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YOU CAN SEE LIVE HOUSE COVERAGE
ON OUR COMPANION NETWORK,
C-SPAN.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN, DR. BARRY BLACK,
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY
WISE, YOU KNOW OUR NEEDS BEFORE
WE ASK YOU.
BUT WAIT TO BLESS US UNTIL WE
ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
SO, LORD, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO
FILL OUR LAWMAKERS WITH ENERGY
FOR THE TASKS YOU HAVE ASSIGNED
THEIR HANDS TO DO.
LET NO PRIDE OF POWER BETRAY
THEM INTO REJECTING YOUR
PRECEPTS AND PURPOSES, BUT HELP
THEM FACE THE CHALLENGES OF
THESE DIFFICULT TIMES WITH A
TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON YOU.
LORD, SAVE US FROM OURSELVES AS
YOU HELP THEM TO REMEMBER THAT
IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY
WELL-MEANING PEOPLE HAVE SOWN TO
THE WIND, BUT REAPED THE
WHIRLWIND.
WHILE OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN
RISK AND GIVE THEIR LIVES FOR
LIBERTY OVERSEAS, MAY WE BE
WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM
AT HOME.
LORD, WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WE
CANNOT SUCCEED.
WITH YOUR POWER, WE CANNOT FAIL.
WE PRAY IN YOUR MERCYFUL NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON D.C.,
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
APPOINT
THE HONORABLEMARK R. WARNER,
A SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF VIRGINIA,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THERE WILL BE A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 4:00
THIS AFTERNOON FOR DEBATE ONLY,
WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH
DURING THIS TIME, WITH THE TIME
EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED
BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE VERY
HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN REACH AN
AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET TODAY.
I'LL HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT
IN A FEW MINUTES.
SENATORS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN
VOTES ARE SCHEDULED.
EXCUSE ME.
I NOW ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE
SENATE RECESS FROM 1:00 THIS
AFTERNOON UNTIL 2:00 THIS
AFTERNOON IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR
MEETING.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, THERE
ARE TWO BILLS AT THE DESK DUE
FOR SECOND READING.
THE
CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE
BILL FOR THE SECOND TIME.
H.R. 1255, AN ACT
TO PREVENT A SHUTDOWN OF THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
S. 768, A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR
CONTINUING OPERATIONS OF
GOVERNMENT IN A FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
OBJECT TO FURTHER PROCEEDINGS IN
REGARD TO THESE BILLS EN BLOC.
OBJECTION IS HEARD.
THE BILLS WILL BE PLACED ON THE
CALENDAR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'VE
BEEN MARRIED FOR A LONG TIME,
MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
WE HAVE ONE DAUGHTER AND NINE
MUCH.
ONE DAY, THOUGH, I MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO HELP THEM, AND ONE OF
THEM MAY NEED A CANCER
IT'S NOT A PLEASANT THOUGHT, BUT
THAT'S A REALITY OF LIFE.
AND I MAY NOT BE AROUND TO HELP
THEM WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING.
OVER THEIR LIVES, THEY'LL BE IN
NEED OF OTHER THINGS LIKE A
CHOLESTEROL CHECK.
MAYBE A BLOOD PRESSURE
SCREENING, TESTS THAT ARE LESS
SERIOUS BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT TO
A WOMAN'S HEALTH.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE
TEST THAT COULD SAVE THEIR
SO SHOULD EVERY SINGLE WOMAN IN
I BELIEVE THAT AND, FRANKLY,
THAT'S NO SO CONTROVERSIAL.
IT'S NOT SO CONTROVERSIAL TO
BELIEVE.
SOME WOMEN, OF COURSE, HAVE
OTHERS, INCLUDING THE POOREST
AMONG US, DON'T.
WHERE DO THEY GO TO GET BLOOD
PRESSU OR CHOLESTEROL OR
CANCER SCREENING?
WHERE DO THEY GO?
THANKFULLY THERE'S A LITTLE
KNOWN PART OF A LITTLE KNOWN LAW
THAT SAVES MANY LIVES.
IT'S CALLED TITLE 10.
IT IS PART OF A PUBLIC HEALTH
LAW, AND IT MEANS THAT WOMEN AND
GIRLS CAN GO TO THEIR LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR COMMUNITY
CLINIC AND GET THESE TESTS.
MR. PRESIDENT, MORE THAN 5
MILLION WOMEN USE THESE CENTERS
YEAR.
FIVE MILLION.
FIVE MILLION.
ONE OF THEM COULD BE MY
GRANDDAUGHTER OR MY DAUGHTER.
MR. PRESIDENT, SOME WATCHING US
TODAY -- AND WE KNOW THE WHOLE
WORLD IS WATCHING US TODAY --
MAY BE ASKING WHY I'M TALKING
ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH WHEN THE
QUESTION BEFORE US IS THE BUDGET
OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMY ON THE
PLANET EARTH.
SOME MAY ASK WHY WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE SMALLEST CORNER OF
PLANET EARTH, WITH A GOVERNMENT
LOOMING NOT WEEKS AWAY OR DAYS
AWAY BUT HOURS A WAY, WHY ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT WHETHER WOMEN CAN
GET SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AND
NONCONTROVERSIAL AS A CANCER
SCREENING?
THE ANSWER IS, MR. PRESIDENT,
THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT
DOWN OUR NATION'S GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE IT
HARDER FOR WOMEN TO GET THE
HEALTH SERVICES THEY NEED.
AND, BY THE WAY, TITLE 10 DOES
NOT INCLUDE ABORTION.
IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE FEDERAL
FUNDS FOR ABORTION SERVICES SO
ANYONE WHO SAYS THIS DEBATE IS
TRUTHFUL.
SERVICES.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO SHUT DOWN
THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY
THINK THERE IS NOTHING MORE
IMPORTANT THAN KEEPING WOMEN
FROM GETTING CANCER SCREENINGS?
THIS IS INDEFENSIBLE AND
EVERYONE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.
MEN AND WOMEN SHOULD BE
OUTRAGED.
THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE LEADERSHIP
HAVE ONLY A FEW HOURS LEFT TO
LOOK IN THE MIRROR, SNAP OUT OF
IT AND REALIZE HOW POSITIVELY
SHAMEFUL IT WOULD BE,
MR. PRESIDENT.
FOR MONTHS THIS CONVERSATION HAS
BEEN ABOUT BILLIONS AND
TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT WEIGHTY ISSUES
AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
THIS DEBATE IS ABOUT SAVING
THAT'S WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS
BUT NO LONGER.
WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON THE CUTS
AND SAVINGS.
I WAS THERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE
LAST NIGHT.
AND THAT AGREEMENT INCLUDES AN
HISTORIC LEVEL OF CUTS.
WE'VE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED WE HAD
TO MAKE CUTS.
THAT'S WHY WE AGREED IN THE
WHITE HOUSE LAST NIGHT TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT CUTS; HARD BUT
IMPORTANT.
BUT NOW THE TEA PARTY, AMONG
OTHERS, BUT THEY ARE THE BIGGEST
PUSH, IS TRYING TO MOVE ITS
EXTREME SOCIAL AGENDA, ISSUES
THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT.
THEY'RE WILLING, IT APPEARS
CLEARLY, TO THROW WOMEN UNDER
THE BUS EVEN IF IT MEANS IT WILL
SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT.
BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE WE ARE.
THAT IS THE ONE ISSUE THAT WAS
REMAINING LAST NIGHT.
THAT AGENDA IS AN EXTREME
AGENDA.
I DON'T AGREE WITH THEIR IDEAS
ON SOCIAL POLICY, BUT IN OUR
DEMOCRACY THOSE IDEAS, HOWEVER
RADICAL OR HOWEVER YOU MAY
DISAGREE WITH THEM, DESERVE A
DEBATE IF THEY WANT ONE.
THAT'S FAIR.
BUT THAT DEBATE DOESN'T BELONG
IN AN URGENT BILL TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT RUNNING, AND
ESPECIALLY DOESN'T BELONG HERE
AT THIS LATE HOUR.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF LETTING OUR
COUNTRY'S FUNDING EXPIRE WOULD
BE DEVASTATING.
ALMOST A MILLION FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES, MR. PRESIDENT, PEOPLE
WHO WORK FOR THE BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT -- NOT A BIG PRESENCE
IN THE PRESIDING OFFICER'S STATE
BUT A HUGE PRESENCE IN THE STATE
OF NEVADA WHICH IS 87% OWNED BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
FOREST SERVICE EMPLOYEES, F.B.I.
EMPLOYEES, INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE EMPLOYEES, PEOPLE WHO
WORK IN THIS GREAT GOVERNMENT
COMPLEX; ALMOST A MILLION OF
THEM ARE WAITING ON PINS AND
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.
THEY'RE WORKING FROM PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK.
THEY'RE WONDERING IF THEY'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT NEW
CAR THEY'VE NEEDED FOR THREE OR
FOUR YEARS.
THEY'RE WONDERING WITH SUMMER
COMING, ARE THEY GOING TO BE
ABLE TO TAKE THAT VACATION THAT
THEY'VE WANTED TO FOR A LONG
TIME.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF LETTING OUR
COUNTRY'S FUNDING EXPIRE WOULD
BE DEVASTATING.
PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS.
IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO OUR
TROOPS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND TO
AMERICANS' EVERYDAY LIVES.
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET A HOME
LOAN, TO GET THEIR TAX REFUND
OR, I REPEAT, THEIR PAYCHECK.
IT WOULD DAMAGE OUR IMAGE AND
CREDIBILITY AROUND THE WORLD.
REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING ME TO
SACRIFICE MY WIFE'S HEALTH, MY
DAUGHTER'S HEALTH AND MY NINE
GRANDDAUGHTERS' HEALTH.
THEY ARE ASKING ME TO SACRIFICE
THE HEALTH OF WOMEN IN NEVADA
AND ALL AROUND THIS COUNTRY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M NOT GOING TO
BE PART OF THAT.
I WON'T DO IT.
AS A LEGISLATOR, I'M VERY
FRUSTRATED.
AS AN AMERICAN, I'M APPALLED.
AS A HUSBAND, A FATHER AND
OFFENDED.
WOULD THE CHAIR ANNOUNCE MORNING
BUSINESS NOW, PLEASE.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
LEADERSHIP TIME RESERVED.
THE SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL
4:00 P.M. WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK THEREIN FOR
UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH WITH THE
TIME EQUALLY DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE TWO
LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES AND
ANY TIME SPENT IN QUORUM CALL
WILL BE EQUALLY DIVIDED.
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
MR. PRESIDENT, AT
THIS VERY CRITICAL TIME IN OUR
COUNTRY'S HISTORY, A TIME WHEN
WE HAVE OVER A $14 TRILLION DEBT
AND WE ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO
FIND WAYS TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT
SPENDING AND LOSE THE
POSSIBILITY OF A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN, I THINK WE WOULD BE
BEST SERVED TO TRY TO PROVIDE
SOME INFORMATION TO OUR
AND AS POLITICIANS RESIST THE
TEMPTATION TO THROW ROTTEN
APPLES AT EACH OTHER.
I THINK ALSO IT WOULD BE WISE
FOR MEDIA TO NOT HYPE OR
OVERHYPE A SITUATION REGARDING
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BUT TRY TO
PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO LET ME TRY TO DO THAT
HERE FOR A MOMENT THIS MORNING.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, OBVIOUSLY
WE'RE TRYING TO REACH AGREEMENT.
I COMPLIMENT THE MAJORITY
LEADER, SENATOR REID, WHO JUST
SPOKE; THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE,
JOHN BOEHNER, FOR THEIR EFFORTS
TO GET TOGETHER, BRIDGE THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO
PARTIES, THE TWO BODIES AND TO
REACH AN AGREEMENT.
IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE DAYS
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO WEIGHED
IN ON THE ISSUE, AND HE TOO, I
THINK, IS TRYING VERY HARD TO
HELP THE PARTIES REACH AN
NOT WITHSTANDING THAT FACT, THE
LAW -- UNDER THE LAW, TONIGHT AT
MIDNIGHT THE FUNDING FOR MUCH OF
THE GOVERNMENT STOPS, AND THE
WHAT CAN BE DONE
ABOUT THAT?
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS
YESTERDAY.
THE SENATE COULD TAKE THAT BILL
UP AND PASS IT.
IT WOULD KEEP THE GOVERNMENT
RUNNING FOR ANOTHER WEEK.
FROM TWO PROVIDE FULL
FUNDING -- IT WOULD PROVIDE FULL
FUNDING FOR THE MILITARY NOT
JUST FOR ANOTHER WEEK BUT FOR
THE ENTIRE REST OF THE YEAR.
THAT IS A REASONABLE MEASURE TO
KEEP THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING.
IT ALSO, BY THE WAY, REDUCES $12
BILLION IN SPENDING.
MOST OF THAT SPENDING, I'M
INFORMED, HAS ALREADY BEEN
AGREED TO BY THE ADMINISTRATION
AND WOULD BE INCLUDED IN ANY
LONGER-RANGE CONTINUING
WELL, WHAT HAPPENED?
THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD VETO
THAT BILL.
THAT'S A VERY PUZZLING THING
BECAUSE IF WE'RE ALL SEEKING TO
FUND THE GOVERNMENT AT LEAST
UNTIL THERE CAN BE AN AGREEMENT
ON A LONG-TERM RESOLUTION, ONE
WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD TRY TO
KEEP IT GOING FOR ANOTHER WEEK
AND THAT WE WOULD ADOPT WHAT THE
HOUSE DID, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT
PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE
MILITARY.
THE PRESIDENT DESCRIBED IN HIS
VETO MESSAGE, HE SAID THAT THE
BILL WAS A DISTRACTION.
I DO HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH
THAT.
IT'S NOT A DISTRACTION.
IT'S WHAT'S NECESSARY TO KEEP
THE GOVERNMENT RUNNING.
ME GET BACK TO THAT IN JUST
A MOMENT.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE'RE ABLE
TO REACH AGREEMENT BY TONIGHT?
IF WE'RE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT
BEFORE MIDNIGHT, AT LEAST
THEORETICALLY BOTH BODIES, THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, COULD PASS A
VERY SHORT-TERM, TWO OR
THREE-DAY STOPGAP MEASURE IN
ORDER TO HAVE THE TIME TO
COMPLETE THE WORK ON THE FULL
MEASURE AND THEN ADOPT THAT
SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
OR -- AND THAT WOULD AVERT A
SHUTDOWN.
IT'S POSSIBLE ALSO THAT BECAUSE
IN THE SENATE IT WOULD REQUIRE A
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
SOMEBODY MIGHT DISAGREE WITH
THAT PROCESS AND WOULD OBJECT.
IN THAT CASE IT WOULD TAKE A FEW
DAYS FOR US TO DO THE, IN EFFECT
THE PAPERWORK TO GET THIS DONE,
AND THAT WOULD THEN RESULT IN A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DURING THAT
TIME, AT LEAST OVER THE COURSE
OF THE WEEKEND.
THAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF AT ALL
POSSIBLE.
BUT WHILE THERE WOULD BE SOME
DISLOCATIONS AND INCONVENIENCES,
I DO THINK THE MEDIA EXAGGERATES
A LITTLE BIT THE RESULT OF A
SHUTDOWN OVER THE WEEKEND.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE IS THE MILITARY
PERIOD OF TIME.
THEY WILL GET PAID, BUT IT'S A
DISRUPTIVE THING WHEN YOU'VE GOT
YOUNG MILITARY FAMILIES TRYING
TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND SOMETIMES
LIVING FROM PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK
TO HAVE THAT DISRUPTED.
THAT'S WHY I THINK IT MAKES SO
MUCH SENSE TO ADOPT WHAT THE
HOUSE PASSED YESTERDAY SO THAT
WE HAVE THE TIME, THE WEEK, TO
COMPLETE THE WORK ON THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT WOULD
FUND THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE
END OF THE FISCAL YEAR -- THAT
IS TO SAY THROUGH THE END OF
SEPTEMBER -- AND THEN NOT HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN AND ESPECIALLY FUNDING
THE MILITARY.
THERE'S A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN
RAISE THAT HAD'S VERY LOGICAL.
-- THAT'S VERY LOGICAL.
WHY CAN'T THE PARTIES GET
WHY CAN'T YOU SPLIT THE
IN ORDINARY TIMES IT MIGHT BE
POSSIBLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT
THAT WAY, BUT THESE ARE NOT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COUNTRY
THAT'S ON THE VERGE OF NOT BEING
ABLE TO PAY ITS DEBTS.
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS ASKED
US TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING I
BELIEVE SOMETIME NEXT MONTH,
THAT IN EFFECT WE RUN OUT NOT
ONLY OF MONEY BUT OF THE
CAPACITY TO BORROW OUR CREDIT
CARD IN EFFECT, THE GOVERNMENT'S
CREDIT CARD IS FULL UP AND WE
CAN'T GET ANY MORE CREDIT UNLESS
WE GO TO THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY
AND SAY WILL YOU EXTEND THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY WE CAN BORROW?
IN THAT
CASE, IT'S THE CONGRESS PASSING
THE BILL.
WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFICULT
POSITION IN THIS COUNTRY, AND
EVERYONE KNOWS WE'RE PASSING A
LOT OF OUR DEBTS ON TO FUTURE
WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THAT,
AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY
DISAGREES WITH THE PROPOSITION.
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO CUT
SPENDING, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS
EXERCISE IS ALL ABOUT.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE USUAL THING
OF SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BIG SPENDING
AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE
MAJORITY LEADER'S COMMENTS JUST
NOW.
SAVING MONEY.
INDEED IT IS.
AND YET, IT APPEARS THAT THE ONE
THING -- AND THIS IS WHAT HE
I DON'T TEND TO BELIEVE THIS IS
CORRECT, BUT IN EFFECT WHAT HE
WAS SAYING IS IT ALL BOILS DOWN
TO A $300 MILLION AND SOME
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT IS
REALLY WHAT IS KEEPING US FROM
ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO
CONTINUE TO OPERATE.
THE MAJORITY LEADER HAS BEEN IN
THE NEGOTIATIONS, HE'S IN A
POSITION TO SAY THAT.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN IT
SEEMS TO ME WE'RE IN A VERY
UNTENABLE POSITION HERE, AT
LEAST THE MAJORITY LEADER IS,
BECAUSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS
NOT THE ONLY ENTITY THAT CAN
PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE IN THIS
COUNTRY.
IT GETS A SUBSIDY OF SOMETHING
LIKE $300 MILLION AND SOME A
YEAR.
TO SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OVER
THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
UNTHINKABLE.
NOW, THE MAJORITY LEADER NEVER
SAID PLANNED PARENTHOOD, YOU
NOTICE.
HE SAID TITLE TEN.
WELL, TITLE TEN DOESN'T RECEIVE
A SUBSIDY.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS WHAT
RECEIVES THE SUBSIDY.
EVERYBODY GOES TO CLINICS, TO
HOSPITALS, TO DOCTORS AND SO ON.
SOME PEOPLE GO TO PLANNED
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO
PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO GET YOUR
CHOLESTEROL OR YOUR BLOOD
PRESSURE CHECKED.
IF YOU WANT AN ABORTION, YOU GO
TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AND
THAT'S WELL OVER 90% OF WHAT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES.
SO THIS IS A RED HERRING TO SAY
THAT SOMEHOW THE GOVERNMENT'S
GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN OVER THE
FACT THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD
WON'T GET A $300 MILLION GIFT
FROM THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA
WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY
IRRESPONSIBLE, IF THAT'S WHAT
THE MAJORITY LEADER IS SAYING,
IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S
REALLY THE FACT OF WHAT IS
HOLDING UP THIS AGREEMENT FROM
BEING -- FROM BEING REACHED.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE THIS THREE --
THE BILL BEFORE US WHICH WOULD
PROVIDE FOR A WEEK-LONG
CONTINUATION OF THE GOVERNMENT,
WITH A $12 BILLION REDUCTION IN
SPENDING AND A FULL FUNDING OF
THE MILITARY THROUGH THE END OF
THE YEAR, AND IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT THAT IS A VERY REASONABLE
PROPOSITION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT IF WE
AND I SAID I WOULD GET BACK TO
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A
DISTRACTION WHEN HE SAID HE
WOULD VETO THAT BILL TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND TO FULLY
FUND THE MILITARY, HE SAID IT
WOULD BE A DISTRACTION.
HIS ACT WORDING, THIS BILL IS A
DISTRACTION FROM THE REAL WORK
THAT WOULD BRING US CLOSE TORE A
REASONABLE COMPROMISE.
WELL, I DON'T SEE HOW IT'S A
DISTRACTION IF IT PROVIDES
ANOTHER WEEK FOR US TO COMPLETE
THE WORK TO BE DONE, AND IT'S
OBVIOUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED
TIME TO GET THE WORK DONE
BECAUSE NEITHER THE HOUSE NOR
THE SENATE CAN GET EVERYTHING
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE
COMPLETED BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
THE HOUSE HAS A REQUIREMENT THAT
THEY HAVE ANY BILL PENDING FOR
72 HOURS BEFORE IT'S ADOPTED.
THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION
CLEARLY WOULD HAVE TO BE POSTED
FOR 72 HOURS.
DO WE WANT TO SHUT THE
GOVERNMENT DOWN DURING THAT
PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT THINKS THAT THE BILL
TO DO SO IS A DISTRACTION?
I -- I FIND THAT
INCOMPREHENSIBLE, FRANKLY.
AND ALSO I JUST WANT TO MAKE
THIS FINAL POINT, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT REDUCING
GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS NOT JUST
BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE
BORROWING FROM BORROWERS NOW.
OVER HALF OF -- WELL, ABOUT 42
CENTS ON EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE
SPEND NOW IS BORROWED FROM
SOMEONE, AND ABOUT HALF OF THAT
IS FROM FOREIGN ENTITIES, BUT
IT'S ALSO BECAUSE AS THE
GOVERNMENT SPENDS MORE AND MORE
MONEY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS
LESS MONEY TO INVEST AND SPEND,
AND IT IS THE PRIVATE SECTOR
THAT CREATES JOBS.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS SPEND LESS
GOVERNMENT MONEY NOT ONLY TO GET
OURSELVES OUT FROM UNDER THIS
HUGE DEBT BURDEN, BUT ALSO TO
ALLOW THE PRIVATE ECONOMY TO
HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GROW, AND
INCLUDED IN THAT, OF COURSE, IS
TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
ON APRIL 4, "THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL" HAD AN OP-ED BY A
DR. JOHN TAYLOR, A NOTED
ECONOMIST FROM STANFORD, GARY
BECKER, A NOBEL LAUREATE IN
ECONOMICS, GEORGE SHULTZ, FORMER
FORMER -- THREE DIFFERENT
SECRETARIES, SERVING IN TWO
DIFFERENT CABINETS, ALL EXPERTS
IN FINANCIAL FISCAL MATTERS, AND
WHAT THEY WROTE IN THIS -- AND
THEY CALLED IT "TIME FOR A
BUDGET GAME CHANGER" IS THE
FOLLOWING TWO SENTENCES:
"CREDIBLE ACTIONS THAT REDUCE
THE RAPID RATE OF GROWTH OF
FEDERAL SPENDING AND DEBT WILL
RAISE THE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
LOWER THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
HIGHER PRIVATE INVESTMENT, NOT
MORE GOVERNMENT PURCHASES, IS
THE SUREST WAY TO INCREASE
PROSPERITY."
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT HERE IS NOT
DRASTIC CUTS FOR AUSTERITY'S
SAKE, BUT RATHER SENSIBLE
REDUCTIONS TO CREATE PROSPERITY
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
DOING HERE.
THAT'S WHY I SUPPORT WHAT
SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS BEEN TRYING
TO DO, AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES,
INSTEAD OF, AS I SAID, THROWING
ROTTEN APPLES AT EACH OTHER HERE
AND TRYING TO PREACH A DOOM AND
GLOOM GAME, LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT
THIS COUNTRY CAN DO IN A
POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAY TO
GET OUR ECONOMY GOING AGAIN AND
TO GET OUR PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY IN SHOCK AND ANGER
THAT AFTER WEEKS OF
NEGOTIATIONS, AFTER PLEDGES FROM
REPUBLICANS TO COME TO THE TABLE
IN GOOD FAITH, AFTER REPEATED
ASSURANCES THAT THEY WANT TO
TALK ABOUT PRINCIPLES AND BUDGET
NUMBERS AND NOT POLITICS, AFTER
ALL THE HOT RHETORIC THAT WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT CONCERN FOR OUR
TROOPS AND OUR WORKERS AND THE
VETERANS WHO WILL BE HURT,
REPUBLICANS HAVE DECIDED TO HOLD
THE FEDERAL BUDGET HOSTAGE TO
THEIR EXTREME SOCIAL AGENDA.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS NOW CLEAR
THAT THIS IS NOT A DEBATE IN THE
LAST HOURS BEFORE THIS
GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN ABOUT HOW
MUCH TO CUT.
IT IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WOMEN
IN THIS COUNTRY WILL HAVE ACCESS
TO BASIC HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
MR. PRESIDENT, AS A WOMAN, AS A
MOTHER, AS A GRANDMOTHER, I FIND
THAT APPALLING.
THEY CAN SAY WHATEVER THEY WANT
TO ON THE OTHER SIDE, BUT IF
THEY WANT TO SAY THIS IS ABOUT
NUMBERS, THEN I CHALLENGE THEM
TO SAY TITLE TEN IS OFF THE
TABLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MILLIONS OF WOMEN
IN THIS COUNTRY AND MEN, THEIR
ONLY ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE
HEALTH CARE SERVICES, PREGNANCY
DIAGNOSIS, COUNSELING,
PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SERVICES,
CERVICAL AND BREAST CANCER
SCREENING, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
DISEASE AND H.I.V. PREVENTION
EDUCATION, A BROAD RANGE OF
ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS.
THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS NOW IN
THE 11th HOUR ARE HOLDING
SHUTDOWN.
MR. PRESIDENT, I DON'T THINK
ANYONE IN AMERICA THOUGHT THAT
THIS LAST ELECTION WAS ABOUT
WE HEARD THE PROMISES ABOUT THE
ECONOMY, ABOUT CUTTING BUDGETS,
ABOUT FISCAL CONCERNS, BUT WE
NEVER HEARD FROM ANYONE THAT
THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO SHUT
DOWN THIS GOVERNMENT AND PUT
THIS COUNTRY AT RISK OVER AN
IDEOLOGICAL DEBATE ABOUT WOMEN'S
HEALTH CARE.
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE
THREE WORDS FOR THEM: WOMEN ARE
PAWNS.
WE ARE NOT PAWNS.
WE WILL NOT BE PAWNS IN THIS
DEBATE AND WE WILL NOT GIVE IN.
THE ACCESS TO THESE CRITICAL
SERVICES ARE SO IMPORTANT TO SO
MANY YOUNG WOMEN IN THIS
I'VE TOLD THE STORY AND I'LL
TELL IT AGAIN.
JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, I HEARD
FROM THIS YOUNG WOMAN IN MY
STATE WHO AT 18 YEARS OLD HAD TO
LEAVE AN EXTREMELY ABUSIVE
FAMILY SITUATION.
OUT ON THE STREET ON HER OWN.
SHE HAS CERVICAL CANCER THAT
RUNS IN HER FAMILY.
THE ONLY WAY SHE WAS ABLE TO GET
THE MEDICATION AND CARE SHE
NEEDED WAS THROUGH TITLE TEN
FEDERAL FUNDING THROUGH A CLINIC
IN HER STATE.
SHE AND FIVE MILLION OTHERS IN
THIS COUNTRY DEPEND ON THAT, AND
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS AWAY AT
THE 11th HOUR IN ORDER TO GET
AN AGREEMENT?
MR. PRESIDENT, NOT ON MY WATCH,
NOT ON THE WATCH OF MILLIONS OF
AMERICAN FAMILIES IN THIS
COUNTRY WHO KNOW THAT ACCESS TO
WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE IS BASIC TO
THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEIR COMMUNITY.
WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY ARE WE THAT
AT THE 11th HOUR ON A DEBATE
LIKE THIS, THE ISSUE REMAINING
IS ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE.
I FIND THAT STUNNING.
HURTING.
THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEY
ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING A PINK
SLIP, THEIR HOUSING PRICES HAVE
DROPPED, THEY ARE WORRYING ABOUT
MAKING THEIR MORTGAGE, AND THIS
DEBATE NOW HAS COME TO THIS, AN
ISSUE OF ACCESS TO TITLE TEN
FUNDING FOR PREVENTATIVE HEALTH
CARE FOR WOMEN.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED TO FOCUS
ON THE ECONOMY.
YEAH, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME
BUDGET CUTS IN THIS THAT ARE
GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HARD FOR
ME AND FOR MANY OTHERS WHO CARE
ABOUT INVESTING IN EDUCATION AND
JOBS, BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE TO
COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
BUT WE WILL NOT LET WOMEN BE
USED AS PAWNS IN THIS DEBATE AT
THIS 11th HOUR.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE NOT GOING
TO ALLOW THIS DEBATE TO END BY
CUTTING OFF FUNDING FOR HEALTH
CLINICS ACROSS AMERICA THAT ARE
OFTEN THE ONLY PLACE FOR
IN MY STATE OF WASHINGTON, OVER
100,000 PATIENTS DEPEND ON THESE
CLINICS TO PROVIDE PREVENTION.
