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OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEBATE
AND DISCUSS THE MENENDEZ
PROPOSAL WHICH WE JUST INVOKED
CLOTURE ON YESTERDAY FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE WEEK.
SO I OBJECT.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
LEADER.
OBJECT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK MOST
PEOPLE KNOW I WORKED HERE AS A
POLICE OFFICER FOR MOST OF THE
TIME I WAS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL,
BUT I ALSO WORKED FOR A PERIOD
OF TIME IN THE POST OFFICE.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT AT THE POST
OFFICE, BUT I KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF POST OFFICES, AND
I KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN
THE STATE OF NEVADA IF WE DON'T
MAKE SOME ARRANGEMENT TO HELP
THE POSTAL SERVICE SURVIVE.SCORES OF SMALL POST OFFICES INNEVAD
THERE WILL BE DISTRIBUTION
CENTERS THAT MAY NOT EXIST AFTER
A FEW MONTHS.
SO I WANT TO GET TO THE POSTAL
BILL AS MUCH AS ANYONE IN THIS
CHAMBER, HAVING WORKED FOR THE
POSTAL SERVICE THROUGH THE HOUSE
POST OFFICE.
SO I WANT TO -- I WANT TO MOVE
TO THE POSTAL BILL, BUT I'M NOT
GOING TO BE FORCED INTO DOING IT
AT A TIME THAT MAY -- IN A TIME
THAT MAY NOT WORK OUT FOR FOR OUR
SCHEDULE -- THAT THE SENATE.
SO I WILL MOVE TO THAT AS
RECESS.
BUT I OBJECT TO THE
MODIFICATION.
AND I --
THE
REQUEST FOR THE INITIAL -- THE
REQUEST FOR THE INITIAL
MODIFICATION IS OBJECTED TO.
AND I OBJECT TO
THE INITIAL REQUEST.
OBJECTION IS HEARD FOR THE
INITIAL REQUEST.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION
TO INVOKE CLOTURE.
WE, THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO
BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE
MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
NUMBER 296, S. 1789, THE 21st
CENTURY POSTAL SERVICE ACT,
SIGNED BY 16 SENATORS.
BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THE MANDATORY
QUORUM CALL HAS BEEN WAIVED.
THE QUESTION IS, IS IT THE SENSE
OF THE SENATE THAT DEBATE ON THE
TO S. 1789, A
BILL TO IMPROVE, SUSTAIN, AND
TRANSFORM THE UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE, SHALL BE BROUGHT
TO A CLOSE?
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE MANDATORY
UNDER THE RULE.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY SENATORS IN THE CHAMBER
WISHING TO VOTE OR WISHING TO
CHANGE THEIR VOTE?
HEARING NONE, ON THIS VOTE THE
YEAS ARE 51, THE NAYS ARE 46,
THREE-FIFTHS OF THE SENATORS
DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN NOT HAVING
VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
THE MAJORITY LEADER.
I HAVE A MOTION TO
RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH
CLOTURE WAS NOTVOKED TO PROCEED
ON S. 1789.
THE
MOTION IS ENTERED.
WOULD THE CHAIR BE
KIND ENOUGH TO ANNOUNCE THE
PENDING BUSINESS.
S. 2204
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 337,
S. 2204, A BILL TO ELIMINATE
UNNECESSARY TAX SUBSIDIES AND
PROMOTE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND
ENERGY CONSERVATION.
THE DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA MR. REID PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1968.
NAYS ON THAT AMENDMENT.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I HAVE A SECOND-DEGREE
AMENDMENT ALSO FILED AT THE
DESK.
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA MR. REID PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1969 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1968.
I HAVE A MOTION TO
COMMIT THE BILL WITH INSTRUCTION
WHICH IS AT THE DESK.
WILL THE CLERK
WILL REPORT THE MOTION.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA MR. REID MOVES TO COMMIT
THE BILL TO THE COMMITTEE ON
FINANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO
BACK FORTHWITH, WITH AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1970.
I ASK THE YEAS AND
NAYS ON THAT MOTION.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO
THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
MR. REID PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1971 TO THE
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MOTIONS TO
COMMIT S. 2204 TO THE COMMITTEE
ON FINANCE.
NAYS ON THAT AMENDMENT.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE ORDERED.
I HAVE A SECOND-DEGREE
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA MR. REID PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1972 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1971.
I HAVE A CLOTURE
MOTION AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED
SENATORS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE
STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE
HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE
THE DEBATE ON S. 2204 A BILL TO
ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY TAX
SUBSIDIES AND PROMOTE RENEWABLE
ENERGY CONSERVATION
SIGNED BY 16 SENATORS AS
FOLLOWS -- REID OF NEVADA, --
MR. REID I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THE NAMES NOT BE READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE MANDATORY QUORUM
CALL UNDER RULE 22 BE WAIVED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I NOW MOVE TO PROCEED
TO CALENDAR 339, THE PAYING A
FAIR SHARE ACT, WHICH IS
S. 2230.
THE CLERK
WILL REPORT.
MOTION TO PROCEED TO
CALENDAR NUMBER 339, S. 2230 A
BILL TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT BY
IMPOSING A MINIMUM EFFECTIVE TAX
RATE FOR HIGH-INCOME TAXPAYERS.
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM DELAWARE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, --
I RISE TO ADDRESS AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE ABOUT WHAT OUR
PATH FORWARD IS TO BUILDING A
STRONGER AND FACER AMERICA.
I WAS DEEPLY FRUSTRATED TO HEAR
THAT THE TRANSPORTATION BILL
WHICH WAS PASSED BY OVERWHELMING
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS IN THIS
CHAMBER HAS GONE OVER TO THE
HOUSE AND THEY CANNOT FIND A WAY
FROM US OR FIND ANY CLARITY OR
CERTAINTY ABOUT WHETHER TO
SIMPLY TAKE UP DEBATE, AMEND OR
CONSIDER AND ENACT HOPEFULLY OUR
BILL FROM THE SENATE OR ASK FOR
SHORT-TERM EXTENSIONS OF 0,
60, OR 90 DAYS.
AS YOU KNOW AS A FORMER GOVERNOR
THINGS AS IMPORTANT AS BRIDGES
D HIGHWAYS, ROADS THAT MAKE
INFRASTRUCTURE,
TRANSPORTATION, AND A RELIABLE
PREDICTABLE FUTURE FOR OUR
ECONOMY POSSIBLE, NOTHING IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN CERTAINTY.
FINANCING MAJOR HIGHWAY
PROJECTS, BUYING MAJOR PIECES
OF EQUIPMENT, HIRING THE CREWS
TO DO THE WORK IS EXACTLY THE
SORT OF THING WHERE CERTAINTY IS
AND SO I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION
TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE OTHER
CHAMBER, WHICH IS WHEN THEY
WILL TAKE UP THIS BILL THAT
PASSED THIS CHAMBER BY SUCH AN
OVERWHELMING MARGIN AND WHEN
THEY WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY THE
BROAD BIPARTISAN INPUT FROM
EVERY IMAGINABLE GROUP IN
SUPPORT OF THIS.
I WAS ACTIVE IN MY PREVIOUS
ELECTED ROLE AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE
CAN WITH WITH THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, THE
U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS, THE
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE
AFL-CIO HAVE ALL WEIGHED IN --
IN FACT, IF I REMEMBER
CORRECTLY THE U.S. CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE WROTE EVERY SINGLE
OFFICE IN THE SENATE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS LEGISLATION CALLING FOR
SPECIFIC ACTION, SPECIFIC
ACTION THAT BOTH THE CONGRESS
AND THE ADMINISTRATION CAN TAKE
RIGHT NOW TO SUPPORT JOB GROWTH
AND ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY
WITHOUT ADDING TO THE DEFICIT.
THIS BILL CAME OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE AFTER REMARKABLE WORK
BY SENATOR BOXER OF CALIFORNIA
AND SENATOR INHOFE OF OKLAHOMA.
TWO SENATORS WHO ARE WIDELY
VIEWED VIEWD AS BEING AT THE
OPPOSITE END OF OUR -- ENDS OF
OUR POLITICAL SPECTRUM IN THIS
WHEN I GO HOME TO DELAWARE I
HEAR FOLKS SAY OVER AND OVER
AGAIN, WHY CAN'T YOU WORK
TOGETHER, WHY CAN'T YOU IRON
OUT YOUR DIFFERENCES AND PUT
AMERICA ON A CLEAR, STRAIGHTER
TRACK TOWARDS STRONGER RECOVERY?
THIS IS EXACTLY THE SORT OF BILL
THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT END.
A TWO-YEAR REAUTHORIZATION,
$109 BILLION THAT IN MY SMALL
STATE OF DELAWARE WOULD CREATE
6,700 JOBS NOW HANGS IN THE
BALANCE.
IT WILL EXPIRE THE END OF THIS
MONTH AND RATHER THAN TAKE UP
CONSIDER AND HOPEFULLY PASS
THIS LILG BILL --, THIS BILL,
FOLKS IN THE OTHER CHAMBER AND
SADLY, LARGELY FOLKS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE PARTISAN AISLE
HERE, ARE REFUSING TO DO SO AND
WILL INSTEAD TAKE A SHORT-TERM
CHIP SHOT OF AN EXTENSION.
I SIMPLY WANTED TO SAY IF I
MIGHT, MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT
CERTAINTY IS SOMETHING I RESPECT
FROM MY YEARS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, CERTAINTY IS SOMETHING
I HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE IN THE OTHER CHAMBER
ALL THE TIME AND THIS IS A
MOMENT WHEN CERTAINTY CAN BE
SERVED BY THE HOUSE TAKING UP
BILL.
A SENATOR: WILL MY FRIEND FROM
DELAWARE YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
ABSOLUTELY.
I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM QEA
SCEA.
YOU WERE A COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, I WAS A MAYOR OF A
WE HAD A DEAL -- HAD TO DEAL
WITH THE REAL-LIFE AFTERMATH OF
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT COMES TO
EXTENSIONS AND WHAT HAPPENS,
AND I KNOW IN MY CITY WHEN I SAW
THESE EXTENSIONS FROM THAT END
OF THE TABLE, WE ALSO HAD TO
STOP PROJECTS, SLOW THEM DOWN,
DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FINISH
THEM, WINTER SHUTDOWN, ALL IT
DID WAS ADD COST, INCREASE THE
CAPACITY -- OR DECREASE THE
CAPACITY OF ROADS, AND
LITERALLY TAKE PRODUCTS OFF THE
IN YOUR COMMUNITY, HAD YOU TO
DEAL WITH THIS PROBABLY LIKE I
HAD TO, DID YOU HAVE THE SAME
KIND OF IMPACT WHERE YOU HAD TO
TELL CONTRACTORS I'M SORRY, WE
DON'T HAVE THE MONEY BECAUSE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HASN'T DONE
THEIR JOB THEY SAID THEY WOULD
DO 20-SOME TIMES BEFORE AND
NEVER COMPLETED IT?
IS THAT A SIMILAR SITUATION
SITUATION?
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
SENATOR FROM ALASKA IS
IN MY COUNTY ROLE, WE DIDN'T DO
ROADS, THE STATE DOES THE ROADS
BUT WE DO SEWERS AND HEAVY
CAPITAL SPHRUS FRAWS FAST THAT
IN OUR LITTLE COUNTY WOULD COST
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE'D BE ON A PROJECT, OFF A
WE WERE FORTUNATE IN GOOD TIMES
WE HAD ENOUGH SURPLUS, ENOUGH
MONEY IN RESERVE WE COULD GO
AHEAD AND AUTHORIZE THE BOND
ISSUE AND AUTHORIZE THE PROJECT.
BUT AS THE ECONOMY TURNED AND AS
OUR BALANCE SHEET GOT TOUGHER,
WE HAD TO WAIT.
WE HAD TO PUT THINGS ON HOLD.
WE HAD TO PUT KEY PROJECTS OFF.
AND I KNOW THE GOOD SENATOR FROM
ALASKA AS A FORMER MAYOR OF RANK
RAJ SAW THAT IN -- ANCHORAGE
SAW THAT, WAS IT NOT THAT
CERTAINTY WAS AN ENORMOUS
CHALLENGE WHEN YOU WERE RELYING
ON A FEDERAL PARTNER WHO WAS
UNRELIABLE?
I KNOW IN ALASKA I
CHAIRED THE METROPOLITAN
PLANNING ORGANIZATION, THE
M.P.O. WHICH HAD THIS MONEY THAT
CAME FROM THIS LEGISLATION, IT
WOULD COME TO US AND IF THEY
THESE CRAZY CONTINUATIONS
BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON COULDN'T
GET THEIR WORK DONE AND NOW
WE'RE SEEING THAT ON THE HOUSE
SIDE, THEY'VE HAD MONTHS,
MONTHS TO WORK ON THIS, I THINK
THEY ACTUALLY BANGDZ THAT WE --
BANKED THAT WE WOULD NOT WORK
TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS AND GET SOMETHING
DONE.
WE ACTUALLY DID AND A
SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION
ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S
CRUMBLING IN THIS COUNTRY, 74
VOTES, BIPARTISAN, FROM ALL
SPECTRUMS OF THE POLITICAL SUPER
SITUATION HERE AND I THINK THEY
BANKED THAT WE WOULD FAIL.
BUT WE DIDN'T.
FIVE WEEKS OF WORK, A LOT OF
COMPROMISE BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT
THE IMPACTS ARE ON THE STREET IF
DON'T WANT DO THIS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU BACK HOME
BECAUSE IF THE HOUSE DOESN'T
TAKE ACTION ON A VERY REASONABLE
BILL, A BIPARTISAN BILL, WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IN HE ASK -- IN
ALASKA THESE PROJECTS WILL
DEOBLIGATE OR NOT OBLIGATE THE
FUNDS WHICH MEANS THEY WILL
THE CONTRACTORS WHO EXPECTED TO
DO WORK THIS SUMMER WILL NOT AND
IN ALASKA BECAUSE WE'RE A WINTER
CLIMATE, A LOT OF NORTHERN
STATES HAVE A SIMILAR
SITUATION, THE ASPHALT PLANT
THAT LAYS THE ASPHALT DOWN
CLOSES USUALLY THE FIRST PART OF
OCTOBER SO YOU HAVE A WINDOW
THAT SHRINKS VERY RAPIDLY AND IF
YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, THE NET
RESULT IS YOU HAVE NO PROJECTS
AND YOU PAY MORE WHICH MEANS THE
DELAY THE HOUSE SIDE IS DOING IS
TAXPAYERS MORE
MONEY, THERE WILL BE LESS JOBS.
IN ALASKA WE HAVE 18,000 JOBS AT
RISK.
18,000 JOBS AT RISK.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY AGAIN,
YOU GET LESS PRODUCT, LESS
ROADS.
SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THE
EXPERIENCE I HAVE HERE, YOUR
STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS WITH
YOUR COUNTY WHEN YOU WERE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE, SAME THING THEY HAD
TO GO THROUGH LIKE YOU EXPLAINED
PROJECTS.
BUT AS YOU SAID, TIMES ARE
DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN'T SUPPLANT LOCAL MONEY
LIKE IT USED TO BE BECAUSE WE
DON'T HAVE IT.
THE ECONOMY IS STRUGGLING AND
STARTING TO COME BACK, BUT HERE
WE ARE AT A MOMENT, THE ECONOMY
IS MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
AND WHAT ARE WE DOING?
THE HOUSE OVER THERE IS JUST
WAITING.
I THINK THAT'S THE EXAMPLE THAT
YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THAT WE'RE
DOING AND THAT WE'RE SUFFERING
THROUGH.
WHAT STRIKES ME MOST
ABOUT THIS, MADAM PRESIDENT, AND
TO THE GOOD SENATOR FROM ALASKA
IS THAT ALL THE SECTORS OF OUR
ECONOMY THAT HAVE SUFFERED SINCE
THE FINANCIAL COLLAPSE OF 2008,
ALL THE SECTORS IN THE ENTIRE
AMERICAN ECONOMY, AT LEAST IN MY
HOME STATE, CONSTRUCTION WAS HIT
THE HARDEST.
WE ALREADY KNEW THAT WE WERE FAR
BEHIND IN INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE GOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
BRIDGES THAT ARE OUT OF
COMPLIANCE WITH BASIC
ENGINEERING STANDARDS.
HALF OF OUR ROADS ARE BELOW THE
STANDARDS WE WOULD EXPECT FOR A
MODERN ECONOMY.
THIS IS MONEY THAT CAN AND
SHOULD BE INVESTED IN PUTTING
PEOPLE TO WORK, IN CONSTRUCTION
WHICH HAS SUFFERED FROM THE
HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT WHERE IT'S
GOT SUPPORT FROM THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE TO THE AFL-CIO, WHERE
WE WRESTLED THROUGH THE TOUGH
PROCESSES HERE OVER SEVERAL
WEEKS, AS THE SENATOR SAYS, AND
WE HAVE GOT A STRONGLY
BIPARTISAN BILL OVER, SITTING,
READY TO GO.
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE
DEBATE IN THIS CHAMBER THAT
MAYBE WILL CREATE JOBS, MAYBE
WON'T, THERE IS NO QUESTION.
EVEN THOSE THAT HAVE THE
STRONGEST CONCERNS ABOUT THE
FEDERAL ROLE IN OUR ECONOMY
CAN'T DISAGREE THAT FEDERAL
HIGHWAY PROJECTS PUT PEOPLE TO
WORK, STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY,
MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE.
THIS BILL IS READY TO GO.
WHY YOU WOULD NOT TAKE IT UP AND
TODAY, I CAN'T IMAGINE.
AND TO THE GOOD SENATOR FROM
ALASKA, I MIGHT SAY YOU MAY HAVE
A SOMEWHAT SHORTER SUMMER SEASON
THAN WE DO, BUT IF YOU HAVE GOT
18,000 JOBS AT RISK, I CAN ONLY
IMAGINE THE KINDS OF CALLS
YOU'RE GETTING FROM YOUR HOME
STATE AS I'M GETTING FROM MY
STATE URGING THAT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES TAKE UP THIS
STRONG AND BIPARTISAN BILL AND
PASS IT SO WE CAN ALL MOVE
FORWARD AND CREATE SOME REAL
JOBS.
THE LAST COMMENT I
WILL SAY, AND I'M SURE IT IS
MORE OF A QUESTION, I'M SURE YOU
HAD THE SAME SITUATION AS YOU
JUST DESCRIBED.
YES, GETTING THOSE CALLS, AND
THEY ARE NOT JUST -- PEOPLE SAY
WELL, THIS IS A UNION THING.
NO, IT'S UNION, NONUNION,
CHAMBER, ENVIRONMENTALISTS,
NEIGHBORHOODS, COMMUNITY
COUNCILS.
IT'S EVERYBODY YOU CAN IMAGINE
BECAUSE THESE ARE REAL JOBS
ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, ABOUT REAL
COMMUNITIES.
OVER THERE, I THINK THEY THINK
IT'S SOME THEORY THAT, OH, IF
THEY DELAY IT, NOTHING REALLY
WILL HAPPEN.
THEY'RE WRONG, BECAUSE YOU AND I
HAVE LIVED ON THAT OTHER SIDE
AND HAVE HAD TO LIVE WITH THE
CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION.
IS ONE OF THOSE BILLS YOU
LOOK FOR WHERE THERE IS
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, ALL THE
GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE FROM
ALL WALKS OF LIFE SUPPORT IT,
AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
IT.
WHEN I WAS BACK IN ANCHORAGE AND
I WAS GETTING SOME PETROLEUM,
SOME GAS AT THE GAS STATION,
SOMEONE WOULD COME UP, THEY
WOULD ASK ME, BECAUSE WHY?
WE ARE JUST ABOUT TO START OUR
SEASON IN THE BIDDING PROCESS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOT TO TAKE 30,
60, 90 DAYS TO GET THE BIDS OUT
AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT.
I THINK THEY SOMETIMES THINK
OVER THERE IN THE HOUSE THAT
IT'S SOME FANTASY LAND THAT
WHATEVER THEY DO HAS NO EFFECT.
YOU SAY IT VERY CLEARLY.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO
ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND MORE
COMMENTARY AT TIMES HERE, BUT IT
SEEMS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
ALASKANS ARE TELLING ME EVERY
DAY WORK TOGETHER, CREATE A
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION, WHATEVER
IT MIGHT BE.
HERE IS ONE WE HAVE DONE
SUCCESSFULLY, AND NOW WE'RE
READY, BUT OVER THERE, THEY ARE
JUST PLAYING POLITICS.
NOW TRIED TWICE TO DO
SOMETHING THIS WEEK, AND THEY
STILL CAN'T GET IT MOVING.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM ON THE
OTHER SIDE TO JUST MOVE FORWARD
ON THE BIPARTISAN BILL THAT THE
SENATE HAS PASSED THAT I KNOW
THEY WERE BANKING ON.
WE WOULDN'T PASS IT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WAITING
FOR THESE JOBS.
THE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY IS
THE COMMUNITIES ARE READY.
IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
ASK A FEW QUESTIONS AND GIVE A
LITTLE COMMENTARY.
THANK YOU TO THE
YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
AS WE BOTH KNOW FROM OUR FORMER
ROLES, WHEN YOU HAVE A
SHORT-TERM EXTENSION, THERE ARE
IT MEANS THAT FOLKS WHO ARE
GETTING MOBILIZED, GETTING
ORGANIZED, GETTING READY, YOU
HAVE TO PULL THEM BACK.
WHEN THE STATE COFFERS, THE
COUNTY COFFERS, THE MUNICIPAL
COFFERS DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY
TO FLOAT AND PUT IN PLACE FOR
THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT THEY'RE
WAITING FOR, IT MEANS PROJECTS
GET CANCELED, PEOPLE LOSE THEIR
JOBS, OPPORTUNITY AND OPTIMISM
THAT WERE MOVING FORWARD GET
WE HAVE GOT FOLKS ALL OVER THIS
CHAMBER AND THE OTHER, FORMER
FORMER MAYORS, FORMER
COUNTY EXECUTIVES, FORMER
BUSINESS LEADERS WHO KNOW THE
IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG AND
RELIABLE FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP IN
THIS COUNTRY.
I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE
AGAIN SENATOR BOXER AND SENATOR
INHOFE FOR WORKING TOGETHER SO
WELL TO CRAFT A TOUGH, STRONG,
CAPABLE BIPARTISAN BILL, AND IT
IS MY PLEA THAT THE MEMBERS OF
THE OTHER CHAMBER WOULD PROMPTLY
TAKE IT UP, CONSIDER IT AND PASS
WORK.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE FLOOR, I
REALLY -- I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR *** AND SENATOR BEGICH
AND YOU, SENATOR SHAHEEN, MADAM
PRESIDENT, FOR YOUR VERY
IMPORTANT WORDS THAT YOU GAVE
TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE HOUSE
TAKING UP AND PASSING THE
BIPARTISAN SENATE TRANSPORTATION
BILL.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE, WE
ALSO HAD THE SENATOR FROM
SENIOR SENATOR,
SENATOR MURKOWSKI, ALSO SPEAK
OUT IN FAVOR OF THE HOUSE
PICKING UP AND PASSING THE
SENATE BIPARTISAN BILL.
I ALSO SERVED IN THE COUNTY AS A
COUNTY SUPERVISOR A LONG TIME
AGO, BUT I THINK WE ALL
UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE DO HERE
MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE NATION,
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A CIRCUMSTANCE
WHERE ONE STATE PUTS THEIR
FUNDING -- THEIR OWN FUNDING
FROM THEIR STATE INTO HIGHWAYS,
BUT THE NEXT-DOOR STATE DOES
NOTHING, AND YOU CAN'T REALLY
HAVE COMMERCE, AND THAT'S WHY I
THOUGHT DWIGHT EISENHOWER, WHEN
HE WAS PRESIDENT, REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENT, IN THE 1950'S, SAID
HE WAS A LOGISTICS EXPERT, AND
HE IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THE
NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM BECAUSE
HE KNEW FROM HIS EXPERIENCE IN
WAR THAT YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE
GOODS AND PEOPLE, AND HE ALSO
KNEW AS HIS ROLE AS PRESIDENT
THAT IN ORDER TO BE A STRONG
ECONOMY, WE HAVE TO DO THE SAME
THING HERE AT HOME.
SO FOR ME TO SEE THIS HOUSE
DITHER AS THEY ARE DOING, THEY
ARE DITHERING ON A BILL.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TAKE UP
THE BIPARTISAN BILL.
FOR GOODNESS SAKES, THEY GOT
THREE QUARTERS OF THE SENATE TO
SUPPORT IT, AND ALL WE NEED IS
218 VOTES.
WHEN I SERVED IN THE HOUSE FOR
TEN YEARS, WHAT DID I LEARN?
YOU NEEDED 218.
AND TIP O'NEILL NEVER CARED
WHERE HE GOT HIS VOTES.
HE JUST GOT THE VOTES FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SO I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO
CONGRESSMAN BOEHNER, SPEAKER
BOEHNER, AND LEADER CANTOR, AND
I HAVE BEGGED THEM TO PLEASE
WORK WITH US ON THIS BILL, AND
ALL WE GET BACK ARE STATEMENTS
FROM THEIR STAFF, WELL, WE'RE
GOING TO DO IT OUR WAY.
AND AS CONGRESSWOMAN PELOSI, THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADER, SAID TODAY,
WHEN YOU SAY MY WAY OR THE
HIGHWAY ABOUT A HIGHWAY BILL,
DON'T GET MUCH DONE.
KLOBUCHAR.
WE ALSO HELD OFFICE AT THE STATE
SHE WAS A DISTRICT ATTORNEY, AND
WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT,
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ALL OF US
WORKING TOGETHER FOR JOBS, AND
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS ABOUT.
SO I'M GOING TO CALL TODAY ON
THE HOUSE TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE UP
AND PASS THE BIPARTISAN
BOXER-INHOFE BILL.
I'M GOING TO ASK THEM TO ABANDON
THEIR GOAL OF A SERIES OF
EXTENSIONS.
YOU KNOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, WHEN
YOU GO TO BUY A HOUSE, YOUR
CONSTITUENTS AND MINE, THEY NEED
A MORTGAGE.
MAYBE IT WILL BE A TEN-YEAR
MORTGAGE, 15, MAYBE 20 OR
IF THE BANKER LOOKED AT THEM AND
SAID WE CAN ONLY GIVE YOU A
MORTGAGE FOR 60 DAYS OR 30 DAYS,
VERY DIFFICULT, TO
PUT IT MILDLY.
IT'S DISRUPTIVE.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAN.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING
TO COST.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING
TO EVER GET THE MONEY FOR THE
HOUSE.
SO THE HOUSE BY TAKING UP THESE
EXTENSIONS, THEY HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT, AND TODAY
I CALLED A PRESS CONFERENCE TO
LET THE PRESS KNOW WHAT THE
IMPACT IS OF THESE EXTENSIONS.
THE EXTENSION MEANS JOB LOSSES,
AND WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER A
LIST FROM -- THAT ARE COMING TO
US FROM THE STATE OF JOB LOSSES
ALREADY HAPPENING IN THE FIELD
BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ACTION BY
THE HOUSE.
NORTH CAROLINA, I SPOKE TO THE
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
THERE TODAY.
HE HAS DELAYED THE REMAINING
2012 PROJECTS TOTALING
$1.2 BILLION THAT WOULD EMPLOY
41,000 PEOPLE.
SO 41,000 PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE
WE SPEAK TODAY BECAUSE
THE HOUSE IS DITHERING AND NOT
PASSING THE BIPARTISAN SENATE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
NEVADA.
THOUSANDS OF JOBS THERE LOST AS
WE SPEAK BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS
CONSIDERING AN EXTENSION INSTEAD
OF PASSING A BILL SUCH AS OUR
BILL.
THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
I SPOKE TO MICHIGAN, SAME THING.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PUTTING
TOGETHER A LIST FROM ALL ACROSS
THE COUNTRY OF JOB LOSSES IN ALL
OF OUR STATES AS A RESULT OF THE
HOUSE FAILING TO TAKE AND PASS
THE BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL.
I MEAN, WHAT MORE BIPARTISANSHIP
DO THEY NEED THAN TO HAVE 75
SENATORS SUPPORT THE BILL -- ONE
OF THEM WAS ABSENT DUE TO A
FUNERAL, SO WE GOT 74 VOTES TO
22 AGAINST.
OKAY?
WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT?
ANYONE WATCHING THE SENATE TODAY
SEES HOW PARALYZED WE ARE.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO A
THERE IS FILIBUSTERS ON FIXING
THE POST OFFICE.
THERE IS FILIBUSTERS ON MAKING
SURE THAT BIG OIL DOESN'T KEEP
RIPPING OFF CONSUMERS AT THE
FILIBUSTER, FILIBUSTER,
FILIBUSTER, FILIBUSTER.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER ALL
THAT AND PASS A TRANSPORTATION
WHY WOULDN'T THE HOUSE BE
THRILLED ABOUT THAT?
WHY WOULDN'T THE HOUSE EMBRACE
WHAT WE DID?
WHY WOULD THE HOUSE INSTEAD
STAND UP AGAIN TODAY AND SAY
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 60-DAY
EXTENSION?
GUESS WHAT?
THEY PULLED IT, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THEY ARE NOT HAVING A VOTE ON
THAT TODAY BECAUSE OF THE UPROAR
IT IS CREATING IN THE STATES AND
ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.
THE HOUSE HAS NOT DELIVERED ON
ITS PROMISE FOR A BILL.
ALL THEY DO, THE LEADERSHIP, IS
OUR BILL.
TODAY, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT,
CHAIRMAN MICA SAID THIS BILL
ISN'T PAID FOR.
WHEN SENATOR BAUCUS AND SENATOR
THUNE AND OTHERS WORKED ACROSS
PARTY LINES TO PAY FOR OUR BILL.
IT'S 100% PAID FOR.
AND GUESS WHAT IT DOES.
IT PROTECTS 1.9 MILLION JOBS AND
CREATES ANOTHER MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT OUR BILL DOES.
SO THEY'RE PULLING THIS VOTE.
THEY'RE PULLING THIS VOTE TODAY.
I'M GLAD THEY'RE PULLING THIS
VOTE BECAUSE THEY OUGHT TO
INSTEAD PASS THE BIPARTISAN
SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL.
I WANT TO TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT
WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING OUT
THERE IN THE ECONOMY.
IF WE DO NOTHING, 1.9 MILLION
JOBS ARE GONE.
1.9 MILLION JOBS.
ON MARCH 31.
EXTENSION, THEN YOU
HAVE DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS.
A PROPORTION OF THESE JOBS ARE
LOST, AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE
WITH EVERY EXTENSION.
SO IT'S THE END OF THESE JOBS
BUT SLOW, TORTUROUS END OF THESE
JOBS.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT, HOW MANY UNEMPLOYED
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS THERE ARE.
1.4 MILLION.
WHY IS THAT, WHEN THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 8.3%, THE
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IS 17.1%?
WHY THAT?
BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING A VERY
TOUGH HOUSING CRISIS AND WE'RE
NOT OUT OF IT YET.
SO ALL OF THESE WORKERS WHO ARE
BUILDING HOUSES NOW WERE HOPING
TO BE ABLE TO BUILD HIGHWAYS,
BUILD FREEWAYS, FIX BRIDGES.
AND OUR BILL DOES THAT.
OUR BILL WILL TAKE THESE PEOPLE
TO WORK.
WE COULD GET THIS UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE DOWN TO 400,000 BECAUSE
WE'LL TAKE A MILLION OFF THIS
WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE TIFIA
PROGRAM, WHICH STANDS FOR
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
FINANCING WHICH UPFRONTS THE
MONEY FOR CITIES AND STATES AND
YOUR STATE AND MINE AND OTHERS
AND GETS PROJECTS BUILT FASTER.
SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT
WOULD LOOK LIKE IF YOU PUT EVERY
UNEMPLOYED CONSTRUCTION WORKER
INTO A FOOTBALL STADIUM.
THIS IS A SUPER BOWL STADIUM,
AND IT'S FILLED.
IMAGINE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
THESE SEATS IS FILLED BY AN
UNEMPLOYED CONSTRUCTION WORKER,
AND THEN CLOSE YOUR EYES AND
IMAGINE 13 MORE STADIUMS, FOR A
TOTAL OF 14 STADIUMS.
14 STADIUMS FULL OF UNEMPLOYED
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACING.
AND YET, STILL THE HOUSE WILL
NOT TAKE UP AND PASS THE
BIPARTISAN TRANSPORTATION BILL.
AND THEY ARE FLIRTING WITH
EXTENSIONS, WHICH IS JUST THE
END OF THESE JOBS, BUT SLOWER
AND MORE EXCRUCIATING.
NOW, WE TALK ABOUT GORKS BUT WE
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BUSINESS --
NOW, WE TALK ABOUT JOBS, BUT WE
HAVE TO TALK ABOUT BUSINESSES.
THESE JOBS ARE PRIVATE-SECTOR
JOBS.
AND THESE BUSINESSES, OVER
11,000 OF THEM, ARE CONSTRUCTION
COMPANIES WHO WOULD BE ADVERSELY
IMPACTED.
I MET WITH BUSINESS OWNERS.
ONE MAN WAS TEARY-EYED.
HE SAID, SENATOR, I'VE HAD TO
LAY OFF 1,000 PEOPLE BECAUSE OF
THE INDECISION HERE, BECAUSE OF
THE CONSTANT EXTENSIONS WE'VE
HAD ON THE HIGHWAY BILL.
WE NEED YOUR BILL NOW.
AND I SAID, SAID I UNDERSTOOD.
HE SAID, I CAPTAIN LOOK CAN'T LOOK AT ANOTHER
WORKER.
STEFNTIONSEXTENSIONS ARE LIKE HAND TO
MOUTH.
IF YOU KNOW YOU SHALL ONLY YOU ARE ONLY GOING
TO GET 90-DAY EXTENSIONS, HOW
CAN YOU PLAN FOR A YEAR?
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WE'RE NOT
JUST TALKING ABOUT WORKERS;
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
WORKERS.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A SERIES
OF EDITORIALS.
THEY HAVE RUN IN RED STATED STATES,
THEY HAVE RUN IN BLUE STATES,
THEY HAVE RUN IN PURPLE STATES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM GOING TO
MAKE A STATEMENT HERE AND I'M
GOING TO STAND BY IT.
EVERYONE IN AMERICA GETS THIS
EXCEPT THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
EVERYONE IN AMERICA GETS THIS
EXCEPT THE REPUBLICANS IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SAVE A
FEW OF THEM WHO ARE COURAGEOUS.
FOUR OF THEM HAVE BROKEN OFF,
OF THEM FROM YOUR HOME
STATE, TWO OF THEM FROM
ILLINOIS, ONE FROM NORTH
CAROLINA.
THEY SARKS WE STAND SAY, STAND UP WITH THOSE.
GOOD FOR THEM FOR SHOWING THAT
KIND OF COURAGE.
THE EVENING.
IF ANY OF THEM ARE TUNING INTO
THIS LITTLE DISCUSSION, LISTEN
TO WHAT THESE NEWSPAPERS ARE
HOUSE SHOULD PASS TRANSPORTATION
THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY FOR THE
HOUSE SHOULD BE PASSING A
BIPARTISAN TRANSPORTATION BILL.
AS THE SENATOR ALREADY DID ON A
74-22 VOTE.
THE SENATE HAS DONE ITS JOB.
HOUSE SPEAKER BOEHNER SHOULD
DROP THE NOTION OF PASSING AN
EXTREME REPUBLICAN-ONLY BILL AND
DO AS THE ARE THE?
-- AS THE SENATE DID.
THIS IS FROM "THE FRESNO BEAT,"
THE REDEST, MOST REPUBLICAN PART
OF CALIFORNIA.
THEY'RE ASKING THE HOUSE TO PASS
THE SENATE BILL.
THEN WE HAVE THE MICHIGAN
DETROIT NEWS.
"CONGRESSIONAL WAFFLING HURTDS
STATE ROADS."
"THE U.S. SENATE HAS APPROVED A
BIPARTISAN TWO-YEAR PLAN.
WHILE IMPERFECT, IT'S BETTER
THAN ANOTHER REPREES OF ANOTHER
OUTMODED TRANSPORTATION ACT THAT
HAS ALREADY BEEN EXTENDED EIGHT
TIMES.
THE DISARRAY HARDLY GIVES STATES
THE KIND OF REVENUE CERTAINTY
THEY HAD GATE FROM A FEDERAL
PLAN BUT IF BOEHNER AND HOUSE
MEMBERS CAN'T AGREE ON THEIR OWN
PLAN, THEY'D PROBABLY BE WISE
TOO TAKE WHAT'S POLITICALLY
POSSIBLE AND PASS IT."
PASS THE SENATE BILL.
NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
LOOK AT THIS ONE.
"ROAD TO COMPROMISE."
YOU WOULD THINK THE HOUSE WOULD
EMBRACE THIS.
WHAT ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TELLING US?
IN THE CONGRESS
-- AS FIGHTING CONSTANTLY.
OUR APPROVAL RATING IS 10%.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I DON'T KNOW
WHO THAT 10% IS, BUT IT'S
PROBABLY YOUR FAMILY, MY FAMILY
AND THE FAMILY OF MY COLLEAGUE
FROM MISSOURI.
WHY IS IT?
BECAUSE WE CAN'T WORK TOGETHER.
WE PROVED IT TODAY ON TWO BILLS
WE CAN'T GET TOGETHER.
BUT WE PROVED A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO, AFTER FIVE WEEKS OF DEBATE,
WE COULD DO IT COULD DO IT ON
WHEN SENATOR INHOFE AND I AGREE,
MY GOOD IN THAT'S A DAY.
WE DON'T AGREE ON SO MANY
THINGS, BELIEVE ME.
WE'RE STRUGGLING ON ANYTHING
THAT HAS THE WORD "ENVIRONMENT"
IN IT.
HE'S FIGHTING TO OVERRETURN THE
E.P.A. -- OVERTURN THE E.P.A.
CLEAN AIR RULES.
HE SAYS I DON'T DO ENOUGH
OVERSIGHT ON THINGS HE WANTS
OVERSIGHT ON.
LISTEN, WE ARGUE.
WE RESPECT EACH OTHER.
WE LIKE EACH OTHER.
WE DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER.
BUT ON THIS WE CAME TOGETHER.
WHAT MORE DOES BOEHNER WANT?
WHAT MORE DOES CANTER CANTOR WANT?
SPEAKER BOEHNER IS PUTTING AT
RISK 55,000 JOBS IN OHIO.
DOESN'T HE CARE ABOUT THE
THERE?
THIS IS THE ROAD TO COMPROMISE.
THIS IS THE OHIO "AKRON BEACON."
FROM THE HEARTLAND.
ON WEDNESDAY, "74 SENATORS,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS,
TWO-YEAR BILL.
THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER.
WHAT WILL THE HOUSE DO?
IT SHOULD TAKE THE CUE OF THE
SENATE AND QUICKLY APPROVE THE
LEGISLATION THAT WON BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT."
COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR.
THAT'S OHIO E.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WILL TELL
YOU, I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH AN
OVER THE COUNTRY.
THIS ONE IS "THE "CHICAGO
SUN-TIMES"."
FOR A BETTER COMMUTE PASS THE
FRPTIONTRANSPORTATION BILL.
THE SENATE JUST DELIVERED A GIFT
TO THE HOUSE, A BIPARTISAN
TRANSPORTATION BILL AT A TIME
WHEN AMERICA REALLY COULD USE A
LIFT.
DON'T MESS IT UP."
WCIALTIONWELL, HOPE AGAINST HOPE.
SO FAR I FEEL VERY WORRIED,
VERY, VERY WORRIED.
THE WHOLE PROGRAM EXPIRES ON
FRIDAY, AND ALL THEY CAN COME UP
WITH IS THESE EXTENSIONS, AND
THEN THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE
VOTES FOR THAT.
HOW BAD WOULD IT BE FOR THEM TO
GIVE ME A CALL, GIVE SENATOR
INHOFE A CALL AND SAY, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE GOING TO COME OVER AND SIT
DOWN, AND BRING THE BIPARTISAN
LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEES --
THERE ARE FOUR OF THEM -- BRING
THE BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP OF THE
SENATE AND LET'S HAMMER
SOMETHING OUT.
WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THERE?
SPEAKER BOEHNER IS THE SPEAKER
OF THE HOUSE, NOT SPEAKER OF THE
REPUBLICANS.
HE NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE
I DON'T EXPECT THEY THEY'LL LOVE EACH
OTHER.
MY GOOD IN WE DON'T EXPECT
BUT WE SHOULD EXPECT THEM TO
WORK TOGETHER.
I REMEMBER FONDLY MY DAYS IN THE
TIP O'NEILL AND BOB MICHEL,
COULDN'T HAVE BETTER FRIENDS.
DID THEY AGREE ON EVERYTHING?
NO.
YES.
I REMEMBER -- I REMEMBER THOSE
DAYS.
I WAS A QUHIP AT WHIP AT A CERTAIN POINT
IN THE HOUSE.
THEY USED TO CALL US TOGETHER
AND THEY'D COME BACK AND SAY,
THERE'S 25 DEMOCRATS WHO CAN'T
SPHROART THIS DEMOCRATIC BILL.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT TIP O'NEILL
WOULD DO?
HE'D SAY, FINE, I'LL CALL BOB
MICHEL AND SEE IF HE HAS 25
VOTES FOR ME.
AND THEY SAW THAT THEY MIGHT
HAVE HAD 20 AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE
THE BILL.
THEY DID IT.
THAT'S WHY I DECIDED I LOAF
I LOVED WORKING ON THIS BILL
WITH MY FRIEND SENATOR INHOFE.
I LOVED WORKING WITH MY STAFF
AND HIS STAFF.
OUR STAFFS BECAME ALMOST LIKE
FAMILY.
AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE SPEAKER
BOEHNER TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF
THIS BOOK.
I SEE THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA
ON THE FLOOR.
ISSUES.
WE WORKED TOGETHER.
WE EVEN PUT ON THIS BILL THE
RESTORE ACT, A BIPARTISAN PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THAT IS GOING TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE GULF CAN
REBUILD AND GETS PAID BACK FOR
THE SUFFERING THAT WENT ON
THERE.
NOW, DID CALIFORNIA GET A LOT
OUT OF THAT?
NO.
BUT THE COUNTRY WILL GET A LOT
OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THE GULF IS
A REGION WE CARE ABOUT.
IT'S WHERE WE GET A LOT OF OUR
ENERGY.
SEAFOOD.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO SENATOR VITTER AND I DON'T
AGREE ON A LOST SUBJECT, AND WE
-- ON A LOT OF SUBJECTS, AND WE
GO AT IT PRETTY HARD IN THE
COMMITTEE.
BUT ON THIS WE AGREE.
SO LET'S LOOK AT A FEW OTHERS
AND THEN I'LL YIELD THE FLOOR,
AFTER WE GO THROUGH THE REST OF
THESE.
"HIGHWAY BILL WOULD BOOST
STAFNLT" THIS IS MISSISSIPPI.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS ONE OF
THE REDEST STATES IN THE
YIEWFNLT I BEG SPEAKER BAINER TO
OPEN HIS EARS AND HEAR ME.
"A TWO-YEAR, $109 BILLION
HIGHWAY BILL THAT PASSED THE
U.S. SENATE THIS WEEK BUOYS THE
HOPE OF ROAD BUILDERS AND THE
TRAVEL INDUSTRY THAT THE HOUSE
CAN BE PRODDED BY THE SENATORS'
ACTION TO PASS ITS OWN BILL
BEFORE A MARCH 31 EXPIRATION
DATE.
THIS BILL HAS NO EARMARKS.
MISSISSIPPI COULD DERIVE MAJOR
BENEFITS."
I AM JUST SAYING, WHEN YOU HAVE
EDITORIALS FROM MISSISSIPPI FOR
A BILL, YOU KNOW IT'S A
BIPARTISAN BILL.
LET'S TAKE LOOK AT SOME OTHERS,
DAVID.
A SOLID TRANSPORTATION BILL.
FROM OREGON, "THE
REGISTER GUARD."
"BY AN IMPRESSIVE BIPARTISAN
VOTE OF 74-22, THE SENATE ON
WEDNESDAY PASSED A TWO-YEAR
BLUEPRINT FOR TRANSPORTATION."
"THE HOUSE SHOULD MOVE QUICKLY
TO APPROVE THE SENATE MEASURE.
"BECAUSE IT A TRANSPORTATION
BILL IS NOT APPROVED AND SIGNED
INTO LAW BY APRIL 1, THE
GOVERNMENT WILL LOSE ITS ABILITY
TO PAY FOR FEDERAL
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS."
SO NOW YOU HAVE MISSISSIPPI,
OREGON, ILLINOIS, OHIO -- I
DON'T REMEMBER ALL THAT I READ
-- "BIPARTISAN IN SENATE MOVES
TRANSPORTATION BILL."
THIS IS OKLAHOMA, ANOTHER DEEPLY
RED STATE.
"WITH RARE BIPARTISANSHIP, THE
U.S. SENATE ON WEDNESDAY PASSED
A MUCH-NEEDED AND MUCH-DELAYED
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION BILL
THAT COULD CREATE JOCKS AND FUND
ROAD PROJECTS."
"THE COUNTRY'S INFRASTRUCTURE
HAS BEEN IGNORED FAR TOO LONG
AND IS IN DIRE STRAITS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND
NECESSARY EXTENSION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
IT WILL MAKE NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IT IS A REAL JOB-CREATOR."
MR. PRESIDENT, I AM TELLING YOU
THAT THESE EDITORIALS -- I AM
BUOYED BY THEM BECAUSE THESE
EDITORIALS FROM REPUBLICAN
PAPERS, DEMOCRATIC PAIRNTION
THEY'RE NONPARTISAN.
THEY'RE ALL YOUR HONORING US TO
"TRANSPORTATION FUNDING HELD
HOSTAGE IN THE HOUSE."
FORT WORTH-STAR TELEGRAM TEXAS.
ANOTHER RED STAIVMENT "WHAT
ANSWER SITE THING TO SEE THE
SENATE PASS A SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BILL LAST WEEK ON
A 74-22 VOAVMENT SUCH BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING AND
IMPROVING THIS CRUCIAL PART OF
THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
MAKES IT ALMOST SEEM LIKE THE
GOOD OLD DAYS IN WASHINGTON."
WELL, AT ONE POINT HOUSE SPEAKER
BOEHNER SAID HE WOULD PUT THE
SENATE BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE.
EARLIER HE SAID REPUBLICANS
MIGHT GO FOR AN 18-MONTH
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE
BOEHNER DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT
THE HOUSE WILL DO."
"DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
DOES IT REMIERCHTH YOU OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL FAILIES OF LAST
SURGE THE REALITY-TV DRAMA AND
BRINKSMANSHIP OF THE DEBATE OVER
RAISING THE FEDERAL DEBT."
MR. PRESIDENT, I CAN'T REACH
SPEAKER BARON.
HE DOESN'T ANSWER MY LETTERS.
LETTERS.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH TALKING TO
EACH OTHER?
WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE DAYS?
IT GOES ON.
AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH
THESE.
"PASS THIS TRANSIT BILL."
THIS ONE IS THE HEMAHEARD
RAILED.
"IN AN ALL-TOO-RARE DISPLAY OF
BIPARTISAN SHRNG THE SENATE BY A
VOTE OF 74-22 PASSED A BILL OF
VITAL INTEREST TO SOUTH FLORIDA
COUNTRY."
"BOEHNER'S 567BOEHNER'S APPROACH IS WHY
PUBLIC APPROVAL BY BY STANDS AT 10
PUNISH OR LOWER.
MR. BOEHNER SHOULD URGE HIS
COLLEAGUES TO SET ASIDE THE --
SO HERE'S THE THING.
I WILL WRAP UP.
THERE IS A CLEAR PATH TO SUCCESS
HERE.
AND IT IS NOT PAINFUL.
IT IS NOT PAINFUL.
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND LEADER
CANTOR SHOULD ARE ABANDON THEIR
IDEA OF THESE ENDLESS
WE HAVE PROVEN TODAY THROUGH THE
STATE ORGANIZATIONS AND BY
TALKING TO STATE OFFICIALS IN
ALL OF OUR STATES THAT JOBS ARE
ALREADY BEING LOST BECAUSE OF
THE UNCERTAINTY, THE DITHERING
-- THAT'S MY WORD -- AND THE
FACT THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
EXTENSIONS,EXTENSIONS.
EXTENSIONS ARE NO GOOD.
EXTENSIONS MEAN JOB LOSSES,
41,000 JOBS ALREADY LOST TODAY'S
A, AS OF NOW, IN NORTH CAROLINA.
AND THOUSANDS IN OTHER STATES.
BECAUSE STATES DO NOT HAVE THE
ABILITY TO UP FRONT THE FEDERAL
SHARE.
THEY ARE COUNTING ON US.
OUR BILL IS FULLY PAID PAID FOR IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY.
OUR BILL HAS NOT ONE EARMARK.
OUR BILL TAKES 90 PROGRAMS DOWN
TO 30.
IT IS STREAMLINED.
IT IS MADE EFFICIENT.
WE HAVE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY
ADDED THE RESTORE ACT.
WE ADDED WAYS TO FUND RURAL
DISTRICTS FOR THEIR SCHOOLS BY
THE TIMBER RECEIPTS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A REALLY
GOOD BILL.
AND THIS IS A BILL THAT IS TRULY
A PRODUCT, A WORK PRODUCT OF
EVERYONE IN THIS CHAMBER, EVEN
THOSE WHO WOUND UP VOTING "NO"
HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT,
HELPED US GET IT THROUGH.
SO THERE IS A CLEAR PATH.
THEIR 60-DAY EXTENSION
OFF THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
THERE'S A GOOD THING.
AND NOW THEY SHOULD PUT THE
SENATE BILL ON THE FLOORED AND
BOTH SIDES SHOULD EMBRACE IT AN
PASS IT AND LET ME TELL YOU A
SIGNAL IT WILL SEND TO OUR
PEOPLE AT HOME, A SIGNAL OF JOB
GROWTH IN THE FUTURE.
A SIGNAL THAT WE'RE WORKING
TOGETHER.
A SIGNAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET
OUT OF THIS RECESSION.
A SIGNAL THAT WE PUT ASIDE
POLITICS FOR THE GOOD OF THESE
HARD-HAT WORKERS AND THE
COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY THEM.
THEY DESERVE IT.
THEY GOT HURT BY WALL STREET.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN THE
COUNTRY DID, BUT THESE
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, BECAUSE OF
ALL THIS MESSING AROUND WITH
THESE MORTGAGE-BACKED
SECURITIES, IT KILLED THE
HOUSING.
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO HELP SOME OF
THE MOST -- SOME OF THE
NATION.
AND I CALL ON THE HOUSE
LEADERSHIP TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF
OUR BIPARTISAN BOOK HERE, PASS
THE SENATE BILL.
I THANK YOU, AND I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
THIS WEEK THE
MAJORITY BROUGHT A BILL TO THE