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X
WITH THE FOUL SCHEMES THAT ARE
AND SO, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH
THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
QUORUM CALL:
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
THE SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT,
MAY I ASK THAT THE PENDING
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK AT THE
CONCLUSION -- I'M ABOUT TO YIELD
THE FLOOR TO MY DISTINGUISHED
SENIOR SENATOR, JACK REED.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT AT
THE CONCLUSION OF HIS REMARKS, I
BE GRANTED RECOGNITION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT, SENATOR
WHIEWS AND I HAVE COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO
GOVERNOR BRUCE SUNDLAND.
HE PASSED AWAY LAST WEEK.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MY
COLLEAGUE IS HERE BECAUSE HE WAS
THE DIRECTOR OF POLICY FOR
GOVERNOR SUNDLAND AND MANY OF
THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE
ADMINISTRATION WERE A DIRECT
CONTRIBUTION OF SENATOR
EFFORTS.
WHITEHOUSE'S EXTRAORDINARY
FIRST I AM HERE AS A RHODE
ISLANDER TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE
PEOPLE OF MY STATE HOW MUCH WE
APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP, THE
VISION, THE DETERMINATION OF
GOVERNOR BRUCE SUNDLAND.
HE WAS ELECTED IN THE MIDST OF
THE WORST FINANCIAL CRISIS IN
THE HISTORY OF OUR STATE SINCE
THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE
COLLAPSE OF A PRIVATE CREDIT
UNION SYSTEM.
HE GOT THROUGH THAT CRISIS AS
ONLY HE COULD.
THEN HE WENT ON TO RECONSTRUCT
OUR AIRPORT TO REFORM OUR
WORKERS COMPENSATION SYSTEM, TO
MAKE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.
SO AS A RHODE ISLANDER, I COME
HERE TO SALUTE AN EXTRAORDINARY
OFFER.
WHEN GOVERNOR SUNDLUN WAS
ELECTED TO THE STATE HOUSE IN
1990, I WAS ELECTED TO MY FIRST
TERM IN THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS, AND SO I WAS THERE TO
OBSERVE THE EXTRAORDINARY
INTELLECT, THE EXTRAORDINARY
DETERMINATION, THE SKILL AND
RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO DOING
HIS BEST TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF
RHODE ISLAND.
I SAW THAT FIRSTHAND.
TRULY WITHOUT BRUCE'S
LEADERSHIP, WE WOULD NOT HAVE
WEATHERED THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
OF 1991 IN RHODE ISLAND.
HIS EXTRAORDINARY GRASP OF THE
FINANCIAL DETAILS, HIS
UNWAVERING DETERMINATION TO DO
THE RIGHT THING, NOT THE POPULAR
THING, HIS ABILITY TO WITHSTAND
WITHERING CRITICISM FROM ALL
QUARTERS RESULTED NOT ONLY IN
THE RESTITUTION OF THE SAVINGS
OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
RHODE ISLANDERS BUT ESSENTIALLY
THE REPAYMENT OF THE MONEYS THAT
HAD TO BE BORROWED TO TAKE CARE
OF THE CRISIS.
IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY WORK,
AND FRANKLY I THINK EVERYONE IN
RHODE ISLAND RAP -- RAPIDLY
CONCEDED THAT ONLY BRUCE SUNDLUN
COULD HAVE DONE IT.
I ALSO COME HERE AS, LIKE BRUCE,
A VETERAN OF OUR ARMED FORCES,
BUT UNLIKE BRUCE, NOT A COMBAT
VETERAN.
BRUCE SUNDLUN JOINED THE UNITED
STATES ARMY AND QUALIFIED AS A
PILOT IN THE AIR CORPS IN WORLD
WAR II.
HE WAS BRAVE, HE WAS TOUGH, HE
LED WITH GREAT DISTINCTION HIS
CREW IN NUMEROUS BOMBING RAIDS
OVER OCCUPIED EUROPE.
IN ONE OF THOSE RAIDS, HE WAS
SHOT DOWN, AND OF COURSE HE HAD
THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO KEEP THE
AIRCRAFT AS STEADY AS HE COULD
TO LET AS MANY OF HIS CREWMEN
ESCAPE, AND FINALLY AT THE VERY
LAST MOMENT, HE HIMSELF
PARACHUTED TO EARTH.
HE WAS BEHIND ENEMY LINES.
HE WAS WITHOUT ANY WEAPONS
EXCEPT HIS DETERMINATION, HIS
COURAGE AND HIS DETERMINATION
AGAIN NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE BUT TO
RETURN TO THE FIGHT.
THROUGH AN AMAZING SERIES OF
BREATHTAKING EPISODES THAT READ
LIKE A NOVEL, HE WOULD GO FROM
VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.
HE WOULD SEEK OUT THE PRIESTS IN
THE FRENCH VILLAGE OR BELGIAN
VILLAGE.
HE WOULD SAY IN HIS FLUENT
FRENCH AS A GRADUATE OF WILLIAMS
COLLEGE, HE WAS AN AMERICAN
FLYER AND HE NEEDED THEIR HELP,
AND HE ALWAYS RECEIVED THEIR
HELP.
AND THEN HE WOULD BE GIVEN
ASSISTANCE AND BE HID FOR A
WHILE.
AND THEN HE WOULD GO, HE TOLD
ME, WITH HIS GREAT SORT OF
SARDONIC SMILE THAT HE WOULD
FIND UNUSUAL WAYS TO GET AROUND.
HE WOULD GO INTO THE VILLAGE AT
MARKET TIME WHEN THE LADIES OF
THE VILLAGE HAD PARKED THEIR
BICYCLES AND HE WOULD TAKE ONE
AND HE WOULD PEDAL AS FAST AS HE
COULD TO THE NEXT VILLAGE WHERE
HE COULD FIND ANOTHER BICYCLE
AND HE WOULD PEDAL.
AND SO HE COVERED THE ROUTE
THROUGH OCCUPIED EUROPE FINALLY
MAKING HIS WAY INTO SWITZERLAND.
A REMARKABLE BIT OF COURAGE.
AFTER THE WAR, HE CONTINUED TO
DISTINGUISH HIMSELF IN BUSINESS
AND IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS,
BUT ONE THING HE LEFT, A LEGACY
NOT JUST TO THE PEOPLE OF RHODE
ISLAND, NOT JUST A PUBLIC RECORD
IN RHODE ISLAND, BUT HE WAS PART
OF THAT GREATEST GENERATION THAT
LEFT AN INDELIBLE IMAGE ON THE
SOLDIERS, THE SAILORS, THE
AVIATORS, THE MARINES WHO SERVE
TODAY, A FIDELITY TO DUTY, OF
COURAGE, OF DETERMINATION TO
SERVE AND SACRIFICE ON BEHALF OF
YOUR COMRADES AND YOUR COUNTRY,
AND THAT IMAGE CONTINUES TO
SUSTAIN OUR FORCES IN THE FIELD
AND THIS GREAT NATION.
SO TO GOVERNOR SUNDLUN, TO HIS
FAMILY, AS A RHODE ISLANDER, I
THANK YOU, AS A COLLEAGUE IN
GOVERNMENT, I THANK YOU, AND AS
SOMEONE WHO IS INSPIRED BY YOUR
SERVICE TO SERVE THIS COUNTRY, I
THANK YOU.
MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.
AND I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I'M VERY PLEASED TO FOLLOW RHODE
ISLAND'S DISTINGUISHED SENIOR
SENATOR WITH REMARKS ABOUT OUR
FRIEND AND OUR FORMER GOVERNOR,
BRUCE SUNDLUN.
HE SERVED WITH SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE TODAY
WHEN BEN NELSON WAS GOVERNOR AND
WHEN TOM CARPER WAS GOVERNOR OF
NEBRASKA AND DELAWARE
RESPECTIVELY.
THEY SERVED WITH BRUCE AND HE
WAS ONE OF THOSE IRREPRESSIBLE
CHARACTERS WHO THEY REMEMBER
VERY DISTINCTLY TO THIS DAY.
HE HAD A REMARKABLE RHODE ISLAND
LIFE.
HE WAS THE SON OF A JEWELRY
STORE OWNER WHO IN TURN WAS THE
SON OF AN IMMIGRANT WATCHMAKER,
AND IT TURNS OUT HE HAD REAL
ATHLETIC TALENT.
HE WAS A TRACK STAR, BREAKING
ISLAND.
RECORD AFTER RECORD AROUND RHODE
IT WAS AS A COMPETITOR IN THAT
ERA THAT HE FIRST FELT THE STING
OF DISCRIMINATION OVER BEING
JEWISH, AND THAT GAVE HIM A
LASTING CHARACTERISTIC TO STICK
OUT -- STICK UP FOR THE
UNDERDOG.
AS I MENTIONED AT HIS FUNERAL
SERVICE, HE WAS NOT -- HE WAS
FRIEND.
THE OPPOSITE OF A FAIR WEATHER
HE BECAME A BETTER FRIEND THE
STORMIER THE WEATHER GOT AROUND
YOU.
HE WENT ON WITH HIS GREAT
GENERATION TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY
AND TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM AROUND
THE GLOBE IN WORLD WAR II.
HE WAS THE PILOT OF A B-17, THE
DAMN YANKEE, AT A TIME WHEN THE
LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR BOMBER CREWS
OVER EUROPE WAS NOT VERY LONG.
AND UNFORTUNATELY HIS AIRCRAFT
BELGIUM.
WAS SHOT DOWN AND CRASHED IN
HE WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE THE
CRASH, ALTHOUGH AS THE PILOT HE
WAS THE LAST PERSON OUT, THE
LAST LIVING PERSON OUT.
WHEN HE WENT BACK TO BELGIUM
YEARS LATER, PEOPLE WHO
REMEMBERED THAT DAY REMEMBERED
BEING ASTONISHED THAT THE
PARACHUTE THAT HE HAD APPEARED
OUT OF NO PLACE JUST ABOVE THE
GROUND, JUST BEFORE HE HIT JUST
IN TIME TO SAVE HIM.
BUT HE WAS INJURED AND HID IN
THE MANNER OF THE PURLOINED
LETTER, HE HID IN PLAIN SIGHT AS
TROOPS SWEPT THE AREA LOOKING
FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THE BOMBER
CRASH.
HE LAY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
FIELD IN A DEEP PLACE IN THE
PLOWED FURROW WHERE YOU COULD
REALLY ONLY SEE HIM IF YOU GOT
AND LOOKED.
DOWN TO THE END OF THE FURROW
AND SO AS THE NAZI SOLDIERS WERE
POKING THROUGH THE HAY BALES AND
GOING THROUGH THE SHEDS AND
LOOKING UNDER WHATEVER THEY
COULD FIND, THERE HE LAY MORE OR
LESS IN PLAIN SIGHT BUT STILL.
HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON DECEMBER 1
OF 1943, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW
COLD IT WAS LYING IN THAT FIELD
WHILE THE SEARCH WENT ON AROUND
YOU FOR HOURS IN BELGIUM.
AND FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE, HE
HATED THE COLD.
THERE WAS NO WEATHER THAT WAS
TOO WARM FOR HIM, AND HE HATED,
HATED, HATED THE COLD.
I REMEMBER WHEN FIRST LADY
HILLARY CLINTON CAME TO SPEAK UP
GOVERNOR.
IN RHODE ISLAND WHEN HE WAS
HE WAS WEARING THIS ENORMOUS
BLACK SHEEPSKIN COAT, VERY THICK
AND VERY WARM.
AS HE PREPARED TO STEP OUTSIDE
OF THE STATE HOUSE AND GO OUT ON
THE STONE DECK LOOKING OVER
DOWNTOWN ON A COLD, COLD WINTER
AFTERNOON, AND MRS. CLINTON
STARTED NEEDLING HIM ABOUT HOW
JACK KENNEDY DIDN'T NEED A COAT,
IT'S REALLY NOT VERY FASHIONABLE
AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO QUESTION
HOW TOUGH YOU ARE IF YOU GO OUT
THERE AND HAVE THIS BIG COAT ON.
SHE NEEDLED HIM ENOUGH THAT HE
ENDED UP HANDING OFF THE COAT,
WENT OUTSIDE INTO THE BITTER
COLD, MADE THE INTRODUCTION OF
THE FIRST LADY, TURNED TO
WELCOME HER TO THE PODIUM, AND
OUT SHE CAME WITH A SMILE EAR TO
EAR, WEARING HIS COAT.
HE LOVED THAT KIND OF EXCHANGE
WITH PEOPLE AND I THINK
IMMENSELY LOVED THE CLINTONS.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
GOVERNORS IF NOT THE FIRST
GOVERNOR TO ENDORSE PRESIDENT
CLINTON, AND THE CLINTONS NEVER
FORGOT.
HE DID NOT GET TO SWITZERLAND
UNTIL MAY 5 OF 1944.
HE WAS 156 DAYS AS AN AMERICAN,
AMERICAN, -- AMERICAN JEWISH
BOMBER PILOT BEHIND NAZI LINES
IN BELGIUM AND IN FRANCE.
NO GREATER TESTAMENT TO THIS
MAN'S RESOURCEFULNESS AND DRIVE
COULD BE IMAGINED THAN
SUCCEEDING FOR THAT LONG IN THAT
CIRCUMSTANCE.
WHEN HE CAME BACK FROM THE WAR,
HE WENT TO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL
AND BECAME AN ATTORNEY AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
HE WAS AN ASSISTANT TO A RHODE
ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL, RHODE
ISLANDER WHO BECAME ATTORNEY
GENERAL, JAY HOWARD MCGRATH, AND
IT BEGAN A VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL
CAREER IN THE LAW FOR HIM.
IT WAS ALSO THE TIME WHEN
PRESIDENT KENNEDY CAME TO OFFICE
REPRESENTING THAT GREATEST
GENERATION, THEN A NEW
GENERATION, AND HE TRUSTED BRUCE
SUNDLUN TO RUN HIS INAUGURAL
PARADE, WHICH WAS A KIND OF
LOGISTICS FEAT THAT GOVERNOR
SUNDLUN LOVED.
THE FACT THAT IT SNOWED LIKE
CRAZY THE NIGHT BEFORE DID NOT
PHASE HIM A BIT.
THE ENTIRE RADICAL WENT OFF ON
SCHEDULE AND WITHOUT INCIDENT AS
PLANNED DESPITE THE VERY
INCLEMENT WEATHER BECAUSE BRUCE
HAD PREPARED SO WELL IN ADVANCE.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY APPOINTED HIM
TO THE BOARD OF COMSAT, AND FOR
MANY YEARS -- HE WAS THE LONGEST
SERVING DIRECTOR OF COMSAT,
WHICH IS A BRILLIANT
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP THAT
HELPED OPEN UP THE SKIES TO THE
SPACE AGE.
HIS BUSINESS CAREER WAS
REMARKABLE.
HE TOOK A FOUNDERING AIRLINE
CALLED EXECUTIVE JET AND TURNED
IT INTO THE LARGEST PRIVATE AND
CHARTER AIRLINE IN THE COUNTRY.
HE TOOK A DEPARTMENT STORE IN
DOWNTOWN URBAN PROVIDENCE AT A
TIME WHEN NEW ENGLAND CITIES
WERE IN DECLINE, AT A TIME WHEN
CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE
LOSING GROUND TO THE SUBURBS
THAT WERE SPROUTING UP AROUND
THEM.
HE TOOK THIS -- I DON'T KNOW,
DYING BUSINESS, I GUESS YOU'D
SAY, AND HE SAW IN THAT DOWNTOWN
DEPARTMENT STORE A MEDIA EMPYRE,
AND HE WENT OFF AND HE BEGAN
BUYING RADIO STATIONS AND TV
STATIONS AND CREATED THIS
REMARKABLE COMPANY, THE OUTLET
CORPORATION AS A MEDIA EMPIRE.
HE ALSO TURNED IT INTO A REFUGE
FROM TIME TO TIME.
IN THE BLIZZARD OF 1978, THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND WAS
CLOBBERED BY SNOW, PEOPLE WERE
TRAPPED DOWNTOWN FOR HOURS AND
HOURS, IN SOME CASES DAYS.
HE SAW TO IT THAT THE OUTLET
COMPANY OPENED, THAT THE
CAFETERIA KEPT SERVING, THAT THE
PART OF THE DEPARTMENT STORE
THAT SOLD CLOTHING GAVE
CLOTHING, WHOEVER NEEDED IT,
THAT THE PART OF THE STORE THAT
SOLD BEDDING WAS SPREAD ALL OVER
THE STORE SO PEOPLE COULD SLEEP
ON THE BEDDING.
HE LOVED A CRISIS.
HE RESPONDED TO A CRISIS BETTER
THAN ANYBODY I KNOW.
IT BROUGHT OUT HIS BEST
CHARACTERISTICS.
AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY
NECESSARY WHEN HE WAS ELECTED
GOVERNOR BECAUSE ON THE VERY
FIRST DAY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION,
HE WAS OBLIGED TO CLOSE MORE
THAN 30 DIFFERENT LENDING
INSTITUTIONS ACROSS RHODE
ISLAND, SERVING MORE THAN
300,000 OF RHODE ISLAND'S ONE
MILLION POPULATION.
HE WENT FROM BEING SWORN IN TO
THE RECEIVING LINE WHERE HE
GREETED ALL HIS HAPPY SUPPORTERS
AND ALL THE WELCOMING OFFICIALS
AND ALL THE WELL-WISHERS WHO
CAME IN FROM RHODE ISLAND AND
ROLLED IMMEDIATELY FROM THAT
INTO A PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH
HE ANNOUNCED THAT WE HAD TO
CLOSE THESE INSTITUTIONS BECAUSE
THE DEPOSIT INSURANCE PROVIDER
ENDED UP HAVING BEEN CROOKED AND
HAD FAILED AND THEY COULD NOT
OPERATE WITHOUT DEPOSIT
INSURANCE AND SO THEY HAD TO BE
CLOSED.
THAT WAS A HECK
GOVERNORSHIP.
OF A WAY TO START A
HE ALSO FOUND OUT HE HAD
INHERITED THE BIGGEST BUDGET
DEFICIT WITH THE STATE HAD EVER
SEEN AND WE HAD NEVER SEEN A
STATE WITH A BIGGER DEFICIT THAN
GOVERNOR SUNDLUN INHERITED AND
EVERY WORKERS COMPENSATION
INSURER SAID I'M LEAVING THE
STATE, I CAN'T TAKE IT.
A LESSER PERSON MIGHT HAVE
FAILED UNDER ALL THAT PRESSURE.
BE ONLY DID BRUCE MEET ALL OF
THOSE EXIGENCIES OF THE MOMENT,
HE ALSO WORKED VERY HARD TO SET
A BETTER ETHICAL TONE AND TO
RESTRUCTURE STATE GOVERNMENT SO
THAT IT WOULD BE LASTING BECAUSE
MOST OF THOSE THINGS WENT WRONG
BECAUSE OF FAILURES IN ETHICS IN
THE RHODE ISLAND STATE
GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT WAS A PRETTY REMARKABLE
ADDED ACCOMPLISHMENT ON TOP OF
SOLVING ALL THOSE UNDERLYING
PROBLEMS.
AND THIRD WAS HE HAD CONFIDENCE
IN RHODE ISLAND AND HE HAD
CONFIDENCE IN AMERICA, AND WE
WERE IN A TERRIBLE RECESSION AND
SO HE WENT TO WORK AND HE GOT
THINGS DONE.
HE BUILT A NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL.
HE BUILT A NEW -- GOT A NEW
BUILT.
SMALL STARTED THAT WOULD BE
HE BUILT A NEW HOTEL THAT
ALLOWED FOR THE CONVENTION
CENTER TO GO FORWARD SO HE BUILT
A NEW CONVENTION CENTER.
HE CHANGED THE SKYLINE OF
PROVIDENCE, HE MOVED ONE OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES TO A DOWNTOWN
CAMPUS, AND HE UNDERSTOOD THAT
IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC DISTRESS,
ACTIVITY WAS GOOD.
AND POSITIVE ACTIVITY THAT
BROUGHT JOBS WAS BETTER STILL.
IN HIS PERSONAL
CHARACTERISTICS, HE WAS A
REMARKABLE INDIVIDUAL.
HE WAS RELENTLESS AND DETERMINED
AND DECISIVE WHEN ISSUES WERE
PRESENTED BEFORE HIM.
WITH HIS STAFF HE WAS DEMANDING
AND ABRUPT AND TERSE.
I ASKED HIM ONCE WHY HE DIDN'T
BOTHER TO SAY HELLO WHEN YOU GOT
A PHONE CALL FROM HIM.
HE JUST STARTED TALKING AT YOU.
AND WHY WHEN THE CONVERSATION
WAS OVER HE JUST HUNG UP WITHOUT
SAYING GOODBYE OR ANY
PLEASANTRIES.
AND I SAID DON'T YOU THINK IT
WOULD GO A LITTLE FURTHER IF
YOU, YOU KNOW, SAID HELLO AND
GOODBYE IN YOUR TELEPHONE
CONVERSATIONS?
HE SAID HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU
THINK I'D WASTE IN MY ENTIRE
LIFE?
ADD UP ALL THE TIMES YOU'VE
WASTED SAYING HELLO AND GOODBYE.
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING THAT'S
PRODUCTIVE.
HE HAD THAT KIND OF AN ATTITUDE.
BUT HE WAS BOLD AND HE WAS
WILLING TO TAKE BIG, BIG LEAPS.
I GUESS BACK TO HIS EARLY DAYS
AS A BROAD JUMPER HE WAS WILLING
TO TAKE BIG, BIG LEAPS.
AS A STAFF PERPENDICULAR, HE
WAS EXTRAORDINARY TO WORK FOR.
DAY.
I'VE TOLD THE STORY OF OPENING
A FEW OF US WERE IN ON THAT NEWS
BUT IT HAD TO BE VERY CLOSELY
HELD BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE CREATED
A RUN ON ALL THOSE BANKS IF WORD
HAD LEAKED.
SO EVEN MANY OF HIS STAFF PEOPLE
HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING ON
UNTIL HE ANNOUNCED IT.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF A SHOCKER,
AND MADE -- IT MADE FOR AN
INTERESTING TIME TO BE A STAFF
PERSON.
NOW, ON ANOTHER OCCASION HE HAD
A COUPLE OF RACCOONS BOTHERING
HIS -- ON HIS PROPERTY AND THEY
WERE BOTHERING SOME -- A DEN OF
BABY FOXES AND HE DIDN'T WANT
THE BABY FOXES TO BE KILLED BY
THE RACCOONS SO HE TOOK OUT A
SHOTGUN, WENT DOWN TO THE END
OF HIS PROPERTY AND SHOT THE TWO
RACCOONS AND THEN CLIMBED THIS
THE CAR WITH HIS STATE TROOPER
AND HEADED OFF TO WORK AND OF
COURSE DESCRIBED THIS EXCITING
EPISODE OF HIS MORNING AND THE
TROOPER SAID TO HIM, GOVERNOR,
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT IT'S
AGAINST THE LAW TO FIRE OFF A
WEAPON IN THE CITY OF NEWPORT?
AND IN HIS CUSTOMARY BRUSQUE AND
DECISIVE WAY HE SAID TAKE ME TO
THE COURTHOUSE.
A TRIAL WAS GOING ON IN THE
NEWPORT COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND
INTO THE TRIAL WALKS THE
GOVERNOR.
AND THE GOVERNOR INTERRUPTS THE
TRIAL AND TELLS THE JUDGE I
WOULD LIKE TO PLEAD GUILTY.
AND THE JUDGE THANKFULLY SAID
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT
YOUR PLEA, I'M DOING SOMETHING
ELSE RIGHT NOW, PLUS YOU DON'T
HAVE BENEFIT OF COUNSEL, TO
WHICH HE TARTLY RESPONDED I'M AS
GOOD A LAWYER AS THERE IS IN
RHODE ISLAND AND THE JUDGE
RESPONDED WELL, A LAWYER WHO IS
REPRESENTING HIMSELF HAS A FOOL
FOR A CLIENT.
AND ON YOUR CLIENT'S BEHALF LET
ME TELL YOU I'M GOING TO ACCEPT
THAT PLEA.
SO THERE IS THE GOVERNOR'S
STAFF, THE PHONE RINGS AND THE
MESSAGE IS YOUR BOSS IS IN COURT
TRYING TO PLEAD GUILTY TO A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THAT LIGHTS
UP A STAFF'S DAY.
SO DOWN WE WENT TO TRY TO HELP
TAKE CARE OF THAT.
ON ANOTHER GAY WAS THE ARRIVAL
OF HIS DAUGHTER WHEN HE WAS
ELECTED, GOVERNOR SUNDLUN HAD
THREE SONS, TRACY, STEWART,
AND PETER.
WELL, IT TURNED OUT THAT THERE
WAS ALSO A DAUGHTER, AND IN
MIDTERM AT AGE 16, KARA ARRIVED
AND WAS RECOGNIZED AS BRUCE'S
DAUGHTER FROM A RELATIONSHIP
THAT HE HAD HAD YEARS BEFORE,
AND TAKEN INTO THE FAMILY AND
SHE IS NOW AT THE END OF HIS
DAYS WAS WAS BELOVED AS ANY OF
HIS SONS BUT THAT ALSO CAN BE AN
EXCITING DAY FOR STAFF MEMBERS
WHEN SUDDENLY THE BOSS TURNS UP
WITH A BRAND-NEW 16-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER THAT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT
BEFORE.
HE HAD FIVE WIVES IN ADDITION TO
THOSE FOUR CHILDREN, HE LED A
RICH, FULL, EXCITING,
PASSIONATE LIFE AND I MISS HIM
VERY, VERY MUCH.
HE DIED ON THURSDAY, HE DIED
AROUND HIM.
VERY PEACEFULLY WITH HIS FAMILY
HE WAS 91 YEARS OLD.
I THINK HE PROBABLY PUT ABOUT
151 YEARS OF LIVING INTO THOSE
91 YEARS.
AND HE LEFT A FAMILY THAT LOVED
HIM, A STATE THAT HE HAD SERVED
INCREDIBLY WELL, AND STAFF
MEMBERS WHO REALLY HAD THEIR
LIVES CHANGED BY THEIR EXPOSURE
TO THIS REMARKABLE,
HARD-DRIVING, AFFECTIONATE,
BOLD MAN.
HERE WE ARE IN WASHINGTON AS I
CLOSE, AND WE ARE IN A
SITUATION IN WHICH ONE PARTY IS
HOLDING THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF
THE COUNTRY HOSTAGE IN ORDER TO
FORCE CHANGES THAT THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT, WOULDN'T
VOTE FOR, WOULDN'T ACCEPT IF
THEY WERE CONSULTED, BUT BY
VIRTUE OF HAVING A -- IN EFFECT
A GUN TO THE HEAD OF THE
ECONOMY, THEY WANT TO FORCE
THESE THINGS.
LIKE KILLING OFF THE MEDICARE
PROGRAM.
AMERICANS ARE WILDLY OPPOSED TO
THAT IN HUGE, HUGE NUMBERS.
WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT THAT
WAS IN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET, THEY REJECTED IT BY 4-1
MARGINS.
AND THE RESPONSE TO THAT WAS TO
BRING BACK SOMETHING CALLED
CAP, CUT AND BALANCE, WHICH
HAD HIDDEN BENEATH THE SLOGAN
AND EVEN -- AN EVEN WORSE CUT
TO MEDICARE.
THEY DIDN'T LEARN FROM THE
LESSON THAT THE PUBLIC DIDN'T
WANT THIS.
THEY INSISTED ON DOING EVEN
WORSE.
AND DOING IT BY HOLDING THE
ECONOMY HOSTAGE.
THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT
ACCEPT.
GOVERNOR SUNDLUN WOULD NOT
HE WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST A
PATRIOT, AND AS HARD AS HE
WORKED AND AS AS MUCH AS HE
CHALLENGED EVERYONE AROUND HIM,
HE ALWAYS HAD THE PURPOSE OF
MAKING AMERICA BETTER, MAKING
AMERICA STRONGER, MAKING RHODE
ISLAND BETTER, MAKING RHODE
ISLAND STRONGER, AND BUILDING
TOWARDS THE FUTURE.
HE HAD INCREDIBLE CONFIDENCE.
THE NOTION OF HOLDING AN ECONOMY
HOSTAGE AND THREATENING THE
WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE TO FORCE
DOWN THEIR THROATS SOMETHING
THEY DON'T WANT WOULD BE
COMPLETELY ALIEN TO HIS
PATRIOTIC CHARACTER AND IT MAKES
ME MISS HIM A LOT AS WE'RE
TRAPPED IN THIS TODAY.
THE OTHER PARTY APPEARS TO BE IN
LARGE PART ACTION QUESTIONING TO
THIS -- ACQUIESCING TO THIS AND
GOVERNOR SUNDLUN'S STREAK OF
DETERMINATION TO DO THE RIGHT
THING IS MISSED ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE AS MUCH AS HIS
PATRIOTISM AND THE DESIRE TO PUT
THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE FIRST
IS MISSED ON THE FIRST.
0 SO HE'S A MAN WHOSE LIFE AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS MADE A GREAT
DIFFERENCE IN RHODE ISLAND, AND
HAVE GREAT RELEVANCE AND
RESONANCE EVEN AS WE STAND HERE
TODAY.
AS I SAID, I MISS HIM VERY
MUCH.
HE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND I WISH WE HAD HIS FORCEFUL,
PATRIOTIC, BUOYANT, AND
DETERMINED SPIRIT WITH US TODAY.
I THANK THE PRESIDING OFFICER
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR AND I NOTE
0 NOTE.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
A MR. WHITEHOUSE: I ASK THE
QUORUM EQUAL BE VITIATED.
I MENTIONED IN THE SPEECH I GAVE
ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR SUNDLUN
THAT I DELIVERED AT HIS FUNERAL
SERVICE I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT MY REMARKS AT HIS FUNERAL
SERVICE BE ADDED AT THE END OF
MY SPOKEN REMARKS HERE ON THE
FLOOR AS AN ADDITION TO THE
RECORD BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO BILLS
HEADED FOR A VOTE TO RAISE THE
DEBT CEILING AND TO REDUCE
SPENDING.
ONE OF THOSE TWO BILLS FROM THE
HOUSE SPEAKER BOEHNER CUTS ABOUT
$1 TRILLION IN SPENDING AND
RAISES THE DEBT CEILING BY
$1 TRILLION.
UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR,
APPROXIMATELY.
THAT'S ABOUT HOW LONG IT WOULD
TAKE TO RUN UP ANOTHER TRILLION
DOLLARS IN DEBT.
THE OTHER BILL FROM SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER REID CUTS ABOUT
$1 TRILLION AND RAISES THE DEBT
CEILING ABOUT $3 TRILLION OR
PAST THE 2012 ELECTION.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT
SAID EMPHATICALLY JUST A FEW
DAYS AGO AT A PRESS
CONFERENCE -- QUOTE -- "THE ONLY
BOTTOM LINE I HAVE IS THAT WE
HAVE TO EXTEND THIS DEBT CEILING
2013."
THROUGH THE NEXT ELECTION, INTO
SO IN A SENSE, IT'S REALLY QUITE
SIMPLE, SPEAKER BOEHNER'S BILL
LIVES UP TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT I
THOUGHT WE'D ALL AGREED TO, THAT
EVERY DOLLAR IN DEBT CEILING
INCREASE SHOULD BE TIED TO A
DOLLAR REDUCTION IN SPENDING.
THE SPENDERS GET AN ADVANTAGE
SINCE THE SPENDING REDUCTIONS
OCCUR OVER TEN YEARS, WHEREAS
THE DEBT CEILING INCREASE WOULD
BE IMMEDIATE.
BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THE
PRINCIPLE WE'VE BEEN OPERATING
ON.
SENATOR REID'S BILL IS A HOAX.
IT URGES -- IT USES WASHINGTON
GIMMICKS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT
IS.
LOOK THREE TIMES AS LARGE AS IT
IN REALITY, IT HIKES THE DEBT
CEILING $3 FOR EVERY $1 IN
SPENDING CUTS OVER TEN YEARS.
THE HOUSE BILL IS 1-1.
THE SENATE BILL, 3-1.
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED THIS
EXHAUSTIVELY IN A BUDGET
COMMITTEE ANALYSIS.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WOULD
DISPUTE IT.
THE HOUSE APPROACH -- ONE OF THE
THE -- THE PRIMARY WAY THIS IS
ACCOMPLISHED IS TO COUNT THE
REDUCTION IN SPENDING OVER THE
WAR IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
THAT'S PROJECTED TO OCCUR AND
COUNT -- IT'S ALREADY BEEN
PROJECTED TO OCCUR AND COUNT
THAT AS A SPENDING CUT.
SPEAKER BOEHNER DIDN'T DO THAT.
HIS WOULD LOOK A TRILLION
DOLLARS BETTER ALSO IF HE USED
THOSE NUMBERS.
THE HOUSE APPROACH IS HONEST,
IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD AND
ACHIEVES $1 IN CUTS FOR EVERY $1
IN DEBT CEILING INCREASE.
IT ALLOWS US TO RETURN TO THE
TABLE IN A FEW MONTHS TO ASSESS
OUR PROGRESS, SEE WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY AND
BEGIN WORKING TOWARD THE GREATER
CUTS THAT ARE NEEDED.
SENATOR REID'S BILL RELIES ON
ACCOUNTING TRICKS, TAKES THE
DEBT LIMIT OFF THE TABLE UNTIL
AFTER THE ELECTION, AND
EXCHANGES A RECORD $3 TRILLION
IN DEBT HIKE FOR ONLY ONE-THIRD
AS MUCH IN DEBT CUTS.
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE SIGNED A LETTER
VOWING TO DEFEAT THE BOEHNER
PLAN.
I FIND THIS A LITTLE SHOCKING,
FRANKLY, AND SURPRISING.
IS IT THE POSITION OF THE SENATE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY THAT
$1 TRILLION IN CUTS OVER TEN
YEARS IS ALL WE NEED TO ACHIEVE
BETWEEN NOW AND 2013?
IS IT THEIR VIEW THAT A DOLLAR
IN CUTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR IN DEBT
LIMIT INCREASE IS TOO STEEP?
OR IS IT A POLITICAL EFFORT TO
PROTECT THE PRESIDENT BY PUSHING
THE DEBT LIMIT CEILING PAST THE
NEXT ELECTION, CREATING THE
HIGHEST INCREASE IN DEBT CEILING
I THINK IN HISTORY EXCEPT FOR
PERHAPS THE ONE THE SUPER
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE SLIPPED THROUGH DURING
THE PASSAGE OF THE HEALTH CARE
BILL.
IS THIS AN ELECTION ISSUE?
THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD TURN DOWN
AN AGREEMENT ON AND PUT US IN
RISK OF FINANCIAL DISRUPTION OF
OUR ECONOMY?
SO LET'S STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT
AND LOOK AT THE WIDER CONTEXT.
WASHINGTON IS OFTEN CONSUMED BY
GAMES.
POLITICAL FIGHTS AND BLAME
IT CAN BE HARD TO DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN FACTS AND TALKING POINTS
POINTS, BUT I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE
AS HONEST AN ASSESSMENT AS I
REQUEST AS TO WHY WE FIND
OURSELVES IN THIS UNFORTUNATE
PROCESS.
SITUATION AT THE 11th HOUR.
STATUTORY LEGAL PROCESS TO
ARRIVE AT A BUDGET DEAL EVERY
SINGLE YEAR.
IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE LAW OF THE
UNITED STATES.
THE PRESIDENT IS REQUIRED TO
SUBMIT A BUDGET BY LAW EACH YEAR
AND EACH CHAMBER IS REQUIRED TO
PASS ONE SEPARATELY AND THEN
AGREE ON ONE TOGETHER.
IF THE YEAR HAD BEGUN WITH A
SERIOUS BUDGET PROPOSAL FROM THE
PRESIDENT, WE WOULDN'T BE IN
THIS MESS TODAY.
BUT HE SUBMITTED A BUDGET THAT
WOULD DOUBLE OUR DEBT IN TEN
YEARS WHILE HE CLAIMED IT WOULD
NOT ADD TO THE DEBT.
AND HE CLAIMED IT WOULD CAUSE US
TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
INDEED, HE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL TAX
INCREASE, A VERY REAL TAX
INCREASE OF SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS,
BUT HIS SPENDING INCREASED EVEN
MORE THAN THAT.
SO THERE'S A NET TOTAL OF THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WAS TO MAKE
THE DEBT TRAJECTORY WE ARE ON
NOT BETTER BUT WORSE EVEN WITH
THE TAX INCREASE.
INDEED, HIS BUDGET NEXT YEAR
THAT HE SUBMITTED PROPOSED A 10%
INCREASE FOR THE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT, THE ENERGY
DEPARTMENT, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
AND EVEN MORE FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
THOSE DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASES AT
A TIME WE WERE RUNNING THE
BIGGEST DEFICITS THE NATION HAS
EVER SUSTAINED?
SENATE DEMOCRATS HAVE REFUSED TO
PASS, MEANWHILE, IN THIS BODY
EVEN PASS OR BRING UP A BUDGET
IN 820 DAYS, TWO YEARS.
THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID IT
WOULD BE FOOLISH TO PASS A
BUDGET.
FOOLISH TO NOT -- TO -- NOT PASS
A BUDGET?
SO THESE ARE FACTS.
MY COLLEAGUES THAT RUN THE
SENATE HERE HAVE DEFIED THE LAW
AND SOUND POLICY ALL YEAR LONG
AND NOW WE'RE PAYING THE PRICE,
A LAST-MINUTE,
TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT PANIC VOTE.
NOBODY YET KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO
BE IN THE LEGISLATION FINALLY
BECAUSE THE REJECTION OF ANY
BILL THAT SEEMS TO BE OUT THERE
AT THIS TIME.
IF THE WHITE HOUSE OR SENATE
DEMOCRATS HAD TAKEN THE BUDGET
PROCESS SERIOUSLY LAST YEAR, IF
THEY HAD PRESENTED A SINGLE
CREDIBLE PLAN TO CUT SPENDING,
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE AT THIS
11th HOUR.
INDEED, OUR DEMOCRATIC
COLLEAGUES HAVE INSISTED ON
SECRET MEETINGS THAT SHIELDED
THEM FROM MAKING ANY OF THEIR
BUDGET PLANS PUBLIC.
THAT SHIELDED THEM FROM ANY REAL
VOTES ON SPENDING AND DEBT, AND
APPEARS.
THOSE MEETINGS HAVE FAILED, IT
DEMOCRATS HAVE CAMPAIGNED AND
SOUGHT CONTROL AND A MAJORITY IN
THE SENATE AND THEY CHOSE IN
THIS TIME OF FISCAL CRISIS NOT
TO ENGAGE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS
IN A SERIOUS WAY.
IN FACT, THEY ARE APPARENTLY SO
DETERMINED TO AVOID THE PUBLIC
BUDGET PROCESS THAT THE REID
BILL EVEN INCLUDES LANGUAGE
DESIGNED TO CIRCUMVENT THE
PROCESS FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
SO YOU'LL FORGIVE ME IF I'M A
LITTLE CONCERNED BY ALL THESE
PARTY.
TAX -- THESE ATTACKS ON THE TEA
THEY DIDN'T START THIS FIRE.
THEY SOUNDED THE ALARM.
BEFORE THE LAST ELECTION WHEN
DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED BOTH
CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS BY
SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITIES, EVERY
CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT
INCREASING SPENDING.
MORE, MORE, MORE.
CONGRESS PASSED A STIMULUS BILL,
THE LARGEST SINGLE ONE-TIME
EXPENDITURE EVER PASSED BY ANY
CONGRESS OR ANY NATION IN
HISTORY.
EVERY PENNY OF THAT BORROWED.
WE WERE ALREADY HUGELY IN DEBT.
WEWE'RE BORROWING NOW 40 CENTS OF
EVERY DOLLAR.
IT PASSED AND THE CONGRESS ALSO
PASSED THE PRESIDENT'S MASSIVE
NEW HEALTH CARE ENTITLEMENT.
IT PASSED THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST FOR EXTRAORDINARY
INCREASES IN DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING, NON-DEFENSE
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING HAS GONE
UP 24% IN A TIME OF RECORD
DEFICITS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE'VE ADDED $4 TRILLION TO OUR
GROSS DEBT SINCE THE PRESIDENT
TOOK OFFICE.
JUST IN THE TIME SINCE THE
SENATE DEMOCRATS LAST PASSED A
BUDGET, WE'VE SPENT MORE THAN $
$ TRILLION.
$7 TRILLION WITHOUT A BUDGET.
-- WE'VE SPENT MORE THAN
THESE ARE THE FACTS.
BUT AFTER THE 2010 ELECTION AND
THE EMERGENCE OF THE TEA PARTY
AND COMMONSENSE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WHO KNEW BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, WE HAVE
FINALLY BEGUN TO LOOK AT
WASHINGTON'S SPENDING PROBLEM.
NOW, INSTEAD OF JUST RAISING THE
DEBT CEILING WITH NO SPEND CUTS,
AS THE WHITE HOUSE INITIALLY AND
REPEAT IEDLY DEMANDED, WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HOW TO CUT SOME
SPENDING.
PEOPLE IN THE TEA PARTY AND
THOSE WHO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS
SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES VILIFIED.
THEY'RE GOOD, DECENT, PATRIOTIC
AMERICANS WHOSE ONLY CRIME IS
RIGHTLY FEARING FOR THE FUTURE
OF THEIR NATION.
ARE THEY WRONG TO BE CONCERNED
WHEN THIS CONGRESS SPENDS MONEY
WILLY-NILLY EVERY DAY, 40 CENTS
OF IT IS BORROWED?
THEY KNOW THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
THAT'S THE KIND OF MESSAGE
THEY'VE SENT TO US.
WE NEED TO LISTEN TO IT.
THE HEART OF AMERICA IS
SPEAKING.
THE LAST POINT I'D LIKE TO MAKE
IS ABOUT THE ISSUE OF
COMPROMISE.
THERE'S BEEN SUGGESTIONS THAT
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SIMPLY BEEN
UNWILLING TO BUDGE FROM THEIR
POSITION.
BUT THE BOEHNER PROPOSAL
REPRESENTS ONLY A SMALL PORTION
OF THE CUTS THE REPUBLICANS HAVE
ADVOCATED AND THAT THEY BELIEVE
SHOULD BE ACHIEVED, SO THIS IS
TRULY A CRITICAL POINT AND ONE
THE WHITE HOUSE WILL NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE.
THE HOUSE BUDGET THAT THEY PASS
PASSED -- A LONG--TERM TEN-YEAR
BUDGET THAT WOULD PUT US ON A
SOUND FINANCIAL COURSE IN A
RESPONSIBLE WAY -- CUTS $6
TRILLION IN COMPARISON TO THE
PRESIDENT'S REQUEST.
THE TOOMEY BUDGET THAT THE
SENATE VOTED ON CUTS ABOUT $8
TRILLION.
THE HOUSE PASSED A PLAN WHICH I
COSPONSORED THAT NOT ONLY CUTS
AND CAPS SPENDING BUT THAT
REQUIRES THE PASSAGE OF A
AMENDMENT.
CONSTITUTIONAL BALANCED BUDGET
IN FACT, ALL 47 REPUBLICAN
SENATORS HAVE COSPONSORED A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THE $1 TRILLION IN CUTS THAT
SPEAKER BOEHNER IS ASKING FOR
WOULD BE, INDEED, A MODEST FIRST
STEP, AN EFFORT TO COMPROMISE
AND REACH A NUMBER THAT HAS HAD A
REALISTIC CHANCE OF PASSING THIS
BODY.
BUT UNDER HIS PLAN, WE'LL RETURN
TO THE TABLE AFTER THAT $1
TRILLION AND INCREASE IN DEBT
CEILING HAS BEEN USED UP.
AND THIS IS FAR FROM THE LEVEL
OF SAVINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE OR THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE
WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
$1 TRILLION IS A BITTER PILL FOR
A LOST THOSE MEMBERS WHO -- FOR
A LOT OF THOSE MEMBERS WHO KNOW
THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
THE BONDHOLDERS ARE TELLING US
WE NEED AT LEAST $4 TRILLION.
THAT JUST REDUCES THE CRISIS
NATURE WE'RE IN.
THAT WOULD NOT COME CLOSE TO
PUTTING US ON A PATH TO A
BALANCED BUDGET OVER TEN YEARS.
REDUCING DEFICITS BY $4 BILLION
-- TRILLION OVER TEN YEARS WHEN
OUR DEFICITS ARE GOING TO
INCREASE BY $9 TRILLION TO $13
TRILLION OVER TEN YEARS
OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT SOLVE OUR
DEBT CRISIS.
BUT $1 TRILLION IS EVEN MUCH
SMALLER.
THAT WAS A FIGURE THAT WAS
BELIEVED THAT THIS SENATE MIGHT
ACCEPT, SO THE HOUSE MEMBERS IN
ORDER TO AVOID A DEBT CRISIS AND
A FINANCIAL CRISIS OVER THE DEBT
CEILING IS APPARENTLY WORKING
HARD AND MAYBE THEY'LL SEND IT
OVER HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
THEY'RE WORKING HARD TO TRY TO
DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A REASONABLE
COMPROMISE AND A FAIR APPROACH
TO THIS CONGRESS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SPEND AROUND
$45 TRILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN
YEARS.
THAT WILL ADD AS MUCH AS $13
TRILLION TO THE GROSS DEBT.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WE'VE A LOT MORE
WORK TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR
CUTS IN SPENDING BILLS, OMNIBUS
BILLS, CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS,
AND IN EVERY OTHER PLACE WE CAN
TO IMPOSE FISCAL DISCIPLINE ON
THIS COUNTRY.
WE MUST CONTROL SPENDING.
DEBT.
WE MUST CONTROL AND CONCUR CONQUEER THE
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WANTS A
BALANCED APPROACH.
BUT A BALANCE IS NOT A TAX HIKE.
THAT BAILS OUT THE BIG SPENDERS
WHO SURGED OUR SPENDING WITH
STIMULUS BILLS AND SURGING 24%
INCREASES IN DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING.
GOING TO BAIL THEM OUT BY
RAISING TAXES.
WE SHOULD NEVER HAVE RUN UP THAT
KIND OF SPENDING.
BUT BALANCE IS NOT A TAX HIKE OF
THAT KIND.
CREATING REAL BALANCE, THE RIGHT
BALANCE, MEANS SHIFTING POWER
AWAY FROM WASHINGTON, PLACING IT
IN THE SAFE HANDS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS SAID LAST
YEAR WHEN THEY GAVE A
SHELLACKING TO THE BIG SPENDERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD DO NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE WORKING FOR
AND I BELIEVE A LOT OF OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE CONGRESS ON
BOWGETS SIDES OF THE AISLE WILL
-- ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
WILL BE WORKING FOR.
I WOULD THANK THE CHAIR AND NOTE
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
R: THE
SENATOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
LAST JANUARY, PROBABLY LATE IN
THE MONTH I THINK IT WAS, IT