OVER THREE MILLION AMERICANS DO
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THE
THREAT OF A SHUTDOWN MAKE US
FADE AWAY.
WOMEN ARE GOING TO STAND TALL
AND MEN WITH THEM ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO SAY NOT ON OUR WATCH.
WOMEN AREN'T PAWNS.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
I ASK TO
PROCEED ON MY LEADER TIME.
SENATOR HAS THAT RIGHT.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HEARD A
LOT OF EXCUSES OVER THE PAST FEW
STANDING AT A POTENTIAL
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HERE IN
WASHINGTON.
NOW, OUR GOOD FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARE
SAYING IT'S OVER SOCIAL ISSUES.
THIS PLAYS NICELY INTO A
POLITICAL STRATEGY THEY DECIDED
ON TO DISTRACT PEOPLE FROM THEIR
OWN FISCAL RECKLESSNESS.
REPUBLICANS SAY THE HOLDUP IS
OVER THE NEED TO REDUCE
WASHINGTON SPENDING.
DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING THE
PRESIDENT, WOULD RATHER SEE THE
GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN THAN TO
ALLOW A REDUCTION IN THE SIZE
AND SCOPE OF WASHINGTON THAT IS
PERFECTLY REASONABLE BY ANY
OBJECTIVE STANDARD.
THOSE ARE THE COMPETEING
MESSAGES, AND GENERALLY
SPEAKING, PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY
AGREE WITH THE PARTY THEY TEND
TO VOTE FOR.
BUT WHICHEVER SIDE YOU COME DOWN
ON, WHICHEVER SIDE YOU COME DOWN
ON, TWO THINGS ARE NOT IN
DISPUTE IN THIS DEBATE.
FIRST, THAT THE WHOLE REASON
WE'RE IN THIS MESS IS THAT
DEMOCRATS ABDICATED THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT FUNDED THROUGH THIS
YEAR.
THAT'S WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.
AND SECOND, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
REJECTED THE ONLY PLAN OUT
THERE, THE ONLY ONE THAT KEEPS
THE GOVERNMENT OPEN, THE
BIPARTISAN TROOP FUNDING BILL
FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'LL VETO
IT, BUT HE DOESN'T SAY WHY.
AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS WON'T
VOTE FOR IT EVEN THOUGH IT FUNDS
THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND KEEPS
THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONAL AND
MAKES REASONABLE CUTS IN
SPENDING.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT DEMOCRATS
ARE SAYING AT THIS POINT IS THAT
THEY WOULD RATHER SEE THE
GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN EITHER
BECAUSE THEY WON'T ACCEPT A
MODEST AMOUNT OF SPENDING CUTS
THAT FALL WELL WITHIN THE RANGE
OF WHAT DEMOCRATS PREVIOUSLY
DESCRIBED AS REASONABLE OR
BECAUSE THEY WON'T REINSTATE A
LONG-STANDING POLICY RELATED TO
ONE AMERICAN CITY THAT MEMBERS
OF BOTH PARTIES INCLUDING THE
PRESIDENT'S OF BOTH PARTIES HAVE
APPROVED REPEATEDLY, REPEATEDLY
THE MAJORITY LEADER SAID
YESTERDAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR
PROVISION RELATES TO AN ISSUE
THAT WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO
REACH AGREEMENT ON FOR 40 YEARS.
MY RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW AREAS OF
AGREEMENT BOTH PARTIES HAVE
AGREED ON ON THIS ISSUE FOR
YEARS.
LET'S BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
IF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN,
IT'S EITHER BECAUSE DEMOCRATS
ARE PRETENDING, PRETENDING THAT
A PREVIOUSLY NONCONTROVERSIAL
PROVISION IS SUDDENLY OUT OF
BOUNDS OR THEY REFUSE TO TAKE
ANOTHER BABY STEP IN THE
DIRECTION OF BALANCING THE
GOVERNMENT CHECKBOOK, SOMETHING
WE KNOW THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
WANT.
NEITHER REASON IS WORTH A
SHUTDOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN
NEITHER SIDE ACTUALLY WANTS ONE.
WILL BE AN AGREEMENT HERE
I HAVE BEEN IN MANY NEGOTIATIONS
OVER THE YEARS.
I ASSURE YOU, THESE ARE NOT
UNRESOLVABLE ISSUES.
SO MY SUGGESTION THIS MORNING IS
THAT BOTH SIDES SIT BACK AND
GIVE THE NEGOTIATORS A FEW MORE
HOURS TO WORK THIS OUT.
LET SENATOR REID TALK WITH HIS
CONFERENCE, LET THE SPEAKER TALK
TO HIS, AND LET'S JUST HOLD OFF
ON THE SPECULATION AND THE BACK
AND FORTH FOR JUST A LITTLE
WHILE HERE.
BOTH SIDES ARE WORKING HARD TO
REACH THE KIND OF RESOLUTION
AMERICANS DESIRE.
REACH.
THE CONTOURS OF A FINAL
AGREEMENT ARE COMING INTO FOCUS.
THERE IS VIRTUALLY NOTHING IN
THE TROOP FUNDING BILL
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE PASSED
YESTERDAY THAT WON'T BE INCLUDED
IN THE FINAL PACKAGE.
SO LET'S NOT DISRUPT AND DERAIL
THAT AGREEMENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S
MAKE IT CLEAR WHERE WE ARE AT
THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
THERE IS AN AGREEMENT, THERE IS
AGREEMENT ON THE BUDGET NUMBER.
IT WAS AN AGREEMENT REACHED
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT WITH
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND WITH SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER REID, AN
AGREEMENT ON THE SPENDING CUTS
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
IT WAS REACHED LAST NIGHT IN THE
HOUSE.
AND THEN IT FELL APART.
NOT BECAUSE OF A CHANGE OF HEART
WHEN IT CAME TO THE NUMBER,
BUT, RATHER, BECAUSE OF THE
INSISTENCE OF THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS THAT THEY WOULD NOT
LET US KEEP THIS GOVERNMENT
FUNCTIONING, THEY WOULD NOT LET
US PASS A BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR
UNLESS WE WERE PREPARED TO
VIRTUALLY DEVASTATE THE TITLE 10
FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM.
LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.
IN THE BIG NATIONAL DEBATE IN
THE LAST ELECTION OVER THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND WHAT
WE WOULD DO WITH OUR DEFICIT,
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU REMEMBER
THAT ISSUE COMING UP?
EXACTLY NONE.
THIS ISSUE OVER TITLE 10 HAS
BEEN BROUGHT IN BY THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS AT THE LAST MOMENT.
IT HAS VIRTUALLY NO IMPACT ON
GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
VIRTUALLY NONE, AND YET THEY
WHY?
WELL, IT IS BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS
WITHIN THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, JOHN
BOEHNER, WHOM I KNOW AND RESPECT
AND LIKE, IS SURROUNDED BY LEAN
AND HUNGRY COLLEAGUES
CHALLENGING HIS VALUE, HIS
RESOLVE AND HIS LEADERSHIP.
THIS HOUSE POWER STRUGGLE HAS
NOW REACHED A POINT WHERE WE
FACE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND A
SHOWDOWN ON WHETHER OR NOT WE
ARE GOING TO PROVIDE BASIC
HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR WOMEN
ACROSS AMERICA.
FIRST, UNDERSTAND, NOT ONE
PENNY, NOT A PENNY IN TITLE 10
FUNDS CAN BE SPENT ON ABORTION
OTHER THAN THE STRICTLY LIMITED
PROVISIONS OF THE HYDE AMENDMENT
WHICH HAVE BEEN THE LAW OF THE
LAND FOR DECADES, AGREED TO BY
VIRTUALLY ALL REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
IT'S ABOUT ACCESS TO CANCER
SCREENING.
IT'S ABOUT PAP SMEARS, BREAST
SCREENING.
IT'S ABOUT SCREENING FOR
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
AND HERE'S WHAT IT MEANS.
IF WE CUT OFF THE FUNDING, AS
THE REPUBLICANS ASK, FOR WOMEN
TO HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE FOR THEIR BASIC
HEALTH, IT ISN'T, AS THE SENATOR
FROM ARIZONA SAYS, JUST A MATTER
OF WHETHER THEY'LL KNOCK ON THE
NEXT DOOR DOWN THE STREET AT A
DOCTOR'S OFFICE, IT'S WHETHER
THEY'LL HAVE ANY CARE AT ALL.
THIS IS THE LOWEST-PRICED HEALTH
CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE TO
SURVIVE DAY BY DAY.
AND IF WE FAIL TO PROVIDE THAT
HEALTH CARE AND ENDANGER THEIR
HEALTH, WE RUN THE RISK THAT
WITHOUT ACCESS TO FAMILY
PLANNING, THEY WILL HAVE
UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES AND,
SADLY -- SADLY -- EVEN MORE
ABORTIONS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE, AS I DO
PERSONALLY, THAT WE SHOULD TRY
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF
ABORTIONS IN AMERICA, HOW CAN
YOU DO WHAT THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE ASKING US TO DO
PLANNING?
IN MY STATE OF ILLINOIS, IT IS
ESTIMATED THAT IF TITLE 10 WERE
ELIMINATED, WE WOULD HAVE A 24%
STATES.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A PERSON WHO
IS PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO
ABORTION BUT BELIEVE IT'S UP TO
A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR AND HER
FAMILY AND HER CONSCIENCE.
BUT FOR GOODNESS SAKES,
SHOULDN'T WOMEN, RICH AND POOR
ALIKE, HAVE ACCESS TO FAMILY
PLANNING?
THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS DEBATE
COMES DOWN TO.
AND I WOULD SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE
OVER HERE, SENATOR McCONNELL,
THE REPUBLICAN LEADER, HE BLAMES
US FOR NOT COMING UP WITH A
SPEND BILL FOR THIS YEAR AND
PUTTING US IN THIS MESS.
THAN HIS.
I REMEMBER IN DECEMBER WHEN WE
BROUGHT THE SPENDING BILL TO THE
FLOOR AND HE OBJECTED TO IT, HE
OBJECTED TO IT, EVEN THOUGH THE
SPENDING TARGETS IN THAT BILL
WERE EXACTLY WHAT HE HAD ASKED
FOR BEFORE THE SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
THAT PUT US INTO THIS CURRENT
HERE'S WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD
DO.
LET'S NOT CLOSE DOWN THIS
GOVERNMENT.
LET'S FACE THIS HOUR OF DECISION
RESPONSIBLY.
LET'S SAY TO THE MILLIONS OF
ACROSS AMERICA WHO ARE BASICALLY
KEEPING AMERICA SAFE, MAKING
SURE THAT OUR PLANES ARE SAFE IN
THE AIR, TENDING TO THE BUSINESS
OF THIS GREAT NATION THAT THEY
CAN COME TO WORK BECAUSE THE
MIDNIGHT.
LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE
AGREED ON THE AMOUNT OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION, THE AMOUNT OF
SPENDING CUTS AND MOVE FORWARD.
BUT LET'S ALSO AGREE, LET'S
AGREE TO SAVE TO ANOTHER DAY ALL
THESE OTHER DEBATES ABOUT ALL
THESE OTHER ISSUES, WHETHER IT'S
AGENCY OR TITLE 10.
THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME AND
OPPORTUNITY FOR SENATORS AND
HOUSE MEMBERS TO GIVE SPEECHES
UNTIL THEIR RED IN THE FACE OVER
VOTE.
BUT LET US NOT CLOSE DOWN THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA OVER THE ACCESS OF
WOMEN TO BASIC HEALTH CARE.
THAT IS WHAT THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE INSISTING ON AND
IT IS THE WRONG FIGHT AT THE
WRONG TIME.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO STEP
UP AND STEP FORWARD AND
UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DO NOT
INVEST A MODEST AMOUNT IN
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE SO THAT
WOMEN CAN LEARN THEIR HEALTH
STATUS BEFORE SMALL PROBLEMS
BECOME LARGE PROBLEMS, SO THAT
WOMEN CAN PLAN THEIR FAMILY
FUTURE, SO THAT PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR HEALTH
STATUS IS, IF WE DON'T INVEST IN
THAT PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE, WE
WILL PAY DEARLY FOR IT, NOT ONLY
IN TERMS OF DOLLARS SPENT BUT IN
TERMS OF HUMAN SUFFERING.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD
RISE ABOVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD
CARE ABOUT ENOUGH TO PUT ASIDE
AND SAY KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN
OPEN.
MY PLEA NOW TO SPEAKER BOEHNER
IS, YOU HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD
FIGHT, WE ARE AT THE 11th
HOUR, DO NOT LET US REACH THE
DEPTHS OF DESPAIR BY CLOSING
DOWN OUR GOVERNMENT AND SENDING
A MESSAGE ACROSS THE WORLD THAT
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THIS AMERICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
THERE'S NONG NOTHING WRONG WITH IT,
THAT PEOPLE OF GOOD FAITH,
RESPONSIBLY STEPPING FORWARD AND
ACCEPTING THEIR DUTY IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE CAN'T CURE BY
LET'S DO IT.
IN THIS HOUR OF DECISION, LET'S
GET IT DONE.
SENATOR KERRY SPOKE YESTERDAY IN
OUR SENATE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
LUNCH AND, JOHN, I STILL
REMEMBER YOUR WORDS OF WHAT AN
EMBARRASSMENT IT WILL BE TO THE
UNITED STATES IF OUR GOVERNMENT
IS SHUT DOWN.
IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, SO
MANY PEOPLE RESPECT THIS GREAT
NATION -- AND I'M GLAD THEY DO,
AND I DO TOO -- BUT TO ALLOW A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT THIS
MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY IS A SAD
LET US NOT SHUT DOWN THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA OVER THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER WOMEN WILL HAVE ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AND
PREVENTIVE HEALTH CARE ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
THINK THAT EVERYONE OR VIRTUALLY
EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT WE
SHOULD SHUT DOWN GOVERNMENT.
THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE THE
AND I'M NOT PRIVY TO THEM AND
NEITHER IS ANYONE ON THIS FLOOR
ABOUT WHAT ARE STILL THE
STICKING POINTS.
WE ALL BELIEVE
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
ASSURE THAT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
SHUT DOWN AND TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT BECAUSE,
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A
SIX-MONTH BILL.
THIS IS TO THE END OF THE FISCAL
YEAR THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
NEGOTIATE.
IT IS A VERY SMALL PART OF THE
BIG PICTURE, WHICH IS WE MUST
GET THE DEFICIT DOWN, WHICH IS
PROJECTED UNDER THE CURRENT
BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PUT FORWARD
AT $1.5 TRILLION.
THAT IS WRONG AND THAT'S WHAT WE
OUGHT TO BE ADDRESSING.
WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING AT THE
NUMBERS THAT WE CAN BRING DOWN
SO THAT WE START GETTING THIS
BUDGET DEFICIT DOWN, SO THAT OUR
DEBT STARTS COMING DOWN AND WE
CAN SEE AN ECONOMY THAT IS
THRIVING THROUGH THE PRIVATE
SECTOR JOB CREATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE
DOING.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH DEBATE AND
BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH
DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS
HOLDING UP THE AGREEMENT FOR
THAT SIX-MONTH PLAN, THERE IS
SOMETHING THAT IS GAINING A
MOMENTUM IN THIS COUNTRY THAT I
WANT TO ASSURE THAT EVERYONE
AND I WAS NOTIFIED OF IT THIS
MORNING THROUGH AN E-MAIL INTO
MY WEB SITE.
AND IT WAS FROM A WOMAN THAT I
DON'T KNOW AND SHE SAID, "MY
HUSBAND IS ACTIVE DUTY IN THE
NAVY AND I JUST WANTED TO LET
YOU KNOW THERE IS A FACEBOOK
CAMPAIGN SUPPORTING SENATE BILL
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BLOW
BECAUSE THERE ARE 437,000 PEOPLE
WHO HAVE SIGNED ON THAT THEY
AGREE WITH IT."
THIS IS WHAT AMERICA THINKS
ABOUT MILITARY PAY BEING CUT.
BECAUSE SENATE BILL 724 THAT WAS
PUT FORWARD BY MYSELF AND
SENATOR CASEY, WHO CAME ONBOARD,
WHICH NOW HAS 58 SPONSORS, IS
ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT NO MATTER
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE NEXT 12
HOURS, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
THAT THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION
IN THE MINDS OF OUR MILITARY AND
THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY WILL BE
PAID ON TIME.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO QUESTION
THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO WORK,
AND I DO NOT WANT ONE DAY OR ONE
HOUR OF DELAY IN THE PAYMENT FOR
OUR MILITARY.
WE HAVE ABOUT 100,000 PEOPLE IN
AFGHANISTAN TODAY PUTTING THEIR
LIVES ON THE LINE WHEREVER THEY
ARE IN THAT COUNTRY.
AND WE HAVE 47,000 IN IRAQ.
NOW, FOR THE PEOPLE BACK -- AND
I'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM ONE WIFE
WHO HAS A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
WHOSE HUSBAND IS IN AFGHANISTAN,
WHO SAYS, THANK YOU FOR
REMEMBERING THAT WE HAVE
MORTGAGES TO PAY AND OUR
HUSBANDS AREN'T HERE TO HELP US
OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
NOW, IN THE HOUR SINCE WE GOT
THIS NOTE, WE WENT ON THE WEB
SITE, ENSURING -- THE WEB SITE
IS CALLED ENSURING PAY FOR OUR
MILITARY ACT OF 2011, WHICH IS
THE NAME OF OUR BILL.
IT NOW HAS 639,000,212 WHO HAVE
SITE.
THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY KNOW
THAT THERE IS ONE OPTION WE
DON'T HAVE AND THAT IS TO PASS A
FREE-STANDING BILL THAT WILL
ASSURE WHATEVER THE OTHER
DISAGREEMENTS ARE THAT OUR
MILITARY PAY WILL BE ON TIME FOR
THE WORK THAT IS BEING PERFORMED
PERFORMED.
AMERICA UNDERSTANDS THAT AND I
AM ASKING THE UNITED STATES
SENATE TO JOIN.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I DO WANT TO
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR
COSPONSORS TO BE ADDED TO MY
BILL.
SENATOR MARK PRYOR, SENATOR JOHN
BOOZMAN, SENATOR MICHAEL BENNET,
SENATOR MAX BAUCUS, SENATOR
JOHNNY ISAKSON, SENATOR MARK
KIRK, AND SENATOR TIM JOHNSON.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THAT BRINGS THE
TOTAL TO 58.
SENATOR CASEY HAS BEEN A
WONDERFUL SUPPORTER IN THIS.
HE IS THE LEAD COSPONSOR.
58 UNITED STATES SENATORS HAVE
STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND SAID
NOT AN OPTION FOR
US TOY EQUIVOCATE FOR ONE MINUTE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M WAITING
TO GET TWO MORE COSPONSORS WHICH
WILL SHOW THAT WE HAVE 60 AND
THAT WE WANT TO ACT AS A UNITED
STATES SENATE, AND I AM HOPING
THAT SENATOR CASEY AND I COULD
GET THE ABILITY TO BRING OUR
BILL UP AND PASS IT.
VERY SIMPLE, VERY CLEAR.
MILITARY PAY AND THOSE WHO ARE
SERVING OUR MILITARY IN CIVILIAN
CAPACITIES WILL NOT BE DELAYED
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO REPORT
TO WORK AND THEY NEED TO HAVE
THE PEACE OF MIND TO KNOW THAT
THE MORTGAGES THAT THEY HAVE,
MAYBE OUR DIRECT LINES TO THE
MORTGAGE COMPANIES, ARE GOING TO
BE COVERED.
THAT IS THE VERY LEAST THAT WE
COULD DO AS WE ARE ARGUING ABOUT
WHOSE FAULT IT IS GOING TO BE IF
WE HAVE A SHUTDOWN.
WE NEED TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, IT
IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY NOT TO
HAVE A SHUTDOWN.
AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME
TO AN AGREEMENT.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED TO
TAKE THE FURTHER ACTION -- AND I
HOPE WE CAN DO IT VERY
QUICKLY -- OF JUST SAYING WE'RE
GOING TO ASSURE WITH THIS SIMPLE
BILL OUR MILITARY WILL BE PAID.
AND IF WE SEND THIS TO THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, MY GUESS IS
THEY TOO WILL PASS IT.
A SENATOR: WILL THE SENATOR
YIELD?
I YIELD.
I'D LIKE TO ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO BE ADDED AS
A COSPONSOR TO YOUR LEGISLATION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT MAKES 59.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
WILL
THE SENATOR YIELD?
A SENATOR: I'D LIKE TO BE
ADDED AS A COSPONSOR AS WELL.
OBJECTION.
SENATOR
WARNER ... SENATOR WARNER,
YOU'RE 60.
WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS
A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHATEVER
HAPPENS ON THIS FLOOR, WE HAVE
60 VOTES WHO HAVE COMMITTED TO
SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS AND
ASSURING THEM THAT THERE IS NO
EQUIVOCATION IN THIS UNITED
STATES SENATE FOR HAVING THEIR
PAY ON TIME, BECAUSE THEY'LL BE
DOING THEIR DUTY IN IRAQ.
THEY'LL BE DOING THEIR DUTY IN
AFGHANISTAN.
AND IT IS MY GREAT HOPE THAT WE
ALSO WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ASSURE THEIR FAMILIES SO THERE'S
NOT ONE MINUTE OF STRESS ADDED
TO WHAT THEY ALREADY HAVE IN
THEIR LIVES.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL IS A
COSPONSOR.
HE WAS IN THE FIRST 60.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I WANT
TO THANK THOSE WHO STARTED THIS
FACEBOOK AND THE GRASS ROOTS
MOVEMENT THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO
OVER 500,000 PEOPLE IN JUST A
FEW HOURS.
THIS IS A TRUE GRASS ROOTS
MOVEMENT, AND I THANK THOSE
PEOPLE WHO STARTED IT.
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
MR. PRESIDENT.
I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
CRISIS THAT WE HAVE.
AND I GUESS I ASK MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES, PLEASE DON'T SHUT
DOWN OUR GOVERNMENT.
A SHUTDOWN WILL HURT ALL
AMERICANS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES, OUR
SERVICE MEMBERS WHO COULD SEE
THEIR PAYCHECKS DELAYED.
IT WILL HURT THIS ECONOMY.
GUARANTEED.
NONE CAN BE ISSUED THAT ARE
F.H.A. GUARANTEED STARTING
TOMORROW.
HOUSING IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST
INDUSTRIES ON ITS KNEES.
THIS WILL PUT IT ON ITS BACK.
I.R.S. CHECKS THAT ARE MAILED,
WHERE THE REFUND IS MAILED BACK
WILL STOP.
THAT'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT
WOULD BE CIRCULATING IN THE
ECONOMY THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
SO WE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN
PEOPLE.
WE WANT TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN AND
HAVE MET ALL OF THE REPUBLICAN
DEMANDS ON THE SPENDING SIDE.
LAST NIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT, AT
THE WHITE HOUSE, SPEAKER BOEHNER
SAID TO THE PRESIDENT, IF YOU GO
WITH ME, IT'S $78 BILLION IN
THAT WILL SATISFY ME.
THE PRESIDENT SAID, WE WILL GET
TO THAT NUMBER.
WE HAVE MOVED IN EVERY DIRECTION
THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS ASKED.
NOW, WE BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE
CUTS.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS WASTE IN
GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK ANY
DEMOCRAT WHO IGNORES THE
LESSONS, THE LESSONS OF THOSE
WHO VOTED, THE LESSONS OF THE
LAST ELECTION MAKES A MISTAKE
THAT PEOPLE DID WANT GOVERNMENT
TO CUT OUT THE WASTE AND TO
EVERYTHING.
THEY DIDN'T SAY USE A MEAT AX.
I DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE PERSON
TELL ME -- AND I MET A WHOLE LOT
OF THE TEA PARTY PEOPLE -- CUT
CANCER RESEARCH, CUT LOANS TO
STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO
COLLEGE, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HAVE WISDOM.
CUT THE THINGS THAT ARE WASTEFUL
AND HURT THE MIDDLE CLASS BUT
GROW THE THINGS THAT HELP THE
MIDDLE CLASS ACHIEVE A BETTER
LIFE.
THAT'S WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
TRIED TO DO WHEN HE SAID WE ARE
GOING TO OUTEDUCATE, OUTBUILD,
OUTINNOVATE.
DO.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TOUGH CUTS
IN OUR PROPOSAL, SOME THAT I
DON'T LIKE.
EVERY MEMBER ON THIS SIDE WILL
BE ABLE TO FIND THINGS THAT THEY
SERIOUSLY DON'T LIKE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE
GONE TO A LEVEL ABOUT AS HIGH AS
WE CAN GO THAT DOESN'T CUT OUR
FUTURE, A GROWING ECONOMY FOR
OUR PEOPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN.
PLACE.
SO WHY DIDN'T WE COME TO AN
AGREEMENT?
WHY AFTER SPEAKER BOEHNER
OFFERED A NUMBER AND THE
PRESIDENT ACCEPTED, WHY ARE WE
STILL HERE TODAY WORRIED ABOUT A
SHUTDOWN THAT WILL HURT SO MANY?
THE ANSWER IS VERY SIMPLE.
THE SO-CALLED EXTRANEOUS RIDERS,
THESE ADD-ONS WHICH HAVE NOTHING
TO DO WITH DEFICIT REDUCTION,
ARE STANDING IN THE WAY.
WHY ARE THEY STANDING IN THE
BECAUSE A MINORITY OF THE HOUSE,
PERHAPS EVEN A MINORITY,
ALTHOUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE INSIST
THAT THEY BE THERE.
THEY ARE THE HARD RIGHT OF THE
THEY ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO
HAVE SAID WE CANNOT GIVE AN INCH
ON THEIR H.R. 1 BILL, WHICH DID
CUT OUR SEED CORN, DID CUT LOANS
TO COLLEGES AND CANCER RESEARCH.
AND NOW THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO
INSERT THESE EXTRANEOUS RIDERS
DEALING NOT WITH ABORTION -- THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN'T FUND
ABORTION BY THE HYDE ACT -- BUT
RATHER ABOUT WOMEN'S HEALTH.
ABOUT WHO -- NOT HOW MUCH --
ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET THE
PAYMENTS TO DO CHEST SCREENINGS
AND BLOOD TESTS AND CANCER TESTS
FOR WOMEN.
NOW THAT, BATTLE HAS BEEN RAGING
FOR A LONG TIME.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
REDUCING THE DEFICIT.
SO WHY IS IT THERE?
WELL, LET ME SHOW YOU WHY IN
THIS LITTLE CHART.
THIS LITTLE PICTORIAL
SPEAKER BOEHNER HAS SAID "NO
ME."
LET ME REPEAT THAT.
THESE ARE SPEAKER BOEHNER'S
WORDS: "NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN TEA
PARTY AND ME."
NOW, DOES HE HAVE THE EXACT SAME
VIEWS AS THE TEA PARTY?
OBVIOUSLY NOT.
BUT HE IS PULLED BY THEM.
HE HAS A CHOICE.
HE CAN LISTEN TO THE TEA PARTY
AND SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT OR
HE CAN DO THE VERY DIFFICULT --
AND I ADMIT IT'S DIFFICULT, AND
I BELIEVE SPEAKER BOEHNER IS A
GOOD MAN.
I LIKE HIM.
I THINK HE IS A DECENT,
HONORABLE MAN, BUT HE IS CAUGHT
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
AND THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO TAKE
THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP AND
TELL THOSE ON THE HARD RIGHT
THAT THEY CANNOT RUN THE
GOVERNMENT COMPLETELY.
THEY WILL HAVE INFLUENCE; THEY
ALREADY HAVE.
BUT THEY CANNOT RUN THE
GOVERNMENT COMPLETELY.
AND THEY CERTAINLY CAN'T IMPOSE
THEIR SOCIAL IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA
ON A BUDGET PROCESS, FRAIL
ENOUGH AS IT IS.
THESE RIDERS ARE THE STRAW THAT
BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK AND
CAUSE THE SHUTDOWN.
NOW, SPEAKER BOEHNER IS TRYING
TO SAY TODAY IT IS NOT THESE
IT IS THE BUDGET NUMBERS, BUT
THAT IS BELIED BY TWO FACTS.
ONE, HE OFFERED A NUMBER TO THE
PRESIDENT LAST NIGHT AND THE
PRESIDENT ACCEPTED, $78 BILLION
IN CUTS.
AND, TWO, IF IT WERE NOT THE
RIDERS, AS MY COLLEAGUE FROM
WASHINGTON STATE HAS SAID, AND
LET ME REPEAT, IF IT'S NOT THE
RIDERS, SPEAKER BOEHNER, TAKE
THEM OFF THE TABLE.
TAKE THEM OFF THE TABLE.
TELL THE TEA PARTY AND THE
OTHERS THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME
THERE WILL BE A DEBATE ON THIS
WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT.
EVEN IF WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO
HAPPEN, IT WOULD.
OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE WOULD MAKE SURE.
BUT NOT HERE, NOT NOW.
NOT WHEN CONTINUING THE
GOVERNMENT WITH ALL THE
RAMIFICATIONS IS AT STAKE.
SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A TAIL
WAGGING A DOG.
THE FLEA ARE THE MINORITY OF
RIGHT.
THE TAIL IS THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS.
THE DOG IS THE GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT FLEA IS INFLUENCING
WHAT THE DOG DOES MORE THAN
INFLUENCING; RIGHT NOW
AND IT IS SAD.
LEADERSHIP IS TOUGH, AND
FRANKLY, WHEN EITHER PARTY GOES
TO THE EXTREMES, THEY DON'T DO
THE RIGHT THING.
WHEN REPUBLICANS GO TO THE HARD
RIGHT, WHEN DEMOCRATS GO TO THE
HARD LEFT, MY EXPERIENCE, THEY
LOSE POLITICALLY.
BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY
DO WHAT'S WRONG FOR THE COUNTRY
SUBSTANTIVELY.
GOVERNS FROM THE MIDDLE.
WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT BELIEVES
IN COMPROMISE.
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF WHAT THE
FOUNDING FATHERS PROFOUNDLY
WEAVED THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION,
CHECKS AND BALANCES.
IT SAYS TWO THINGS, WHEN THE
PEOPLE WANT CHANGE, A NEW GROUP
WILL COME IN AND THEY WILL
CERTAINLY HAVE AN EFFECT.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT, OUR
STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT THE
FOUNDING FATHERS CREATED IS NOT
OSSIFIED.
BUT THEY HAVE ALSO AID THEY
WON'T, THEY WON'T CONTROL
THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF OUR
AND WE HERE IN THE SENATE ARE
THE COOLING SAUCER.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING
HERE.
WE'RE PERFORMING OUR FUNCTION.
IT'S A FUNCTION THAT THE
FOUNDING FATHERS WISHED US TO
PERFORM, MANY OF WHOM I MIGHT
NOTE COME FROM THE STATE OF
VIRGINIA THAT MY COLLEAGUE FROM
VIRGINIA LEADS.
IN ANY CASE, WE HAVE A SERIOUS,
SERIOUS ISSUE AHEAD OF US.
I WOULD SAY TO SPEAKER BOEHNER,
PLEASE TELL THE TEA PARTY FOLKS
THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME OF
THEIR WAY BUT NOT ALL THEIR WAY,
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET
THEIR WAY ON THESE EXTRANEOUS
RIDERS RELATED TO WOMEN'S
THE BATTLE FOR WHETHER THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN GOES ON
INSIDE SPEAKER BOEHNER'S HEAD.
IF YOU WANT A BIRD'S EYE VIEW,
PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ARE WE
GOING TO SHUT DOWN, I SAID LOOK
INSIDE SPEAKER BOEHNER'S BRAIN
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF
TORMENT AND TUMULT, AND I
SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SITUATION.
BUT THIS IS A TIME FOR
LEADERSHIP.
AND IF LEADERSHIP EMERGES, THIS
GOVERNMENT, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE
SHUT DOWN.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
STPH-P.
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
THE AMERICAN CREDIT
CARD IS MAXED OUT.
WE CONTINUE TO ADD ABOUT $5
TRILLION TO THAT CREDIT CARD
EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO WHERE IT'S
NOW AT $14 TRILLION.
AND THE AMAZING THING,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS RIGHT NOW IT'S
ABOUT NOON HERE, AND BETWEEN NOW
AND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, WHEN THIS
CONTINUING RESOLUTION EXPIRES
AND IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD SHUT DOWN, WE
WILL ADD MORE THAN $2 BILLION TO
THAT DEBT.
IN A 12-HOUR TIME PERIOD,
BETWEEN NOON RIGHT NOW AND
MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, WE WILL ADD
ANOTHER MORE THAN $2 BILLION TO
THAT $14 TRILLION DEBT THAT'S
GROWING LITERALLY BY THE HOUR.
AND SO WE HAVE A CRISIS IN THIS
COUNTRY, AN WE'VE HAD EXPERTS
TELL US, THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF
THE FEDERAL RESERVE, ALAN
GREENSPAN SAY THERE'S A 50%
PROBABILITY WE WILL SEE A DEBT
YEARS.
JUST INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THERE
WAS A STORY THIS MORNING IN THE
"WALL STREET JOURNAL" THAT SAYS
EUROPE CENTRAL BANK BECAME THE
FIRST MONETARY AUTHORITY IN A
MAJOR DEVELOPED ECONOMY TO RAISE
INTEREST RATES SINCE THE GLOBAL
FINANCIAL CRISIS STRUCK, A SIGN
THAT AN ERA OF CREEP CREDIT IS
COMING -- OF CHEAP CREDIT IS
COMING TO A CLOSE.
IT GOES ON TO SAY THE E.C.B.
INCREASED ITS BENCHMARK BY A
QUARTER POINT TO 1.25%.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, IF WE
STARTED TO SEE AN UPWARD TICK IN
INTEREST RATES, IT WOULD HAVE
PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE DEFICIT
AND ON THE DEBT, BECAUSE THE
EXPERTS ALSO TELL US, THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE AND
OTHERS, THAT FOR EVERY 1
PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN
INTEREST RATES, IT WOULD COST
YEAR.
TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE,
THE INTEREST ON THE DEBT IN THE
YEAR 2015, IF WE STAY ON OUR
CURRENT TRAJECTORY, WILL EXCEED
THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPEND FOR
DEFENSE.
SO WE WOULD BE SPENDING MORE ON
INTEREST ON THE DEBT THAN WE
ACTUALLY SPEND DEFENDING THIS
COUNTRY IN 2015.
NOW THAT'S ASSUMING WE DON'T SEE
INTEREST RATES.
BUT IF WE WERE TO SEE, AS I SAID
EARLIER, AS MUCH AS A 1%
INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES, THAT
ADDS $140 BILLION EVERY SINGLE
YEAR IN INTEREST COSTS TO
FINANCE THE DEBT.
THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION
WHICH REQUIRES SERIOUS ACTION.
NOW, WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US A
CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND
THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T
GET THE WORK DONE LAST YEAR.
THE
DEMOCRAT MAJORITIES HERE IN THE
CONGRESS LAST YEAR DIDN'T PASS A
BUDGET, DIDN'T PASS A SINGLE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WE'RE DOING THE UNFINISHED WORK
OF LAST YEAR.
WE'RE NOW IN THE SIXTH
CONTINUING RESOLUTION, WHICH, AS
MIDNIGHT.
IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD SHUT DOWN.
MR. PRESIDENT.
OF COURSE, THE BEST ALTERNATIVE
WOULD BE TO PASS LEGISLATION
THAT PASSED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES EARLIER THIS
YEAR, WAS VOTED ON IN THE SENATE
AND DEFEATED THAT WOULD CUT
CUT $61 BILLION FROM
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING AND TAKE
US BACK TO 2008 LEVELS.
AND JUST TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES, IN THE LAST TWO
YEARS, DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
HAS INCREASED 24%.
THAT'S IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE
IF YOU ADD STIMULUS MONEY, IT
WAS 84%.
WE'VE SEEN DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING INCREASE IN THE LAST
TWO YEARS BY 24% AT A TIME WHEN
INFLATION IN THIS COUNTRY WAS
2%.
SO WE WERE SPENDING AT A RATE
THAT WAS LITERALLY MORE THAN TEN
TIMES THE RATE OF INFLATION.
I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WOULD THINK IT'S
UNREASONABLE WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING
RUNNING $1.5 TRILLION DEFICITS
EVERY YEAR, WHEN YOU HAVE A
A $14 TRILLION DEBT TO THINK
THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO
BACK TO 2008 SPENDING LEVELS.
THAT IS WHAT THE HOUSE BILL DID
THAT FAILED HERE IN THE SENATE,
AND SO THAT TRIGGERED A
NEGOTIATION WHICH IS ONGOING.
BUT MY POINT, VERY SIMPLY,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS THERE IS A
SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US NOW THAT
WOULD PREVENT AT MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT THE GOVERNMENT FROM
SHUTTING DOWN, AND IT WOULD ALSO
FUND OUR TROOPS THROUGH THE END
OF THIS YEAR WHICH ENDS ON
SEPTEMBER 30.
SO ALL WE HAVE TO DO HERE IN THE
SENATE IS THE MAJORITY LEADER,
ALL HE HAS TO DO IS CALL UP THAT
HOUSE-PASSED BILL, WE MOVE THAT.
IT WOULD FUND THE GOVERNMENT FOR
ANOTHER WEEK UNTIL NEGOTIATORS
CAN COME TO A FINAL CONCLUSION
ON A LONGER TERM FUNDING
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD TAKE US
YEAR.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE, THERE IS A
VERY SIMPLE ANSWER TO ALL OF
AND SO THERE IS A BIG DEBATE
ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR SHORT-TERM
FUNDING RESOLUTION.
THEY SAY WELL MAYBE IT CUTS TOO
DEEPLY.
WELL, ALL THE CUTS THAT ARE IN
THAT SHORT-TERM FUNDING
RESOLUTION ARE CUTS THAT HAVE
BEEN AGREED UPON LARGELY BY BOTH
SIDES, BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, AND IT'S TO THE
TUNE OF ABOUT $12 BILLION, WHICH
IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE
NUMBER THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE
AGREED WE OUGHT TO CUT FROM THE
BUDGET THIS YEAR.
IT ALSO, AS I SAID, WOULD FUND
THE MILITARY -- REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE FUND OUR TROOPS, THAT WE
NOT PUT OUR MILITARY WHEN WE'RE
TRYING TO FIGHT TWO WARS AND
PERHAPS THREE AT RISK OF NOT
HAVING THE FUNDING THAT'S
NECESSARY FOR THEM TO CONDUCT
THEIR VERY IMPORTANT DUTIES.
AND SO IT WOULD FUND THE
MILITARY THROUGH THE END OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR.
SO WHY WILL IT NOT BE PICKED UP
AND PASSED BY THE MAJORITY
LEADER HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE?
WELL, ACCORDING TO OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT
IS BECAUSE OF THESE IDEOLOGICAL
RIDERS, THIS RIGID PARTISANSHIP,
THIS INSISTING UPON THINGS THAT
JUST ABSOLUTELY DON'T HAVE ANY
SUPPORT HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS.
WELL, I WANT TO POINT OUT
SOMETHING THAT IN 2009, THE
OTHER SIDE WAS SINGING A VERY
DIFFERENT TUNE, BECAUSE AT THAT
TIME THEY WERE PASSING A BIG
SPENDING BILL AND AT THAT TIME
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THEN-SPEAKER
PELOSI LOADED SUCH RIDERS ONTO A
GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL SIMILAR
TO THE ONE NOW BEING NEGOTIATED.
AND A SENIOR DEMOCRAT AIDE IS
SAYING, WELL, THEY'RE NOT
MANY OF THE SAME PROVISIONS, IN
FACT ONE OF THEM, WAS AN
ABORTION PROVISION THAT WAS
INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICULAR
SPENDING BILL, AND WHAT IS --
WHAT GOES ON HERE TO SAY -- AND
THIS IS QUOTING A -- A DEMOCRAT
AIDE LATER ON.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
INCLUDING RIDERS ON A BILL WHEN
THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY A MAJORITY
OF THE SENATE AND JUST NEED A
VEHICLE AND INCLUDING RIDERS ON
A BILL BECAUSE THE MINORITY IS
TRYING TO RAM THROUGH SOMETHING
THAT WOULD NOT HAVE SUPPORT ON
ITS OWN.
WELL, JUST TO POINT OUT, THE
RIDER THAT WAS ADDED BY THE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ON THE
SHORT-TERM SPENDING BILL IS A
BAN ON TAXPAYER FUNDING OF
D.C.
IT WOULD AFFECT ONE CITY IN THE
COUNTRY.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS A POSITION
THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED
REPEATEDLY BY THE LEADERSHIP ON
THE OTHER SIDE.
THE MAJORITY LEADER, SENATOR
REID, HAS VOTED FOR THIS VERY
BAN TEN TIMES SINCE 1995.
THE MAJORITY WHIP, SENATOR
DURBIN, HAS VOTED FOR THIS VERY
BAN NINE TIMES SINCE 1995.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
WHEN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE, VOTED FOR
THAT BAN TWICE, AND HE HAS AS
PRESIDENT SIGNED LEGISLATION
THAT INCLUDES THAT BAN.
AND SO TO SUGGEST THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT LACKS MAJORITY
SUPPORT JUST DOESN'T PASS THE
SMELL TEST.
YOU CANNOT MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT
IT'S ABOUT IDEOLOGICAL RIDERS
THAT DON'T HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT
WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON BOTH
SIDES BY LARGE MAJORITIES VOTING
FOR THESE PARTICULAR RIDERS, AND
I THINK YOU CAN'T ARGUE THAT
THIS IS AN IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE
BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT
HAVE BEEN PASSED BEFORE RIGHT
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
I THINK THAT MOST OF THESE -- A
LOT OF LEGISLATIVE THINGS, A LOT
OF THINGS THAT GET FUNDED IN
GOVERNMENT ARE AN EXPRESSION OF
SOMEONE'S IDEOLOGY.
THERE ARE SOME OF US WHO HAPPEN
TO BELIEVE THAT THE TAXPAYERS IN
THIS COUNTRY SHOULD NOT BE
SUPPORTING ABORTION, THAT
TAXPAYER FUNDS THAT SHOULDN'T BE
GOING TO SUPPORTING ABORTIONS,
AND THE BROADER DEBATE ABOUT
FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD
IS NOT JUST IDEOLOGICAL, IT IS A
FUNDING ISSUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE
RECEIVED SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER
OF OVER $300 MILLION A YEAR IN
TAXPAYER FUNDS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WAYS
TO TRIM GOVERNMENT, YOU'RE
LOOKING AT EVERY AREA OF THE
GOVERNMENT, YOU ARE BY
DEFINITION MAKING DECISIONS THAT
IN SOME CASES MAY BE BASED ON
SOMEONE'S IDEOLOGY.
BUT WITH THE -- BUT THE FACT OF
THE MATTER IS YOU CANNOT ARGUE
WITH A STRAIGHT FACE HERE ON THE
FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE THAT THIS SHORT-TERM
FUNDING RESOLUTION OUGHT TO BE
HELD UP OVER A COUPLE OF RIDERS
THAT HAVE BROAD SUPPORT BY
MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES AND HAVE
COUNTLESS VOTES, PREVIOUS VOTES
IN SUPPORT OF THOSE.
AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE SENATE
THAT A SHUTDOWN AT MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT CAN BE AVOIDED VERY
SIMPLY.
ALL IT REQUIRES IS FOR THE
MAJORITY LEADER TO PICK UP THE
BILL THAT PASSED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES YESTERDAY, THAT
AS I SAID FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT
FOR ANOTHER WEEK UNTIL OUR
NEGOTIATORS CAN COME TO THAT
FINAL CONCLUSION, THAT FUNDS THE
MILITARY THROUGH THE END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR AND THAT INCLUDES A
COUPLE OF PROVISIONS THAT HAVE
BEEN SUPPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES BY
MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES HERE IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
A SHUTDOWN IS TOTALLY
UNAVOIDABLE, BUT IT'S COMPLETELY
UP TO THE MAJORITY TO PICK UP
THAT LEGISLATION AND PASS IT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT TO DEAL
WITH OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING AND
DEBT FOR THE REASONS THAT I JUST
MENTIONED.
OVER 40 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR
THAT WE SPEND AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL IS BORROWED.
AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, WE HAVE
SEEN DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
INCREASE BY 24% OVER THE PAST
WHAT THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
PROPOSE IN TERMS OF SPENDING
REDUCTIONS I THINK BY ANY
DEFINITION, I THINK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WOULD FIND IT TO BE VERY,
VERY REASONABLE.
IT REPRESENTS LITERALLY LESS
THAN 2% OF TOTAL FEDERAL
SPENDING.
AT A TIME WHEN MOST AMERICANS
ARE TIGHTENING THEIR BELTS, MOST
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE TIGHTENING
THEIR BELTS, FAMILIES ARE HAVING
TO MAKE HARD BUDGET DECISIONS,
AT LEAST HERE IN WASHINGTON, WE
OUGHT TO BE MAKING DECISIONS
THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF GETTING THIS COUNTRY BACK ON
TRACK SO THAT WE AREN'T SPENDING
MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE, SO
THAT WE ARE LIVING WITHIN OUR
MEANS AND SO THAT WE AREN'T
SADDLING FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH
AN ENORMOUS BURDEN OF DEBT,
WHICH ISN'T FAIR TO THEM, AND
WHICH BY THE WAY ALSO HAS A
PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.
EVERYBODY MAKES THE ARGUMENT UP
HERE THAT SOMEHOW IF WE REDUCE
FEDERAL SPENDING THAT IT'S GOING
TO HURT THE ECONOMY.
WELL, I WOULD ARGUE THE
OPPOSITE.
IF WE DON'T GET FEDERAL SPENDING
UNDER CONTROL, IT'S GOING TO
HURT THE ECONOMY BECAUSE YOU'RE
IMPACTS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INTEREST
RATES START GOING UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE INFLATION
START GOING UP, AND YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE PEOPLE NOT MAKING
DECISIONS ABOUT HIRING OUT THERE
IN OUR ECONOMY BECAUSE THEY
DON'T BELIEVE THAT WASHINGTON,
D.C., HAS GOTTEN THE MESSAGE
ABOUT GETTING SPENDING AND DEBT
UNDER CONTROL.
AND SO I WOULD ARGUE TO MY
COLLEAGUES, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT
WE HAVE A SOLUTION, A VERY
SIMPLE SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US.
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T NECESSITATE
AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTTING DOWN.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN
ANYBODY'S BEST INTERESTS.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY ON THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO WANTS TO
SEE THAT HAPPEN.
ALL WE'RE SIMPLY SAYING IS IT IS
HIGH TIME THAT THIS GOVERNMENT
STARTED TO LIVE WITHIN ITS
MEANS, STARTED TO -- STOP
SPENDING MONEY THAT IT DOESN'T
HAVE AND STARTS PUTTING US ON A
FISCAL PATH THAT WILL ENSURE
THAT THIS COUNTRY IS AROUND FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS
AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE YOUNG
PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE CARRYING
AROUND AN $88,000 DEBT, WHICH IS
WHAT THEIR DEBT WILL BE IN A FEW
SHORT YEARS IF WE DON'T TAKE
STEPS TO GET FEDERAL SPENDING
AND FEDERAL DEBT UNDER CONTROL.
SO I URGE MY COLLEAGUES -- AND I
WOULD ASK THAT THE OTHER -- THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK GOT UP AND
SAID PLEASE, REPUBLICANS, DON'T
SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN.
I WOULD SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
THE MAJORITY LEADER PICKS UP THE
HOUSE-PASSED BILL, PASSES IT,
AND THIS CRISIS IS AVERTED AND
THE NEGOTIATORS CAN CONTINUE
THEIR DISCUSSIONS ON A LONGER
TERM SOLUTION, WHICH IT SOUNDS
LIKE THEY'RE VERY CLOSE TO
COMING TO A CONCLUSION ON.
THAT'S ALL THAT IT WOULD
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION, AND
I HOPE THAT MY COLLEAGUES WILL
DO IT AND THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE
THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO
FUNCTION BUT THAT WE START TO
GET SPENDING AND DEBT UNDER
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I BE
ADDED AS A COSPONSOR TO SENATE
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK