IF WE DON'T
PAY OUR BILLS, IF WE DON'T LIFT
PAY OUR BILLS?
THE DEBT CEILING AND WE CAN'T
YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND, MR. PRESIDENT, IS
LIFTING UP THE DEBT CEILING IS
NOT ABOUT THE FUTURE PAYMENTS,
IT'S ABOUT PAYMENTS DUE.
I SAID, WE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET
UNDER BILL CLINTON HAD A SPLAWS
-- THIS A SURPLUS.
WE WENT INTO DEFICIT MODE WHEN
GEORGE BUSH TOOK OVER AND DID
THE TAX CUTS TO THE WEALTHIEST
AMONG US AND DIDN'T PAY FOR IT
AND DID A PRESCRIPTION DRUG
BENEFIT AND NEVER PAID FOR IT,
DID TWO WARS AND NEVER PAID FOR
THEM, AND WE GOT INTO BIG
TROUBLE, AND WHAT'S THE SOLUTION
OF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE?
WE'RE WALKING OUT OF THE
NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T
TALK ABOUT TAXING BILLIONAIRES
OR TAKING AWAY CORPORATE WELFARE
FROM OIL COMPANIES, GOD FORBID.
IT'S JUST -- IT MAKES ME WONDER
WHO'S LYLE REALLY ON THE LEVEL.
WE CAN DO THIS.
WE DID IT BEFORE.
IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
YOU JUST NEED PEOPLE OF GOOD
WILL.
AND I WOULD JUST SAY TO MY
FRIENDS ONER OWED SIDE, FORGET
THE REELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA.
FORGET THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL
RACE.
YOU'LL HAVE YOUR CANDIDATE AND
WE'LL HAVE OURS.
AND THAT'S FOR ANOTHER DAY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THIS CHAMBER.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO HAVE
A CREDIBLE PLAN TO GET THIS
DEFICIT DOWN TO GET THIS DEBT
DOWN, TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY,
TO STRENGTHEN JOB CREATION, TO
KEEP THE MIDDLE CLASS VIBRANT.
I HEAR SOME REPUBLICANS NOW ON
THE PRESIDENTIAL TRAIL TALKING
ABOUT DOING AWAY WITH THE
MINIMUM WAGE.
CAN YOU IMAGINE, MR. PRESIDENT?
WE GO BACK TO THE DAYS OF THE
MINIMUM WAGE, $4 AN HOUR.
I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS 50 CENTS
AN HOUR.
IT DATES ME A BIT.
THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR FROM THE
OTHER SIDE.
THEIR VISION IS NOT A GOOD
VISION FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF
THIS COUNTRY.
WHO ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A
LIFE AT LEAST AS GOOD AS THAT OF
THEIR PARENTS.
SO, IN CONCLUSION, THIS ISN'T A
TIME TO PLAY GAMES OR REACH FOR
POLITICAL ADVANTAGE.
THIS ISN'T A TIME TO HOLD THE
FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY HOSTAGE
TO SOME IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA OR
SOME PLEDGE THAT SOMEBODY SIGNED
TO SOME, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL
PERSON OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER.
PLEDGES SIGNED.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT.
FIRST.
IT'S ABOUT PUTTING AMERICA
IT'S ABOUT PUTTING OUR FAMILIES
FIRST.
IT'S NOT ABOUT AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION.
AMENDMENT.
WITH A BALANCED BUDGET
IT IS ABOUT BALLING THE BUDGET
IN A FAIR WAY.
-- IT'S ABOUT BALANCING THE
BUDGET IN A FAIR WAY.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN THAT PASSESED
THE HOUSE THAT STARTED WITH PAUL
RYAN, THAT PASSED THE HOUSE,
THAT DIDN'T BALANCE THE BUDGET
IN 40 YEARS.
THAT'S NOT A PLAN.
WE GOT TO DO BETTER.
BUT WHEN YOU ARE WILLING, AS
THEY ARE, TO SAY TO MILLIONAIRES
AND BILLIONAIRES AND
TRILLIONAIRES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE, THE
REVENUES JUST DON'T COME IN.
AND WHAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT,
THEY HAVE TO KILL MEDICARE,
WHICH THEY DID IN THE HOUSE
BUDGET; THEY HAVE TO HURT
EDUCATION, MAKE THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
A SHADOW OF ITS FORMER SELF.
YOU KNOW, I GO OUTER AND LOOK AT
POLLS.
80% OF THE PEOPLE WANT THE
E.P.A. TO STAY OUT THERE AND
CLEAN UMTHE AIR AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE SAFE DRAINING WATER.
THEY WANT FOOD INSPECTIONS.
THEY WANT AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS ON THE JOB.
SYSTEM.
THEY WANT A NEXT-GENERATION AIR
THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WALK AWAY FROM
OUR DREAMS.
WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE EVERYBODY
PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
IF THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN DO THIS.
AND WE NEED TO END THOSE WARS
THAT ARE SO COSTLY IN SO MANY
WAYS.
WE DO THOSE TWO THINGS, WE'RE ON
OUR WAY TO A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO SURPLUSES.
WE CAN DO THIS.
AND THE ONLY THING STANDS IN OUR
WAY IS POLITICS.
THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS TO ME.
IF PEOPLE THINK THAT MORE
IMPORTANT THAN FIXING THIS
BUDGET CRISIS IS BRINGING DOWN A
PRESIDENT POLITICALLY, WE GOT A
PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, WE TAKE THE OATH OF
OFFICE AND WE RAISE OUR RIGHT
HAND, WE PUT OUR HAND ON THE
BIBLE TO BE LOYAL TO THIS
COUNTRY, TO DO RIGHT BY THIS
COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE
DOING NOW.
AND PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN JULY,
AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER,
THROUGH CHRISTMAS -- THAT'S FINE
WITH ME.
BUT WE GOT TO HAVE A PLAN.
A PLAN THAT'S FAIR.
IF WE'VE WE HAVE A PLAN THAT'S
FAIR, WE JUST BALANCE THE
BUDGET, WE DO IT OVER TIME, WE
DON'T IT WISELY, WE CREATE JOBS,
INTEREST RATES REMAIN LOW, WE
CAN DO IT BECAUSE WE DID IT
BEFORE.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT EVER
BALANCED THE BUDGET IN THE LAST
40 YEARS HAVE BEEN THE
DEMOCRATS.
THAT'S A FACT.
A FACT IN EVIDENCE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THE
PATHLIGHTS LIGHTING THE WAY.
IT'S FAIRNESS ON SPENDING, CUT
THE THINGS THAT DON'T WORK,
FAIRNESS ON TAXATION, MAKE SURE
THE BILLIONAIRES PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE, WE FOLLOW THAT PATH, WE
BRING HOME OUR TROOPS, WE'RE
GOLDEN.
AND I THINK THAT'S A PATHWAY
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT, I
RISE TODAY TO SPEAK IN FAVORITE
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
LET ME OFFER A
THOUGHT OR TWO ACE GET STARTED
HERE TODAY.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE AT ONE POINT
IN MY POLITICAL LIFE TO SERVE AS
GOVERNOR OF A GREAT STATE, THE
STATE OF NEBRASKA, SERVED IN
THAT CAPACITY FOR SIX YEARS.
IN THAT CAPACITY, LIKE VIRTUALLY
EVERY OTHER STATE, WE HAD AT
PROVISION IN OUR CONSTITUTION --
AND IT WASN'T A GIMMICK AT ALL;
IT WAS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS
STATEMENT, AND IT SAID IN A VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY, THOU SHALT
HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND IT WAS AS SIMPLE AND AS
STRAIGHTFORWARD AS THAT.
NOW, THE OTHER INTERESTING THING
ABOUT MY STATE OF NEBRASKA IS
THAT IN ADDITION TO HAVING THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION -- AND,
KEEP IN MIND, PART OF MY OATH OF
OFFICE AS GOVERNOR WAS TO UPHOLD
THAT CONSTITUTION -- BUT PART OF
THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT, A
MANDATE THAT WE COULD NOT BORROW
MONEY.
IN FACT, I THINK THE LIMITATION,
IF I'M NOT MISSUSTAIN, WAS
$50,000 OR $100,000.
AND I WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE BACK
HOME WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR, I
WOULD SAY, THAT PROBABLY WAS A
PRETTY HANDSOME SUM OF MONEY,
MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO WHEN
THAT CONSTITUTION WAS PASSED.
BUT IN EFFECT TODAY WHAT THAT
MEANT WAS THAT WHEN WE GOT DOWN
TO THE BUSINESS OF BALANCING OUR
BUDGET, AS REQUIRED BY THE
CONSTITUTION, I DID NOT HAVE THE
ABILITY, AS GOVERNOR, TO ISSUE
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS, TO GO OUT
AND BORROW AGAINST THE FULL
FAITH AND CREDIT OF MY STATE TO
BALANCE THAT BUDGET.
IN FACT, I WILL TELL YOU TODAY,
EVEN CERTAIN THAT THE
STATE OF NEBRASKA HAS A BOND
RATING.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARY.
VERY SIMPLY, WE FOLLOWED A
PHILOSOPHY THAT WE WOULD NOT
SPEND MONEY THAT WE DID NOT
HAVE.
AND SO WE DIDN'T ISSUE BONDS TO
BUILD HIGHWAYS, IF WE DIDN'T
HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BANK, AND
PLAN FOR WHERE THE MONEY WOULD
COME FROM IN THE YEARS AHEAD, IF
IT WAS A MULTIYEAR PROJECT, WE
DIDN'T DO T WE DIDN'T BUILD IT.
NOW, MANY ARE MAYBE LISTENING TO
THIS AND SAY WELL, MY GOODNESS,
HOW WOULD THAT WORK?
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE
HAVE $14 TRILLION WORTH OF DEBT.
WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT ALL
THAT BORROWING?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU IN THIS
LAST ECONOMIC RECESSION, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF NEBRASKA
NEVER ROSE OVER 5%.
TODAY I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN OUR STATE
IS 4.1%.
AND YOU KNOW IT NEVER OCCURRED
TO ME THAT I SHOULD EVER ARGUE
TO THE PEOPLE OF THAT GREAT
STATE THAT IF YOU WERE
SUCCESSFUL, YOU SHOULD BE
PUNISHED FOR THAT SUCCESS.
VERY, VERY MUCH THE OPPOSITE.
I SAID I WANT YOU TO COME TO
NEBRASKA, I WANT YOU TO CREATOR
CREATOR -- CREATE YOUR JOBS HERE
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO BE YOUR PARTNER IN
THAT EFFORT.
AND THE CURRENT GOVERNOR HAS
FOLLOWED THAT SAME PHILOSOPHY.
WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THOSE
GOVERNORS WHO ARE DOING A GREAT
JOB, AND I TELL YOU, I KNOW OF
ONE.
HIS NAME IS DAVE HEINEMAN.
HE IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF NEBRASKA.
HE HAS BALANCED HIS BUDGET, HE
HAS NOT BORROWED MONEY, AND HE
HAS KEPT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
DURING ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
ECONOMIC TIMES SINCE THE
DEPRESSION UNDER 5%, AND IT IS
4.1% TODAY.
HE WAS MY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR,
MR. PRESIDENT.
BUT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, WE
DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT PHILOSOPHY,
AND I BELIEVE WE ARE NOW AT A
CROSSROADS.
BECAUSE FOR DECADE AFTER DECADE,
WASHINGTON HAS PROMISED TOO
MUCH.
IT HAS SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN
WE CAN BE ALL THINGS TO ALL
PEOPLE, BUT THE REAL TRUTH OF IT
IS THEY NEVER SAID HOW THEY
PLANNED TO PAY FOR IT.
NOW THE RESULT IS THAT WE FACE A
FINANCIAL CRISIS UNLIKE ANY
FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT MAYBE OUR
NATION HAS EVER SEEN.
NOW, DON'T BELIEVE MY WORDS.
THIS IS BEING STUDIED BY THE
HOUR, BY THE MINUTE, BY THE
SECOND.
A RECENT CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
ASSERTION.
OFFICE REPORT CONFIRMS THE
LAST WEEK, THE C.B.O. RELEASED
ITS LATEST ECONOMIC FORECAST.
IT'S KIND OF A REPORT OF WHERE
WE'RE HEADED AS A NATION.
AND IT'S GRIM BY EVEN THE MOST
LIBERAL ECONOMIC POINT OF VIEW.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
NOW PREDICTS THAT DEBT HELD BY
THE PUBLIC WILL EXCEED 100% OF
OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY
2021 IF WE CONTINUE, JUST
CONTINUE THE CURRENT POLICIES.
12 MONTHS AGO WHEN THEY RELEASED
GRIM.
THIS REPORT, IT WAS EQUALLY AS
WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY EQUALLY.
BECAUSE THE NUMBER I JUST CITED
GOT WORSE BY 10% IN JUST 12
MONTHS.
OUR DEBT IS RISING EXPONENTIALLY
EXCEEDING 200% BY 2037, AND AT
THAT POINT YOU MIGHT AS WELL
JUST STOP MAKING THE
PROJECTIONS.
JUST THINK ABOUT THIS.
OUR GREAT NATION IN 25 YEARS,
OUR GREAT NATION IN JUST 25
YEARS WILL HAVE SO MUCH DEBT
THAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE CAN'T COMPUTE IT.
ERSKINE BOWLES HAS SAID MANY
TIMES BEFORE THAT THIS IS A
CRISIS THAT'S PREDICTABLE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE CHAIRS OF THE
PRESIDENT'S OWN DEFICIT
COMMISSION, AND HE SAID THIS.
GROWING DEBT ALSO WOULD INCREASE
THE -- OR C.B.O. WENT ON TO SAY
THIS.
GROWING DEBT ALSO WOULD INCREASE
THE PROBABILITY OF A SUDDEN
FISCAL CRISIS, DURING WHICH
INVESTORS WOULD LOSE CONFIDENCE
IN THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO
MANAGE ITS BUDGET AND THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD THEREBY LOSE
ITS ABILITY TO BORROW AT
AFFORDABLE RATES.
IT IS ERSKINE BOWLES WHO HAS
PREDICTABLE.
SAID THIS CRISIS IS SO
C.B.O. ALSO FOUND THAT IN THE
NEXT 25 YEARS, FEDERAL HEALTH
SPENDING WILL INCREASE BY 50% AS
A SHARE OF G.D.P. WHILE SOCIAL
SECURITY SPENDING WILL INCREASE
BY 20%.
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
IT'S PREDICTABLE.
MY GENERATION, I'M RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE BABY BOOMERS, IS
STARTING TO ACCESS ALL OF THE
PROMISES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
IT IS NO LONGER AN OPTION FOR US
TO JUST SIMPLY SAY A LITTLE NIP
AND A LITTLE TUCK HERE AND WE
ALL GIVE A LITTLE AND IT ALL
WORKS OUT.
THIS IS A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT
CLEARLY AHEAD OF US, AND WE CAN
EITHER DO COURSE CORRECTIONS OR,
BELIEVE ME, WE WILL PERISH.
NOW, I HAVE NO QUALMS SAYING
THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE MADE
MISTAKES OVER THE YEARS.
THIS IS A BIPARTISAN PROBLEM.
BUT FOR SOME TO ADVOCATE EVEN
MORE STIMULUS SPENDING WHICH WE
HEARD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, REPEATING THE MISGUIDED
POLICIES OF THE LAST TWO YEARS,
ADDING MORE DEBT ON MORE DEBT ON
MORE DEBT DEFIES LOGIC AND
COMMON SENSE.
IF STIMULUS SPENDING WERE THE
ANSWER, OUR ECONOMY WOULD BE
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS TODAY,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY EVEN WITH THAT
MASSIVE SPENDING PLAN, THAT
STIMULUS PLAN OF A TRILLION
DOLLARS WHEN YOU ADD THE
INTEREST, IT JUST HASN'T YIELDED
THE RESULTS.
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISE
8%.
WE'LL KEEP UNEMPLOYMENT UNDER
WE JUST HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET,
SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY.
AND HERE WE ARE TODAY WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT ALMOST LOCKED DOWN
AT 9.1%.
JUST LOOK AT WHERE OUR COUNTRY
WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
IN JANUARY, 2009, THE DEBT WAS
WAS $10.6 TRILLION.
I WOULD ARGUE THAT WAS FAR TOO
MUCH.
TWO YEARS AGO.
TODAY, IT'S OVER $14.3 TRILLION
AND GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 35%
INCREASE IN OUR NATION'S DEBT IN
TWO SHORT YEARS.
NOW, TO PUT THESE NUMBERS INTO
PERSPECTIVE TODAY, EACH UNITED
STATES CITIZEN WOULD HAVE TO PAY
PAY $46,000 TO PAY OFF OUR
NATIONAL DEBT.
THAT'S $11,000 MORE THAN TWO
YEARS AGO.
AND EACH AMERICAN FAMILY -- AND
I HOPE YOU'RE SITTING DOWN WHEN
YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS.
EACH AMERICAN FAMILY WOULD NEED
TO WRITE A CHECK FOR $127,000
JUST TO SQUARE UP THE BOOKS,
JUST TO GET THE DEBT PAID OFF.
THAT'S NOT EVEN ADDRESSING THE
SPENDING THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL
TODAY.
LOOKING AT UNEMPLOYMENT IN
JANUARY, 2009, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT -- THE UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE WAS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE
AT 7.8%.
TODAY, AFTER ALMOST A TRILLION
DOLLARS OF STIMULUS SPENDING,
UNEMPLOYMENT HAS GROWN 17% WITH
ALMOST TWO MILLION AMERICANS WHO
CAN'T FIND WORK, NOTWITHSTANDING
THEIR BEST EFFORTS.
NOW, MAYBE SOMEBODY IS GOING TO
COME DOWN HERE AND SAY BUT THERE
IS OTHER NEWS YOU SHOULD BE
LOOKING AT.
WELL, I LOOKED AT SOME OTHER
NEWS.
REGARDING HEALTH CARE COSTS,
CAREER TO THE PROPONENTS OF THE
HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL, HEALTH
INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE
AVERAGE FAMILY HAVE GONE UP 19%
SINCE 2009.
PUT IT SIMPLY, DOUBLING DOWN ON
DEFICIT SPENDING HAS FAILED OUR
ECONOMY, IT HAS FAILED OUR
AMERICAN PEOPLE, AND IN FACT THE
PRESIDENT'S PLANS HAVE MADE IT
WORSE.
SO WHY WOULD WE WANT TO REPEAT
THE SAME MISTAKE?
I THOUGHT RAISING THE
THE $14 TRILLION DEBT LIMIT WAS
ACTUALLY ABOUT REDUCING
SPENDING.
WHY WOULD YOU BE ARGUING FOR A
STIMULUS PLAN IN ORDER TO RAISE
THE LIMIT?
WHY WOULD YOU BE ARGUING FOR
LARDING IT UP WITH MORE STIMULUS
SPENDING?
WHEN WILL WE LEARN THAT THIS
HOLE WE DUG FOR THIS GREAT
COUNTRY REQUIRES US TO QUIT
DIGGING?
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT OUR DEBT
PROBLEM IS THE DEFINING ISSUE OF
OUR TIME, AND I SEE TWO PATHS.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO RUN UP
TRILLION-DOLLAR DEFICITS,
OPERATE THE GOVERNMENT WITH NO
BUDGET, WHICH HAS BEEN STANDARD
FARE FOR THE LAST 790 DAYS,
DOUBLE DOWN ON FAILED POLICY
OBJECTIVES THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY
SENSE TWO YEARS AGO AND HAVEN'T
IMPROVED WITH TIME, OR WE CAN BE
FRANK AND CANDID AND HONEST THAT
WE HAVE PROMISED MORE THAN OUR
ECONOMY CAN AFFORD TO GENERATE.
I'VE HEARD THE ARGUMENTS JUST
TAX THOSE RICH PEOPLE SOME MORE.
IN FACT, I SPOKE ABOUT THAT SOON
AFTER I HAD COME TO THE SENATE.
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THIS IDEA
THAT IF YOU MADE OVER $250,000 A
MORE.
YEAR, THEN YOU SHOULD BE TAXED
SO I SAID OKAY, IF THAT'S GOING
TO BE THE NEW MANTRA AROUND
HERE, JUST TO BALANCE THE BUDGET
FOR A YEAR, WHAT WOULD THE
EFFECTIVE TAX RATE HAVE TO BE
FOR EVERYBODY MAKING OVER
OVER $250,000?
JUST TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PAYING OFF
THE DEFICIT.
JUST TO DO WHAT NEBRASKA HAS
DONE FOR YEARS AND YEARS,
BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT
BORROWING MONEY.
AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT ON THE
SENATE FLOOR.
THE RATE WOULD HAVE TO BE 90%,
AND THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
IT'S PROBABLY WORSE NOW.
DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?
IS THAT THE KIND OF
ENCOURAGEMENT THAT OUR NATION
WAS FOUNDED UPON?
THAT'S NOT A PATHWAY TO
SOLVENCY.
THAT'S A PATHWAY TO DESTROYING A
GREAT NATION.
ONLY ONE PATH WILL PROVIDE
FUTURE GENERATIONS WHAT I GREW
UP WITH, WHICH WAS A LAND OF
OPPORTUNITY, AN AMERICA THAT MY
PARENTS BELIEVE THAT IF YOU JUST
WORKED HARD AND STAYED OUT OF
ANYTHING.
TROUBLE, YOU COULD DO JUST ABOUT
TWO DAIRY FARMERS WHO CAUSED
THEIR KIDS TO BELIEVE THAT THEY
COULD EXPERIENCE GREATNESS IN
THIS GREAT COUNTRY.
WELL, LET'S BE UP-FRONT AND
HONEST ABOUT THE ROAD THAT WE
NEED TO TRAVEL AS A NATION.
WE CAN GET THERE.
OUR NATION HAS SUCH A PROUD
HISTORY, IT HAS FACED SO MANY
CHALLENGES, IT HAS LOOKED
ADVERSITY IN THE EYE AND IT HAS
FORCED IT DOWN, AND EACH AND
EVERY TIME OUR GREAT NATION HAS
RISEN TO THE CHALLENGE.
SO AS WE REFLECT AND PAY HOMAGE
TO THE HISTORY OF THIS GREAT
COUNTRY IN THE DAYS AHEAD, LET'S
USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION TO THIS
CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME, OUR DEBT
CRISIS.
AS THE C.B.O. REPORT NOTED --
AND AGAIN I'M QUOTING -- "WAIT
TO GO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM
BUDGETARY IMBALANCE AND ALLOWING
DEBT TO MOUNT IN THE MEANTIME
WOULD MAKE FUTURE GENERATIONS
WORSE OFF."
THAT'S YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR
GRANDCHILDREN.
ALTHOUGH THEY GO ON TO SAY SOME
CURRENT GENERATIONS COULD
RECEIVE A BENEFIT FROM THAT
DELAY.
SO AM I TO TELL MY CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN THAT SO I CAN
BENEFIT FROM JUST PUSHING THIS
DOWN THE ROAD, KICKING THIS CAN
DOWN THE ROAD, THAT MY KIDS AND
GRANDKIDS WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR
THIS?
FIGHT.
THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN WARS TO
I WISH THEY WEREN'T GOING TO,
BUT THEY WILL.
THEIR OWN FLU PANDEMICS TO DEAL
WITH, AND ON AND ON AND ON.
BUT YOU SEE, I STARTED MY ADULT
LIFE WITH OUR NATION OWING
OWING $380 BILLION.
IN FIVE YEARS, OUR NATION WILL
OWE $20 TRILLION.
AND IT WON'T BE CANCELED AT MY
DEATH.
GENERATIONS.
IT WILL BE OWED BY THOSE NEXT
MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN COME DOWN
HERE, THAT WE CAN BE HONEST
ABOUT THE OVERPROMISES THAT HAVE
OCCURRED, WE CAN SPEAK CANDIDLY
ABOUT THE NEED TO PUT IN PLACE
FOREVER A REQUIREMENT THAT SAYS
TO EVERY SENATOR WHO FOLLOWS ME,
AS HARD AS IT IS, YOU MUST
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT
IS BY DOING WHAT OUR STATES HAVE
HISTORICALLY DONE, INCLUDING MY
GREAT STATE, AND THAT IS TO
SIMPLY SAY IT IN THE
CONSTITUTION.
IT IS NOT ACCIDENTAL,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THIS
PROPOSAL GETS SO MUCH SUPPORT IN
OUR COUNTRY.
BECAUSE TO THE AVERAGE FAMILY
IT'S WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY AND
WE IN WASHINGTON MUST COME TO
GRIPS WITH THIS AND DO THE SAME.
MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.