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THIS IS LIVE COVERAGE ON
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO OR.
THE CHAPLAIN, DR. BARRY BLACK,
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
ALMIGHTY GOD, RULER OF HISTORY
AND THE NATIONS, WE PRAISE YOU,
WE ADORE YOU, WE MAGNIFY YOUR
HOLY NAME.
MAY YOUR PRESENCE BE FELT IN OUR
MIDST TODAY GUIDING OUR THOUGHTS
AND ORDERING OUR STEPS.
PERMIT THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY
TO RECEIVE A FRESH AWARENESS OF
WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DESIRE
FOR THEM TO DO.
LORD, THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE
ARE SO GREAT THAT THEY NEED YOUR
WISDOM TO MEET THEM.
USE OUR SENATORS THIS DAY SO
THAT YOUR WILL MAY BE DONE ON
EARTH AS IT IS DONE IN HEAVEN.
LET YOUR PEACE COME TO THEM AS
THEY COMMIT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOU AND THEN
WORK WITH YOUR GUIDANCE AND
GRACE.
WE PRAY IN YOUR SACRED NAME.
AMEN.
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
MAY 11, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3,
OF THE STANDING RULES
OF THE SENATE,
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, A SENATOR
FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK, TO
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL
THE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE
FIRST 30 MINUTES AND THE
MAJORITY WILL CONTROL THE NEXT
30 MINUTES.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER REMARKS,
THE SENATE WILL BE IN EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
NOMINATION OF ANDREA WRIGHT
ALLEN TO BE THE JUDGE OF THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.
SO AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. WE
WILL VOTE ON THE CONFIRMATION OF
THE ALLEN CONFIRMATION.
THERE'S A SPECIAL CAUCUS AT THE
WHITE HOUSE THIS AFTERNOON AND,
THEREFORE, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE
EARLY TODAY.
THE REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE THEIR
TOMORROW.
MADAM PRESIDENT, S. 940 IS AT
THE DESK AND DUE FOR A SECOND
READING.
THE CLERK
WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL
FOR THE SECOND TIME.
S. 940, A
BILL TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL
BUDGET DEFICIT BY CLOSING BIG
OIL TAX LOOPHOLES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WOULD OBJECT TO ANY FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THIS
BILL AT THIS TIME.
OBJECTION
HAVING BEEN HEARD, THE MEASURE
WILL BE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE IN A
PARTISAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND IN A PARTISAN THERE IS
TEMPTATION TO TURN EVERY ISSUE
INTO A POLITICAL ISSUE.
WE CERTAINLY LIVE IN ONE OF
THOSE ENVIRONMENTS TODAY, AND
THAT'S REGRETTABLE, BUT FAR FROM
UNFAMILIAR.
POLITICS PLAY A ROLE IN OUR
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND OF
COURSE THEY AS YOU HAVE.
FOUNDERS CREATED A SYSTEM OF
CHECKS AND BALANCES, THREE
BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND TWO CHAMBERS OF THE
CONGRESS BECAUSE THEY
ANTICIPATED THIS.
THEY WANTED TO KEEP US FROM
LOSING OUR WAY.
LONG AFTER THAT SYSTEM WAS
CREATED NEW INDEPENDENT FEDERAL
AGENCY WAS CREATED IN THE SAME
SPIRIT OF CHECKS AN BALANCES.
THAT AGENCY IS THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.
IT ACTS AS A CHECK ON EMPLOYERS
AN EMPLOYEES ALIKE.
IT SAFEGUARDS EMPLOYEES' RIGHTS
TO UNIONIZE OR NOT UNIONIZE.
IT MEDIATES ALLEGATIONS OF
UNFAIR LABOR AND IT DOES IT
OUTSIDE ANY INDEPENDENT, THE
ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL IS A MAN
WHO IS AS NONPARTISAN AND
INDEPENDENT AS THE AGENCY HE
WORK FOR.
LAST WEEK THEY ISSUED A
COMPLAINT AGAINST BOEING.
THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES AFTER
BOEING WORKERS IN SOME STATES
WENT ON STRIKE, THE COMPANY
RETALIATED WHILE OPENING A NEW
PRODUCTION LINE IN A NONUNION
FACILITY.
THAT KIND OF RETALIATION IS
THAT'S JUST THE BACKGROUND.
I'M NOT HERE TO JUDGE THE MERITS
OF THE CASE.
IN FACT, I'M HERE TO DO THE
EXACT OPPOSITE.
TO REMIND THE SENATE THAT
PREJUDGING THE CASE IS NOT OUR
JOB.
THAT WOULD OVERSTEP LONG
ESTABLISHED VALUES AND WEAKEN
THE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND
LATELY THOUGH.
SO OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
HAVE ATTACKED THE NLRB AND TRIED
TO POISON THE DECISION PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, EVERY REPUBLICAN
SENATOR ON THE "HELP" COMMITTEE,
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, LET'S
REMIND EVERYONE THE L IN HELP
STANDS FOR LABOR, THEY SENT A
LETTER TO THE ACTING GENERAL
COUNSEL DEFENDING BOEING.
THE LETTER ITSELF WAS SENT SIX
WEEKS BEFORE A HEARING TAKES
PLACE SEEMS QUESTIONABLE AT THE
VERY BEST.
FURTHER.
THEY WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO
LINK THEIR REQUEST TO THE ACTING
GENERAL COUNSEL'S PENDING
NOMINATION.
IF THERE WERE EVER A CASE OF
INTIMIDATION, THAT SOUNDS LIKE
IT TO ME.
THAT'S NOT ALL.
EIGHT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALL
REPUBLICANS ALL SIGNED A LETTER
TO THE ACTING GENERAL COUNSEL
CALLING ON HIM TO WITHDRAW THE
COMPLAINT ON BOEING.
AGAIN, LONG BEFORE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE HAS HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE CASE.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL OF THEM
TO TAKE A STEP BACK, MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ON THE
"HELP" COMMITTEE AND THESE
ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS
DISLIKE ORGANIZED LABOR.
WE KNOW THEY DISDAIN UNIONS
BECAUSE UNIONS DEMAND FAIRNESS
AND EQUALITY FROM BIG
BUSINESSES.
SO LET'S BE HONEST, REPUBLICANS
ARE THREATENED BY UNIONS.
THEY'RE THREATENED BECAUSE WHEN
A LARGE ORGANIZED GROUP IS SO
CONCERNED WITH WORKERS' RIGHTS,
THE MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP VOTE
IN LARGE NUMBS AND BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS AND BIG -- NUMBERS
AND BUS REPUBLICANS AND BIG
BUSINESSES THEY DEFEND TAKE AWAY
WORKERS RIGHTS.
THIS KIND OF INTERFERENCE IS
INAPPROPRIATE, IT'S DISGRACEFUL
AND DANGEROUS.
WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THREATS TO
PROSECUTORS OR U.S. ATTORNEYS
TRYING TO STOP THEM FROM MOVING
FORWARD WITH CHARGES THEY SEE
FIT TO BRING TO THE COURTS AND
WE SHOULDN'T STAND FOR THIS.
IT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL, BUT IT'S
NO BETTER THAN THE RETALIATION
AND INTIMIDATION AND IT'S THE
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IN THIS
CASE AND SHOULD STOP.
WE NEED AGENCIES LIKE THE NLRB
TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE FREELY AND
WITHOUT POLITICAL PRESSURES.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR INDEPENDENT
AGENCIES INDEPENDENT.
IN THIS CASE IT'S FOR HOME TO
DECIDE NOT FOR US TO DECIDE.
WOULD THE CHAIR NOW ANNOUNCE
MORNING BUSINESS.
UNDER THE
BELIEVES ORDER -- PREVIOUS ORDER
THE SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR DEBATE
ONLY UNTIL 2:00 P.M. WITH
SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES
EACH WITH THE FIRST HOUR EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES WITH THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FIRST 30 MINUTES
AND THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
NEXT 30 MINUTES.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM
PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
YESTERDAY TCTS
UNVEILED -- DEMOCRATS UNVEILED
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO SLOW AMERICAN
ENERGY PRODUCTION THIS TIME
THROUGH A TAX HIKE ON AMERICAN
ENERGY.
THEY ACKNOWLEDGED, HOWEVER, THIS
WILL NOT LOWER THE PRICE OF GAS
AND THEY'RE RIGHT.
THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH
SERVICE TELLS US THAT RAISING
TAXES ON AMERICAN ENERGY WILL DO
TWO THINGS, IT WILL INCREASE THE
PRICE OF GAS AND IT WILL
INCREASE OUR DEPENDENCE ON
FOREIGN COMPETITORS.
BY TAXES AMERICAN ENERGY
PRODUCTION, THEY'RE ALSO
OUTSOURCING AMERICAN JOBS.
SO LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT,
HIGHER GAS PRICES, FEWER
AMERICAN JOBS AND MORE
DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN
COMPETITORS AT THE EXPENSE OF
AMERICAN ENERGY?
PLAN?
NO THANK YOU.
NOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, ON ANOTHER
ISSUE, I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE
NUMBER TWO DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE
YESTERDAY TAKE A STAND AGAINST
THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED
EXECUTIVE ORDER, A PROPOSAL DICE
GUISED AS INCREASE -- DISGUISED
AS INCREASED TRANSPARENCY WHICH
WOULD ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATION
TO REVIEW A COMPANY'S POLITICAL
DONATION BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER
TO AWARD A FEDERAL CONTRACT.
THAT'S RIGHT, THE ADMINISTRATION
WOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW A
COMPANY'S POLITICAL DONATIONS
BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO GIVE
THEM A FEDERAL CONTRACT.
HERE'S HOW HE PUT IT, THIS IS
THE NUMBER TWO DEMOCRAT IN THE
THE WHITE HOUSE PLAN TO REQUIRE
CONTRACTORS TO DISCLOSE
POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS COULD
POLITICIZE THE BIDDING PROCESS
AND UNDERMINE ITS INTEGRITY."
NOW, SIMILAR EFFORTS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN REJECTED BY THE
SUPREME COURT, THE FEDERAL
ELECTION COMMISSION AND THE
CONGRESS DURING THE LAST SESSION
OF THE CONGRESS, AND NOW THERE
IS A BIPARTISAN OPPOSITION TO
THE ADMINISTRATION'S EXECUTIVE
ORDER.
NOW, THE WHITE HOUSE IS SPENDING
SPENDING -- SPINNING THIS AS --
QUOTE -- "REFORM," END QUOTE,
CLAIMING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW HOW
TAXPAYER MONEY IS BEING USED BY
CONTRACTORS.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSED EXECUTIVE
ORDER COULD DISCLOSE ALLIES,
INCLUDING FEDERAL EMPLOY LABOR
UNIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND
OF COURSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
AS I'VE SAID, NO WHITE HOUSE, NO
WHITE HOUSE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
REVIEW YOUR POLITICAL PARTY
AFFILIATION BEFORE DECIDING IF
YOU'RE WORTHY, WORTHY OF A
GOVERNMENT CONTRACT, AND NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
WHETHER THEIR POLITICAL SUPPORT
WILL DETERMINE THEIR ABILITY TO
GET OR TO KEEP A FEDERAL
CONTRACT OR TO KEEP A JOB.
THE ISSUING OF CONTRACTS BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
BASED ON THE CONTRACTOR'S
MERITS, BIDS AND CAPABILITIES.
UNDER NO CONDITION, NO CONDITION
SHOULD POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
PLAY A ROLE IN THAT DECISION.
HOWEVER, THE WHITE HOUSE DRAFT
EXECUTIVE ORDER MAKES IT CRYSTAL
CLEAR THAT IF YOU WANT TO DO
BUSINESS WITH THE GOVERNMENT,
YOU'LL WANT TO DO BUSINESS WITH
THE GOVERNMENT, YOU CAN'T
CONTRIBUTE TO THE REPUBLICANS.
AS SENATOR COLLINS RECENTLY
POINTED OUT, THIS EXECUTIVE
ORDER WOULD BASICALLY REPEAL THE
HATCH ACT AND INJECT POLITICS
PROCESS.
THIS IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
DEMOCRACY IS COMPROMISED WHEN
INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
FEAR REPRISAL OR EXPECT FAVOR
FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A
RESULT OF THEIR POLITICAL
SO THE RECENT PRESS REPORTS
ABOUT THIS UNPRECEDENTED
EXECUTIVE ORDER RAISES TROUBLING
CONCERNS ABOUT AN EFFORT TO
SILENCE OR INTIMIDATE POLITICAL
ADVERSARIES' SPEECH THROUGH THE
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SYSTEM.
THE WHITE HOUSE STILL HAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO NOT GO FORWARD
WITH THIS, AND YOU CAN REST
ASSURED WE WILL BE WATCHING
VERY, VERY CLOSELY.
BECAUSE THE PROPOSED EFFORT
WOULD REPRESENT AN OUTRAGEOUS, A
TRULY OUTRAGEOUS AND
ANTIDEMOCRATIC ABUSE OF
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AUTHORITY.
NOW, IT'S MY SINCERE HOPE THAT
RECENT REPORTS OF THE DRAFT
EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS SIMPLY THE
WORK OF A PARTISAN WITHIN THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND NOT THE
POSITION TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT
HIMSELF.
HE SHOULD STATE HIS POSITION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE WAITING FOR
YOUR RESPONSE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
SINCE I FIRST CAME TO THE
CONGRESS BACK IN 1997 AS A
FRESHMAN MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, I HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT SPENDING AND DEBT,
DEFICITS, AND THAT WAS A KEY
CENTRAL ELEMENT OF MY CAMPAIGN
FOR MY FIRST ELECTION TO THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WAY
BACK IN THE DAY, AND OF COURSE
AT THAT TIME THE NUMBERS WERE A
TODAY.
IF YOU LOOK AT JUST EVEN WHERE
WE WERE 15 YEARS AGO IN RELATIVE
TERMS, THE POINT AT WHICH WE
FIND OURSELVES TODAY IS ALMOST
OVERWHELMING, AND THE DEBT NOW
IS OVER $14 TRILLION.
WE'RE BEING ASKED TO RAISE THE
DEBT CEILING EVEN FURTHER, AND I
WOULD ARGUE, MADAM PRESIDENT,
THAT WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO
PUT THESE HARD DECISIONS OFF,
BECAUSE THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES
AND THESE CALL FOR SERIOUS
SOLUTIONS AND SERIOUS
LEADERSHIP, AND I HOPE THAT WE
ARE UP TO THAT TASK.
FOR A LONG TIME, WE THOUGHT THAT
DEBTS AND SPENDING AND DEFICITS
AND ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS
COULD BE ACCEPTABLE UP TO A
CERTAIN LEVEL, AND I SUPPOSE TO
SOME DEGREE THAT'S TRUE.
HISTORICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR
COUNTRY IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND
SPENDING, WE HAVE HAD
CONSISTENTLY OVER TIME A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF DEBT THAT WE CARRY.
BUT I THINK BY ANY STRETCH, ANY
AMERICAN, ANY ECONOMIST, ANYBODY
WHO WATCHES THIS CLOSELY HAS TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SITUATION IN
WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY IS
REALLY UNPRECEDENTED IN AMERICAN
HISTORY AND CRIES OUT FOR ACTION
AND IMMEDIATE ACTION AND BOLD
AND THIS IS SOMETHING I WOULD
ARGUE THAT MY CONSTITUENTS ARE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT, I THINK
ALL AMERICANS ARE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF YOU
LOOK AT IT IN RELATIVE TERMS,
WHERE WE ARE TODAY, $14 TRILLION
IN ACCUMULATED DEBT AND YOU GO
BACK IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY
AND LOOK AT FROM THE FORMATION
OF THIS COUNTRY BACK IN THE LATE
1800'S UNTIL 1849, OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SPENT, IF YOU CAN
IMAGINE THIS, ONLY ABOUT
ABOUT $1 BILLION OVER THAT
60-YEAR TIME PERIOD.
AND SO TODAY, WE WILL BORROW
BORROW $4 BILLION, BETWEEN TODAY
AT 9:50 AND THIS TIME TOMORROW
AT 9:50, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL BORROW $4 BILLION.
WHICH TO PUT THAT INTO
PERSPECTIVE, MADAM PRESIDENT,
SUGGESTS THAT WE WILL BORROW IN
THE NEXT 24 HOURS MORE THAN FOUR
TIMES WHAT WE SPENT IN OUR FIRST
60 YEARS AS A NATION.
NOW, IN FACT, IN 1835 UNDER
PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON, THE
GOVERNMENT DEBT FOR THE ONLY
TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY WAS
COMPLETELY PAID OFF.
SINCE THAT TIME, OUR DEBTS HAVE
BEEN LARGE AND SMALL WITH LARGE
RUNUPS OF DEBT DURING TIMES OF
WAR WHILE THE DEBT LARGELY
DECLINED DURING TIMES OF PEACE.
NEVER, THOUGH, DID OUR DEBTS TOP
EVEN 50% OF OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY
OF OUR G.D.P. UNTIL THE GREAT
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II, DEBT
TOPPED 120% OF G.D.P., BUT IN
THE POSTWAR PERIOD, DEBT
STEADILY DECLINED AS A
PERCENTAGE OF OUR ECONOMY,
FACTORS.
ONE WAS STRONG ECONOMIC GROWTH
AND THE SECOND WAS A GOVERNMENT
THAT MANAGED TO KEEP SPENDING
RELATIVELY LOW.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POST-WORLD
WAR II TIME PERIOD AND YOU GET
INTO THE 1960'S AND YOU REACH
THAT END OF THE 1960'S AND THAT
TIME PERIOD TO 2008, FROM
1969-2008, GOVERNMENT SPENDING
CONSUMED ON AVERAGE ABOUT 20.6%
OF OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY, WHILE
TAXES DURING THAT TIME PERIOD OF
OUR ECONOMY.
THAT BALANCE LED TO A SIZABLE
BUT MANAGEABLE NATIONAL DEBT,
DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC JUST
BEFORE THIS PRESIDENT TOOK OFF
WAS $6.3 TRILLION.
NOW, TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE,
DURING THE PREVIOUS 40 YEARS,
THE BUDGET WAS BALANCED ON FIVE
OCCASIONS.
SO IF YOU LOOK BACK IN THE LAST
40 YEARS OF OUR NATION'S
HISTORY, THERE WERE FIVE
OCCASIONS ON WHICH WE WERE ABLE
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
IN EACH OF THESE YEARS -- AND
THOSE WERE 1969, 1998, 1999,
2000, AND 2001 -- SPENDING WAS
BELOW THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE.
IN 1969, SPENDING WAS JUST 19.4%
OF OUR G.D.P.
IN 1998, IT WAS 19.1% OF OUR
G.D.P.
IN 1999, IT WAS 18.5% OF G.D.P.
AND IN 2000 AND 2001, IT WAS
ONLY 18.2% OF OUR G.D.P.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE YEARS
WHEN OUR BUDGET WAS BALANCED,
MADAM PRESIDENT, SPENDING
G.D.P.
SO WHAT ARE WE SET TO SPEND THIS
YEAR?
24.3% OF OUR G.D.P.
AN ASTONISHING 30% MORE THAN WE
HAVE SPENT HISTORICALLY WHEN OUR
BUDGET WAS BALANCED.
AND OUR DEBT HELD BY THE PUBLIC
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR WILL BE
NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS WHEN
THIS PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE.
SO HOW DO WE GET TO SUCH A HIGH
LEVEL OF SPENDING?
WELL, TO BE FAIR, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I THINK YOU WOULD
HAVE TO SAY THAT SOME OF THIS IS
ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN, OBVIOUSLY TAX
RECEIPTS, REVENUES ARE DOWN AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF THE ECONOMY BEING
IN A RECESSION.
WE ALSO HAVE THE ONGOING
CONFLICTS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WHICH HAVE BEEN
EXPENSIVE AND OBVIOUSLY HAVE
REQUIRED A LARGE COMMITMENT OF
RESOURCES IN ORDER TO CONDUCT
THE OPERATIONS THAT ARE
NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS THERE, BUT
I WOULD ARGUE ALSO, MADAM
PRESIDENT, THAT A SUBSTANTIAL, A
SUBSTANTIAL CHUNK IS DUE TO THE
SPENDING SPREE THAT CONGRESS HAS
BEEN ON SINCE 2008.
BETWEEN 2008-2010, SPENDING ON
NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY
PROGRAMS WENT UP MORE THAN 20%,
EVEN THOUGH INFLATION OVER THAT
SAME TIME PERIOD WAS AROUND 2%.
WHEN YOU ADD IN WHAT EVENTUALLY
THE BAILOUTS OF FANNIE MAE AND
FREDDIE MAC ARE GOING TO COST,
WHICH WILL BE HUNDREDS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT ADDS
SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE DEBT.
AND OF COURSE THE STIMULUS
BOONDOGGLE COSTS US OVER
OVER $800 BILLION IN THE SHORT
TERM.
WHEN YOU ADD IN THE INTEREST
COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT, IT WILL BE OVER A TRILLION
DOLLARS, WHICH WAS ALL BORROWED,
BORROWED MONEY FROM OUR CHILDREN
AND GRANDCHILDREN.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE,
AS I SAID BEFORE, OF SPENDING A
TRILLION DOLLARS LITERALLY ON
THAT ONE PROGRAM, THAT ONE
POLICY, THE STIMULUS PROGRAM
THAT WENT INTO EFFECT A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO, THAT'S LITERALLY
1,000 TIMES MORE THAN WHAT WE
SPENT AS A NATION IN OUR FIRST
60 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE.
AND IF WE LOOK AT THE
PROJECTIONS INCLUDED IN THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, IT'S
REVEALING THAT IT NEVER
BALANCES, AND THAT'S DUE
ENTIRELY, MADAM PRESIDENT, TO
SPENDING.
SPENDING UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET NEVER FALLS BELOW 23% OF
OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY OF OUR
G.D.P., AND AFTER 2015, IT
GROWS, THERE ISN'T A SINGLE YEAR
WHEN THE SPENDING DOES NOT GROW
AS A SHARE OF OUR ECONOMY.
SO YOU HAVE GOT THIS CONSTANT
GROWTH AND SPENDING, OVERALL
SPENDING AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR
G.D.P. THAT IS WAY BEYOND THE
NORM IF YOU LOOK AT ANY SORT OF
HISTORICAL AVERAGE.
SO WHEN THE PRESIDENT SUBMITTED
HIS INITIAL BUDGET TO THE
CONGRESS, WE WERE ALL HOPEFUL I
THINK THAT IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE
AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT HE GETS
IT, THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE
DIMENSIONS OF THIS PROBLEM AND
HOW SERIOUS OUR FISCAL AND
FINANCIAL STRAITS ARE, BUT THE
BUDGET THAT HE SUBMITTED TO
CONGRESS A FEW MONTHS AGO
ACTUALLY INCREASED SPENDING OVER
THE TEN-YEAR TIME PERIOD,
MASSIVELY INCREASED THE DEBT AND
RAISED TAXES ON OUR SMALL
BUSINESSES AT A TIME WHEN, AS I
SAID EARLIER, WE ARE HOPING TO
GET THE ECONOMY GROWING AND
EXPANDING AGAIN, AND THAT HELPS
ADDRESS MANY OF THE PROBLEMS
THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE ECONOMIC
GROWTH WHEN YOU'RE RAISING TAXES
ON THE JOB CREATORS IN OUR
ECONOMY, WHICH IS OUR SMALL
AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE TWO
THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
NECESSARY FOR US TO GET OUR
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK AND TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF SPENDING
AND THIS OUT-OF-CONTROL DEBT IS
TO GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL,
TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN PUT OFF FOR FAR TOO
LONG, AND SECONDLY TO PUT
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT WILL
ENABLE AND CREATE THE CONDITIONS
FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB
WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE
CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS DOING
IN TERMS OF POLICIES, WHAT I
HEAR IN MY STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
AS I TRAVEL FROM SMALL
BUSINESSES, I HEAR IT FROM
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, IS THAT
ALMOST AT EVERY TURN, THEY ARE
FACING NEW REGULATIONS, NEW
POLICIES COMING OUT OF
WASHINGTON THAT NOT REDUCE THE
COST OF DOING BUSINESS BUT
ACTUALLY INCREASE THE COST OF
DOING BUSINESS AND DRIVE DOWN
THEIR MARGINS, MAKING IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO INVEST
CAPITAL, TO HIRE NEW PEOPLE AND
TO GET THIS ECONOMY GROWING AND
EXPANDING AGAIN.
AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES
OF THAT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF AGENCIES
THAT ARE JUST ISSUING,
PROMULGATING REGULATIONS,
PURSUING AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA,
MUCH OF WHICH CAN'T BE
ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN CONGRESS
BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT THE VOTES
IN THE CONGRESS TO ACCOMPLISH
MUCH OF THAT AGENDA, AND SO THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS DECIDED BY
JUST SORT OF EXECUTIVE POWER
GRAB TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH MUCH
OF THAT AGENDA.
WELL, AS I SAID BEFORE, MOST OF
THOSE POLICIES ARE THINGS THAT
MAKE IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO DO
BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY, ARE
GOING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT
FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO GET
I MENTIONED THE TAX INCREASES
THE PRESIDENT HAS PROPOSED,
CONSISTENTLY PROPOSED, NOT ONLY
IN THE BUDGET THAT HE RELEASED
TO THE CONGRESS SEVERAL MONTHS
AGO BUT MORE RECENTLY A COUPLE
OF WEEKS BACK WHEN HE CAME OUT
WITH HIS SORT OF NEW, IMPROVED
BUDGET, STILL LOADED UP WITH TAX
INCREASES ON SMALL BUSINESSES,
THE VERY OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU
WOULD WANT TO DO IF YOU WANT TO
ENCOURAGE SMALL BUSINESSES TO
INVEST AND CREATE JOBS.
THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT'S
CREATED BY TAX POLICIES THAT ARE
NOT PERMANENT, THAT EXPIRE IN A
COUPLE OF YEARS, THE ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY CREATED BY NOT
KNOWING WHAT THE NEXT REGULATION
COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,
IS GOING TO DO TO YOUR BOTTOM
LINE IS ALL CREATING AN ANXIETY
OUT THERE AMONG INVESTORS IN
THIS COUNTRY AND KEEPING A LOT
OF THE CAPITAL THAT OTHERWISE
WOULD BE PUT TO WORK AND
DEPLOYED IN CREATING JOBS ON THE
SIDELINES.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT JUST A FEW
EXAMPLES, THE E.P.A. IS PROBABLY
THE MOST NOTABLE ONE, BUT THAT'S
THE ONE I HEAR THE MOST ABOUT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER I'M
TALKING TO A SMALL BUSINESS
GROUP OR WHETHER I'M TALKING TO
FARMERS AND RANCHERS.
CONSISTENTLY, THEY SAY THESE
REGULATIONS COMING OUT OF
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- AND
SPECIFICALLY IN THIS CASE, MOST
OF THEM ARE REFERRING TO
POLICIES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF
THE E.P.A. -- ARE MAKING IT
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO
CREATE JOBS TO PUT PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK AND TO INVEST, REINVEST
IN OUR BUSINESSES.
AND SO YOU HAVE THE TYPES OF
REGULATIONS THAT ARE COMING OUT
OF THESE AGENCIES.
YOU ALSO HAVE, AS I SAID, RUNUP
IN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OF
THE POLICIES THAT THE CONGRESS
HAS ENACTED, THE SPENDING AND
DEBT ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN
CREATED BY THE STIMULUS BILL,
THE NEW HEALTH CARE BILL, WHICH
WHEN IT'S FULLY IMPLEMENTED WILL
COST $2.5 TRILLION OR
THEREABOUTS BUT IS GOING TO PASS
ON LOTS OF NEW COSTS TO
BUSINESSES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY,
NOT ONLY IN THE FORM OF TAX
INCREASES BUT ALSO IN THE FORM
OF HIGHER INSURANCE RATES WHICH
THEY ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE JUST
A CONTINUED PERIOD WHERE
BUSINESSES IN THIS COUNTRY,
SMALL BUSINESSES, BECAUSE OF
THIS ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY,
CONTINUE TO SIT IT OUT AND DON'T
DO THE THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY
TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND
TO DEAL WITH BOTH HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ALSO THE ISSUE
OF A SORT OF DEPRESSED ECONOMIC
DOWNTURN THAT IS GOING TO MAKE
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US TO --
TO EXPAND THE ECONOMY AND
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF INCREASING
REVENUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL
WHICH WILL HELP SOLVE THE
PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE WITH --
WITH THE DEFICIT AND WITH OUR
DEBT.
ANOTHER ISSUE WHICH I WOULD
MENTION WHICH I THINK IS
SIGNIFICANT RIGHT NOW IN
PARTICULAR, BUT ALWAYS IS AN
ISSUE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT I
REPRESENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS
HIGH ENERGY COSTS.
AND THE DEMOCRAT PRESCRIPTION,
THE MOST RECENT ONE, IS TO TAX
IT STRIKES ME AT LEAST IF YOU
WANT TO GET LOWER-COST ENERGY,
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU WOULD NOT
DO IS RAISE TAXES, MAKE IT,
AGAIN, MORE COSTLY, MORE
EXPENSIVE FOR PEOPLE TO DO
BUSINESS.
IF YOU LOOK AT AGAIN, THE
E.P.A., AN ATTEMPT TO REGULATE
THE GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSIONS
HAS MADE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT
FOR ENERGY COMPANIES TO GET
PERMITS AND THE NUMBER OF
PROJECTS HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED
ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND I CAN
THINK OF A COUPLE IN MY STATE OF
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT
WE CAN CONTINUE TO GET ABOUT 60%
OF OUR FUEL FROM OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES LITERALLY SENDING
SENDING $1 BILLION A DAY TO
FOREIGN COUNTRIES BECAUSE OF OUR
ADDICTION TO FOREIGN ENERGY, AND
YOU LOOK AT THE POLICIES HERE
THAT WE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING
IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING
TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND
ACTUALLY INTRODUCE MORE AMERICAN
ENERGY, YOU FIND A COMPLETE
CONTRADICTION BETWEEN WHAT THE
PRESIDENT AND MANY OF HIS ALLIES
SAY AND WHAT THEY DO.
THEY ALL TALK ABOUT ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE, THEY TALK ABOUT
GETTING AWAY FROM
SPENDING $1 BILLION A A DAY ON
FOREIGN OIL AND THE PISTOLSIES
TELL ANOTHER STORY.
WE ARE LIMITING EVEN MORE THE
AMOUNT OF AREA IN THIS COUNTRY
THAT WOULD BE OPEN TO ENERGY
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION.
WE HAVE ENORMOUS RESOURCES HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES, OIL AND
GAS, CLEAN COAL, BIOFUELS, ALL
KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE
COULD GAIN ACCESS TO, BUT RIGHT
NOW WE HAVE ENERGY POLICIES,
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT SEEM MORE
INTENT ON CONCERNED WITH SOME
OTHER AGENDA RATHER THAN ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE.
IF YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, YOU WOULD
THINK THAT YOU WOULD PUT
POLICIES IN PLACE THAT ENCOURAGE
THE PRODUCTION OF MORE AMERICAN
AND EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE IS
OCCUR.
WE'VE GOT MORE AND MORE AREAS
THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OFF LIMITS,
PUBLIC LANDS, WE CAN'T GET TO
THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF, WE
HAVE A PERMITORIUM IN THE GULF,
WE HAVE ALASKA THAT HAS ENERGY
RESOURCES, MUCH OF IT IS OFF
LIMITS IN THIS COUNTRY AND ALL
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO DO IS
DRIVE US INTO THE ARMS OF
FOREIGN COUNTRIES, MANY OF WHOM
DO NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF
THIS COUNTRY IN MIND AND PERHAPS
EVEN WORSE FUND ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PLAN ATTACKS AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES AND OUR ALLIES.
AND SO IT STRIKES ME AT LEAST
THAT IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT
GETTING DEFICITS AND DEBT UNDER
CONTROL, THAT ONE THING YOU
WOULD DO IS PUT POLICIES IN
PLACE THAT ENABLE SMALL
BUSINESSES TO DO WHAT THEY DO
BEST AND THAT IS TO GROW AND
CREATE JOBS, AND, SECONDLY, YOU
WOULD GET CONSTRAINTS -- PUT
CONSTRAINTS ON FEDERAL SPENDING
THAT -- HERE IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., SO THAT THIS ISSUE THAT I
MENTIONED EARLIER OF CONSISTENT
RUNUP IN THE AMOUNT THAT WE
SPEND ON OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AS A PERCENTAGE OF OUR G.D.P.
STARTS TO NOT ONLY TAPER OFF,
BUT STARTS TO COME DOWN THERE
HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
SUGGESTIONS MADE OUT THERE,
PERHAPS NO PERFECT ONE, BUT
PERHAPS PEOPLE ARE TAKING A
LEGITIMATE SHOT AT TRYING TO
ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT THE RYAN BUDGET PASSED BY
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
OF COURSE THAT'S ALREADY BEING
IMMEDIATELY ATTACKED AND PERHAPS
IT ISN'T PERFECT, BUT IT IS A
SPENDING.
NOW, THE -- THE ONLY OTHER
SUGGESTIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN, AS
I MENTIONED, ARE SOME STATEMENTS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE
PRESIDENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
HIS -- HIS PROPOSALS, AGAIN, ALL
OF WHICH INCREASE TAXES ALL OF
WHICH INCREASE SPENDING AND ALL
OF WHICH ADD MASSIVELY TO THE
FEDERAL DEBT.
IT SEEMS TO ME, MADAM PRESIDENT,
WE ARE NOT HAVING A SERIOUS
DISCUSSION ABOUT BALANCING OUR
BUDGET AND PAYING OFF OUR DEBT,
PARTICULARLY, AGAIN, WHEN YOU
PUT INTO PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE
ARE.
BETWEEN NOW AND 10:00 TOMORROW
WE WILL BORROW
ANOTHER $4 BILLION, WHICH, AS I
SAID BEFORE, I THINK IT BEARS
REPEATING, IS LITERALLY FOUR
TIMES THE AMOUNT OUR ENTIRE
COUNTRY SPENT FOR THE FIRST 60
YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE.
$4 BILLION BETWEEN NOW AND THIS
TIME TOMORROW IS AMOUNT THAT WE
WILL BORROW.
AND WE'RE BEING ASKED TO RAISE
THE DEBT LIMIT, THE AMOUNT THAT
WE CAN BORROW, ESSENTIALLY,
RAISE THE LIMIT ON OUR CREDIT
CARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
BECAUSE WE'RE UP AGAINST THAT
CEILING, WE HIT THE MAX, WE'VE
CAPPED OUT OUR ABILITY TO BORROW
MONEY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE
ASKED TO MAKE A VOTE TO INCREASE
THAT BORROWING AUTHORITY.
I DON'T THINK THAT COULD OCCUR,
HONESTLY, MADAM PRESIDENT, UNTIL
SUCH TIME THAT WE ARE WILLING TO
TAKE THE STEPS THAT ARE
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL.
THIS IS, BY DEFINITION, A
SPENDING ISSUE.
NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO ARGUE WE HAVE TO HAVE TAX
INCREASES, WE HAVE TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL REVENUE, AT THE TIMES
THAT WE BALANCED THE TBHUJT THE
LAST 40 YEARS -- IN THE LAST 40
YEARS, ON THOSE FIVE OCCASIONS
WE WERE SPENDING LESS THAN THE
AVERAGE AND IN SOME CASES
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN OUR
CLEARLY A WAY TO ATTACK THIS
ISSUE IS TO GET SPENDING UNDER
THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE TOUGH
WHAT WE'VE RUN INTO NOW IS THAT
WE'RE OUT OF ROAD.
WE'VE COME UP TO THE CLIFF.
WE CAN'T KICK THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD ANY FURTHER.
THE ROAD IS AT AN END AND WE ARE
UP AGAINST SOME VERY SERIOUS
IMPEDIMENTS IF WE DON'T TAKE THE
STEPS NECESSARY TO FIX THIS
PROBLEM.
I'LL MENTION AGAIN, WHEN I TALK
ABOUT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS
AND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
WE'VE ALL PAID LIP SERVICE TO
THIS ISSUE OF DEFICITS AND
SPENDING AND DEBT, BUT I ALWAYS
MAINTAIN THAT YOU HAVE TO JUDGE
PEOPLE NOT BY WHAT THEY SAY BUT
WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY VOTE.
AND WE NEED TO BE ON THE RECORD.
WE NEED TO BE DEBATING THIS
ISSUE AND AS WE GET INTO THE
DISCUSSION OVER RAISING THE DEBT
LIMIT, IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY
FOR BOTH SIDES, FOR REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS, TO COME TOGETHER
BEHIND A PLAN THAT WILL
THIS COUNTRY, THAT WILL DEAL
WITH THE ISSUE OF ENTITLEMENT
REFORM, WHICH IS GOING TO BE
SOMETHING DESPERATELY NEEDED.
WE CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IN
THE LONG TERM UNLESS WE ADDRESS
THE ISSUE OF ENTITLEMENT REFORM
AND REALLY GET SOME LIMITS ON
SPENDING THAT WILL BE BINDING,
THAT WE CAN'T GET AROUND.
IT'S TOO EASY AROUND HERE TO
WAVE THINGS, TO DECLARE IT AN
EMERGENCY AND CONTINUE TO SPEND
LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
BUT THESE ARE SERIOUS TIMES,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THEY REQUIRE SERIOUS LEADERSHIP
AND SERIOUS SOLUTIONS AND THAT
POINT IS PROBABLY NO BETTER MADE
THAN BY THE STATEMENTS MADE BY
SOME OF OUR LEADERS IN THIS
AS WE ALL KNOW THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF,
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, HAS SAID
BEFORE IN TESTIMONY BEFORE
CONGRESS THAT THE GREATEST
THREAT TO AMERICA'S NATIONAL
SECURITY IS OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
I THINK THAT IS A STUNNING AND
POWERFUL STATEMENT ABOUT WHERE
WE ARE IN THE -- AND THE
IMPORTANCE OF ACTING AND ACTING
NOW YOU HAD FORMER FEDERAL
RESERVE CHAIRMAN, ALAN GREENSPAN
SAY NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT THERE
IS A 50% PROBABILITY THAT WE
WILL FACE A DEBT CRISIS IN THE
NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS AND
THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAD
STANDARD & POORS PROVIDE A
NEGATIVE ASSESSMENT TO OUR
RATING IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT
I HOPE IF WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE
THE STEPS NECESSARY, THAT WE CAN
DOWNGRADED.
WHEN YOU GET AN ASSESSMENT LIKE
THAT, IT IS NOT TOO LONG THAT A
DOWNGRADING FOLLOWS.
THOSE AREN'T JUST ANECDOTAL
THINGS, THOSE ARE FACT-BASED
ASSESSMENTS AND ANALYSIS OF
WHERE WE ARE.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF DEALING WITH THESE
ISSUES.
WE CONTINUE TO BORROW MORE AND
MORE MONEY FROM OTHER PLACES
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND WE CONTINUE TO PUT OUR
FUTURE AT GREATER AND GREATER
RISK AND IN GREATER JEOPARDY FOR
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
IF WE'RE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE
HARD STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
AND I WILL SAY, MADAM PRESIDENT,
THIS WILL NOT BE EASY.
THERE WILL BE OBVIOUSLY
POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE TO ANY
DECISION WE MAKE HERE, BUT THESE
DECISIONS ARE GOING TO BE
DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE HAVE PUT
THEM OFF FOR SO LONG.
BUT THE EASY DECISIONS, THE
LOW-HANGING FRUIT, IT'S NO
LONGER OUT THERE.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE WE GOING
TO CONTINUE TO SPEND AND SPEND
AND SPEND AND BORROW AND BORROW
TO THE POINT WHERE WE HEAD OVER
THAT CLIFF BECAUSE WE'VE RUN OUT
OF ROAD TO KICK THE CAN DOWN OR
ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THESE HARD
DECISIONS NOW AND -- AND GET
SERIOUS ABOUT PROVIDING A
STRONGER AND A BETTER AND A MORE
PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR OUR
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
WE CAN'T ACT LIKE THE FEDERAL
SPENDING PROBLEM.
THOSE DAYS ARE GONE.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT LUXURY.
AND THE NUMBERS BEAR THAT OUT.
AND SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE
DEBT LIMIT -- THE UPCOMING DEBT
LIMIT VOTE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
REPUBLICANS AN DEMOCRATS TO COME
TOGETHER -- AND DEMOCRATS TO
COME TOGETHER BEHIND A PLAN THAT
WILL MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS OUR
SPENDING PROBLEM.
THE STATUS QUO IS NOT
IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE
LEADERSHIP FROM THE PRESIDENT
WHICH, SO FAR, AS I SAID, HAS
BEEN NONEXISTENT AND I HOPE HE
WILL STEP FORWARD.
IT WILL REQUIRE LEADERSHIP FROM
DEMOCRATS HERE IN THE SENATE.
THEY CONTROL THE AGENDA HERE.
THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY.
YEAR.
WE DIDN'T DO A BUDGET LAST YEAR
HERE IN THE SENATE AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT I THINK THAT WE
HAVE THAT DEBATE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE US
DEBATING HOW WE'RE GOING TO
SPEND THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD EXPECT AND
DESERVE FROM THEIR ELECTED
LEADERS AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL
HAVE A BUDGET MARKUP IN THE NEAR
FUTURE HERE WHERE WE CAN GET
THESE ISSUES OUT IN FRONT NOT
ONLY FOR US FOR DISCUSSION BUT
ALSO IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE BECAUSE THIS IS THEIR
FUTURE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
AND OUR FAILURE TO ACTION -- OUR
FAILURE TO ACT, IF WE DON'T ACT,
WE ARE PUTTING IN GREAT JEOPARDY
THE FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
AND, SO MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT I THINK WHERE
WE'VE COME FROM, WHERE IN MY
VIEW, WHERE WE NEED TO GO IF
WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM, AND I HOPE THAT MY
COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN IN THAT
DISCUSSION NOT ONLY JUST
RHETORICALLY, BUT THAT THEIR
ACTIONS WILL FOLLOW.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT
THIS.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO QUIT TALKING
AND TO START ACTING.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
I ASK TO DISPENSE
WITH THE QUORUM CALL.
OBJECTION.
I RISE TODAY TO