Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE
YEAS ARE 218, THE NAYS ARE 210.
THE BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS
QUESTION ON SUSPEND THE RULES
AND PASSING H.R. 2213.
2213, A BILL TO
DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF THE
UNITED STATES POST ALPHA SILT
LOCATED AT SERGEANT SERGEANT
VAUGHN POST OFFICE.
WILL
THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND
PASS THE BILL.
SO MANY FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED AND THE
BILL IS PASSED AND THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
I ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
A
SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING ARISEN,
A RECORDED VOTE IS ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A
FIVE-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 420 THE
2/3 BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
NAYS ARE ZERO.
THE RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE
BILL IS PASSED AND WITHOUT
OBJECTION THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, FIVE-MINUTE
VOTING WILL CONTINUE.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS ON
THE QUESTION OF SUSPENDING THE
RULES AND PASSING H R. 789
TITLE.
WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY
H.R. 789, TO A BILL
TO DESIGNATE THE FACILITY OF
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE IN LITTLE FERRY, NEW
JERSEY, AS THE SEDGET MATTHEW
J. FENTON POST OFFICE.
THOSE
IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
PASSED AND THE MOTION TO
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE BILL IS
RECONSIDER IS LAID UPON THE
TABLE.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMEN PLEASE CLEAR
FOR
THE WELL.
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM OHIO SEEK RECOGNITION?
THE HOUSE WILL COME TO ORDER.
REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM OHIO RISE?
TO SPEAK FOR ONE MINUTE AND
REVISE AND EXTEND.
MR. SPEAKER, JUST
TONIGHT, WE PASSED THE DEBT
CEILING VOTE AND IN IT, IT HAD A
CRITICAL FEATURE, THAT REQUIRES
ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR HOUSE, A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
EVERY DAY, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
SIT AT THEIR KITCHEN TABLE
BILLS.
FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY THEIR
BUT BEFORE THEY WRITE THAT CHECK
AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH THEY HAVE
TO SPEND OUT OF THAT CHECKING
ACCOUNT, THEY HAVE TO BALANCE
THAT CHECKING ACCOUNT TO KNOW
HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN IT.
BUT WE DON'T DO THAT.
WE DON'T BALANCE OUR ACCOUNT.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS
IN THERE.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC --
WE JUST SPEND MONEY.
THE
HOUSE IS NOT IN ORDER.
OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR CONVERSATIONS
SCHMIDT SMD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
EXPECTS ACCOUNTABILITY FROM US.
IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT
ACCOUNTABILITY, WE NEED TO DO
WHAT 49 STATES AND THAT IS PASS
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THE FIRST OF THE SERIES OF STEPS
TONIGHT AND IT IS THE SENATE'S
TURN TO PASS THAT AND HAVE BOTH
CHAMBERS PASS IT AND HAVE THE
IT.
MAJORITY OF THE STATES RATIFY
THIS IS WHAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
WANTS.
THEY WANT US TO BALANCE OUR
CHECKBOOK JUST AS WE DO THEIRS.
I YIELD BACK.
ANY
FURTHER REQUESTS FOR ONE-MINUTE
SPEECHES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN
THIS ENTIRE DEBATE.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST 0 YEARS IN THE 1970'S, IF
YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE INCOME
OF THE TOP 1%, IT ACCOUNTED FOR
9% OF REAL INCOME.
TODAY THE TOP 1% ACCOUNTS FOR
25% OF REAL INCOME.
THE TOP 400 WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PAY
A TAX RATE OF 17% WHILE THE
FELLOW IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, IS
PAYING A MUCH HIGHER TAX RATE
AND THE SKY IS FALLING AND THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTS TO MAKE
THESE HUGE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW
TO FIX OUR COUNTRY.
WE NEED THE WEALTHIEST IN OUR
COUNTRY TO BECOME PATRIOTS AND
STEP UP TO BAT AND HELP US SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM.
EVERYONE IS BEING ASKED TO
SACRIFICE, THE MILITARY, THE
MIDDLE CLASS, CHILDREN GOING TO
COLLEGE WITH PELL GRANTS, ALL
BEING ASKED TO SACRIFICE BUT FOR
THE TOP 1% OF THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT IS ABSENT FROM THIS DEBATE
AND IRRESPONSIBLE FOR US TO
CONTINUE THIS PROCESS WITHOUT
ASKING THE WEALTHIEST IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHO
HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO LIVE IN
THIS COUNTRY TO HELP US SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND RISE?
ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE
MINUTE AND ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS EVENING IS
A MOMENT IN HISTORY, VERY -- IN
VERY FEW TIMES THIS HOUSE VOTE
TO ADVANCE AN AMENDMENT TO THE
U.S. CONSTITUTION, BUT WE DID IT
TODAY.
AND THE GENTLELADY FROM OHIO,
SHE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT
AMERICANS TALK ABOUT AT HOME.
IT'S ABOUT BALANCING YOUR
CHECKBOOK.
IT'S ABOUT NOT SPENDING MORE
THAN YOU TAKE IN.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TOO
FEW TAXES HERE IN WASHINGTON, WE
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TOO MUCH
SPENDING.
MR. SPEAKER, WE STILL BORROW 41
CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR AND WE
ARE BORROWING A LOT OF THAT
MONEY FROM THE CHINESE.
WHAT THIS BILL WE PASSED TONIGHT
WILL PUT US ON A TRK TOO PASS A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT WHAT
AMERICANS ARE CALLING FOR.
PERMANENT ACCOUNTABILITY FROM
WASHINGTON.
NO MORE SPENDING TRICKS, NO MORE
BUDGET GIMMICKS, DO WHAT EVERY
AMERICAN FAMILY AND BUSINESS HAS
TO DO, JUST BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD BACKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE CHAIR WOULD REMIVENDE ALL
PERSONS IN THE GALLERY THEY ARE
GUESTS OF THE HOUSE AND ANY
MANIFESTATION OF APPROVAL OR
DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROCEEDINGS
IS IN VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF
THE HOUSE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WASHINGTON RISE?
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
HOUSE HAS ACTED.
NO TIME FOR CELEBRATION.
IT'S NOT OVER YET UNTIL IT
PASSES BOTH HOUSES, THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY IS NOT SAFE.
STANDARD AND POOR AND MOODY'S
ANNOUNCED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON AND TO SEATTLE AND TO
KING COUNTY THAT IF THERE IS A
DEFAULT ON TUESDAY, THESE
INSTITUTIONS IN MY STATE GO ON
THE CREDIT WATCH LIST FOR
DOWNGRADE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED
MONEY FROM THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT AND THERE'S NO
CERTAINTY THAT THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PAY ITS
DEBTS.
THIS IS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER
THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO BE
VIEWED IN THE WORLD AS BEING
RESPONSIBLE AND PAYING THEIR
DEBTS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE FUTURE.
IT'S ABOUT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY
CONTRACTED.
AND THIS HOUSE, LED BY THE
REPUBLICANS, HAS PUT EVERY
STATE, EVERY COUNTY, EVERY CITY,
EVERY UNIVERSITY THAT WRITES
BONDS FOR THEIR FINANCING AT
RISK.
IT'S GOING TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO
PAY MORE IN THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON AND IN EVERY OTHER
STATE BECAUSE OF THIS
FOOLISHNESS.
WE NEED A CLEAN LIFTING OF THE
DEBT LIMIT.
UNDER
THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED POLICY
OF JANUARY 5, 2005, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
GARAMENDI, IS RECOGNIZED AS THE
DESIGNEE OF THE MINORITY LEADER.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I'M GOING TO BE JOINED BY
SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES AND AS
THEY COME TO THE MICROPHONE, LET
ME JUST LAY DOWN SOME OF THE
FACTS.
NOT MORE THAN AN HOUR AGO, THIS
CHAMBER VOTED ON SPEAKER
BOEHNER'S PROPOSAL TO DEAL WITH
THE DEBT LIMIT.
VERY INTERESTING COMMENT THAT HE
MADE PRIOR TO THE SPEECH AND
WHILE I CAN'T QUOTE THEM
PRECISELY, HE DID SAY THAT HIS
WHOLE STRATEGY STARTED WAY BACK
IN JANUARY AND WHEN HE TOLD THE
PRESIDENT HE WAS GOING TO USE
THE DEBT LIMIT AS A WAY OF
GETTING HIS WAY, WELL, WE SAW
WHAT HIS WAY IS AND THAT'S WHAT
WAS VOTED ON TODAY WITHOUT ANY
DEMOCRATS.
SUPPORT AT ALL FROM THE
AND A LOT OF REPUBLICANS SAYING
THAT IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO
GO.
SO WHAT DID HE PROPOSE?
WE HAVE TWO VERY, VERY BASIC
PATHS THAT ARE FACING THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC TODAY.
ONE OF THOSE PATHS IS A PATH
THAT WE VOTED ON, WHICH IS A
PATH TO BASICALLY UNRAVEL MOST
DEAR.
OF THE THINGS THAT AMERICA HOLDS
IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE CAPS
AND THE $2.5 TRILLION REDUCTIONS
THAT ARE IN THAT LEGISLATION, WE
WOULD HAVE TO DECIMATE MEDICARE.
THERE IS NO WAY IT COULD
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES
TO OUR SERVICES AND SIMILARLY
MEDICAID, WHICH 70% OF THAT
HOMES.
MONEY GOES TO SENIORS IN NURSING
THOSE TWO CRITICAL PARTS OF THE
FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN
SOCIETY THAT IS PROVIDING HEALTH
CARE TO OUR SENIORS ARE GOING TO
GET UNRAVELED AS A RESULT OF THE
LEGISLATION THAT PASSED.
SIMILARLY, THERE'S NO WAY TO
MEET THOSE SPENDING REDUCTIONS
SECURITY.
WITHOUT GOING AFTER SOCIAL
THE OTHER PATH IS ONE WE HAVE
SUGGESTED ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE
AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THOSE TWO
TODAY AND THAT IS THE PATH THAT
MAINTAINS THE PILLARS OF THE
SOCIETY OF AMERICA AND EXPRESS
THE VALUE OF OUR COUNTRY AND ONE
THAT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR
CITIZENS, WHETHER THEY ARE AGED,
SENIORS, WHO MAY NEED MEDICAL
CARE AND WHO MAY NEED SOCIAL
SECURITY AND MEDICARE OR YOUNG
CHILDREN AND THOSE IN BETWEEN
THAT NEED JOBS.
THAT'S THE PATH THAT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE OFFERED IN THE
BUDGET THAT WE HAVE PUT FORTH ON
THIS FLOOR AND WE VOTED ON.
THAT WAS OUR RECOMMENDATION ON
HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
IT FAILED WITHOUT ANY REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT, BUT IT SPOKE TO THE
VALUES OF OUR NATION THAT WE
HAVE HELD DEAR FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH MY
COLLEAGUE FROM OREGON.
PETER, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
REMARKS WITH US THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR
HELPING TO ORGANIZE THIS
RESPONSE.
WE DO HAVE ONE REAL AND
PREVAILING CRISIS IN AMERICA
THAT HAS BEEN WITH US NOW SINCE
2008 AND THAT'S THE JOBS CRISIS.
THERE ARE PROBABLY 20 MILLION
AMERICANS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED,
UNDEREMPLOYED IN THIS COUNTRY
WHEN YOU GET TO THE REAL
NUMBERS.
NOW A CREDIBLE ECONOMIST SAY IF
YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO PUT
THOSE PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND
GET UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN FROM 9.6
TO 4.5%, THAT WOULD SOLVE A
CRISIS.
QUARTER OF THIS DEFICIT AND DEBT
THAT WOULD BE $2.5 TRILLION OVER
10 YEARS.
THE REPUBLICANS HERE HAVE
PROPOSED $2.7 TRILLION OF CUTS
OVER 10 YEARS.
SO IF WE COULD PUT PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK, WE WOULD HAVE ABOUT THE
SAME SAVINGS.
THEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE GOT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK AND HEALED THE
ECONOMY A BIT, ALL WE HAVE TO DO
AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER
THIS WEEK IS NOTHING.
LET THE BUSH TAX CUTS EXPIRE.
GO BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF
BILL CLINTON, $3.8%
UNEMPLOYMENT, PAYING DOWN DEBT,
THE RICH PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE
BECAUSE THOSE JOB CREATORS WERE
PAYING SOME TAXES.
OH MY GOD, BILLIONAIRES REQUIRED
JANITORS.
TO PAY TAXES TO A RATE EQUAL TO
OH, WHAT A DISASTER.
THEY ARE NOT ONLY CUTTING
PROGRAMS AND IGNORING THE JOBS
CRISIS BUT MAKING THE JOBS
CRISIS WORK.
LAST WEEK, THEY ENDED THE
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
AND SECURITY.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR SAFETY
THEY STOPPED COLLECTING THE TAX.
REPUBLICANS STOPPED COLLECTING
THE TAX.
IT'S A USER-PAID-FOR SYSTEM ON
AIRLINE TICKETS.
MOST AIRLINES SEE THAT IS A
WINDFALL.
IF WE PASS IT THROUGH THE
CONSUMERS, SORRY, SUCKERS, THEY
KEEP THE MONEY AND YOU PAY THE
SAME.
THE OTHER THING IS WELL, IF WE
GET RID OF TAXES, WE'LL CREATE
JOBS.
THAT'S HOW YOU CREATE JOBS BY
CUTTING TAXES.
INTERESTING.
WE HAVE CUT TAXES ON THE AIRLINE
INDUSTRY BY $30 MILLION A DAY,
THAT'S WELL OVER -- THAT'S A LOT
OF MONEY ON A YEAR'S BASIS OVER
$1 BILLION AND WE HAVE LOST
94,000 JOBS.
PEOPLE IN THE F.A.A. MAKE SURE
THAT TAXPAYERS GET A FAIR DOLLAR
AND 90,000 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS
ACROSS AMERICA AND GUESS WHAT,
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW
IT YET, BUT THIS COULD WELL BE
TO EITHER OPENING THE DOOR TO
TERRORIST ATTACKS BECAUSE WE
DON'T DO THE SECURITY PROGRAMS
OR CAUSING RUNWAY INCURSION
BECAUSE WE DON'T FINISH IT
BEFORE THE BAD WEATHER IN THE
WINTER OR DON'T GET MY LANDING
INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PLANE GOES
AWRY, BUT WE ARE GIVING
CORPORATIONS THE MONEY AND DON'T
WORRY.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON JOBS.
THERE IS NOTHING THEY HAVE BEEN
DOING HERE FOR THE LAST SIX
MONTHS, EIGHT MONTHS, SEVEN
MONTHS, SEEMS LIKE 10 YEARS,
THAT HAS CREATED A SINGLE JOB.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE COST US JOBS
AND COSTING JOBS AND NOW THEY
WANT TO CUT ALL INVESTMENTS IN
TRANSPORTATION BY 35%.
THAT'S AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF 6
MURKS,000 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS
AND WON'T DEAL WITH THE BRIDGES
ON THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM
OR HALF OF THE PAVEMENT ON THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM THAT
NEEDS REDOING OR THE $70 BILLION
BACKLOG FOR EQUIPMENT FOR
TRANSIT SYSTEMS LIKE THE
NATION'S CAPITAL AND PEOPLE ARE
BEING KILLED, WE WON'T DEAL WITH
ANY OF THAT AND WON'T PEOPLE TO
WORK TO BUILD NEW TRANSIT
SYSTEMS, NEW BRIDGES.
REPUBLICANS SAY, WE'LL JUST GIVE
THE CORPORATIONS THE MONEY AND
THE RICH PEOPLE THE MONEY AND
THEY'LL TRICKLE DOWN ON THE REST
OF US.
WELL, WE HAVE BEEN TRICKLED DOWN
FOR WAY TOO LONG AND TIME FOR
NEW PRIORITIES AND I WOULD
REJECT THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA.
H GARAMENDI: THANK YOU, MR.
DEFAZIO.
THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE JUST
DISMANTLING TIME AFTER TIME.
I'D LIKE TO TURN TO
CONGRESSWOMAN BETTY SUTTON, OUR
COLLEAGUE FROM THE STATE OF
OHIO, WHO HAS SEEN THE EFFECT
OF THE CUTS AND WHAT THEY MEAN
IN HER DISTRICT.
SO MS. SUTTON IF YOU CARE TO
SHARE WITH US YOUR THOUGHTS.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
HE'S BEEN A STALWART.
BOY, DO WE NEED LEADERSHIP AT
THIS POINT.
HERE WE ARE, IT'S BEEN 29
WEEKS, MORE THAN 200 DAYS SINCE
THE REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER THE
MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE AND NOT
ONLY HAVE THEY NOT DONE
ANYTHING TO CREATE JOBS OR HELP
WORKING FAMILIES, HERE WE ARE
TODAY, LOOKING AT WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE.
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
AFTER WALKING AWAY FROM THE
TABLE FIVE TIMES IN
NEGOTIATIONS TO RESTORE OUR
NEIGH'S FISCAL HOUSE, THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS HAVE PASSED A BILL
TODAY TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE
ROAD SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE
THIS DEBATE OVER AGAIN IN A
MATTER OF MONTHS.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A
POLITICAL DODGE.
REPUBLICANS COULD NOT AGREE ON
A LONG-TERM SOLUTION WITHIN
THEIR OWN RANKS, SO THEY JUST
DECIDED TO TAKE A VOTE ON A
BILL THAT KICKS THE CAN DOWN
THE ROAD, THAT THEY KNOW THERE
IS NOT SUPPORT FOR AND IT'S A
PART OF THIS PATTERN.
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING IN
THIS OVER 200 DAYS?
THEY HAVE AN AGENDA THAT AIMS
TO END MEDICARE THAT GUTS
MEDICAID, THAT HAS THREATENED
SOCIAL SECURITY, AND WHILE AT
THE SAME TIME -- THEY'VE EVEN
TARGETED ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT
BULBS.
THEY'VE USED TIME IN THIS BODY
TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS,
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FIGHTING
TO PRESERVE TAX BREAKERS IN
WEALTHY, FOR BIG OIL, AND FOR
COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS
OVERSEAS.
WHEN AT THIS TIME, WE KNOW THAT
WE HAVE A JOBS DEFICIT IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT
THAT WE CAN DO THAN TO, OF
COURSE, OF COURSE MAKE SURE
THAT AMERICA PAYS THEIR BILLS,
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY
FACING OUR NATION IS TO GET
AMERICA BACK TO WORK BECAUSE WE
CAN'T SOLVE THAT LONG-TERM
DEFICIT PROBLEM WITHOUT PEOPLE
HAVING JOBS.
AND FRANKLY, THE AMERICAN DREAM
DOESN'T LIVE IF WE DON'T HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES OUT
THERE TO GO TO WORK AND TAKE
CARE OF THOSE THAT THEY LOVE,
TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE.
THAT'S ANOTHER THING THE
REPUBLICAN AGENDA HAS TARGETED.
TO PUT COLLEGE OUT OF REACH
AGAIN OF SO MANY MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE WITH THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, MY
OTHER COLLEAGUE -- AND MY OTHER
COLLEAGUES, TO MAKE SURE WE
EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
IT.
THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GET
PEOPLE WHO KNOW THAT THE NUMBER
ONE PRIORITY IS TO PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
TO FOCUS ON BUILDING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
TO STRENGTHENING U.S.
MANUFACTURING BECAUSE WE KNOW
THAT WE HAVE TO BE A COUNTRY
THAT MAKES THINGS, THAT MAKES
THINGS MADE OUT OF AMERICAN
IRON AND STEEL AND MANUFACTURED
GOODS.
THAT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A
MANUFACTURING JOB, THERE IS A
RIPPLE EFFECT OF FOUR MORE JOBS
OR IF IT'S IN THE AUTO
INDUSTRY, IT'S 10 MORE JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT IF WE ARE NOT A
COUNTRY THAT MANUFACTURES
THINGS, THEN WE ARE AT THE
MERCY OF THOSE WHO DO.
IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO
STAND UP, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
FOCUS THE AGENDA.
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS
POLITICAL THEATER.
DEAL WITH GETTING THE DEBT
CEILING ISSUE DEALT WITH FOR
THE LONG-TERM.
NOT FOR SIX MONTHS.
NOT FOR SIX MONTHS AND BE RIGHT
BACK AT THIS AGAIN, LEAVING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO WONDER,
SENIORS TO WONDER WHETHER
THEY'RE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY
NEED IN THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY
CHECKS.
VETERANS TO WONDER WHETHER
NEED.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET WHAT THEY
WE REALLY, REALLY KNOW THAT THE
PRIORITY HAS TO BE ON JOBS AND
WE IMPLORE OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES TO JOIN US.
200 DAYS IS TOO LONG.
200 DAYS IS MORE THAN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE
AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT I AM SO
HONORED TO SERVE CAN TAKE.
WE MUST FOCUS ON GETTING PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK.
IT IS ABOUT
JOBS.
THERE ARE VERY FEW ECONOMISTS
THAT SUPPORT WHAT THE
REPUBLICANS PUT TOGETHER TODAY.
MOST ECONOMISTS SAY THE ONLY
WAY TO GET THE NATION BACK TO A
BALANCED BUDGET IS WITH FULL
EMPLOYMENT, GETTING PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK, AND THAT IS THE MAKE
IT IN AMERICA AGENDA.
LET'S TURN TO MR. PERLMUTTER
FROM THE GREAT STATE OF
COLORADO, HE HAS SOME CONCEPTS
AN IDEAS TO SHARE WITH US.
I THANK MY
FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA AND THE
GENTLELADY FROM OHIO.
AS THEY SAY, THE BEST WAY TO
PAY THE DEBT THIS NATION HAS
INCURRED IS FOR PEOPLE TO WORK.
ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT
REVENUE COMING IN AN YOU DON'T
HAVE TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF
MEDICAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY
COBRA AND ALL THESE OTHER
THINGS, YOU HAVE REVENUE COMING
IN AND LESS EXPENSE GOING OUT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THIS
NATION IS THAT IT'S ALWAYS
PROVIDED TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO
REALLY ARE PREPARED TO WORK,
WHO ARE REPAIR -- PREPARED TO
PLAY BY THE RULES, WHO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIVES
AND THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS, A CHANCE TO GET AHEAD.
THAT'S WHAT AMERICA HAS MEANT
TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS AND
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
OUR HISTORY.
ONE OF THE REASONS THIS COUNTRY
WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT KIND
OF A SETTING FOR ALL OF US IS
BECAUSE 235 YEARS AGO OR SO,
THIS NATION WENT THROUGH A WAR,
AND AFTER THAT WAR, THE STATES
BANDED TOGETHER AND SAID, YOU
KNOW WHAT, WE AS A COUNTRY WILL
PAY THE DEBTS OF OUR
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
AND THIS YOUNG NATION PAID ITS
DEBTS AND BECAME A STRONG
NATION OVERNIGHT BECAUSE IT
PAID ITS BILLS.
AND SO FOR 235 YEARS NOW, WE'VE
BEEN PAYING OUR BILLS.
YOU BET.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD THE
STRONGEST CREDIT, THE FULL
FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA FOR TWO
CENTURIES.
MY FRIENDS ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE OF THE AISLE FOR THE LAST
THREE MONTHS OR MORE HAVE BEEN
PUTTING THAT CREDIT AT RISK.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THERE WAS A
REAL REASON FOR THEM TO DO
THAT, BUT THERE'S NO REASON.
WHEN YOU'VE INCURRED A BILL
URIC PAY THAT BILL.
YOU DON'T SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY THE BILL
UNLESS SOME THINGS HAPPEN IN
THE FUTURE.
YOU PAY THE BILL AND TEAL WITH
THE FUTURE SEPARATELY.
BUT NOT IN THIS CONGRESS.
NOT WITH THIS REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP.
THEY TIE IT ALL TOGETHER AND
SAID IF WE DON'T GET OUR WAY,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY OUR
BILLS.
BALONEY.
THAT ISN'T HOW IT WORKS.
WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IS COME
TOGETHER, THE PRESIDENT HAS
PROPOSED A BALANCED APPROACH TO
GETTING THIS COUNTRY'S FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER.
LET'S NOT FORGET HOW WE GOT
HERE.
10 YEARS AGO, WE HAD A SURPLUS.
A SURPLUS.
REVENUES EXCEEDED EXPENSES.
SO IN THESE LAST 10 YEAR WE HAD
TWO BIG TAX CUTS.
THAT'S A COUPLE TRILLION
DOLLARS UNDER GEORGE BUSH.
A COUPLE OF BIG WARS.
WHICH INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY
BEING PATRIOTIC AND REALLY
ASSIST THE COUNTRY, WE BORROW
AND DO IT ON A CREDIT CARD.
THAT'S A COUPLE TRILLION
DOLLARS.
STREET.
THEN WE HAVE A CRASH ON WALL
ANOTHER $2 TRILLION OR $3
TRILLION.
THAT'S WHERE THE DEBT CAME
FROM.
I COULD LAY THE BLAME AT THE
FEET OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION,
BUT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND
WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH IT.
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE IN A
BALANCED WAY.
BOTH THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE
LEDGER AND THE EXPENSE SIDE OF
THE LEDGER.
IF OUR GOAL IS TO PAY DOWN THE
DEBT, YOU NEED MORE REVENUE AND
YOU NEED LESS EXPENSE.
IT'S BOTH SIDES.
YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, WE'RE GOING
TO CUT, CUT, CUT.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF
MEDICARE, WE'RE GOING TO
PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY,
WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
YOU'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH THE
EXPENSES AND WE KNOW THAT.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE REVENUE
AND IN THIS INSTANCE, THE
REPUBLICANS SAY YOU KNOW WHAT,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
ADDITIONAL TAXES FOR
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
AND SOME CORPORATIONS WITH
LOOPHOLES.
NO, THAT'S OFFLIMITS.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER
MEDICARE.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER SOCIAL
SECURITY, WE ARE GOING TO GO
AFTER EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION.
THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
AND THIS COUNTRY KNOWS IT.
EVERY AMERICAN KNOWS THAT.
SO WE'VE GOT TO GET BUSY,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BECAUSE
WE HAVE WORK TO DO.
IF WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE THAT
AMERICAN DREAM, WE'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING
TO DO, FROM THIS POINT ON, FROM
THIS SECOND ON, EVERY SINGLE
DAY.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO
AND IT'S TIME TO GET BUSY.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK TO MY
FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
PERLMUTTER.
YOU ARE SO VERY, VERY CORRECT.
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
YOU LAID IT OUT THERE VERY
WELL.