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X
THAT IS JOB ONE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION, FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT, FOR YOUR INTEREST.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND I WOULD NOTE THE ABSENCE OF
A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
R DOWN."
WELL, I THOUGHT WE WERE HERE TO
KEEP THE GOVERNMENT GOING.
IT'S CLEAR THEIR REAL REASON FOR
SHUTTING THE GOVERNMENT DOWN AT
THIS POINT IS TO PROMOTE A
SOCIAL AGENDA THAT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE TO THE BROADER PART
OF THE COUNTRY.
TH'RE WILLING TO SHUT DOWN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PUT OUR
ECONOMY, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES,
OUR VETERANS AT RISK AND
POTENTIALLY DELAY TAX REFUNDS
FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
FAMILIES, ALL SIMPLY TO MAKE A
POLITICAL POINT AND TO TRY
IMPOSE A SOCIAL AGENDA OF A
MINORITY ON THE MAJORITY.
SHUTTING DOWN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OVER -- OVER A
WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE OR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO
ENFORCE LAWS THAT PROTECT OUR
CHILDREN'S HEALTH IN MY VIEW
TAKES IRRESPONSIBILITY TO A
WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
EVEN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
HIMSELF HASAID A SHUTDOWN
WILL -- QUO -- "END UP COSTING
MORE THAN WE SAVE."
THE SPEAKER'S RIGHT.
IT WOULD COST ABOUT $8 BILLION
EVERY WEEK OR .2% OF G.D.P.
EVERY WEEK THE GOVERNMENT IS
SHUT DOWN.
NOW, THE SPEAKER'S RIGHT ON THE
SUBSTANCE BUT HE HAS NOT YET
BEEN WILLING TO LEAD AND DEAL
WITH THE TEMPEST IN THE TEA
PARTY ON HIS RIGHT THREATENING
TO CUT OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
SHORT TO SATISFY A NARROW
RIGHT-WING POLITICAL AGENDA.
AT A TIME WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE JUST BEGINNING TO GET ACCESS
TO CAPITAL THEY NEED TO CREATE
JOBS FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES, A
SHUTDOWN WILL RESULT IN $400
MILLION IN CAPITAL EACH WEEK NOT
GOING TO SMALL BUSINESSES
THROUGH THE S.B.A. LOAN PROGRAM
AND WILL THROW THE ENGINE OF
SMALL BUSINESS JOB GROWTH INTO
NEUTRAL WHEN WE WANT IT TO BE IN
OVERDRIVE.
IN THE LAST SHUTDN, MORE THAN
A MILLION DOLLARS IN SMALL
BUSINESS LOANS TO 5,200
BUSINESSES WERE DELAYED SO WE
KNOW WHAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE
IN FOR IF WE HAVE ANOTHER
SHUTWN.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS NOT THE
TIME IN OUR RECOVERY EFFORTS TO
SAY "NO" TO HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES PUT PEOPLE TO WORK.
IN HOUSING, THE F.H.A. LOAN
PROCESS, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 30%
OF THE HOUSING MARKET, WILL BE
INTERRUPTED JUST AS W ENTER THE
HEIGHT OF THE SPRING SEASON
HOMEBUYING IN MY STATE OF NEW
JERSEY.
WITH PRICES LOW AND SO MANY
HOUSES ON THE MARKET, THISS
NOT THE TIME TO PREVENT 15,000
HOMEOWNERS FROM GETTING A HOME
LOAN EVERY WEEK, MORE THAN HALF
OF WHICH ARE FOR NEW HOME
PURCHASES THAT WOULD REDUCE THE
INVENTORY OF THE SURPLUS
PROPERTIES.
NOW, UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE
SOCIAL SECURITY IS A
MANDATORY -- FORTUNATELY, I
SHOULD SAY, BECAUSE SOCIAL
SECURITY IS A MANDATORY FUNDING
PROGRAM, SENIORS AND THE
DISABLED WILL CONTINUE TO
RECEIVE THEIR CHECKS.
BUT IF WE LET THE TEMPESTS IN
THE TEA PARTY SHUT DOWN THE
GOVERNMENT, INTERRUPTIONS AT THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
COULD DELAY CHANGES IN PEOPLE'S
BENEFITS AND PAYMENTS.
IN JUST FOUR DAYS OF THE LAST
SHUTDOWN, 112,000 NEW CLAIMS FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY, RETIREMENT AND
DISABILITY BENEFITS WERE NOT
TAKEN.
OVER 800,000 CALLERS WERE UNABLE
TO REACH THE SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION AND CERTAINLY IN
THIS ECONOMY THIS IS NOT A TIME
TO LVE THOSE WHO RELY ON
SOCIAL SECURITY WITH NOTHING.
AND WITH THE TAX SEASON UPON US,
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE RIGHT
TIME TO DELAY TAX REFUNDS THAT
FAMILIES ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING
IN ORDER TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND
PUT INTO THE ECONO AND HELP
THE RECOVERY KEEP GOING.
IT'S NOT THE TIME TO SHUT DOWN
368 NATIONAL PARK SERVICEITES,
THE SMITHSONIAN, THE STATUE OF
LIBERTY, THE MONUMENTS, MUSEUMS,
NATIONAL PARKS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY WHICH IN THE LAST
SHUTDOWN LOST NINE MILLION
VISITORS AND THE TOURISM
REVENUES TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
GIVEN OUR LAST SHUTDOWN OCCURRED
IN THE DEAD OF WINTER, WE CAN
EXPECT A SHUTDOWN IN THE MIDST
OF SPRING BREAKS AND HIGH
TOURIST SEASON TO HAVE A HIGHER
IMPACT ON TOURISM AND FAMILY
WALLETS THAT HAVE PLANNED VISITS
TO NATIONAL MUSEUMS.
IF WE SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT
FOR FIVE WEEKS, WEOULD LOSE UP
TO $1.2 BILLION BASED ON THE
THE $12 BILLION WORTH OF
VISITORS BROUGHT TO THE NATIONAL
PARK COMMUNITIES LAST YEAR.
AND IF THE TEA PARTY CONTINUES
TO INSIST ON A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN, MILITARY PAYCHECKS
WOULD BE DELAYED AT A TIME WHEN
MILITARY FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING
WITH MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS AND
STRUGGLING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE TO
MAKE ENDS MEET.
THEY'LL ULTIMATELY GET PD, BUT
FINISHED.
ONLY WHEN THE SHUTDOWN IS
IN THE LAST SHUTDOWN MORE THAN
400,000 VETERANS SAW THEIR
DISABILITY CHECKS DELAYED.
NOW, LET'S NOT REPEAT THAT
MISTAKE WHEN MORE OF OUR WOUNDED
SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE RETURNING
HOME FROM TWO WARS RAGING ABROAD
EVERY DAY.
AND IF THE TEA PARTY CONTINUES
TO INSIST ON A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN, CLINICAL TALS OF
LIFESAVING DRUGS WILL BE HALTED,
NEW PATIENTS WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED INTO CLINICAL RESEARCH
PROGRAMS AT THE NATIONAL
INTIEWTS OF HEALTH.
IF THE TEA PARTY CONTINUES TO
INSIST ON A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
THEY'LL PUT OUR ENTIRE ECONOMY
AT RISK.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, BUSINESS
LEADERS HAVE SAID THAT A
SHUTDOWN COULD RESULT IN HIGHER
INTEREST RATES AND CHAOS IN THE
MARKETS.
EVERY WEEK 350 IMPORT LICENSES
COULD BE DELAYED RESULTING IN
HOLDING UP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN AMERICAN EXPORTS AT A TIME
WHEN WE NEED THOSE EXPORTS TO
HELP FUEL THE RECOVERY.
DURING THE 1995 SHUTDOWN,
SHUTDOWN, $2.2 BILLION IN U.S.
EXPORTS COULDN'T LEAVE THE
COUNTRY BECAUSE OF -- BECAUSE A
THOUSAND EXPORT LICENSES COULD
NOT BE ISSUED.
THE CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O. OF
VERIZON WHO IS ALSO THE -- WITH
THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE SAID AND
I QUOTE -- "I DON'T THINK ANY OF
THE C.E.O.'S WOULD WELCOME A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
IT WOULD HAVE DISRUPTIONS IN T
SUPPLY CHAIN.
JOHN ENGLAND, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE SAID --
QUOTE -- "BUSINESS WOULD FACE
THE DANGER OF THE LAW OF YOU
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.
ARE INTEREST RATES COULD RISE
AND THERE COULD BE TURMOIL IN
THE FINANCIAL MARKETS."
THIS WOULD ALL HAPPEN BECAUSE
REPUBLICANS BNG HELD HOSTAGE
BY DEEPERS HAVE TEA PARTIERS
HAVE REJECTED SPENDING CUTS FOR
THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT
GET ALL THAT THEY WANTED.
BECAUSE THEY AREN'T GETTING
THEIR WAY ON UNRELATED
EXTRANEOUS SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE
WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND
ENFORCING LAWS ON OUR BOOKS TO
PROTECT OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH.
THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT TAKE YES
FOR AN ANSWER.
BECAUSE YES ON SPENDING CUTS
ISN'T REALLY THEIR ONLY GOAL.
SPENDING CUTS IS NOT WHY THEY
E TRYINGO SHUT THE
GOVERNMENT DOWN.
I WOULD REMIND OUR COLLEAGUES
THAT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS ARE
NOT ABOUT TOTAL VICTORY.
AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS DO
THAT, NOT DEMOCRACIES.
IN DEMOCRACIES WE ARE ALL FAIRLY
CONSTITUTS.
ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUR
WE ALL HAVE A VIEW.
WE ALL HAVE A VOTE.
WE ALL HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO
GOVERN AND LEGISLATE FOR EVERY
AMERICAN, NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO
HOLD THE VIEWS OF THE TEA PARTY.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,
MR. PRESIDENT, TEA PARTYERS
CLAIM TO LOVE THE RIGHT TO FREE
SPEECH BUT DON'T BELIEVE
ACCEPTABLE.
ANYONE'S VIEWS BUT THEIR OWN ARE
I WOULD SAY TO OUR COLLEAGUES WE
ALL HAVE DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS.
DENDING THEM AND SHOUTING THEM
FROM THE ROOFTOPS IS EASY.
BUT LISTENING TO THOSE WHO
DISAGREE WITH US IS THE HARD
WORK OF GOVERNMENT.
I WOULD REMIND MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SID THAT THE WORD
CONGRESS IS DERIVED FROM A LATIN
VERB MEANING TO WALK TOGETHER.
WE HAVE ALREADY MADE CUTS TO THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.
WE HAVE ALREADY MADE REAL CUTS
IN THIS YEAR'S SPENDING.
WE'VE OFFERED REASONABLE
COMPROMISE THAT SEEKS EVEN MORE
CUTS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A
COMPROMISE THAT SEEKS COMMON
OUND NOT CAPITULATION AND
NEITHER SHOULD OUR COLLEAGUES
EXPECT CAPITULATION.
ALL WE ASK IS THAT THOSE ON THE
OTHER SIDE DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND
ACT IN THE BROADER INTEREST OF
THE NATION.
NOT SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT,
DISRUPT SERVICES, PUT THE
ECONOMIC RECOVERY AT RISK ALL TO
SATISFY A NARROW POLITICAL
AGENDA.
NOW, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF
FANFARE ON THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
PROPOSAL THAT WAS PUT OUT AS WE
LOOK TO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
IN MY VIEW, IT IS BY FAR ONE OF
THE MOST PARTISAN, IDEALOGICAL
AND FUNDAMENTALLY DESTRUCTIVE
BUDGETS I HAVE SEEN IN MY TIME
IN CONGRESS.
DESTRUCTIVE OF FUNDAMENTAL
PROTECTIONS FOR EVERY AMERICAN
AND FOR WHAT WE'VE COME TO
ACCEPT AS FUNDAMENTAL
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE UNIQUELY
AMERICAN.
IT FUNDAMENTALLY TAKES
TAKES $1.5 TRILLION OUT OF
HEALTH CARE FOR SENIORS AND
CHILDREN AND IT GIVES IT TO THE
WEALTHY.
IT WOULD TAKE HEALTH CARE FROM
SENIORS AND CHILDREN RATHER THAN
TAKE SUBSIDIES FROM SPECIAL
COMPANIES.
CORPORATE INTERESTS LIKE BIG OIL
IF REPUBLICANS GOT THEIR WAY,
NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS WOULD
LOSE $34 BILLION IN HEALTH
BENEFITS AND ALMOST 400,000 NEW
JERSEYIANS WOULD SEE THEIR
COVERAGE CUT ENTIRELY.
THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL TALKS
ABOUT CUTTING TAXES, BUT IN
READING IT I FIND TWO GROUPS
WHOSE TAXES WOULD BE CUT, THE
RICH AND THOSE WHO ARE EVEN
RICHER.
CORPORATIONS AND MILLIONAIRES OR
THOSE SOON TO BE MILLIONAIRES
WOULD KEEP ALL OF THEIR RECENT
TAX GIVEAWAYS AND WOULD ACTUALLY
SEE THEIR TAX RATES SLASHED BY
30%.
NOW, THIS PROPOSAL LOSES
LOSES $700 BILLION ON THE
REVENUE SIDE OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARSY EXTENDING THE BUSH TAX
CUTS, PARTICULARLY TO THE
WEALTHIEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND
TRILLIONS MORE BY SLASHING TAX
RATES FOR CORPORATIONS AND
MILLIONAIRES.
THOSE MAKE MORE THAN A MILLION A
YEAR WILL SEE TAX CUTS OF
CUTS.
OF $125,000 EACH FROM THE TAX
AND TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE FROMCONSENT THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
TAKE THIS TIME BECAUSE WE'RE NOW
ONLY LITERALLY HOURS AWAY FROM A
POTENTIAL SHUTDOWN OF GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT.
I MUST TELL YOU, I -- MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE ANGRY ABOUT
THIS AND I JOIN THEM IN SAYING
THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD
HAVE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL ISSUES AND
THERE'S BEEN GOOD-FAITH
NEGOTIATIONS, AND IT'S MY
UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE
PRETTY MUCH RESOLVED THE
FINANCIAL ISSUES.
AND REMEMBER, WE'RE DEALING WITH
12% OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET.
WE NEED TO GET ON TO THE 2012
BUDGET.
WE NEED TO GET A CREDIBLE PLAN
TO DEAL WITH THE DEFICIT.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2011
BUDGET, THE BUDGET THAT STARTED
ON OCTOBER 1 OF LAST YEAR AND
WILL END ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS
YEAR.
WE'RE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THAT
THAT -- THAT BUDGET YEAR.
AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
WHERE THE DEMOCRATS WERE AND
WHERE THE REPUBLICANS WERE,
UNDERSTOOD THEY COULDN'T BE WHAT
THE DEMOCRATS WANTED OR THE
REPUBLICANS WANTED, WE NEEDED TO
HAVE GOOD-FAITH NEGOTIATIONS.
PLACE.
THOSE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TAKEN
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE PRETTY
MUCH HAVE AGREED ON THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS AND WE'RE PREPARED TO
MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.
BUT LET ME JUST TALK A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT
MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT.
I HAVE THE HONOR OF REPRESENTING
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
MARYLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S ALMOST
150,000 CIVILIAN -- CIVILIAN
ACTIVE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES THAT
LIVE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
I HAPPENED TO BUMP INTO ONE OF
THOSE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TODAY
WHO ASKED ME A QUESTION.
SHE ASKED ME: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED
TO DO IF WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN AND I DON'T GET A
PAYCHECK?
I DON'T HAVE SAVINGS.
HOW AM I GOING TO PAY FOR MY
MORTGAGE?
CARDIN: WE ALREADY HAVE TOO
MANY PEOPLE WHOSE MORTGAGES ARE
IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE OF THE
WEAKNESS OF OUR ECONOMY, AND NOW
150,000 MARYLANDERS ARE IN
JEOPARDY OF LOSING THEIR
PAYCHECK AS A RESULT OF THE
INABILITY TO RESOLVE THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET.
NOW, I MUST TELL YOU, I ALSO
HAPPENED TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO
RUN OUR METRO SYSTEM HERE AND
THEY TOLD ME THAT IF WE HAVE A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, IT WILL
MEAN A MILLION DOLLARS LESS IN
FARE BOX POLICY EVERY DAY
BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO WON'T BE TAKING THE METRO
BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
GOING TO WORK.
A LOT OF FEDERAL WORKERS,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE GOING TO
WORK.
AND GUESS WHAT?
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE STOPPING
AT THAT COFFEE SHOP TO BUY
COFFEE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
BUYING THAT LUNCH, THEY WON'T BE
PATRONIZING THE SHOPS, AND IT'S
GOING TO HURT THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS WHO DEPEND UPON THAT
BUSINESS, DEPEND UPON THE PEOPLE
WHO USE THEIR PAYCHECKS TO -- TO
DO THEIR -- TOO THEIR CLEANING
OR DO THEIR -- OR GO TO THEIR --
THE DIFFERENT SHOPS.
IT'S GOING TO HURT, IT'S GOING
TO HURT OUR ECONOMY.
IT'S GOING TO HURT INNOCENT
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
JUST AT A TIME THAT OUR ECONOMY
IS STARTING TO RECOVER.
NOW, WE KNOW, I CAN GIVE YOU
ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
A PERSON CONTACTED ME TODAY, ONE
OF MY CONSTITUENTS IN MARYLAND,
WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE AN ISSUE
CONCERNING THE NEED FOR A
PASSPORT TO BE ISSUED.
IT NEEDS TO BE ISSUED RATHER
QUICKLY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO
ACCOMMODATE THAT PERSON AND GET
IT DONE BY TOMORROW.
BUT SUPPOSE THAT CALL WOULD HAVE
COME IN NEXT WEEK AFTER THERE'S
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND THAT
PERSON HAS TRAVEL PLANS THAT NOW
MAY BE DISRUPTED BECAUSE WE
CAN'T ISSUE THAT PASSPORT
AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON OF
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HURT AS A
RESULT OF A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
WE KNOW THAT A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN WILL ACTUALLY COST THE
TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY.
A SHUTDOWN COSTS TAXPAYERS
MONEY.
MORE MONEY THAN THE DIFFERENCES
IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF DAYS WILL BE LOST.
SO DON'T TELL THE TAXPAYERS OF
THIS COUNTRY THAT WE'RE HAVING A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN TO SAVE
MONEY.
IT WON'T SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY.
IT WILL COST THEM ADDITIONAL
MONEYS AND WILL JEOPARDIZE OUR
RECOVERY.
AND INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO GET HURT AS A RESULT OF THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT'S THE
ISSUE HERE?
I'VE ALREADY SAID THAT THE
MONEY -- THE MONEY ISSUE, THIS
IS A BUDGET DEBATE, WE PRETTY
WELL RESOLVED THE MONEY ISSUES.
SO IT'S NOT THE DOLLARS.
NOT THE DIFFERENCES YOU'VE HEARD
AND THE DIFFERENCES, QUITE
FRANKLY, WERE RATHER SMALL
COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF OUR
NATIONAL -- OF OUR BUDGET
DEFICIT AND -- AND THE GAP
BETWEEN SPENDING AND -- AND
REVENUES.
THE ISSUE THAT IS NOW BEING
RAISED BY THE REPUBLICANS HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH DOLLARS, BUT
HAS TO DO WITH THEIR SOCIAL
POLICIES -- THEIR SOCIAL
POLICIES.
IT HAS TO DO WITH FAMILY
PLANNING.
IT HAS TO BE WITH THE
ENVIROMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
BEING ABLE TO ENFORCE OUR
ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSMS THE CLEAN
AIR ACT -- LAWS.
THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?
IT SHOULD.
WE DEBATED THOSE ISSUES ON THE
FLOOR YESTERDAY AND WE TOOK
VOTES ON THOSE ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES YESTERDAY ON THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE AS WE SHOULD DO ON
DEBATING THESE ISSUES ON THEIR
OWN INDIVIDUAL MERIT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE
BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
THAT'S NOT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE
FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE THE
SOCIAL AGENDA.
THOSE ISSUES SHOULD BE DONE ON
THE BILLS, THE SUBSTANTIVE BILLS
THAT COME FORWARD.
SO YOU SORT OF GET A LITTLE
SUSPICIOUS HERE AS THESE ISSUES
ARE BEING RAISED AS TO WHETHER,
IN FACT, THOSE WHO WERE
NEGOTIATING ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE ARE SINCERE IN TRYING TO
REACH AN AGREEMENT TO PREVENT A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OR WHETHER
THEY CONTINUE -- CONTINUALLY
CHANGE THE GOALPOSTS AND THE
RULES IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
NOW, I MUST TELL YOU I WAS
REALLY DISAPPOINTED AS I HEARD
REPUBLICAN AFTER REPUBLICAN IN
THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS TALK
ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, A
SHUTDOWN MIGHT BE GOOD FOR THE
COUNTRY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A
SHUTDOWN, SO BE IT.
LET'S DO IT.
EVEN SOME REPUBLICANS CALLING
FOR A SHUTDOWN.
I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PROBLEM
THAT THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
HAS IN DEALING WITH THE MEMBERS
OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WHO
BELONG TO THE TEA PARTY AND
THEY'RE INSISTING THAT HE
DON'T -- HE DOESN'T WANT TO SEE
ANY COMPROMISE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THOSE
MEMBERS DON'T CONTROL THE
PROCESS.
WE HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE, THE
MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE THAT ARE PREPARED TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THIS COMPROMISE
THAT WILL NOT ONLY KEEP
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING, BUT WILL
ALLOW US TO GET ON TO THE REAL
ISSUES OF -- OF DEALING WITH THE
DEFICIT OF THIS COUNTRY BY
LOOKING AT THE 2012 BUDGET WHERE
WE WILL BE CONSIDERING MORE THAN
JUST THE DISCRETIONARY DOMESTIC
SPENDING CUTS WHERE WE ALSO CAN
TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER
PROGRAMS INCLUDING MILITARY
MANDATORY SPENDING AN REVENUES
AND GET A CREDIBLE PLAN TO DEAL
WITH THE DEFICIT.
WE HAVE ENOUGH VOTES AMONG THE
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO
PASS THIS COMPROMISE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO YIELD TO THE
EXTREMISTS ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE IN THE HOUSE THAT DON'T
WANT TO SEE ANY COMPROMISE
WHATSOEVER.
WHAT REALLY WORRIES ME IS THAT
PERHAPS THE DESIGN HERE IS
REALLY TO CLOSE THE GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
WANT.
I KNOW THAT SPEAKER BOEHNER GOT
A STANDING OVATION WHEN HE
INFORMED HIS CAUCUS TO BEGIN
PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE
SHUTDOWN.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, THESE ARE
SERIOUS ISSUES.
LIKE THAT MARYLANDER WHO I
TALKED TO TODAY WHO MAY, IN
FACT, LOSE HER HOME IF THERE'S A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
OR THAT CONSTITUENT WHO HAD PLAN
AND A TRIP AND FOUND OUT -- PLAN
AND A TRIP AND FOUND OUT BECAUSE
THEIR PASSPORT EXPIRES SHORTLY,
THEY NEED TO GET IT RENEWED
BEFORE THEY'RE PERMITTED TO
ENTER A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND WILL
NEED TO GET THAT PASSPORT TENDED
TO OR LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TRAVEL PERHAPS FOR A FAMILY
EVENT OR PERHAPS FOR BUSINESS OR
THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY
WHO SCRATCHING THEIR HEADS
SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
ADDING TO THE COST OF GOVERNMENT
WHEN I THOUGHT THIS WAS A DEBATE
ABOUT REDUCING THE COST OF
GOVERNMENT?
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DOLLARS.
IF WE HAVE A -- IT'S NOT ABOUT
THE DOLLARS IF WE HAVE A SHUT
DOWN OF GOVERNMENT AND I HOPE
THAT WE DON'T HAVE A SHUTDOWN OF
GOVERNMENT.
BUT IF WE HAVE A SHUTDOWN OF
GOVERNMENT, IT'S NOT THE DOLLAR
DIFFERENCE, IT'S THE SOCIAL
AGENDA THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE
TRYING TO PUSH THROUGH THIS
DOCUMENT THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON
THIS DOCUMENT THAT THEY'RE NOW
USING AS A REASON TO DENY A
COMPROMISE FOR MOVING FORWARD
AND IT'S THE EXTREME ELEMENTS
WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
THAT ARE SAYING LET'S HAVE A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT WOULD
BE GETTING THEIR WAY.
MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S STILL
TIME REMAINING.
I HOPE THAT COMMON SENSE WILL
PREVAIL.
I HOPE PEELLE UNDERSTAND -- I
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS A
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IS TO OUR
COUNTRY, TO OUR ABLY TO CONDUCT
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AS WELL
AS PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO THE
PEOPLE OF THIS NATION WHO EXPECT
THOSE SERVICES.
WE STILL HAVE TIME.
THIS IS A DEMOCRACY.
THE MAJORITY RULES.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE THE
MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS ALIKE THAT WANT TO
BRING THIS ISSUE TO CONCLUSION,
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD
COMPROMISE DONE RIGHT NOW.
THE COMPROMISE IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WOULD
WANT AND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
WOULD WANT, THAT'S HOW THE
PROCESS SHOULD WORK.
SO, YES, I'M HERE REPRESENTING
THE PEOPLE OF MARRIED,
INCLUDING -- OF MARYLAND,
INCLUDING A LARGE NUMBER THAT
WORK FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND A LARGE NUMBER THAT DEPEND
UPON THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND A LARGE
NUMBER WHO DEPEND UPON THE
SERVICES OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO SAY, LET'S GET
THIS DONE, NOT YIELD TO THE FEW
HOUSE.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN THE
LET'S GET THIS JOB DONE FOR THE
PEOPLE OF MARYLAND AND FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THIS NATION.
AND, WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTICE
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT, ARE WE
IN A QUORUM CALL?
YES, WE
I ASK UNANIMOUS
ARE.
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT,
UNLESS STEPS ARE TAKEN, WE WILL
BE FACING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
AND WHEN I SAY STEPS ARE TAKEN,
THAT.
THE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO AVOID
AND THAT CAN HAPPEN ONE OF TWO
WAYS.
THAT CAN BE AN AGREEMENT THAT
FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE
END OF THE FISCAL YEAR WHICH
WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 30th OF
THIS YEAR AND THERE ARE
NEGOTIATIONS THAT CONTINUE ON
DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE OR THERE
COULD BE A SHORT-TERM CONTINUING
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD TAKE US
THROUGH THE NEXT WEEK THAT WOULD
ENABLE THOSE WHO ARE NEGOTIATING
A LONGER-TERM AGREEMENT TO
CONTINUE THAT -- THEIR
DISCUSSIONS AND HOPEFULLY TO
CONCLUDE A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME TO
THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
BUT I WANT TO REMIND MY
COLLEAGUES, AND I -- I SAY
THIS -- AND I -- I FEEL
SOMETIMES I'VE BEEN UP HERE ON
THE FLOOR A NUMBER OF TIMES
SPEAKING TO THIS ISSUE, BUT I
THINK IT BEARS REPEATING WHY WE
ARE HERE, WHY WE ARE NOW IN THE
MILLED OF YET A SIXTH CONTINUING
RESOLUTION.
THIS IS THE SIXTH SHORT-TERM
FUNDING RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE
HAD TO LIVE WITH, YOU KNOW,
SINCE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR
WHICH WAS SEPTEMBER 30th OF
LAST YEAR.
SO THE REASON THAT WE ARE HERE
IS BECAUSE LAST YEAR THE
DEMOCRAT MAJORITY HERE IN
CONGRESS FAILED TO PASS A BUDGET
AND FAILED TO PASS A SINGLE
APPROPRIATION BILL.
DIDN'T DO THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL
RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO
THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS AND THAT
IS TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT
FUNDS THEIR GOVERNMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE FUNDED THE
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THESE
SUCCESSIVE CONTINUING
RESOLUTIONS, WHICH, AS I SAID
BEFORE, WE ARE NOW IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE SIXTH SHORT OF SHORT-TERM FUNDING
RESOLUTION WHICH EXPIRES
TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.
SO MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN
COMING TO THE FLOOR AND
ATTACKING THE REPUBLICANS FOR
DOWN.
WANTING TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT
AND I WOULD SAY TO MY
COLLEAGUES, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT
NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM
THE TRUTH.
I THINK EVERYBODY HERE
RECOGNIZES THAT NO ONE BENEFITS
FROM A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
FRANKLY, THE -- THE EFFORT HAS
BEEN MADE IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TO PASS A
LONG-TERM FUNDING RESOLUTION
THAT WOULD TAKE US THROUGH THE
END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30th OF THIS YEAR,
BUT THAT FAILED HERE IN THE
SENATE.
FAILED.
WE HAD A VOTE ON THAT, IT
AND THERE HASN'T BEEN SINCE THAT
TIME ANY MEANINGFUL EFFORT MADE
ON THE PART OF THE DEMOCRATS
HERE IN THE SENATE TO PUT
FORWARD A PROPOSAL THAT MIGHT
PASS THE SENATE AND MIGHT
ULTIMATELY PASS IN THE HOWVMENT
AND SO WE -- HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND SO WE TRIGGERED THESE
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE WHITE
HOUSE AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE LEADERS
IN THE SENATE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THOSE
DISCUSSIONS HAVE CONTINUED.
I HOPE THAT THEY WILL REACH A
SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION.
BUT UNTIL THAT TIME HAPPENS, WE
NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT STAYS
MIDNIGHT.
OPEN BEYOND TOMORROW NIGHT AT
AND SO WE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT THEY PASSED
EARLIER TODAY, A CONTINUING
RESOLUTION, THAT ACTUALLY
REDUCES GOVERNMENT SPENDING BY
ABOUT $13 BILLION, DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING, ALL CUTS THAT HAVE
BEEN AGREED TO BY BOTH PARTIES.
AND ALSO EXTENDS FUNDING FOR THE
MILITARY THROUGH THE END OF THE
FISCAL YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION
ABOUT WE NEED TO PROVIDE SOME
CERTAINTY FOR OUR MILITARY SO
THAT THEY CAN PLAN.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.
I MET WITH MEMBERS OF OUR
MILITARY, OUR MILITARY
LEADERSHIP, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT
WE TAKE CARE OF THE FUNDING
NEEDS THAT THEY HAVE THROUGH THE
END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WHAT DID THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES DO?
THEY TOOK A -- A SERIES OF
SPENDING REDUCTIONS WHICH HAVE
BEEN AGREED UPON, AS SAID, BY
BOTH PARTIES.
THEY FUNDED THE MILITARY THROUGH
THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR,
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th, AND
THEY ADDED A COUPLE OF
PROVISIONS TO THAT LEGISLATION
THAT HAD BEEN WIDELY SUPPORTED
BY BOTH PARTIES HERE IN THE
CONGRESS.
THERE IS A BAN ON ABORTION
FUNDING IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA WHICH HAS BEEN
SUPPORTED BY THE DEMOCRAT
LEADER, THE DEMOCRAT WHIP ON
COUNTLESS OCCASIONS.
THEY INCLUDED A PROVISION THAT
WOULD PREVENT FUNDING BEING USED
TO BRING DETAINEES AND TRY THEM
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
INSTEAD OF GUANTANAMO BAY, THAT
HAS BEEN WIDELY SUPPORTED.
THE LAST TIME IT WAS SUPPORTED
WAS WHEN THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION PASSED LATE LAST
YEAR IN DECEMBER.
IT PASSED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
SO MANY OF MY DEMOCRAT
COLLEAGUES ARE ON RECORD
SUPPORTING ALL OF THE THINGS,
ALL THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN
THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT
WAS SENT TO US -- WILL BE COMING
OVER TO US FROM THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND SO THE QUESTION THEN
BECOMES, WHO IS IT THAT IS
TRYING TO TRIGGER A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN?
NOW I'M NOT HERE THIS EVENING
TO -- TO PLAY THE BLAME GAME.
I DON'T THINK THAT SERVES
ANYBODY'S INTEREST NOR DO I
BELIEVE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
SERVES ANYBODY'S INTEREST VERY
WELL.
I THINK THAT THE -- THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE EXPECT US TO FIND
SOLUTIONS.
THEY EXPECT US TO WORK OUT OUR
DIFFERENCES, BUT EVENTUALLY TO
AGREE.
AND I THINK THAT THAT -- THAT
HAS CERTAINLY HAPPENED IN THE
FORM OF THIS CONTINUING
RESOLUTION THAT'S COMING OVER
FROM THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
AND, IN FACT, IT PASSED THE
HOUSE TODAY WITH 247 VOTES,
INCLUDING A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS
WHO VOTED WITH THE REPUBLICANS
IN THE HOUSE TO PASS A
CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT TAKES
ON THE ISSUE OF OUT OF CONTROL
WASHINGTON SPENDING, WHICH HAS
BEEN VERY CLEARLY DOCUMENTED.
WE NEED TO GET SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL.
WE ARE ADDING TO THE FEDERAL
DEBT AT A RATE OF $4 BILLION
EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH MEANS BY
TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30, AT 6:30
ON FRIDAY, WE WILL HAVE ADDED
ANOTHER $4 BILLION TO THE DEBT.
THAT'S THE DEBT METER THAT WE'RE
RUNNING.
ADD $4 BILLION TO THE FEDERAL
EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE ADD
DEBT THAT WE PASS ON TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
WE ARE BORROWING OVER 40 CENTS
OUT OF EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR THAT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDS.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DO THAT,
MR. PRESIDENT.
WE'LL TAKE IN $2.2 TRILLION THIS
YEAR, SPEND $3.7 TRILLION.
THAT'S $1.5 TRILLION IN DEFICITS
IN A SINGLE YEAR.
YOU ADD THAT UP, YEAR AFTER YEAR
AFTER YEAR, AND YOU END UP WITH
A $14 TRILLION DEBT WHICH IS
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT'S GROWING AT A TRILLION, A
TRILLION AND A HALF EVERY SINGLE
YEAR.
AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO GET
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THERE ISN'T A
LOT OF APPETITE ON THE OTHER
FEDERAL SPENDING.
SIDE OF THE AISLE FOR TAKING ON
IN FACT, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE THOUGHT IT WAS
AN AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL WHEN THEY
PUT FORWARD AN ALTERNATIVE TO
THE REPUBLICAN-PASSED BILL THAT
CUT DISCRETIONARY SPENDING BY
BY $61 BILLION, THEY PUT FORWARD
AN ALTERNATIVE THAT CUT
CUT $4.7 BILLION.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF WHAT
THE FEDERAL DEBT WILL ADD DURING
THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
THAT WAS THEIR, I GUESS, IDEA
ABOUT A SERIOUS EFFORT TO
MEANINGFULLY ADDRESS DEFICIT
SPENDING AND DEBTS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE GOT TO
DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF
OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING.
NOW, CLEARLY, THE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION, THE SHORT-TERM
CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT
PASSED THE HOUSE, IS COMING TO
THE SENATE, TAKES ON THAT ISSUE
BUT DOES IT IN A WAY THAT CUTS
SPENDING, SPENDING CUTS THAT, AS
I SAID, BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED
TO.
IT IS A MYSTERY TO ME AS TO WHY
OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
WOULD REJECT A PROPOSAL THAT
INCLUDES SPENDING CUTS THAT HAVE
BEEN AGREED UPON ON BOTH SIDES.
AND FRANKLY, IF, IN FACT, IT'S
TRUE, THE REPORTS THAT I READ
THAT DEMOCRATS WOULD ACCEPT
SOMEWHERE ON THE ORDER OF
OF $33 BILLION IN CUTS FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THIS
OR $13 BILLION.
REPRESENTS ABOUT $12 BILLION OR
SO WE'RE STILL CONSIDERABLY
UNDER WHAT THEY HAVE AGREED TO
IN TERMS OF A TOTAL NUMBER, BUT
WITH REGARD TO THE ACTUAL CUTS
THAT ARE SUGGESTED HERE BY THE
HOUSE-PASSED LEGISLATION, THEY
ARE BY AND LARGE CUTS THAT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE AGREED WITH.
AND SO YOU HAVE AGREEMENT ON
THESE REDUCTIONS IN SPENDING,
YOU HAVE A GENERAL AGREEMENT
THAT WE OUGHT TO FUND THE TROOPS
THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, AND
YOU HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON THE
SO-CALLED RIDERS -- AT LEAST
THERE HAS BEEN AGREEMENT IN THE
PAST.
BROAD PARTISAN SUPPORT.
AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT THE TWO
PARTICULAR PROVISIONS ON THIS
BILL ARE PROVISIONS THAT ARE
SUPPORTED BY PROBABLY 70% OF
PEOPLE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO YOU HAVE A -- A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BROAD
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAT'S COME
OVER TO US FROM THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THAT WOULD
PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT
MIDNIGHT TOMORROW NIGHT.
AND SO IT'S A GREAT MYSTERY AS
TO WHY OUR DEMOCRAT COLLEAGUES
WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT AND -- AND
DO WHAT I THINK IS IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND THAT IS AT LEAST GET
US INTO NEXT WEEK WHERE A FINAL
NEGOTIATION ON THE LONGER TERM
CONTINUING RESOLUTION CAN BE
CONCLUDED.
WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM IN THIS
COUNTRY, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE HAVE GOT A GOVERNMENT THAT IS
SPENDING WAY BEYOND ITS MEANS.
WE HAVE GOT TO START LIVING
WITHIN OUR MEANS.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO SPEND
MONEY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE, AND
THE EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE
OVERDUE.
TO REDUCE SPENDING HERE ARE LONG
AND I THINK IT'S -- I HOPE THAT
THEY CAN CONCLUDE A SUCCESSFUL
AGREEMENT ON A LONGER TERM
RESOLUTION THAT WOULD GET US
THROUGH THE END OF THIS FISCAL
YEAR.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
POINT OUT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
PREVENT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
TO FUND OUR TROOPS THROUGH THE
END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND TO
REDUCE IN A MEANINGFUL WAY
SPENDING WITH SPENDING CUTS THAT
HAVE BEEN AGREED TO BY BOTH
SIDES IN THE FORM OF THIS
CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT WAS
PASSED IN THE HOUSE THIS
AFTERNOON WITH A LARGE NUMBER --
NOT A LARGE NUMBER BUT A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS
SUPPORTING IT.
AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST TO MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE,
AND I HOPE THAT THEY WILL WORK
WITH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN,
THAT WE FUND OUR TROOPS, AND
THAT WOULD MAKE A MEANINGFUL
DEBT IN OUT-- DENT IN
OUT-OF-CONTROL WASHINGTON
SPENDING.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD --
AGAIN, AS WE APPROACH THAT TIME
TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, HOPE
THAT THE LEADERSHIP ON THE OTHER
SIDE WILL TAKE UP THAT
LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED BY
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE
ON IT.
I WOULD SUBMIT THAT THERE WILL
BE A LARGE BIPARTISAN VOTE HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A LARGE
BIPARTISAN VOTE, IT WILL SUGGEST
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR POSITIONS
ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE INCLUDED
IN THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL THINGS THAT
MANY OF US ON BOTH SIDES HAVE
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
SUPPORTED, AND I SUSPECT
THAT WILL AVOID THAT WITCHING
HOUR TOMORROW NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT
WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN.
THEY HAVE GIVEN US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON
LEGISLATION THAT WILL DO THAT,
AND I HOPE WE WILL TAKE THEM UP
ON THAT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I THINK THERE ARE TIMES AROUND
HERE THAT WE LOSE SIGHT ABOUT
WHAT REAL PEOPLE ARE -- ARE
DOING IN OUR HOME STATES.
I THINK WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE
STRUGGLES, THEIR DAILY
STRUGGLES, HOW THEY LIVE THEIR
LIFE WITH INTEGRITY AND HONOR
EVERY DAY AND GO TO WORK, AND
YESTERDAY WE GOT A CALL IN MY
OFFICE FROM A YOUNG LADY, AND
SHE WAS ON HER CELL PHONE.
SHE IS A NURSE, A NURSE'S AIDE
AT THE V.A. HOSPITAL IN ST.
LOUIS.
SHE WAS ON HER BREAK, SHE WAS ON
HER CELL PHONE, AND SHE TALKED
TO THE YOUNG LADY WHO ANSWERS
OUR PHONE AND SAID I WANT YOU TO
TELL THE SENATOR THAT I'VE GOT
KIDS AND I BRING HOME THE
PAYCHECK, AND THE WAY I FEED MY
KIDS IS WITH MY PAYCHECK I GET
WORKING HERE AT THE V.A.
HOSPITAL, AND I'M SCARED.
I'M SCARED.
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF
ALL OF A SUDDEN I QUIT GETTING
MY PAYCHECK.
I'VE GOT REALLY NO PLACE TO TURN
I'M A SINGLE MOM, AND I AM VERY
WORRIED.
AND THEN SHE SAID WOULD YOU HOLD
ON A MINUTE?
AND THEN SHE HANDED HER CELL
PHONE TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THE
BREAK ROOM AT JOHN COCHRAN V.A.
HOSPITAL, AND THEN THAT WOMAN
HANDED THE CELL PHONE TO ANOTHER
WOMAN.
AND BY THE TIME THIS
CONVERSATION WAS OVER, THE YOUNG
LADY THAT ANSWERS THE PHONE IN
MY OFFICE HAD TALKED TO A HALF A
DOZEN WOMEN WHO DON'T MAKE A LOT
OF MONEY, WHO GO TO WORK EVERY
DAY CARING FOR OUR VETERANS IN A
VETERANS' HOSPITAL.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ALL SAID?
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
AND IF LATONYA AND HER FRIENDS
WERE HERE RIGHT NOW, I WOULD
SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DARNED
GOOD QUESTION WHY THIS IS
HAPPENING.
THIS IS NOT A GAME.
THIS IS NOT A GAME OF PING-PONG
WHERE WE'RE HITTING THE BALL UP
AND DOWN THIS HALL FROM THE
HOUSE TO THE SENATE, FIGHTING
OVER DIVISIVE SOCIAL ISSUES
THAT, FRANKLY, OUR COUNTRY HAS
STRUGGLED WITH FOR DECADES AND
WILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH.
THIS IS ABOUT RUNNING OUR
GOVERNMENT AND ABOUT THE MONEY
IT TAKES TO RUN OUR GOVERNMENT,
ABOUT.
AND THAT'S ALL IT SHOULD BE
IT SHOULDN'T BE A TIME FOR US TO
ARGUE ABOUT GITMO, IT SHOULDN'T
BE A TIME FOR US TO ARGUE ABOUT
WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.
IT SHOULD BE ABOUT FUNDING OUR
GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE MANY OTHER OCCASIONS WE
CAN DEBATE THOSE ISSUES AND
DISAGREE, AND REASONABLE PEOPLE
DO DISAGREE.
BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO
DEBATE THOSE ISSUES, AT THE
11th HOUR WHEN LATONYA IS NOT
GOING TO GET A PAYCHECK TO FEED
HER KIDS.
I'M FOR CUTS.
I HAVE BEEN THE ODD MAN OUT MANY
CUTS.
TIMES IN MY CAUCUS FIGHTING FOR
I HAVE WORKED ON SPENDING CUTS
LAST YEAR FOR -- WITH SENATOR
SESSIONS FROM ALABAMA.
I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SENATOR
CORKER ABOUT CUTS.
I AM SOMEBODY WHO SAID THE
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS THAT MY
CAUCUS MADE WERE WAY TOO LITTLE,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M BEGINNING
TO FEEL LIKE?
I'M BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE I
HAVE BEEN DUPED, MR. PRESIDENT,
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT
THIS WAS ABOUT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT CUTS.
HERE.
NOW, LET'S REVIEW THE FACTS
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET COMMITTEE AND
THE SPEAKER OF THE REPUBLICAN
HOUSE SAID WE NEED TO CUT
CUT $32 BILLION OUT OF THE
REMAINING BUDGET THIS YEAR.
I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS
UNREASONABLE.
NOW, I AM -- YOU KNOW, I WILL
ADMIT, I'M TO THE RIGHT OF MUCH
OF MY CAUCUS ON SOME OF THIS
CUTTING STUFF, BUT I DIDN'T
THINK THAT WAS UNREASONABLE, SO
I WAS GLAD WHEN WE WENT TO THE
REPUBLICANS AND SAID YOU KNOW
WHAT?
WE'LL CUT, WE'LL CUT WHAT YOU
WANTED TO CUT.
IN FACT, WE'LL CUT MORE THAN
WHAT THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE WANTED TO CUT, AND
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE HAVE PUT MORE CUTS ON THE
RECOMMENDED.
TABLE THAN THEY INITIALLY
I'M BEGINNING TO REALIZE THIS
ISN'T ABOUT CUTS.
THIS IS ABOUT A MUCH MORE
EXTREME AGENDA THAT HAS TO DO
WITH SOCIAL POLICY, NOT ABOUT
MONEY.
THEY KEEP MOVING THE GOAL POST.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER?
THEY KEEP MOVING THE GOAL POST.
WE HAVE GONE MORE THAN HALFWAY,
AND IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS,
THAT'S CALLED A COMPROMISE.
WE HAVE GOT REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE HOUSE, THE
DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE SENATE.
THAT'S WHY COMPROMISE IS SO
IMPORTANT.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH A COMPROMISE?
LET'S DO THE COMPROMISE, FUND
THE GOVERNMENT AND GET ON WITH
IT SO LATONYA CAN GET HER
PAYCHECK AND THE OTHER WOMEN
THAT WORK WITH HER AT THE V.A.
HOSPITAL CAN GET THEIR PAYCHECK.
THEY WILL NOT TAKE YES FOR AN
ANSWER ON CUTS AT THIS POINT.
THEY WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT
SOMETHING ELSE.
WAS THE C.R. TODAY JUST ABOUT
MILITARY PAY?
NO.
NO, IT WAS NOT.
I DID NOTICE ONE THING THEY
DIDN'T PUT IN THE C.R. TODAY --
WHY WON'T THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
PASS THE BILL THAT WE'VE ASKED
THEM TO PASS TO CUT OUR PAY IF
THE GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN?
I WILL CERTAINLY NOT TAKE A
A PAYCHECK.
PAYCHECK AND NO ONE SHOULD TAKE
WHY IS THAT NOT BEING PASSED BY
REPRESENTATIVES?
THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE OF
TODAY?
WHY WASN'T THAT PUT ON THE C.R.
THEY WANT TO ONCE AGAIN PASS
SOMETHING ABOUT MOVING PEOPLE
OUT OF GITMO, WHICH HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH THE BUDGET THROUGH
THE REST OF THE YEAR.
WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE GITMO
THING, WHY DIDN'T THEY PUT THE
PAY FOR MEMBERS IN THERE?
WHY DIDN'T THAT OCCUR?
AND I KNOW THE TALKING POINT IS
THAT THIS IS -- THIS IS ONE OF
THE TALKING POINTS WE'RE HEARING
FROM THE OTHER SIDE, WELL, YOU
LAST YEAR.
SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS DONE
WELL, WE CAN GET IT DONE TODAY,
WE COULD GET IT DONE TODAY.
WE HAVE GONE MORE THAN HALFWAY
ON A COMPROMISE, AND THIS IS NO
LONGER ABOUT THE CUTS, THIS
ISN'T ABOUT THE MONEY.
THIS IS ABOUT AN EXTREME AGENDA,
AND LATONYA'S PAYCHECK HANGS IN
THE BALANCE, AND HER FRIENDS IN
HOSPITAL.
THE BREAK ROOM AT THE V.A.
LET'S REVIEW WHAT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR ON THE BUDGET.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
PARTICIPATED IN EVERY
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IN THE
SENATE AND EVERY APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE PASSED A BILL, AND AT
THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT BILL
WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE
THE APPROPRIATORS BELIEVED THAT
THE REPUBLICAN APPROPRIATORS
HELPED WRITE.
WERE SUPPORTING THE BILLS THEY
IN FACT, THOSE REPUBLICAN
APPROPRIATORS STUFFED THAT BILL
FULL OF EARMARKS FOR
REPUBLICANS.
HUNDREDS OF EARMARKS FOR
REPUBLICANS WERE STUFFED IN THAT
BILL, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE
FLOOR, AND I REMEMBER THE NIGHT
IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.
IT WAS IN THE LAME DUCK.
AND THEN THE REPUBLICANS DECIDED
ANYMORE.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SUPPORT IT
AND BY THE WAY, IT WASN'T AS IF
PASSING ANYTHING AROUND HERE WAS
EASY LAST YEAR.
IF ANYBODY WAS PAYING ATTENTION,
IT WAS ABOUT LET'S DRAG THIS
OUT, LET'S BE STUBBORN, LET'S
MAKE SURE THEY HAVE GOT TO GET
TO 60 ON EVERYTHING.
AND IS THERE BLAME TO GO AROUND
THAT THE BUDGET DIDN'T GET DONE
LAST YEAR?
SURE, THERE IS BLAME THAT CAN GO
ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS AISLE.
I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT IT WAS
THE REPUBLICANS' FAULT OR THE
DEMOCRATS' FAULT, BUT THERE
CERTAINLY -- IT IS REALLY,
REALLY -- IT REALLY, REALLY
TAKES A LOT OF NERVE TO SAY THE
ONLY REASON WE DON'T HAVE A
BUDGET IS BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS
WERE NOT WILLING TO PASS A
BUDGET LAST YEAR.
IT WAS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED
THAN THAT, IF PEOPLE WILL
REMEMBER THE FACTS AS THEY
OCCURRED AT THE TIME.
SO IT APPEARS TO ME NOW THAT
THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF
PEOPLE DOWN THE HALL THAT WANT
THE SHUTDOWN.
I WAS REALLY INTERESTED WHEN I
SAW IN THE PAPER THAT WHEN
SPEAKER BOEHNER ANNOUNCED TO HIS
CAUCUS THEY WERE PREPARING FOR A
OVATION.
SHUTDOWN, HE GOT A STANDING
WELL, I CAN ASSURE YOU THERE ARE
CAUCUS.
NO STANDING OVATIONS IN OUR
THERE ARE NO STANDING OVATIONS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
WHEN I GO TO SLEEP TONIGHT, I'M
GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT
LATONYA.
I'M GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT
HER KIDS AND WHAT SHE IS TELLING
THEM TONIGHT AND WHAT NOT
GETTING ONE PAYCHECK MEANS TO
THAT FAMILY.
JUST ONE PAYCHECK CAN MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE, CAN SEND A FAMILY
DOWN A PATH OF GETTING BEHIND ON
THEIR MORTGAGE, GETTING BEHIND
ON THEIR BILLS, AND THEN NOT
HAVING A WAY TO CATCH UP.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE
RIGHT NOW.
NOT ABOUT THOSE SOCIAL ISSUES
THAT WE DISAGREE ON AND WE CAN
DEBATE AND DISAGREE ON FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS, AS WE HAVE FOR THE
LAST 40 IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT
REALLY CAN WE GET A NUMBER, CAN
WE MAKE THE GOAL POST QUIT
MOVING, CAN WE AGREE ON THE
CUTS, AND THEN GET ON TO THE
HARD WORK.
I MEAN, HOW EMBARRASSING IS IT
THAT WE ARE FIGHTING OVER
LITERALLY A FEW BILLION DOLLARS
IN DIFFERENCES, AND IF THIS IS
SO MUCH ABOUT CUTTING THE DEBT,
FOR ANOTHER DAY I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THIS, BUT REALLY THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WAS RELEASED
THIS WEEK, AND GUESS WHAT IT
ADDS TO THE DEFICIT OVER THE
NEXT DECADE.
THE
RYAN ROAD MAP.
$8.2 TRILLION IT ADDS TO THE
DEFICIT OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
THAT'S HOW SERIOUS THEY'RE
GETTING ABOUT THE DEFICIT.
CUTS TAXES FOR A LOT OF WEALTHY
DEFICIT.
PEOPLE, DOESN'T DO MUCH ON THE
SO I'M ALL FOR CUTS.
I'VE STOOD FOR CUSSMENTS I WILL
CONTINUE TO --
I'VE STOOD FOR CUTS.
CUTS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND FOR
SHRINK.
THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO
BUT WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS
A POLITICAL GAME AND IT'S
SHAMEFUL AND IT SHOULD STOP.
AND WE SHOULD MAKE AN AGREEMENT
ON THE NUMBERS, MOVE ON AND MAKE
SURE LATANYA GETS PAID.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WYOMING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
COME TO THE FLOOR TODAY AS
SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN A STATE,
WYOMING, WHERE WE BALANCE OUR
BUDGET EVERY YEAR, WHERE THE
CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT STATE,
FAMILIES ALL ACROSS WYOMING LIVE
WITHIN THEIR MEANS, BALANCE
THEIR BUDGETS, KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN A
BUDGET.
THAT'S WHY OUR STATE, WYOMING,
IS ONE THAT CURRENTLY TODAY DOES
NOT HAVE A DEFICIT, DOES NOT
HAVE A DEBT, A STATE WHERE EVERY
YEAR BY CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE
WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET.
IT'S TIME FOR WASHINGTON TO TAKE
A LESSON FROM WYOMING AND
BALANCE ITS BUDGET.
THIS IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING MUST
STOP.
HERE WE ARE A DAY FROM WHEN IT
LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE DEALING
WITH A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AND
I'M READY TO VOTE.
I'M READY TO VOTE FOR A BILL
THAT ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES EARLY TODAY.
I'M READY TO VOTE TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT OPEN, TO KEEP THE
GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONING, TO MAKE
SURE SERVICES ARE THERE.
THE BILL'S PASSED THE HOUSE.
YOU KNOW BS PEOPLE WHO STUDIED
CIVIC IN SCHOOL REALIZE --
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO STUDIED
CIVICS IN SCHOOL REALIZE THAT
THAT'S HOW WE MAKE A BILL IN
THIS COUNTRY, PASS THE HOUSE,
PASS THE SENATE, GOES TO THE
PRESIDENT, SIGNS IT INTO LAW.
THE BILL'S ALREADY PASSED THE
HOUSE COMING TO THE SENATE.
I'M READY TO VOTE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER
SENATORS ARE.
I'M READY TO VOTE.
NOW, I JUST HEARD MY COLLEAGUE
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
TALK ABOUT A SHUTDOWN AND WHO IS
ROOTING FOR A SHUTDOWN.
I THINK IT'S NO SURPRISE TO
PEOPLE WHO MAY BE WATCHING AT
HOME THAT IT IS FORMER
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN, HOWARD DEAN, WHO IS
ROOTING FOR A SHUTDOWN.
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
SAYS -- QUOTE -- "I THINK IT
WOULD BE THE BEST THING IN THE
WORLD TO HAVE A SHUTDOWN."
HE'S THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE
PARTY, OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE.
WELL, THAT MAY BE WHAT HE WANTS.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO VOTE FOR THE BILL THAT
PASSED THE HOUSE.
IT'S THE ONLY PROPOSAL THAT'S
OUT THERE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DEMOCRATS
OFFER ANYTHING.
EVEN "THE NEW YORK TIMES" SAID
OF THE PRESIDENT, THEY SAID HE
WAS SILENT FOR TOO LONG.
WE'VE HEARD OUR PREVIOUS SPEAKER
TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL ISSUES.
WELL, LET'S -- LET'S REMEMBER
THAT IT IS CONVENIENT AMNESIA
FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO TALK ABOUT
THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE BECAUSE THE
PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT OBAMA VOTED
FOR AND SIGNED INTO LAW SPENDING
BILLS THAT INCLUDED SIMILAR --
THE EXACT SAME IDENTICAL SOCIAL
ISSUE IN THE PAST, THE ONE THAT
HE IS OPPOSING TODAY.
SO DID 49 CURRENT SENATE
DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR A SPENDING
BILL THAT DEALT WITH THAT SOCIAL
ISSUE.
SO WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN TODAY
IT'S DIFFERENT?
WELL, I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
WITH WHAT THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAID IS THAT,
HEY, I THINK IT WOULD BE THE
BEST THING, HE SAID, IN THE
WORLD.
FORMER GOVERNOR DEAN SAID, TO
HAVE A SHUTDOWN.
REPUBLICANS ARE PROPOSING
SOLUTIONS.
AND WHAT DO WE SEE FROM THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE?
WE SEE ONE OF THE SENATORS, THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM NEW YORK,
"EXTREME."
SAYING I ALWAYS USE THE WORD
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT'S
PROPOSED, HE SAYS -- QUOTE -- "I
ALWAYS USE THE WORD 'EXTREME.'."
SAYING THIS.
THEY HAVE TAPE RECORDINGS OF HIM
HE THEN SAID, "THIS IS WHAT" --
"THAT IS WHAT THE CAUCUS
INSTRUCTED ME TO USE THIS WEEK."
REGARDLESS OF HOW REASONABLE A
PROPOSAL MAY BE, REGARDLESS OF
THE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY BE
PROPOSED -- QUOTE -- "I ALWAYS
USE THE WORD 'EXTREME,' THAT IS
WHAT THE CAUCUS INSTRUCTED ME TO
USE THIS WEEK."
MR. PRESIDENT, I TRAVEL BACK AND
FORTH TO WYOMING EVERY WEEKEND,
VISIT WITH PEOPLE AND SIT AROUND
AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
SOMETIMES IT'S A MORNING
BREAKFAST GROUP.
SOMETIMES IT'S PEOPLE AT LUNCH,
DINNER, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, AND
I ASK THEM, HOW MANY OF YOU
BELIEVE YOU HAVE A LIFE THAT'S
BETTER THAN YOUR PARENTS HAD?
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, EVERY HAND
GOES UP.
AND THEN I SAY, AND HOW MANY OF
YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR CHILDREN
WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE THAN YOU
HAVE RIGHT NOW?
AND VERY FEW HANDS GO UP.
THAT'S THE PROBLEM,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK THEM, WHAT IS THE CONCERN,
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE
A BETTER LIFE THAN YOUR PARENTS
DID BUT YOUR CHILDREN WILL NOT
HAVE AS GOOD A LIFE AS YOU DO?
AND THE ANSWER THEY GIVE IS, THE
DEBT.
THE RECKLESS SPENDING THROUGH
WASHINGTON, RECKLESS,
IRRESPONSIBLE, UNSUSTAINABLE.
AND YET, WHEN WE WANT TO GO
AHEAD TODAY, DO CUTS IN SPENDING
SPENDING, KEEP THE MILITARY
GOING, DEAL WITH THE ISSUE AT
HAND, KEEP THE GOVERNMENT
FUNCTIONING SO WE CAN COME BACK
AND CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE DEBT
AND THE SPENDING, THIS BODY IS
NOT READY TO VOTE.
I'M READY TO VOTE.
I'M READY TO VOTE FOR THE ONLY
PROPOSAL THAT'S ON THE TABLE,
THE ONE THAT THE REPUBLICAN AND
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PASSED TODAY.
THAT'S REAL LEADERSHIP.
IT IS A PLAN, AND IT WILL WORK.
IT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE ASKING FOR.
NOW, I HAVE PEOPLE FROM WYOMING
ALL THE TIME WHO COME TO
WASHINGTON, AND THEY WILL SAY,
YOU KNOW, WE REALIZE THAT THINGS
ARE TOUGH THIS YEAR.
THEY COME AND EXPLAIN A PROGRAM
THAT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, GOOD FOR CHILDREN,
GOOD FOR SENIORS.
MET WITH SIX OR SEVEN GROUPS
LIKE THAT TODAY.
GOOD FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOL.
AND THEY SAY, WE KNOW THAT ALL
OF US ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THE REALITIES OF THE FACTS
THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE WITH THIS
UNSUSTAINABLE SPENDING, WHERE 40
CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR WE
SPEND IS BORROWED.
OVERSEAS.
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS FROM
OUR NUMBER-ONE -- NUMBER-ONE
LENDER BEING THE FOLKS IN CHINA.
THEY SAY, IS THAT YOUR CONCERN?
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE CONCERN
THAT I HEAR AROUND THE STATE OF
WYOMING.
THEY SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF
CHINA COMES OVER AND TELL THOSE
IN AMERICA A FEW WEEKS AGO THAT
HE WANTS THE CHINESE CURRENCY TO
BE THE CURRENCY OF THE FUTURE
AND THE DOLLAR TO BE THE
CURRENCY OF THE PAST.
THAT'S BECAUSE HE KNOWS WE HAVE
AN ADDICTION TO SPENDING AND IT
MUST STOP.
THAT'S WHAT I HEAR FROM PEOPLE
FROM WYOMING WHO COME HERE AS
WELL.
THEY SAY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GET THE SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL.
IT SEEMS REASONABLE TO GET BACK
MR. PRESIDENT.
TO THE LEVELS OF 2008 SPENDING,
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE -- THAT'S
THE LEVEL THAT MANY AMERICAN
FAMILIES ARE LIVING UNDER.
THEY BALANCE THEIR BUDGETS.
IT'S TIME FOR WASHINGTON TO DO
IT AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN WYOMING
WYOMING -- AND I VISITED WITH A
NUMBER THROUGH THE WEEK, IN MANY
COMMUNITIES LAST WEEKEND, IN
WARLAND, IN CASPAR, IN
LARAMIE -- WHAT THEY'RE SUING IS
GET THE SPENDING --
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GET THE
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL, DO IT IN
A REASONABLE MANNER.
AND FOR SOMEONE TO COME FROM THE
AND SAY I THINK THE BEST THING
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE TO COME
IN THE WORLD IS TO HAVE A
SHUTDOWN AND FOR ANOTHER PERSON
TO SAY, "I ALWAYS USE THE WORD
'EXTREME," THAT IS WHAT THE
CAUCUS INSTRUCTED NOTICE INSTRUCTED NOTICE USE
THIS WEEK."
THAT DOESN'T FIND A SOLUTION.
BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION ON THE
TABLE AND IT IS A SOLUTION THAT
HAS BEEN PROPOSED AND THIS
SENATE OUGHT TO BE VOTING ON
TONIGHT.
FOR THE FROZE THE PRESIDENT TO SAY, I'M
GOING TO VETO IT, SHOWS THAT THE
IN THIS PROCESS.
PRESIDENT IS TRULY NOT ENGAGED
HE HAS BEEN SILENT TOO LONG,
ACCORDING TO "THE NEW YORK
TIMES."
HIS BUDGET THAT HE HAS PROPOSED,
THE ECONOMIST, WORLD-RENOWNED,
REPRESENTED PUBLICATION CALLED
HIS BUDGET DISHONEST.
LEADERSHIP WE NEED.
THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF
WE NEED SOMEONE IN THE WHITE
HOUSE FULLY ENGAGED, TAKING AN
ACTIVE ROLE AND MAKING SURE WE
GET BACK ON TO A COURSE THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE, THAT ALLOWS US AS A
COUNTRY TO LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS
AS FAMILIES KNOW BECAUSE WE HAVE
HAVE.
TO STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DO NOT
HAVE.
STOP SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T
THAT'S THE WAY FOR WASHINGTON TO
BEHAVE IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.
TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS
THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE
FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY.
TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT
AFFECT FAMILIES AND THAT AFFECT
THEIR NEEDS.
AND FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE TRYING
TO DEAL WITH KIDS AND BILLS AND
A MORTGAGE, THEY KNOW WHAT IT
MEANS TO HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN
THEIR MEANS.
WHEN WE SEE POLICIES COMING OUT
OF THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE
ONES MAKING THE PAIN AT THE PUMP
EVEN WORSE AS FAMILIES ARE
NOTICING THEY'RE PAYING $700 ON
AVERAGE MORE FOR GASOLINE THIS
YEAR THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR.
THAT'S MONEY THAT'S NOT
AVAILABLE FOR OTHER BILLS OR FOR
A MORTGAGE OR TO -- OR TO HELP
WITH THEIR KIDS.
THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THEY'RE
FACING.
FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO PAY FOR
THEIR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE
REALIZING THE INCREASED COSTS OF
THE INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE
OBAMA HEALTH CARE LAW THAT
PASSED WAY OVER THE OBJECTIONS
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, CRAMMED
DOWN THE THROATS OF THE AMERICAN
AISLE.
PEOPLE BY THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG.
THAT'S WHY I THINK WE SAW LAST
NOVEMBER THE ELECTION RESULTS
THAT WE DID ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY WE SEE PEOPLE
CONTINUING TO STAND UP AND SPEAK
OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO GO
TO TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND SHARE
THEIR VIEWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS
THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS
COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S
INTERESTING, MR. PRESIDENT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK OF THE GREAT
PRESIDENTS THROUGH THE HISTORY
OF THIS COUNTRY AND WE ALL HAVE
OUR FAVORITES AND I THINK OF
RONALD REAGAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE SAID, YOU
CAN'T BE FOR BIG GOVERNMENT AND
BIG SPENDING AND BIG TAXES AND
STILL BE FOR THE LITTLE GUY.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR BIG
GOVERNMENT, BIG SPENDING, BIG
TAXES.
THEY'RE NOT FOR THE LITTLE GUY.
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE