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BILLION IN CUTS.
AFTER THAT, MORE DEBATE ON A
PATENT OVERHAUL BILL,
ANTIAMENDMENTS -- AMENDMENTS
WE GO LIVE ON C-SPAN2.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN, DR. BARRY BLACK,
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
WORD DECLARES: "RIGHTEOUSNESS
EXALTS A NATION, BUT SIN IS A
REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE."
MAY OUR LAWMAKERS AND THE
CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT LAND
STRIVE TO PLEASE YOU THROUGH
RIGHT LIVING AND SUBMISSION TO
YOUR WILL.
HELP US TO FLEE FROM THE
DEAD-END PATH OF TRANSGRESSION
THAT LEADS TO NATIONAL RUIN.
ENABLE US TO TURN FROM THOUGHTS,
WORDS, AND DEEDS THAT VIOLATE
YOUR PRECEPTS AND COMMANDS.
LORD,
FILL OUR SENATORS WITH A HUNGER
FOR HOLINESS AND A HATRED OF
EVIL.
ENLARGE THEIR INFLUENCE AND USE
THEM FOR YOUR GLORY.
REINFORCE THEM BY THE CONSTANT
ASSURANCE OF YOUR PRESENCE.
WE PRAY IN YOUR GREAT NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
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,
MARCH 2, 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 PERFORM
THE DUTIES OF THE CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
REID MADAM PRESIDENT?
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL PROCEED
TO MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL
11:00 A.M. TODAY.
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME,
SENATORS WOULD BE PERMITTED TO
SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
THE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE
FIRST 30 MINUTES AND THE
MAJORITY WILL CONTROL THE NEXT
30 MINUTES.
THE REMAINING TIME UNTIL 11:00
WILL BE EQUALLY DISWIEDED AND
CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE LEADERS
OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
AT 11:00, THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO VOTE ON PASSAGE OF
THE TWO-WEEK CONTINUING
FOLLOWING THAT MATTER, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF THE AMERICA INVESTS ACT.
VOTES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WE'VE WORKED
FOR WEEKS NOW IN MOVING FORWARD
ON THIS FUNDING MEASURE FOR THE
COUNTRY.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID FOR
WEEKS NOW THAT WE'RE COMMITTED
TO WORKING WITH ALL SIDES TO
FIND A MIDDLE GROUND THAT HELPS
US MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE FORWARD
A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
YESTERDAY THE HOUSE ACTED AND
SOON THE SENATE WILL ACT AS WE
WILL.
OUR PRIORITIES ARE REALLY
TWOFOLD.
ONE, KEEPING THE COUNTRY RUNNING
SO THAT ESSENTIAL SERVICES DON'T
GET INTERRUPTED, AND CERTAINLY
THEY SHOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED
AT A TIME WHEN WE CAN LEAST
AFFORD T WE HAVE TWO MORE WEEKS
TO DO THIS.
WE'VE HEARD TODAY IN THE NEWS,
JOHN McCAIN'S CHIEF ECONOMIC
ADVISOR SAID THE REPUBLICANS ARE
GOING TO REMAIN ON THE ROOT THAT
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING, TO
ELIMINATE 700,000 JOBS IN THIS
STRUGGLING ECONOMY.
GOLDMAN SACHS INDICATED A STUDY
THAT IT WOULD HURT THE GROSS
DOMESTIC PRODUCT BY UP TO 2%.
THAT'S DEVASTATING.
SO, OUR PRIORITIES ARE TWOFOLD.
ONE, KEEPING THE COUNTRY RUNNING
SO ESSENTIAL SERVICES DON'T GET
INTERRUPTED AT A TIME WE CAN
LEAST AFFORD THEM.
AND TWO,, EQUALLY IMPORTANT, WE
NEED TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK WITH
A BUDGET THAT KEEPS WHAT WORKS
AND CUT WHAT DOESN'T.
WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO BRING DOWN
THE DEFICIT WITHOUT FORFEITING
OUR FUTURE.
THIS HASN'T BEEN AN EASY
WE NEED TO SET ASIDE PARTISAN
MOTIVATIONS AND REMEMBER WE WORK
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NOT OUR
POLITICAL PARTIES.
TOWARD SOLUTION.
THIS TIME AROUND IT MAY NOT
INCLUDE EVERYTHING THE DEMOCRATS
WANT OR EVERYTHING THE
REPUBLICANS WANT BUT WE NEED TO
HAVE A COMPROMISE WHICH WILL BE
PART OF AN ONGOING CONVERSATION,
JUST LIKE OUR OVERARCHING
PRIORITY WHEN WE BUDGET THAT WE
MUST LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS.
THIS NEXT STEP RECOGNIZES THAT
WE MUST DO THE BEST WITH WHAT WE
TODAY WE'LL ALSO FINISH OUR --
OR WORK TOWARD FINISHING THE
PATENT REFORUM BILL.
IT'S CALLED AMERICA INVESTORS, A
INVESTS.
A JOBS BILL.
WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS MATTER
APPEARED THIS LEGISLATION IS
IMPORTANT IN RETURNING AMERICA'S
ECONOMY TO A POSITION OF
STRENGTH.
AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE 750,000
PATENT APPLICATIONS THAT ARE
STUCK IN THE PATENT OFFICE
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK.
AND IT'S TRUE TO DEMOCRATS'
AGENDA FROM DAY ONE CREATING
JOBS AND ENSURING AMERICA CAN
ECONOMY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I SEE MY FRIEND
HERE ON THE FLOOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HE'S
DONE IN RECENT DAYS HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
FIRST OF ALL, THAT THE MONEY
THAT IS COLLECTED IN THE PATENT
OFFICE SHOULD BE USED IN THE
PATENT OFFICE.
I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT WE
HAVE AN ENTITY AROUND HERE
CALLED THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE, WHICH IS REALLY THE
WATCHDOG OF CONGRESS.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ENTITY.
IT'S AVAILABLE TO BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS.
MY FRIEND FROM OKLAHOMA WROTE A
LETTER, AS HE HAS THE RIGHT TO
DO, IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT AREAS
FINDING WHERE THERE WAS DUMB
INDICATION OF SERVICES.
AND THEY STUDIED THIS AND CAME
BACK WITH WHAT I THINK ARE SOME
THINGS WE NEED TO DIRECT OUR
DUPLICATION IN DIFFERENT
ENTITIES AROUND HERE HAVE BECOME
REALLY UNTOWARD AND SO I COMMEND
AND APPLAUD MY FRIEND FROM
OKLAHOMA IN HELPING US GO DOP
THIS PATH THAT I THINK IS GOING
TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US
TO WORK OUR WAY OUT OF THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE.
I KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WE
HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND
THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAT
WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO GHET SPENDING
THING OUT OF THE WAY -- WE'RE
GOING TO GET THIS SPENDING THING
OUT OF THE WAY TODAY.
AND THEN, AS I'VE CATTED, WE
HAVE A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS TO
WORK ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE WOULD LIKE
A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
I HOPE THAT THE REPUBLICANS -- I HOPE THAT THEY
DON'T NEED A GOVERNMENT SHUT
DOWN, I AM KNOW NOT REFERRING TO
MY FRIENDS HERE ON THE OTHER
SIDE IN THE SENATE.
I'M REFERRING TO THE SENATE.
WE CAN AVOID THAT SHUTDOWN AND
STILL RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
COSTS THAT NEED TO BE CUT FROM
THE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
IT CAN'T ALL COME FROM OUR
DOMESTIC DISCRETION DISCRETIONARY SIDE OF
THE LEDGER.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK CONSENT THE
SENATE PROCEED TO CALENDAR
NUMBER 15, S. RES. 81.
CLERK WILL REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 15,
SENATE RESOLUTION 81,
AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE AND SO
FORTH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO THE
I ASK THAT THE MOTION BE
LAID ON THE TABLE, ANY
STATEMENTS BE PLACED IN THE
RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE
A IF READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER
WITH.
OBJECTION.
I'D LIKE TO
START THIS MORNING BY
ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROGRESS
THAT'S BEEN MADE THIS WEEK.
SENATOR REID'S PREDICTION THE
SENATE WILL FOLLOW THE HOUSE IN
APPROVING A $4 BILLION CUT IN
THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IS A
SMALL STEP, BUT IT IS INDEED A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THIS IS A LONG AWAITED
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY DEMOCRATS IN
CONGRESS THAT WE HAVE A SPENDING
PROBLEM AROUND HERE.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE
SPENDING $1.6 TRILLION MORE THAN
WE'RE TAKING IN IN A SINGLE YEAR
THAT IT WOULD TAKE THIS LONG TO
CUT A PENNY IN SPENDING.
BUT IT'S PROGRESS NONETHELESS.
IT'S ALSO ENCOURAGE TO GO HEAR
THE WHITE HOUSE SAY YESTERDAY
THEY WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF A
FOUR-WEEK C.R. WITH $8 BILLION
IN CUTS.
IT'S ENCOURAGING THAT THE WHITE
HOUSE AND CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS NOW AGREE THAT THE
STATUS QUO WON'T WORK, THAT THE
BILLS WE PASS MUST INCLUDE
SPENDING REDUCTIONS.
BEYOND THAT, THE G.A.O. REPORT,
WHICH SENATOR COBURN REQUESTED,
WE ALL SAW YESTERDAY MAKES IT
PRETTY CLEAR TO ME AT LEAST THAT
THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY OBVIOUS
TARGETS FOR ADDITIONAL CUTS.
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR COBURN
FOR REQUESTING THE REPORT, FIRST
OF ALL.
I DON'T THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE
SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT
WASHINGTON IS WASTING SO MUCH
MONEY.
I DO THINK SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE
SURPRISED AT HOW RAMPANT IT IS
AND, FRANKLY, THE SHEER IDIOCY,
THE SHEER EUT KWROS IS I OF --
IDIOCY OF SOME OF THE WASTE
WE'VE BEEN TO RATING.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE VOTING
AGAINST A BILL THAT WOULD RETURN
TO TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THE
DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS.
PROGRAMS WHICH ABC PUT IT ARE
CHEWING UP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN FUNDING EVERY YEAR.
IT WOULD BE AN EMBARRASSMENT AND
DOUBLE INDICTMENT OF CONGRESS TO
NOT ACT ON THIS.
THE REPORT IS DAMNING BUT COMES
AT A GOOD TIME, RIGHT WHEN WE'RE
LOOKING TO MAKE CUTS BOTH
PARTIES CAN AGREE ON, WE LEARN
THAT WE'VE GOT A ROAD MAP HERE.
MORE THAN 100 PROGRAMS DEALING
WITH SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES, 82 PROGRAMS MONITORING
TEACHER QUALITY, 80 PROGRAMS FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, 47
PROGRAMS FOR JOB TRAINING, 17
PREPAREDNESS.
AND HERE'S MY FAVORITE: 56
PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND FINANCES.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?
56 PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND FINANCES.
IF THAT ISN'T THE EMBLEM OF
GOVERNMENT WASTE, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE $1.6 TRILLION
IN THE RED THIS YEAR ALONE.
AND NOT ONLY DO WE THINK WE'RE
IN A POSITION TO TEACH OTHER
PEOPLE ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY,
WE'VE GOT 56 OVERLAPPING
PROGRAMS TO DO IT.
IF WE'RE TO CREATE THE
CONDITIONS FOR PRIVATE-SECTOR
JOB GROWTH IN THIS COUNTRY, THIS
IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP SPENDING MONEY
THAT WE DON'T HAVE ON MORE
PROGRESS.
DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED THAT.
THEY BORROWED $3 TRILLION OVER
THE PAST TWO YEARS TO EXPAND THE
SIZE AND SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT.
AND WHAT'S IT GOTTEN THEM?
THREE MILLION MORE LOST JOBS.
SO WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS THIS
WEEK, A VERY SMALL STEP PERHAPS
BUT ONE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AT THE SAME TIME THE WHITE HOUSE
TOOK ANOTHER STEP BACKWARDS THIS
WEEK BY FAILING TO FULFILL
ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY.
ACCORDING TO THE 2003 MEDICARE
MODERNIZATION ACT, THE PRESIDENT
IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REFORM
PROPOSAL FOR MEDICARE IF MORE
THAN 45% OF THE PROGRAM'S
FINANCES ARE BEING DRAWN FROM
THE GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL REVENUE
FUND INSTEAD OF A FUND
SPECIFICALLY SET ASIDE FOR
MEDICARE FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
SITUATION.
SITUATION.
THE PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO
HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS, BUT HE
PUTTING ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY
-- HE'S PUNTING ON THIS
RESPONSIBILITY JUST AS HE PUNTED
ON OTHER REFORMS IN THE TEN-YEAR
BUDGET PLAN HE RELEASED LAST
MONTH.
WASHINGTON'S UNSUSTAINABLE
SPENDING ON ENTITLEMENTS LIKE
MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL
SECURITY MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW.
AND WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO
ASSURE THE STABILITY AND
SOLVENCY OF ANY THEM WITHOUT
PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP.
IN THIS CASE THAT'S NOT MY
OPINION.
THE LAW ACTUALLY REQUIRES IT.
JUST ONE MORE WORD ON THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
ONCE WE'VE PASSED THIS STOPGAP
SPENDING MEASURE, WE'LL BE RIGHT
BACK AT IT AGAIN TWO WEEKS FROM
NOW UNLESS WE CAN REACH AN
AGREEMENT ON A LONG-TERM MEASURE
BEFORE THEN.
THE HOUSE HAS SENT US A BILL
THAT WILL KEEP THE GOVERNMENT
FUNDED THROUGH THE END OF THE
YEAR.
AT THE MOMENT THAT THIS NEXT
CONTINUING RESOLUTION EXPIRES,
WE'LL BE NEARLY HALFWAY THROUGH
THE FISCAL YEAR.
THE HOUSE BILL CONTAINS A
MUCH-NEEDED DEFENSE SPENDING
BILL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR,
MANY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN DELAYED AND SECRETARY GATES
HAS MADE CLEAR THAT FURTHER
READINESS.
SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY
COMPELLING REASONS FOR US TO
REACH AGREEMENT ON A LONGER-TERM
BILL.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL
11:00 A.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, WITH
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
FIRST 30 MINUTES, THE MAJORITY
CONTROLLING THE NEXT 30 MINUTES,
AND THE REMAINING TIME UNTIL
CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE TWO
LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES, WITH
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
CONSENT TO SPEAK IN MORNING
BUSINESS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
OBJECTION.
I'D ALSO ASK THE
CHAIR TO ADVISE ME WHEN I'VE
CONSUMED 15 MINUTES.
OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
LEADER, THE MAJORITY LEADER AND
MINORITY LEADER BOTH FOR THEIR
COMMENTS ON THIS REPORT.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO KNOW.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE
REPORTS WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE.
THIS REPORT JUST COVERS WHAT THE
G.A.O. HAS LOOKED AT IN THE LAST
FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.
IT TRULY ONLY COVERS ABOUT A
THIRD OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,
AND I'M TALKING DISCRETIONARY
PROGRAMS, NOT MANDATORY PROGRAMS
LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID.
AND IN HERE IS AT LEAST 100 --
AT LEAST $100 BILLION IN SAVINGS
IF WE WOULD DO OUR JOB.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LARGE
DEBATE OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS
OF FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT FOR
THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR AND WHAT THE
FUNDING'S GOING TO BE LIKE IN
THE NEXT YEAR.
IF I WAS SITTING AT HOME, A
REGULAR AMERICAN LOOKING AT US
AND HAVING READ THIS REPORT, THE
QUESTION I'D ASK IS WHY IS THERE
GOING TO BE ANY DEBATE AT ALL?
THE G.A.O. HAS GIVEN US A ROAD
MAP.
THEY'VE SAID HERE'S WHERE $100
BILLION -- THOSE ARE MY NUMBERS,
NOT THEIRS -- OF SAVINGS THAT
CAN COME ON AN ANNUALIZED BASIS
ON THE FIRST THIRD OF THE
DISCRETIONARY SIDE OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THE DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS OF
THIS GOVERNMENT ARE 24% GREATER
NOW THAN THEY WERE TWO YEARS
AGO.
AND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE
BEFORE US AS A NATION IS IF OUR
GREATER -- IS A FAR GREATER
CHALLENGE THAN ANYTHING WE'VE
EVER FACED.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GIGANTIC
BUT WHEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, WHO IS
HEAD OF ALL OUR MILITARY,
REPORTING TO OUR CIVILIAN
OFFICIALS, SAYS THE GREATEST
THREAT TO THIS COUNT IS OUR
DEBT, WE OUGHT TO WAKE UP AND
PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
WHEN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, 75%
OF THE AMERICANS ACROSS THIS
LAND WANT THE SIZE OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS
SPENDING REDUCED -- THAT'S
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND
INDEPENDENTS -- WHAT IS LACKING
TODAY IS THE LEADERSHIP TO
DEFINE THE PROBLEM FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN
COME TOGETHER AS A NATION AND
SOLVE THIS GREATEST OF ALL
CHALLENGES BEFORE US.
AND LET ME SPEND A MINUTE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IF WE DON'T SOLVE IT.
YOU HEARD THE MINORITY LEADER,
THE SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY, TALK
ABOUT THE $1.65 TRILLION DEFICIT
THIS YEAR.
TODAY THE UNITED STATES IS
BORROWING MONEY ON AVERAGE
ACROSS EVERYTHING THEY BORROW
FOR ABOUT 2%.
THE HISTORICAL AVERAGE OF WHICH
WE BORROW MONEY IS AROUND 6%.
WE'RE GOING TO ADD OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS, IF WE DON'T CHANGE
THINGS DRASTICALLY -- AND I'M
TALKING DRASTICALLY -- WE'RE
GOING TO ADD ANOTHER $3.5
TRILLION TO THE DEBT TO BRING US
TO ALMOST $18 TRILLION WORTH OF
DEBT.
WELL, IF YOU APPLY OUR
HISTORICAL INTEREST RATES TO THE
DEBT, WHICH WE WILL BE AT IN TWO
OR THREE YEARS.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
OF 6% TO $18 TRILLION, WHAT YOU
GET IS $1,080,000,000,000.
WE SPENT $170 BILLION THIS LAST
YEAR ON INTEREST, AND WE'RE
GOING TO TAKE $1 TRILLION.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT HAPPEN
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THERE'S NO
DISCRETIONARY BUDGET.
THAT MEANS THERE'S NO MONEY FOR
THE MILITARY.
THERE'S NO MONEY FOR EDUCATION.
THERE'S NO MONEY FOR ALL THE
PROGRAMS OTHER THAN MEDICARE,
MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, OUR ABILITY
TO BORROW MONEY IN THE
INTERNATIONAL MARKET WILL
MARKEDLY DECLINE, AND THE
LIKELIHOOD IS THAT INTEREST
RATES WILL GO EVEN HIGHER THAN
OUR HISTORICAL AVERAGE OF 6%.
SO THE TIME TO CALL US TOGETHER,
THE TIME FOR SHARED SACRIFICE,
NOT FOR SACRIFICE'S SAKE, BUT
THAT WE CAN RESTORE THE HOPE OF
PROSPERITY FOR OUR NATION IS
NOW.
IT'S NOT TOMORROW.
IT'S NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SMALL BILL
ON THE FLOOR THAT OVER THE NEXT
TWO WEEKS WILL ELIMINATE $4
BILLION BY ADVANCING
TERMINATIONS OF PROGRAMS THAT
BOTH PRESIDENT BUSH AND
PRESIDENT OBAMA WANT TO
TERMINATE AND ELIMINATE EARMARKS
THAT ARE INAPPROPRIATE.
$4 BILLION OVER TWO WEEKS.
OUR INTEREST COSTS TODAY AND
WHAT WE'RE BORROWING IS $3
BILLION A DAY WAS WHAT WE'RE
BORROWING THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
EVERY DAY WE GO INTO THE MARKETS
AND BORROW $3 BILLION.
SO OVER THESE TWO WEEKS -- 14
DAYS, 14 DAYS -- WE'RE GOING TO
BORROW $42 BILLION, AND WE'RE
ONLY GOING TO SAVE $4 BILLION.
YOU SEE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
PROBLEM?
IT'S, WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO GO
IN THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.
AND SO THE BILL THAT THE HOUSE
SENT US IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, BUT FAR LESS THAN
WHAT IS NEEDED BASED ON THE
US.
EVERY DOLLAR THIS GOVERNMENT
SPENDS, WE BORROW 40 CENTS OF
IT.
40 CENTS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK AS A
20-YEAR-OLD INDIVIDUAL OUT THERE
IS GOING TO SEE 20 YEARS FROM
NOW AS A CONSEQUENCE OF US GOING
DOWN THE DRAIN IN TERMS OF THE
INTEREST COSTS AND THE DEBT?
NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF
INVENTION.
WE HAVE A NEED NOW, AS A NATION
-- NOT AS REPUBLICANS,
DEMOCRATS, OR INDEPENDENTS, AS A
NATION TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE
THE DECISIONS THAT WILL PUT US
ON A COURSE THAT GUARANTEES A
FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR
GRANDKIDS.
AND THE EASIEST WAY I KNOW RIGHT
NOW TO TAKE SOME OF THE STING
OUT OF THE PAROCHIALISM AND THE
PARTISANSHIP IS FOR EVERY MEMBER
OF THIS BODY AND THE HOUSE, THAT
WE BECOME ACUTELY AWARE OF WHAT
THIS REPORT SAYS.
THE MINORITY LEADER LIST ADD FEW
THROUGH.
JUST, SITTING AT HOME OR SITTING
IN YOUR OFFICE, THINK ABOUT IF
ANY OF THIS MAKES SENSE.
82 SEPARATE TEACHER TRAINING
PROGRAMS RUN BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
82?
82 SEPARATE SETS OF
BUREAUCRACIES, SETS OF FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES?
NONE OF THESE TEACHER PROGRAMS,
BY THE WAY -- TRAINING PROGRAMS
HAVE A METRIC ON THEM TO
SUCCESSFUL.
SO WHEN WE'RE NOT SUCCESSFUL --
AND I WOULD QUESTION WHETHER
IT'S EVEN A ROLE FOR THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO BE INVOLVED IN
TEACHER TRAINING; I CAN'T FIND
IT IN THE CONSTITUTION; THOMAS
JEFFERSON COULDN'T FIND IT IN
THE CONSTITUTION; ROOSEVELT
COULDN'T FIND IT IN THE
CONSTITUTION; JOHNSON COULDN'T
FIND IT IN THE CONSTITUTION; ALL
SAID SO; WE'VE QUOTED THAT STATE
THAT.
YET WE HAVE 82 PROGRAMS, NONE OF
WHICH WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE WORKING?
WE HAVE 47 JOB-TRAINING
44 OF WHICH OVERLAP ONE ANOTHER,
SOME TO THE DEGREE OF 100%, SOME
TO THE DEGREE OF 60%.
WE SPEND $18 BILLION A YEAR ON
IT, A AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAS A
MEASUREMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT IT
IS EFFECTIVE.
WE HAVE A GREAT NEED IN OUR
COUNTRY TODAY TO RETRAIN PEOPLE
TO AVAILABLE JOBS.
YET WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA
WHETHER THESE ARE WORKING.
AND IF YOU GO OUT AND TRY TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THROUGH
THESE PROGRAMS, YOU NEED ANOTHER
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO HELP YOU
FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THROUGH
THEM.
WE HAVE 20 OFFICES WITH PROGRAMS
FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE.
20 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL -- AGAIN, IF YOU
READ THE CONSTITUTION AND THE
ENUMERATED PORKS YOU FIND REAL
DIFFICULTY -- AND THE ENUMERATED
POWERS, YOU FIND REAL DIFFICULTY
DETERMINING WHETHER THAT IS A
STATE.
HOW ABOUT ONE THAT WORKS, IF IN
FACT IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
WE RUN 80 SEPARATE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, 80 OF
THEM.
THERE'S 80 DIFFERENT FEDERAL
PROGRAMS IN FOUR DIFFERENT
CABINET AGENCIES.
WE SPEND $6.5 BILLION A YEAR AND
WHAT THE G.A.O. SAYS, YOU CAN'T
SAY WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANY
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
COME OUT OF THE $6.5 BILLION.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
SPENDS $58 BILLION ON 100
SEPARATE PROGRAMS RUN BY FIVE
DIFFERENT AGENCIES WITH 6,000
EMPLOYEES, WITH NO IDEA OF
WHETHER THAT'S THE MOST
IT.
BECAUSE NOBODY HAS EVER PUT A
METRIC ON IT.
WE HAVE 30 SEPARATE FOOD
PROGRAMS ON FOOD SAFETY RUN BY
15 DIFFERENT FEDERAL AGENCIES,
AND WE JUST ADD A A WHOLE BUNCH
MORE -- ADDED A WHOLE BUNCH MORE
WITH THE LAST FOOD SAFETY BILL,
NONE OF WHICH HAD A METRIC ON
IT, NONE OF WHICH PERFECTED THE
FOOD SAFETY IN TERMS OF
INTERSTATE TRANSFER -- TRANSPORT
IS UNDOUBTEDLY A FEDERAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT HOW ABOUT AN EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THAT?
HOW ABOUT ONE AGENCY IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR FOOD SAFETY
INSTEAD OF 15.
WE HAVE 18 DOMESTIC FOOD AND
NUTRITION PROGRAMS.
WE SPEND $62.5 BILLION, 11 OF
WHICH WE HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER OR
NOT THEY'RE PERFORMING
EFFECTIVELY.
THE FIRST QUESTION YOU MIGHT ASK
IS HOW IN THE WORLD DID WE GET
ALL THESE PROGRAMS?
WE GOT ALL THESE PROGRAMS
BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAW A NEED AND
THOUGHT THEY WOULD SOLVE THAT
NEED.
AND THEY DID SO WITHOUT THE
BENEFIT OF ONE OF THE NUMBER-ONE
OBLIGATIONS OF CONGRESS, AND
THAT'S TO OVERSIGHT THE
WE HAVE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS BY
THOSE WHO FAVOR THE EARMARKING
PROCESS THAT IF WE DON'T EARMARK
IT, THEN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES
WILL SPEND THE MONEY.
WE WILL, THEY FORGET ONE LITTLE
CONGRESS.
WE HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER TO
OVERSIGHT EVERY BRANCH OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF
THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND THEIR
EFFICIENCY.
AND YET WE HAVEN'T DONE IT.
THE CONGRESS HASN'T DONE IT.
WHEN IT'S RUN BY REPUBLICANS IT
WASN'T DONE.
WHEN IT'S RUN BY DEMOCRATS, IT'S
NOT DONE.
IT IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE.
IT'S ABSOLUTE LAZINESS ON OUR
PART BECAUSE IT IS FAR EASIER TO
WRITE A NEW BILL THAT SOLVES THE
SAME PROBLEM THAT 80-SOME OTHER
PROGRAMS DO.
AND SO CONSEQUENTLY WE ANSWER
THE CALL, THE HUMANITARIAN,
PASSIONATE CALL TO FIX IS BUT
WE'VE DONE IT BY TREATING
SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN THE
DISEASE.
WE HAVE A REAL DISEASE IN OUR
COUNTRY TODAY, AND THE DISEASE
IS A CANCER THAT WILL TAKE AWAY
OUR FREEDOM.
AND IF YOU LOOK BACK ON HISTORY,
ALL REPUBLICS HAVE FALLEN.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF A REPUBLIC IS
206 YEARS.
AND HOW DID THEY FAIL?
WHAT CAUSED THEM TO FAIL?
IF YOU READ THE HISTORY BOOKS
AND LOOK AT ALL OF THEM, WHAT
YOU FIND IS EVEN THOUGH THEY
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVERRUN BY AN
ENEMY, THE KEY FACTOR THAT
CAUSED THEM TO FAIL WAS FISCAL
EVERY TIME.
THEY LIVED BEYOND THEIR MEANS.
LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO US
IN THE WORLD TODAY.
THE SCOPE OF OUR POWER
MILITARILY IS BEING LIMITED BY
OUR ECONOMIC POWER BECAUSE WE
ARE EXTREMELY FAR IN DEBT.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE LEAD
ECONOMISTS THAT LOOK AT OUR
ECONOMY, CAR MEN RHINE HART,
WHAT TELL SUCCESS THAT OUR DEBT
RIGHT NOW, NOT WHAT'S COMING
THIS YEAR BUT RIGHT NOW WITH THE
INTEREST COSTS THAT WE HAVE
TODAY, IS COSTING US 1% OF
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO GROW AT
ABOUT 3.5% THIS YEAR WHICH MEANS
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS DERKTS
WE'D BE GROWING AT 4.5%.
THAT MEANS A MILLION MORE PEOPLE
WOULD HAVE GREAT-PAYING JOBS
THIS YEAR IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS
DEBT.
SO THERE'S A CLARION CALL OUT
THERE THAT'S COMING FROM
AMERICA, NOT INSIDE WASHINGTON:
FIX THE REAL PROBLEM.
FIX THE REAL PROBLEM.
AS A PHYSICIAN, WHAT I KNOW IS
THIS:
IF I TREAT SYMPTOMS OF A DISEASE
AND NOT TREAT THE REAL DISEASE,
WHAT I DO IS ULTIMATELY MAKE THE
DISEASE MUCH WORSE.
I COVER UP THE SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, AND THE
DISEASE WE HAVE IS THE DISEASE
OF NOT RECOGNIZING THE VERY
CRITICAL NATURE THAT YOU CANNOT
NEVER -- YOU NEVER CAN LIVE
WITHOUT YOUR -- ABOVE AND BEYOND
YOUR MEANS WITHOUT ULTIMATELY
PAYING A GREATER PRICE.
YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND MOST
OF THE STATE GOVERNMENTS AND
EVERY FAMILY IS, WHEN YOU'VE
MASMED OUT THE CREDIT CARD --
WHEN YOU'VE MAXED OUT THE CREDIT
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANOTHER
CREDIT CARD TO GIVE YOU MORE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER
START PAYING OR YOU'RE GOING TO
DEFAULT ON IT.
THE QUESTION COMES, IS WILL WE
HONOR OUR TRUE COMMITMENTS?
WILL WE MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS
THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PUT US ON A
PATH FOR RENEWED PROSPERITY?
WILL WE TAKE REAL INFORMATION
WHICH I'VE OFFERED 70 AMENDMENTS
FROM THIS OVER THE PAST SIX
YEARS WHICH HAVE BEEN VOTED
DOWN, AND WILL WE NOW START
PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE
ULTIMATELY IF WE DON'T MAKE
DECISIONS TODAY THAT WILL
CONTROL AND SET US ON A PATH TO
PROSPERITY, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN
A POSITION WHERE OUR DEBT
HOLDERS WILL MAKE OUR DECISIONS
FOR US.
NAYS WHEN LIBERTY DECLINE --
THAT'S WHEN LIBERTY DECLINES.
THAT'S WHEN AMERICA
EXCEPTIONALISM DIES.
THAT'S WHEN OUR DESTINY IS TAKEN
FROM OUR HAND.
IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY.
AND SO I WOULD AGAIN CALL ON THE
PRESIDENT TO LEAD THIS NATION,
TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM, THE VERY
REAL THREAT TO OUR FREEDOM THAT
IS, AND TO COME FORWARD, PULL US
TOGETHER, AND LET'S SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM, WITH EVERYBODY
RECOGNIZING -- EVERYONE IS GOING
TO SACRIFICE.
BUT THE SACRIFICE WILL CREATE A
FUTURE BENEFIT THAT WILL BE
REWARDED IN THE LIVES OF OUR
CHILDREN AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
I ASK CONSENT TO
DISPENSE WITH THE QUORUM CALL.
OBJECTION.
I SEEK RECOGNITION.
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
SCIRK KIRK THANK YOU.
I RISE TO SUPPORT THIS --
THANK YOU.
RISE TO SUPPORT THIS CONTINUING
THE SENATE IS SET TO PASS A
SHORT-TERM IF I UNDERSTANDING
BILL WHILE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
-- FUNDING BILL WHILE
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE ON A
REST OF THE YEAR.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS PRESENTED
WITH US A REQUEST ALSO TO FUND
THE GOVERNMENT NEXT YEAR, AND IS
EXPECTED TO ASK FOR AN INCREASE
IN THE FEDERAL DEBT CEILING.
NOW, THIS LEGISLATION CUTS ABOUT
$4 BILLION.
BUT UP AGAINST OUR ANNUAL
DEFICIT OR THE TOTAL DEBT, IT IS
BUT A MICRODROP IN THE BUDGET.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ON
TRACK TO SPEND ABOUT $3.7
TRILLION THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHILE
TAKING IN ONLY $2.2 TRILLION IN
REVENUE.
IF WE COMPARED THIS TO A
MIDDLE-CLASS EXAMPLE IT WOULD BE
AS IF SOMEONE WAS SPENDING
$37,000 A YEAR WITH AN INCOME OF
ONLY $22,000.
REPLACE THOUSAND FOR TRILLION,
AND YOU GET A GOOD IDEA OF HOW
FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME.
WE HAVE A $14 TRILLION DEBT.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW NOW, WE ARE
BORROWING 40 CENTS OF EVERY
DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND.
CLEARLY THERE IS A GROWING
DANGER IN THE COUNTRY TO
TREMENDOUS DEBT AND RUNAWAY
AND IT'S THIS RESOLUTION THAT
WILL HELP IN A VERY SMALL WAY
PUT US ON A BETTER TRACK.
I ENCOURAGE US TO USE A
MULTIPRONGED APPROACH AS WE MOVE
WE NEED TO REVERSE THE CURRENT
SPENDING TREND OF THE CONGRESS.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS LONG-TERM
OBLIGATIONS AND PUT STATUTORY
BACK STOPS INTO PLACE TO MAKE
SURE IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT
FOR FUTURE CONGRESSES TO DO WHAT
PAST CONGRESSES HAVE DONE.
AS A VERY NEW MEMBER OF THE
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE,
I'LL BE ASKING FEDERAL AGENCIES
TO IDENTIFY FURTHER PROGRAMS AND
WAYS TO REDUCE FEDERAL SPENDING.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ON
THE RIGHT TRACK IN SEVERAL KEY
THEY HAVE PROPOSED TO CUT OR
TERMINATE ALMOST 150
DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS THAT
WOULD SAVE ABOUT $21 BILLION.
AND DEFENSE PROGRAMS THAT WOULD
SAVE ABOUT $25 BILLION.
BUT THAT SAVINGS SHOULD BE PUT
TO REDUCING OUR TOTAL NEED TO
BORROW AND NOT PUMPED BACK INTO
ADDITIONAL SPENDING BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE NEED TO
INCORPORATE WHAT WE JUST LEARNED
FROM THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE ABOUT INEFFICIENT AND DUE
POLITIC TIP AREAS OF THE FEDERAL
BUDGET, G.A.O.'S CONSOLIDATION
AND ELIMINATING PROGRAMS SHOULD
BE FULLY REVIEWED AND IN MANY
CASES IMPLEMENTED FOR NEXT
YEAR'S BUDGET.
SECRETARY TREASURY GEITHNER WILL
ASK THE CONGRESS TO INCREASE THE
ALLOWABLE FEDERAL DEBT A FOURTH
TIME FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IN MY JUDGMENT, CONGRESS SHOULD
SAY NO UNLESS SUCH AN INCREASE
IS COUPLED WITH NEW AND DRAMATIC
ANTISPENDING REFORMS THAT WOULD
MAKE ANY FUTURE ADDITIONS TO OUR
DEBT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.
WHILE DEFAULTING ON -- NOT AN
CONGRESS MUST TIE FUTURE DEBT
LIMIT EXTENSION TO REFORMS THAT
PRODUCE MUCH SMALLER AND SMARTER
AS INDIANA'S GOVERNOR DANIELS
HAS SAID, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW
MISS.
WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
YIELD BACK AND WOULD SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
WE FACE AS A NATION SOME OF THE
MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS FACED
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
TWO OF THE MAJOR ISSUES THAT
WE'RE FACING IS THE COLLAPSE OF
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND
SIMULTANEOUSLY WHILE POVERTY
INCREASES AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
IN THIS COUNTRY DISAPPEARS, WE
ALSO FIND OURSELVES WITH A $14
TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT AND A
$1.6 TRILLION DEFICIT.
AND AT THIS MOMENTOUS MOMENT IN
AMERICAN HISTORY, THE QUESTION
ARISES AS TO HOW WE IN FACT WILL
DEAL WITH THE DEFICIT.
WILL WE DEAL WITH IT IN A WAY
THAT IS FAIR AND JUST?
OR WILL WE, AT A TIME WHEN THE
GAP BETWEEN THE VERY, VERY
WEALTHY AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS
GROWING WIDER, WILL WE IN FACT
TRY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE
BACK, ON THE BACKS OF THE MIDDLE
CLASS, ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR,
ON THE BACKS OF THE ELDERLY, THE
SICK, THE CHILDREN?
THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT WE
HAVE GOT TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW.
YES, THE DEFICIT IS A SERIOUS
PROBLEM.
YES, WE HAVE GOT TO GO FORWARD
IN DEFICIT REDUCTION.
BUT, NO, IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR
RECESSION, IT IS MORALLY WRONG
AND ECONOMICALLY BAD POLICY TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS
OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY
HURTING.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, I FIND IT
INTERESTING THAT SOME OF THE
LOUDEST VOICES WHO COME BEFORE
US EVERY DAY TALKING ABOUT THE
SERIOUS PROBLEM OF THE DEFICIT
ARE PRECISELY THOSE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE VOTED TIME AFTER TIME AFTER
TIME TO RAISE THE DEFICIT, RAISE
THE NATIONAL DEBT, NOW THEY COME
FORWARD AND SAY, WE HAVE GOT TO
CUT PROGRAMS FOR THE ELDERLY,
THE POOR, THE CHILDREN IN ORDER
TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
I SUPPOSE IT TURNS OUT THAT I
AND A FEW OTHERS ARE THE REAL
DEFICIT HAWKS HERE IN THE
SENATE.
WHEN IT CAME TO THE WAR IN IRAQ,
WHICH WILL END UP COSTING US
SOME $3 TRILLION, I DIDN'T HEAR
A WHOLE LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT
HOW THAT WAR WAS GOING TO BE
PAID FOR.
I VOTED AGAINST THAT WAR.
WHEN IT CAME TO GIVING HUGE TAX
BREAKS TO THE WEST YELT PEOPLE
IN THIS -- TO THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THIS CURNTION I DIDN'T
HEAR MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS SAY,
OH, GEE WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE
IT IS GOING TO DRIVE UP THE
I VOTED AGAINST TAX BREAKS FOR
THE WEALTHICALLY.
WHEN IT CAME TO PASSING AN
UNFUNDED $400 BILLION MEDICARE
PART-D PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM
WRITTEN BY THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES AND THE DRUG
COMPANIES, DIDN'T HEAR MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS SAY ABOUT HOW
OUR KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
I VOTED AGAINST THAT.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU WILL
RECALL THAT AFTER THE CROOKS ON
WALL STREET DROVE THIS NATION
INTO A RECESSION AND THEY NEEDED
A BAILOUT FROM THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, I DIDN'T HEAR TOO MANY
OF MY FRIENDS WHO VOTED FOR THAT
THAT.
IT'S UNPAID FOR.
IT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP THE
DEFICIT AND THE NATIONAL DEBT.
I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.
BUT NOW -- NOW SUDDENLY WE HAVE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE GREAT CONCERNS
ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT AND THE
DEFICIT, AND THEY INTEND TO
BALANCE THAT BUDGET ON THE BACKS
OF WORKING PEOPLE, THE ELDERLY,
THE SICK, THE POOR, THE
AND, AMONG OTHER THINGS, WHICH
IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME, AT A
TIME WHEN APPROXIMATELY 16% OF
OUR PEOPLE TODAY ARE TRULY
UNEMPLOYED, WAY ABOVE THE
OFFICIAL LEVELS, OFFICIAL
NUMBERS, BECAUSE THE OFFICIAL
NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN UP LOOKING
FOR WORK, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE
WORKING PARDON-TIME -- WHO ARE
WORKING PART-TIME WHEN THEY WANT
TO WORK FULL-TIME -- THE
REPUBLICANS COME UP WITH A
DEFICIT-REDUCTION PACKAGE WHICH
WILL COST US SOME 700,000 JOBS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHY IN THE
MIDDLE OF A SEVERE RECESSION
WHEN UNEMPLOYMENT IS SO HIGH YOU
WOULD COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL
THAT COSTS 700,000 JOBS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU WELL KNOW
THAT WE DO AN ABYSMAL JOB IN
THIS COUNTRY IN TERMS OF TAKING
CARE OF OUR CHILDREN.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF
CHILDHOOD POVERTY IN THE
INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD.
WE HAVE A TOTALLY INADEQUATE
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
PROGRAM IN THIS COUNTRY.
HEAD START, TO THE DEGREE THAT
IT IS FUNDED ADEQUATELY, DOES A
GOOD JOB.
BUT IN THE MIDST OF THE CRISIS
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND
CHILD CARE, THE REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL WOULD CUT HEAD START --
HEAD START, ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS IN AMERICA,
GIVING LOW-INCOME KIDS A CHANCE
TO MAYBE GET INTO SCHOOL IN THE
FIRST GRADE, KINDERGARTEN ON PAR
WITH THE OTHER KIDS.
THEMENT TO CUT THAT PROGRAM --
THEY WANT TO CUT FLAM BY 20%
FROM FISCAL YEAR 2010 DEPRIVING
OVER 200,000 LITTLE KIDS THE
OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO RECEIVE
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BUT
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, NUTRITION
BENEFITS FROM THIS IMPORTANT
PROGRAM.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WORKED VERY
HARD TO EXPAND COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS IN AMERICA BECAUSE MAYBE
-- MAYBE -- IT IS A BAD IDEA
THAT 45,000 AMERICANS ARE GOING
TO DIE THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY
DON'T GOAT A DOCTOR.
PICK UP THE PAPERS.
ALL OVER AMERICA TENS AND TENS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BE THROWN OFF OF MEDICAID.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF WOULD YOU
DON'T HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE AND
YOU ARE 40 OR 50 YEARS OF AGE
AND YOU GET SICK.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
YET THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL
WOULD CUT COMMUNITY HEALTH
PATIENTS QUALITY HEALTH CARE.
IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR HEALTH
CARE CRISIS WHEN MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE ARE UNINSURED, 50 MILLION
PEOPLE UNINSURED, PEOPLE BEING
THROWN OFF OF MEDICAID, YOU
DON'T SHUT DOWN COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS AND DENY THEM ACCESS TO
HEALTH CARE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IN VERMONT --
AND I'M SURE IN NEW YORK STATE
-- YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FINDING IT
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO AFFORD
COLLEGE EDUCATION.
THEY'RE COMING OUT OF COLLEGE
DEEMLY IN DEBT, IN SOME CASES
THEY CAN'T GO TO COLLEGE.
WE ARE FALLING BEHIND OTHER
COUNTRIES IN TERMS OF THE
PERCENTAGE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE.
YET THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL
WOULD REDUCE BY 17% THE AVERAGE
PELL GRANT AND 9.4 MILLION
LOW-INCOME COLLEGE STIEWRCHTSES
WOULD LOSE SOME OR -- STUDENTS
WOULD LOSE SOME OR ALL OF THEIR
PELL GRANTS.
AT THIS MOMENT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY WHERE WE'RE INVOLVED IN
AN INTERNATIONALLY GLOBAL
ECONOMY, WE HAVE TO INVEST MORE
IN EDUCATION, MORE IN HIGHER
EDUCATION, NOT LESS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IN THE STATE OF
VERMONT, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES
BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES
VITAL SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF
EMERGENCY FOOD, EMERGENCY
HOUSING, EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WOULD
CUT COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK
GRANT BY $405 MILLION, WHICH
WOULD HARM 20 MILLION LOW-INCOME
PEOPLE, INCLUDING MILLIONS OF
SENIORS.
LASTLY -- NOT LASTLY, THERE IS A
LONG LIST OF THESE CUTS WHICH
MAKES NO SENSE TO ME AT ALL, YOU
ABOUT I WANTED TO MENTION A CUT
OF $1.3 BILLION IN THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.
OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS SAY, WE
WILL, WE'RE NOT CUTTING SOCIAL
SECURITY.
BUT THEY ARE PROPOSING A $1.3
BILLION CUT FOR THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, THE
PROGRAM.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
RIGHT NOW THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A
DISABILITY BENEFITS, HUGE DELAY.
PEOPLE CALLING MY OFFICE ALL OF
THE TIME:
WE CAN'T FIND SOMEBODY TO
PROCESS OUR CLAIMS.
AND THEY WOULD PROPOSE A $1.3
BILLION CUT, WHICH WOULD DELAY
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS TO
AMERICANS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE ISSUE IS
PRETTY CLEAR.
THE TOP 1% IN AMERICA EARNS 23%
OF ALL INCOME, MORE THAN THE
BOTTOM 50%.
THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS
HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION -- A
REDUCTION -- IN THE RATES -- THE
TAX RATES THAT THEY PAY.
AND TODAY AT 16%, THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE
PAYING THE LOWEST TAX RATES THAT
THE RICH HAVE PAID IN MANY, MANY
SO THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED
THE ISSUE IS, DO YOU MOVE
FORWARD TO L BAG THE BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
SOCIAL SECURITY, ON THE BACKS OF
LITTLE CHILDREN WHO NEED HEAD
START, ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE --
SENIORS IN THE STATE OF VERMONT
WHO DEPEND UPON HEATING
DO YOU BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE
BACKS OF THE WEAK, THE
VULNECIALG THE ELDERLY, OR THE
POOR -- THE VULNERABLE, THE
ELDERLY OR THE POOR, OR DO YOU
SAY WHEN WE HAVE AN INCREASING
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION, DO YOU ASK
THE WEALTHY TO START PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES?
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE PRETTY
CLEAR ON THIS.
THEY THINK IT IS WRONG TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THOSE
PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HURTING
LET US ASK THE PEOPLE ON TOP TO
START PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE SO
THAT WE CAN SEE SOME SHARED
SACRIFICE IN THE MIDST OF THIS
RECESSION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: