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I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND
PASSED, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
BE LAID ON THE TABLE, AND THAT
ANY STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE
BILL APPEAR AT THIS POINT IN THE
RECORD.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT, I
OBJECT.
OBJECTION IS HEARD.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. PRESIDENT, HAVE
THE YEAS AND NAYS BEEN ORDERED
ON THE MUELLER NOMINATION?
THEY
HAVE NOT BEEN ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS ON THE
MUELLER NOMINATION.
IS
THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, HOW
MUCH TIME REMAINS UNTIL THE VOTE
ON THE MUELLER NOMINATION?
4
MINUTES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M
GOING TO HOPE THAT ALL SENATORS
THIS NOMINATION.
WILL STEP FORWARD AND VOTE FOR
I CAN THINK OF NO REASON WHY
THEY SHOULDN'T.
DIRECTOR MUELLER IS TYPICAL OF
MANY IN OUR GOVERNMENT WHO
SERVED THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA
TIRELESSLY WITHOUT ANY GAIN TO
THEMSELVES, BUT FOR WHAT IS BEST
FOR ALL AMERICANS AND WHAT IS
BEST FOR OUR COUNTRY.
HE'S DONE AWAY, ALONG WITH THE
THOUSANDS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE AND THE F.B.I. WHO WORK
EVERY DAY, ACTUALLY WORK AROUND
THE CLOCK EVERY DAY TO KEEP
AMERICA SAFE TO, PROTECT US FROM
CRIME, AND TO PROTECT US FROM
TERRORISTS.
WE SOMETIMES SIT HERE IN A LUMP
AND SAY OH, WELL, GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES.
THE FACT IS THESE ARE VERY BRAVE
MEN AND WOMEN, MANY OF WHOM PUT
THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US
DAY BY DAY, AND WE OUGHT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
NOW, BOB MUELLER HAS THE PUBLIC
FACE AS THE LONG-SERVING
DIRECTOR OF THE F.B.I.
BUT HE AND ANN ARE ALSO
LONG-TIME MARRIED COUPLE,
FAMILY, CHILDREN NOW GROWN.
AND HE IS ABLE TO SEPARATE THAT
PART FROM THE PUBLIC LIFE.
THE PUBLIC LIFE, LIKE SO MANY
WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY, THE
PUBLIC LIFE TAKES AN INORDINATE
AMOUNT OF HIS TIME.
I THINK IT IS A COMPLIMENT TO
HIM THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO
THAT, BUT ALSO TO ANN AND HIS
CHILDREN, THAT THEY'RE WILLING
TO LET HIM HAVE THAT TIME.
I THINK, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
SHOULD FEEL FORTUNATE IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT
ASKED HIM TO STEP FORWARD FOR
ANOTHER TWO YEARS, HE ANSWERED
THE CALL.
I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT
PRESIDENT OBAMA.
HE KNEW HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO NAME SOMEBODY WHO WOULD LAST,
WHO WOULD BE THERE AS LONG AS HE
, BARACK OBAMA, MAY BE
PRESIDENT AND BEYOND, WHETHER HE
HAS TWO TERMS WHICH I HOPE OR
OTHERWISE.
INSTEAD, HE DID AS HE HAS OFTEN
DONE WHAT HE THOUGHT IS BEST FOR
THE COUNTRY.
ARE.
THAT'S THE SITUATION THAT WE
I WOULD URGE ALL SENATORS TO
VOTE AYE ON THIS NOMINATION.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, HOW MUCH
TIME IS REMAINING?
ONE
MINUTE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
FLOOR.
SEE NOBODY ELSE SEEKING THE
I WOULD YIELD BACK WHAT IS NOW
ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
ALL TIME
IS EXPIRED.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY SENATORS WISHING TO CHANGE
THEIR VOTE?
SEEING MORNING THE AYES ARE 100,
THE NAYS ARE 0.
THE NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, A
MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS
CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID ON THE
TABLE, THE PRESIDENT WILL BE
NOTIFIED OF THE -- WILL BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION, THE SENATE WILL
RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
MAY WE
HAVE ORDER.
THE MAJORITY LEADER.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE SENATE
PROCEED TO --
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
SENATE IS NOT IN ORDER.
WILL THE
SENATORS PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OUT OF THE WELL OF
THANK YOU.
THE SENATE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
HAVE SPOKEN TO THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER FAIRLY RECENTLY -- IT'S
ALL RELATIVE TIME AROUND HERE --
THERE WILL BE NO ROLL CALL VOTES
TONIGHT.
NO MORE ROLL CALL VOTES TONIGHT.
I NOW ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE
SENATE PROCEED TO A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 6:30 P.M.
TONIGHT WITH SENATORS PERMITTED
EACH.
TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
SENATOR COBURN IS NOT ON THE
FLOOR BUT I UNDERSTAND HE WANTED
TO SPEAK FOR MORE THAN TEN
MINUTES.
ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT THAT?
SO WHAT TIME DID HE WANT TO BE
RECOGNIZED?
I WOULD ASK THAT SENATOR COBURN
BE RECOGNIZED AT 5:30 FOR UP TO
30 MINUTES.
RESERVING THE RIGHT
TO OBJECT AND I WON'T OBJECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET 20 MINUTES
TO SPEAK FOLLOWING SENATOR
COBURN.
SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
THE REST OF YOU
SENATORS WILL BE LIMITED TO TEN
MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, ONE OF
THE THINGS -- AT 6:30, I WOULD
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I BE
RECOGNIZED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE IN MORNING
HOUR, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I
MAY SPEAK ON THE SENATE FLOOR
FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES.
WE'RE
IN A QUORUM CALL.
I WOULD ASK THAT
THE QUORUM CALL BE LIFTED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'VE SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IN REGARD
TO THE ISSUE AT HAND, AND
CLEARLY THE TIME CONTINUES TO
ESCAPE US IN WHICH THE DAY OF
RECKONING IS COMING IN REGARD TO
THE DEBT CEILING ISSUE.
AND I'VE SAID FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING THAT IN MY VIEW IT
WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO
RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, BUT IT
WOULD BE AS IRRESPONSIBLE IF NOT
MORE SO, TO RAISE THE DEBT
CEILING WITHOUT REDUCING THE
SPENDING, GETTING OUR BOOKS MORE
IN BALANCE AND MOVING US IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARD A
BALANCED BUDGET IN THE FUTURE.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS CAN'T BE
ACCOMPLISHED OVERNIGHT, AND I
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE THOSE
WHO BRING DIFFERENT POINTS OF
SENATE FLOOR.
VIEW AND PERSPECTIVE TO THE
THIS IS A BODY OF PEOPLE WHO
REPRESENT INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE
IN ALL 50 STATES AND HAVE POINTS
OF VIEW AND PHILOSOPHIES AND
BACKGROUND THAT ARE DIFFERENT
THAN PERHAPS THE CONSTITUENTS
THAT I REPRESENT FROM THE STATE
OF KANSAS.
I'VE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF
THE LEGISLATION ENTITLED CUT,
CAP, AND BALANCE, AND I ACTUALLY
BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT JUST CUT,
CAP, AND BALANCE.
IT'S CUT, CAP, BALANCE AND GROW
THAT WE COULD DO SO MUCH FOR OUR
COUNTRY BOTH IN THE FISCAL
SENSE -- THE IDEA THAT WE CAN
BETTER PAY OUR BILLS IF THE
REVENUES ARE INCREASED BY
PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK, BY
CREATING AN ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN
WHICH PEOPLE CAN FIND JOBS,
PEOPLE CAN IMPROVE THEIR
SITUATION IN REGARD TO THEIR
JOB, AND IN THE PROCESS OF DOING
THAT THE REVENUES INCREASE TO
THE FEDERAL TREASURY.
IT WAS BACK IN THE DAYS OF
PRESIDENT CLINTON IN WHICH WE
CAME THE CLOSEST TO HAVING OUR
BOOKS BALANCED THE MOST RECENT
TIME.
AND WHILE THERE WAS SPENDING
RESTRAINT AND DISAGREEMENT AMONG
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ABOUT
NEW SPENDING PROGRAMS OR BIGGER
GOVERNMENT, IN MY VIEW, THE REAL
REASON WE HAD A BALANCED BUDGET
GROWING.
WAS BECAUSE THE ECONOMY WAS
AND SO I AGAIN ASK MY COLLEAGUES
TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGE
ELECTION.
WHAT I BELIEVE WAS OF THE 2010
IT'S THE ECONOMY.
IT'S THE DESIRE FOR PEOPLE TO
HAVE A BETTER LIFE TO, SAVE
MONEY FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S
EDUCATION, TO SAVE MONEY FOR
THEIR RETIREMENT AND TO BE ABLE
TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE JOB
THEY HAVE TODAY IS
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S A NUMBER
OF THINGS WE CAN DO WITH REGARD
TO THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT,
TAX CODE FAIR AND CERTAIN, A
TRADE POLICY THAT ALLOWS TO US
INCREASE EXPORTS BOTH
AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURED
GOODS AND AN ENERGY POLICY THAT
REDUCES OUR RELIANCE UPON
FOREIGN ENERGY AND GIVES US
GREATER CONTROL OVER ITS COSTS.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THE TIME
HAS COME FOR US TO REACH AN
AGREEMENT AND WE ANXIOUSLY AWAIT
WHAT ACTION THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES MAY TAKE.
AND IN LIGHT OF THE POINT IN
TIME THAT WE'RE IN, I WANTED TO
SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN THE
SENATE A LETTER, AN EMAIL I
RECEIVED FROM ONE OF MY
CONSTITUENTS, A KANSAN NAMED
GINA REYNOLDS.
GINA IS FROM SHAWNEE AND SHE
EXPRESSES THIS POINT OF VIEW I
THINK VERY APPROPRIATELY FOR
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND IN ASKING GINA IF I COULD
SHARE WITH YOU WHAT SHE WROTE TO
ME, SHE INDICATED THIS WAS THE
VERY FIRST TIME SHE HAD EVER
WRITTEN A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY
THAT I HOPE WE WILL TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT.
AND AGAIN, WHILE WE BRING
PHILOSOPHIES AND VIEWPOINTS,
APPROACHES TO GOVERNMENT TO
WASHINGTON, D.C., IN MY VIEW,
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT
TO PREVAIL.
HERE'S WHAT SHE SAYS.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE UNITED
STATES NEEDS TO START LIVING
WITHIN OUR MEANS.
HOWEVER, I AM FRUSTRATED BEYOND
BELIEF WITH THE INABILITY OF
CONGRESS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND
ENSURE THAT WE DO NOT THROW THE
COUNTRY BACK INTO RECESSION.
WHILE I AND MY HUSBAND ARE
EMPLOYED, WE FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE
JOBS.
WE WORK HARD, PAY OUR TAXES AND
TRY TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN THE
RIGHT WAY.
IT ABSOLUTELY BOGGLES MY MIND WE
CANNOT COME TO A COMPROMISE ON
THE DLNG DEBT CEILING ISSUE THAT
IS SO CRITICAL TO THE FINANCIAL
MARKETS AND THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
CITIZEN.
FOR IT IS US, THE MIDDLE
CLASS, THAT WILL SUFFER THE
MOST.
FROM LOST JOBS TO LOST
401(k)'S AND LOST SAVINGS.
WE NEED REAL TAX REFORM, REAL
ENTITLEMENT FORM FOR EVEN THOUGH
I AM 42 YEARS OLD I DO NOT
BELIEVE I WILL EVER SEE A DIME
OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND REAL
SPENDING CUTS.
CONGRESS HAS HAD MONTHS TO WORK
ON THIS ISSUE AND NOW THE TIME
IS TO ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS
OF THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE
POLITICAL INTEREST GROUPS AND
NOT FOR SOME IDEOLOGY.
IT IS SAD TO SAY BUT I HONESTLY
DON'T KNOW IF MY CHILDREN WILL
HAVE A BETTER FUTURE THAN ME.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
TOUGH DECISIONS YET TO BE MADE
REGARDING SPENDING AND TAXES,
BUT WE ONLY MAKE IT HARDER BY
DEFAULTING ON OUR COUNTRY'S
OBLIGATIONS.
I AM FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND
GENERALLY VOTE REPUBLICAN BUT I
DO NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW ANY ONE
PATH.
I TRY TO USE MY VOTE WISELY AND
PLEDGE MY LOYALTY TO MY GOD AND
MY COUNTRY, NOT A POLITICAL
PARTY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE GREATEST
COUNTRY ON EARTH, BUT OUR
INABILITY TO COMPROMISE, TO
STOP ACTING LIKE SPOILED
CHILDREN SADDENS ME.
THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE ABLE
TO COMPROMISE AND WRITE A
DOCUMENT THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST
OF TIME FOR 235 YEARS.
CAN WE NOT NOW DO THE SAME?
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING FOR
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE ONES
FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY AND HURT BY
THE SELF-PRODUCED IMPASSE.
I WANT TO THANK GINA REYNOLDS
FOR HER MESSAGE TO ME AND
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER
UNITED STATES SENATOR, WITH ME
AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AND I THINK SHE IN MANY WAYS
EXPRESSES A CONSERVATIVE YET
COMMON SENSE POINT OF VIEW THAT
SO MANY KANSANS HAVE AND I OFTEN
THINK THAT WE OFTEN -- I OFTEN
THINK TOO MANY TIMES WE ARE
CAUGHT IN A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE
FIND AN INABILITY TO RESOLVE.
SOMETIMES WE ARE TRAPPED BY OUR
POLITICAL PARTY AND THAT IN MY
VIEW WHILE WE OUGHT TO HAVE
STRONG OPINIONS AND OUGHT TO
HAVE A SOLID PHILOSOPHY, WE
NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN WE'RE
MOTIVATED FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
AND THE GOOD OF AMERICA IS AT
THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS.
I INDICATED IN MY MAIDEN SPEECH
WHEN I FIRST SPOKE ON THE SENATE
FLOOR HERE NOW FOUR MONTHS AGO,
AS A NEW UNITED STATES SENATOR,
THAT WHEN I NEED A PROSPECTIVE
AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE
AND SOMETIMES WE GET BOGGED DOWN
IN THOSE THINGS THAT ARE A LOT
LESS IMPORTANT, I'LL PUT MY
WALKING SHOES ON, MY RUNNING
SHOES AND I'LL WALK UP TO THE
LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND NOW YOU GO
BY THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL,
YOU WALK ON PAST THE VIETNAM
WALL, AND YOU WALK BACK BY THE
KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL.
AND IN EACH ONE OF THOSE
LOCATIONS I AM REMINDED NO
AMERICAN MEMORIALIZED IN THOSE
SETTINGS FOUGHT AND DECIDE
COUNTRY FOR PURPOSES OF
DYED, SACRIFICED FOR THEIR
REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS BUT
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THEY HAD AN
OBLIGATION TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY
AND BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT IN
THAT SERVICE THEY HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE LIFE BETTER
FOR THEIR FAMILY AND FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS.
WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES, WE
NEED THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT IT'S
NOT THE FIGHT BETWEEN
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, IT'S
ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR
AMERICA.
WE OWE OUR -- THOSE WHO
SACRIFICED IN MILITARY SERVICE
FOR OUR COUNTRY AND PARTICULARLY
THOSE WHO DIED IN THIS SERVICE
THAT KIND OF OBLIGATION THAT WE
WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND I
KNOW MY COLLEAGUES SHARE THAT
POINT OF VIEW.
I THINK FROM TIME TO TIME WE
NEED TO BE REMIND WHAT HAD THE
FOCUS MUST BE AND SO, MADAM
PRESIDENT, I AGAIN APPRECIATE
THE SENTIMENTS EXPRESSED BY THIS
KANSAN, AND I WOULD INDICATE
THAT WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS AND
CERTAINLY ME AS A MEMBER OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE, OUR
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AS
CITIZENS IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT
WE PASS ON TO THE NEXT
GENERATION OF AMERICANS THIS
COUNTRY CALLED THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA IN WHICH WE MAINTAIN
THE FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES
GUARANTEED BY OUR CONSTITUTION
AND THAT WE ALLOW THE NEXT
GENERATION OF AMERICANS, OUR
CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN YET TO BE
BORN, PEOPLE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW,
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
AND I THINK THIS KANSAS
CONSTITUENT OF MINE HAS
EXPRESSED THOSE SENTIMENTS VERY
WELL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO
SEE THAT WE DOLT RIGHT THING FOR
THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION AND
THAT THE NEXT GENERATION OF
AMERICANS CAN ALSO PURSUE THE
THING WE ALL IDOLIZE AND BELIEVE
IN: THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I YIELD BACK, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA.
LET ME FIRST OF
ALL COMPLIMENT MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, THE SENATOR FROM
KANSAS, FOR HIS COMMENTS AND FOR
HIS APPROACH.
HE MADE A FEW COMMENTS THERE
THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD ENOUGH OF
IN THIS CHAMBER OR IN THE OTHER
CHAMBER IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
HE SAID THAT BEFORE HE WAS A
DEMOCRAT OR BEFORE HE WAS A
REPUBLICAN, HE WAS AN AMERICAN.
I WANT TO COMPLIMENT HIM ON
THOSE SENTIMENTS AND I WANT TO
RISE IN THAT SAME VEIN BECAUSE
WHETHER YOU'RE SOMEBODY FROM
KANSAS, SOMEBODY FROM NORTH
CAROLINA, OR THE FOLKS I HEAR
FROM IN VIRGINIA, THEY KEEP
SAYING, WHY CAN'T YOU GUYS GET
THIS THING DONE?
WHY CAN'T YOU BOTH BE WILLING TO
GIVE A LITTLE TO PUT OUR COUNTRY
FIRST?
I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SAY, AS
SOMEBODY WHO HAD THE HONOR OF
SERVING AS GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
AND SOMEBODY WHO SERVED -- WAS A
BUSINESS GUY FOR 20 YEARS, I
NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE STANDING ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE SIX
DAYS, FIVE AND A HALF DAYS AWAY
FROM THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA POTENTIALLY DEFAULTING
ON OUR OBLIGATIONS.
AND YET MOST OF THE DEBATE --
LORD KNOWS, ALMOST ALL OF THE
PRESS CONFERENCES -- HAVE LESS
BEEN ABOUT SOLUTIONS AND MORE
BEEN ABOUT WHO'S TO BLAME.
FOLKS IN THE GALLERY, PEOPLE
WATCHING AT HOME, OR LIKE MOST
AMERICANS TRYING TO GET THROUGH
AN UNBEARABLY HOT SUMMER, YOU
WONDER WHO ARE THESE FOLKS THAT
WE HIRED TO GET THE PEOPLE'S
BUSINESS DONE.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
WITH A GROUP OF SENATORS, AND I
WANT TO -- OVER THE LAST NINE
MONTHS THAT HAVE DONE SOMETHING
THAT I DIDN'T THINK WAS
EXTRAORDINARY BUT UNFORTUNATELY
IN TODAY'S DAY AND LIFE IS
PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY.
A GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO SAID,
THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE WE FACE
IN OUR COUNTRY IS TO TRY TO GET
OUR DEBT AND DEFICIT UNDER
CONTROL AND WHO'VE SAID THE ONLY
WAY THAT WE CAN GET THAT UNDER
CONTROL IS TO SIT TOGETHER FOR
HOURS ON END, REASON TOGETHER,
ARGUE, DO SOMETHING THAT'S
PERHAPS I THINK BASICALLY AS
AMERICAN AS COMPROMISE.
AND AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF
BACK AND FORTH AND THEN LAST
TUESDAY WHEN WE REVEALED THAT
SO-CALLED PLAN -- WHICH FRANKLY
THE GANG OF SIX, WHICH WAS BUILT
UPON THE WORK OF A PREVIOUS YEAR
OF WORK OF DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS AND
BUSINESS LEADERS, THE
PRESIDENT'S DEFICIT COMMISSION
-- A REMARKABLE THING HAPPENED
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THIS
BODY.
INSTEAD OF EVERYBODY COMING OUT
AND SAYING WHY THIS COULDN'T
HAPPEN, THEY SAID, HEY, IT ISN'T
PERFECT BUT THIS ACTUALLY WOULD
LOWER OUR DEFICIT BY CLOSE TO $4
TRILLION, TAKE ON TAX REFORM,
TAKE ON ENTITLEMENT REFORM, CUT
SPENDING, AND MIGHT JUST BE A
PATH OUT.
WELL, THAT LASTED A COUPLE DAYS
AND THEN WE GOT BACK TO WHO WAS
GOING TO SCORE POINTS IN THE
NEXT 24-HOUR NEWS SEGMENT.
WELL, I DESPERATELY HOPE AND
PRAY THAT AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR
COUNTRY THAT WE WILL RISE TO THE
TASK AND MAKE SURE THAT WITH THE
EYES NOT OF THE NATION BUT OF
THE WORLD ON US THAT WE DO OUR
BASIC JOB TO MAKE SURE THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DOESN'T
DEFAULT NEXT TUESDAY.
THE ONLY WAY I THINK WE'RE GOING
TO GET THERE IS IF WE LOWER THE
RHETORIC, LOWER THE
FINGERPOINTSING, RECOGNIZING
IT'S GOING TO TAKE IDEAS FROM
BOTH SIDES.
BUT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A CHANGE
IN ATTITUDE FROM SOME.
THERE WAS A CONGRESSMAN WHO GAVE
A PRESS CONFERENCE SOMETIME IN
THE LAST DAY OR TWO WHO QUOTED
-- PARAPHRASED WINSTON
CHURCHILL.
AND I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT
YOU ON THE BEACHES, WE'RE GOING
TO FIGHT ON THE SEA, WE'RE GOING
IT FIGHT YOU IN THE AIR TO MAKE
STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE WAY
THE PLACE KNOWN AS WASHINGTON,
D.C., OPERATES.
WHO IS THE "YOU" HE'S GOING TO
FIGHT?
HE'S GOING TO FIGHT PEOPLE THAT
SAY MAYBE AMERICA AND AMERICANS
WANT US TO ACTUALLY WORK
TOGETHER AND COMPROMISE?
I MEAN, THIS KIND EVER OF SENTIMENT
GOES BEYOND THE PALE AT A MOMENT
WHEN OUR NATION IS IN THIS KIND
OF CRISIS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK
RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY COMING FROM
THE OTHER BODY, ABOUT THE ONLY
WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS AN
AMENDMENT, A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT.
WELL, I'D POINT OUT THAT 49
STATES GOT THAT KIND OF
AMENDMENT, YOU GOT TO BALANCE
YOUR BOOKS.
MY STATE OF VIRGINIA, THE
PRESIDING OFFICER OFFICER'S
STATE, NORTH CAROLINA.
THERE ARE AN AWFUL LOT OF STATES
THAT HAVE GOT THAT KIND OF
AMENDMENT IN PLACE, AND I DON'T
KNOW WHAT KIND OF ACCOUNTING
THEY USE, BUT I'VE NOT HEARD
MANY FOLKS POINT TO CALIFORNIA'S
STATE BUDGET AND SAY, THAT'S A
BALANCED BUDGET.
SO SOME KIND OF PROCESS ARGUMENT
HERE ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE
PROBLEM.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE THE HARD
CHOICES.
WE GOT TO CUT SPENDING.
WE GOT TO REFORM OUR
ENTITLEMENTS.
WE GOT TO REFORM OUR TAX CODE,
GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES.
THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
WE'RE SPEND AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
25% OF OUR G.D.P. -- WE'RE
COLLECTING REVENUES AT AN
HISTORIC LOW, 16% OF G.D.P.
IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET
SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT THAT
ANYTIME OUR NATION'S BUDGET HAS
BEEN IN RELATIVE BUG, IT'S BEEN
WHEN WE'VE BEEN ROUGHLY BETWEEN
SPEND AND REVENUES BETWEEN 19%
AND 20.5%.
WHY CAN'T WE COME TOGETHER TO
PUT PLAN IN PLACE THAT DOES
THAT?
FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING SAY THERE
ACTUALLY IS IS A PLAN THAT MORE
THAN A THIRD OF THE SENATE SAYS
WE'LL BE WITH YOU.
INSTEAD WE'RE GOING BACK AND
FORTH, PING-PONG, WHO'S GOING TO
HAVE WHICH PLAN, WHO'S GLG TO
WIN EACH DAY?
IT'S ALSO PRETTY REMARKABLE THAT
THE MOMENT OF TIME -- I DON'T
KNOW WHO THIS CONGRESSMAN IS OR
WHAT HIS PARTICULAR ISSUE IS,
BUT WHEN YOU'VE GOT ROUGHLY A
FIFTH OF THE HOUSE WHO SAY
THEY'RE ON RECORD THAT THEY WILL
NEVER VOTE TO INCREASE THE DEBT,
I WONDER WHEN THEY TOOK THE OATH
TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF OUR
COUNTRY WHICH SAY WE'VE GOT TO
PAY OUR BILLS, HOW THAT
COMMITMENT MATCHES WITH THOSE
PROMISES?
OR THAT'S POLITICAL POSITIONS?
MY SENSE IS IF THEY WANT TO HAVE
AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION, WHAT THEY ARE
ADVOCATING -- THIS WE WILL NEVER
CHANGE, OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY
APPROACH -- THE AMENDMENT THEY
OUGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT IS
BASICALLY RESTRUCTURING OUR
WHOLE CONSTITUTION AND TURNING
OUR GOVERNMENT INTO A
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM.
THERE ARE A LOST PLACES AROUND.
IF YOU WIN AN ELECTION, YOU GET
TO CHOOSE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
YOU GET TO CONTROL THE
LEGISLATURE, YOU CAN PATH
ANYTHING YOU WANT.
YET THESE VERY SAME FOLKS ARE
THE ONES WHO SAY, WE WANT TO
SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUTION.
WELL, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE
GENIUS OF OUR CONSTITUTION WAS
THE FACT THAT THE FOUNDERS SAID
THE MOST BASIC AMERICAN
PRINCIPLE WAS CHECKS AND
BALANCES.
SENATE.
YOU GOT A HOUSE, YOU GOT A
YOU GOT A PRESIDENT.
AND ACTUALLY THEY GOT TO WORK
TOGETHER.
SOMEHOW THE THE ATTITUDE AGAIN OF
SOME OF THESE MEMBERS IN THE
HOUSE, WHICH IS OUR WAY OR LET'S
DRIVE OUR COUNTRY OVER THE CLIFF
CLIFF, IS AS DRAMATICALLY
UN-AMERICAN AS ANYTHING I'VE
EVER SEEN.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE HEAR
OTHER MEMBERS WHO SAY, WELL,
MAYBE WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE
ECONOMIC SHOCK TO MAKE US DO THE
RIGHT THING.
WHAT ARE THESE FOLKS THINKING
OF?
THE STOCK MARKET CLOSED DOWN 200
POINTS TODAY.
IT'S BEEN DOWN ABOUT 400 POINTS
THIS WEEK.
AN AWFUL LOT OF AMERICANS WHO
ONLY NOW ARE STARTING TO RECOVER
FROM THE FINANCIAL CRISIS OF TWO
YEARS AGO.
AN AWFUL LOT OF RETIREES WHO SAW
THEIR 401(K)'S PLUMMET TWO YEARS
AGO THAT SLOWLY HAVE SEEN THAT
NEST EGG THAT'S GOING TO GET
THEM THROUGH RETIREMENT OR ROUGH
TIMES RECOVER.
WE'RE DOWN 400 POINTS.
HOW MUCH MORE STOCK MARKET
DECLINE DO WE NEED BEFORE WE ALL
HAVE THE COVER TO DO THE RIGHT
THING?
1,000 POINTS?
WE NEED TO PUT ANOTHER MILLION
AMERICANS OUT OF WORK?
DO WE NEED TO THROW MORE PEOPLE
OUT OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF
THE TAX INCREASE THAT WILL
RESULT, THE REAL INCREASE THAT
WILL RESULT WITH A RISE IN
INTEREST RATES THAT'LL HAPPEN
NEXT WEEK?
AND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO SAY,
WELL, LET'S JUST DO SHORT-TERM,
LET'S KICK THE CAN DOWN FOR A
SHORT WHILE.
SOMETHING IS BEING DISCUSSED IN
THE HOUSE -- I -- DOESN'T MATTER
WHETHER IT IS DEMOCRAT OR
REPUBLICAN.
IT MATTERS BECAUSE THAT APPROACH
WILL RESULT IN A LOWERING OF OUR
DEBT RATING.
I KNOW PEOPLE'S EYES GLAZE OVER
WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT DEBT
RATINGS.
THERE ARE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD WITH A AAA DEBT RATING.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE KIND OF
THE GOLD STANDARD.
WE HAVE THAT DEBT RATING
REDUCED, IT IS NOT ONLY A BLACK
EYE FOR AMERICA, IT NOT ONLY
MEANS THAT WHAT WE HAVE TO PAY
IN INTEREST RATES WILL GO UP,
NOT JUST THE GOVERNMENT, BUT IF
YOU GOT A SCHOOL BOND, A STATE
BOND, THOSE ARE GOING TO GO UP,
YOU GOT AN AUTO LOAN, A HOME
MORTGAGE, A STUDENT LOAN, YOU
ARE A BUSINESS TRYING TO EXPAND
YOUR BUSINESS, THE COST OF THAT
IS ALL GOING TO GO UP.
THE VERY SAME FOLKS WHO SAY,
WELL, WE WILL NEVER LOOK AT MORE
REVENUES, DON'T SEEM TO MIND AT
ALL THAT IF WE HAVE TO HAVE AN
INTEREST RATE RISE BECAUSE OF A
DEFAULT OR A DOWNGRADE OF OUR
DEBT, DOESN'T THAT TAKE MORE
MONEY OUT OF OUR AMERICANS'
POCKETS?
I JUST DON'T GET IT.
SO I DO HOPE AND FRANKLY I --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER KNOWS I'VE
BEEN PRETTY OBSESSED ABOUT THIS
ISSUE FOR MONTHS ON END.
I DO HOPE THAT WE WILL CHECK OUR
DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN HATS.
I AGREE WITH WHAT MY COLLEAGUE,
THE SENATOR FROM KANSAS SAID.
WHEN WE GET OUT OF BED TOMORROW,
WE GET OUT OF BED NOT AS
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, AS
AMERICANS FIRST.
WE NOT ONLY GET OVER THE DEBT
LIMIT, WHICH HOPEFULLY THROUGH
SOME CONVOLUTED PROCESS WE WILL,
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT
GETTING PAST AUGUST 2 DOESN'T
MEAN, OKAY, WE'RE DONE.
EVERYBODY GO HAVE A NICE AUGUST.
ALL THAT DOES IS BUY US A BIT OF
TIME TO DECIDE WHETHER WE'RE
GOING TO COME BACK TO THE REALLY
HARD ISSUES OF NOT ONLY HOW WE
START WITH SOME SPENDING CUTS --
WHICH WILL BE PART OF OUR DOWN
PAYMENT -- BUT HOW WE REALLY
MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS -- SO MANY OF US ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE BUT
PARTICULARLY ON THIS SIDE THE
AISLE WANT TO PROTECT.
BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY THERE 10,
20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW.
THE NOTION THAT THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO CHANGE, AREN'T --
CANNOT BE CONTINUED TO BE
SUSTAINABLE.
IT IS NOT DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN.
IT IS JUST THE FACT THAT THANK
GOODNESS A LOT OF US ARE LIVING
A LOT LONGER.
THE FACT REMAINS WHEN I WAS A
KID STHR-RP 16 -- THERE WERE 16,
17 PEOPLE PAYING IN FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY RETIREMENT.
NOW THERE ARE THREE.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE YOUR
KIDS, MY KIDS, THAT THERE IS
SOCIAL SECURITY IN ITS
FRAMEWORK.
AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE GOT TO
HAVE OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE RECOGNIZE THAT
YOU'VE GOT TO REFORM OUR TAX
CODE IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT
SIMPLER, FLATTER AND, YES,
GENERATES SOME ADDITIONAL
REVENUE.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET
THERE IF AND WHEN WE GET PAST
THIS AUGUST 2 DATE IS IF WE
COMBINE THAT EFFORT WITH A
LONG-TERM DEBT REDUCTION.
I AM MORE THAN OPEN TO ANY
VALID, BALANCED, COMPREHENSIVE
BIPARTISAN PLAN THAT'S AROUND.
THE EFFORT THAT THE SO-CALLED
GANG OF SIX, OR THE THIRD OF THE
SENATE THAT SAID, HEY, YEAH,
PERFECT.
THIS IS WORTH CONSIDERING ISN'T
I CAN ASSURE.
SOME WILL EVEN SAY SOME OF THE
PRESCRIPTIONS I MADE, IT MIGHT
NOT MEET ALL OF THOSE.
I'LL TELL YOU THREE THINGS IT
IS: IT IS COMPREHENSIVE, IT'S
BIPARTISAN.
AND UNDER ANY ANALYSIS, IT DOES
WHAT OUR COUNTRY DESPERATELY
NEEDS: STARTS TO DRIVE OUR DEBT
TO G.D.P. RATIO, WHICH IS A
FANCY WAY OF SAYING CAN WE
MAINTAIN OUR BOOKS ON A PATH TO
LEAD TO FISCAL STABILITY.
FRANKLY, WHAT THAT WOULD ALSO
ALLOW TO US DO IS TO GET BACK TO
WHAT WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR
TIME ON HERE, WHICH IS CREATING
GROWTH IN THIS ECONOMY.
START UNLEASHING AMERICAN
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION AGAIN.
BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
IF WE SPEND ALL OUR TIME GOING
BACK AND FORTH ABOUT HOW WE GOT
HERE, WHICH SHORT-TERM PLAN BEST
MEETS THE SHORT-TERM INTEREST OF
THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX DAYS.
I, FOR ONE, BELIEVE THE PLAN
THAT SENATOR REID'S LAID OUT IS
NOT PERFECT, BUT IT GIVES US THE
TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS DEBT AND
DEFICIT PROBLEM IN A SERIOUS
WAY.
IT GIVES US THE ABILITY NOT TO
ENSURE -- TO ENSURE THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A DEBT DOWNGRADE.
THE PLAN THAT'S BEING,
UNFORTUNATELY, DEBATED IN THE
HOUSE RIGHT NOW, IT MAY HAVE
SOME ERRORS.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT IS CLEAR
DOWNGRADE.
IS IS THAT IT WILL LEAD TO A
NOT MY WORDS.
BUT ALL THE RATING AGENCIES,
WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT,
THEY ARE THE FOLKS WHO SET THAT
STANDARD.
SO I WOULD URGE AGAIN THE FOLKS
WHO ARE MAKING STATEMENTS THAT
SAY WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT YOU ON
THE BEACHES, WE'RE GOING TO
FIGHT YOU AT SEA, WE'RE GOING TO
FIGHT YOU IN THE AIR, TO USE
YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS HERE AND
IF YOU DON'T LIKE OUR SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT, BE HONEST AND
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM.
PROPOSE A CHANGE BUT CHANGE THE
IF YOU DO HONOR THE CONSTITUTION
WHICH WE SAID WE'LL UPHOLD
RECOGNIZE THAT IS A CONSTITUTION
THAT PUTS IN PLACE CHECKS AND
BALANCES TO HAVE US ALL GIVE A
LITTLE AND RECOGNIZE WHEN WE GET
OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING WE'RE
NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN,
BUT AN AMERICAN FIRST AND
FOREMOST.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE AND PRAY
THAT WE WILL FIND THE PATH
THROUGH THESE NEXT FIVE DAYS,
THAT WE WON'T DO THE
UNTHINKABLE.
I'VE SAID ON A COUPLE OF
STATIONS -- I'M SURE IT WILL
COME BACK AND BITE ME -- THAT WE
DON'T DO THIS, WE SHOULD ALL GET
FIRED.
BECAUSE THE FACT IS THE MOST
BASIC PROMISE WE MAKE IS TO
UPHOLD THE LAWS AND RULES OF OUR
COUNTRY.
AND, FRANKLY, I CAN'T THINK OF
ANYTHING THAT'S MORE
MAKING SURE YOU PAY YOUR BILLS
QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN THAN
AND YOU HONOR YOUR OBLIGATIONS.
SO LET'S GET THAT DONE AND THEN
LET'S WORK TOGETHER MAKE SURE WE
COMPREHENSIVE BIPARTISAN
PUT IN PLAN THE LONG-TERM
APPROACH THAT'S NEEDED SO THAT
WE CAN GET THIS NATION BACK ON
THE RIGHT FISCAL PATH.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, BACK ON
THE RIGHT PATH TO ENSURE THAT
EVERYBODY GETS THAT FAIR SHOT
AND THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT WE
ALL SEEK SO MUCH.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: