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CONCEPT OF A DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
WHICH CONGRESS IS ELECTED BY THE
PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY TO GOVERN
THIS COUNTRY.
FOR THESE REASONS AND OTHERS, I
STRONGLY URGE A NO VOTE ON THE
RULE AND THE BILL.
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
.
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
THREE MINUTES TO A GENTLEMAN WHO
HELD A VERY PERSUASIVE SPECIAL
ORDERS ON THIS TOPIC LAST NIGHT,
FRANKS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA, MR.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I CERTAINLY THANK
THE GENTLEMAN.
MR. SPEAKER, ALL FINANCIAL
BUDGETS WILL EVENTUALLY BALANCE.
NO INDIVIDUAL, NO FAMILY, NO
BUSINESS AND NO GOVERNMENT CAN
INDEFINITELY CONTINUE TO SPEND
MORE MONEY THAN THEY TAKE IN
WITHOUT SOMEONE HAVING TO MAKE
UP THE DIFFERENCE.
MR. SPEAKER, THAT INCLUDES THE
FEDERAL BUDGET OF THE UNITED
STATES.
NEATH PLR OBAMA NOR
CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS CAN
REPEAL THE LAWS OF MATHEMATICS.
THE FEDERAL BUDGET OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT WILL
EVENTUALLY BALANCE.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE
THIS BODY WILL BALANCE THIS
WHITE HOUSE AND THOSE OF US IN
BUDGET OURSELVES BY WISE POLICY
OR NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY AND
FINANCIAL RUIN WILL DO IT FOR
US.
ON THE DAY BARACK OBAMA WALKED
INTO THE WHITE HOUSE HIS
BREATHTAKINGLY ARROGANT POLICIES
HAVE ABSOLUTELY IGNORED ECONOMIC
AND FINANCIAL REALITY.
IT TOOK AMERICA THE FIRST 216
YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE TO
ACCUMULATE THE DEBT THAT BARACK
OBAMA HAS ACCUMULATED IN THE
SHORT 2 1/2-YEAR SPAN OF HIS
PRESIDENCY.
HE RAMMED A NEARLY $1 TRILLION
GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH
CARE DOWN THE THROATS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND HE SPENT ANOTHER NEARLY $1
TRILLION ON A FAILED
GOVERNMENT-BASED BOONDOGGLE FOR
ECONOMIC STIMULUS.
DURING THE SHORT TIME IN OFFICE,
HE HAS INCREASED OUR FEDERAL
DEBT BY NEARLY $4 TRILLION IN
NEW DEBT.
AND NOW HE SAYS WE WILL HAVE --
NOW HE SAYS WE WILL HAVE $1
TRILLION-PLUS DEFICITS FOR YEARS
TO COME.
THEN WHEN SPEAK OF THE EFFORT TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT, THE
PRESIDENT HAS THE HUBRIS TO TELL
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS TO TAKE
A BALANCED APPROACH AND TO EAT
OUR PEAS.
AND TO THAT I WOULD JUST SAY TO
THE PRESIDENT, PLEASE PULL UP A
CHAIR, SIR, WE ARE READY TO EAT
OUR PEAS AND WE NEED HELP.
THIS CUT, CAP AND BALANCE BILL
IS ACTUALLY A SOLUTION TO
AMERICA'S PROBLEM.
IT DOES NOT CUT SOCIAL SECURITY,
IT DOES NOT CUT MEDICARE, IT
DOES NOT CUT COMPENSATION TO OUR
MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM BY ONE
DIME.
BUT THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT IT PROPOSES DOES GIVE
US AN HONEST CHANCE OF REFORMING
AND SAVING THIS PROGRAM AND OUR
COUNTRY FROM BANKRUPTCY IN THE
FUTURE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS IS NOT THE
DEMOCRAT CONGRESS OF LAST YEAR
THAT GAVE A STANDING OVATION TO
A $2 TRILLION INCREASE IN OUR
DEBT LIMIT.
THIS IS THE CONGRESS THAT WAS
SENT HERE BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO TURN THINGS AROUND.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
AWAKE, MR. SPEAKER, AND THEY ARE
WATCHING US AD AND THEY ARE
TIRED OF DEMOCRATS TELLING THEM
-- US AND THEY ARE TIRED OF
DEMOCRATS TELLING THEM THAT TWO
PLUS TWO EQUALS 13 AND THEY'RE
NOT WILLING TO GIVE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THIS CHANCE BY HELPING
REPUBLICANS PASS A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THIS
CONGRESS, THE RESULTING
CONSEQUENCES WILL BE THEIRS
ALONE AND I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE
WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
BY PASSING THIS CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE BILL ALONG WITH THE
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT WE CAN
RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY, IN MARKETS
HERE AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
WE CAN SEE MORE REVENUE COME
INTO THESE COFFERS THAN HAS EVER
HAPPENED IN THE HISTORY OF THIS
NATION AND WE CAN SET THIS
COUNTRY ONTO THE ROAD OF THE
BRIGHTEST DAYS IT HAS EVER SEEN.
IT IS TRULY AN OPPORTUNITY
BEYOND OUR DREAMS AND THIS IS
THE TIME TO DO IT.
AND BY THE GRACE OF GOD, THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT WE INTEND TO DO.
THANK YOU.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, LET'S
BE CLEAR.
UNDER THE REPUBLICAN PLAN THEY
MEDICARE BY $6,000 PER SENIOR
WILL CUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND
CITIZEN.
TALK ABOUT A TAX INCREASE.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO YIELD
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM TEXAS, MS. JACKSON LEE.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN VERY MUCH AND I'M JUST
OVERWHELMED WITH THE WORDS
BREATHTAKINGLY IGNORANT
POLICIES.
I'M LITERALLY SHOCKED AND LET ME
TELL YOU WHY.
WHEN YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, WHY WE'RE IN
THE POSITION WE'RE IN, WHAT
ABOUT THE 37.5% OF THE DEBT
BEING THE BUSH-ERA TAX CUTS?
TAX CUTS ON WHICH THIS BILL AND
ANY OF YOUR NEGOTIATIONS DON'T
IN ANY WAY SUGGEST REVENUE.
UNDERSTAND.
WHICH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARROGANT POLICIES BY THE
PRESIDENT?
THE RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT
WAS ONLY 5.2%, CREATING THREE
MILLION JOBS.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
THREE MILLION JOBS.
THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN CAME ABOUT
WITH THE IRAQ WAR AND OTHERS.
SO TODAY, MY FRIENDS COME ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE WITH THE CUT,
CAP AND BALANCE.
AS MEMBER OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU
THAT THE AMENDMENTS THAT WERE
PUT IN THE BILL HAVE DESTROYED
ANY SENSE OF BALANCE TO THE
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT -- CAN I --
I YIELD AN
ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE.
THE
GENTLELADY IS RECOGNIZED FOR AN
ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
I HAVE A NEW NAME FOR THE BILL.
TAP DANCE AROUND THE QUESTION OF
REVENUE AND LIFTING THE DEBT
CEILING, DONE 60-PLUS TIMES OVER
AMERICA'S LIFETIME WITH REAGAN,
CARTER, PRESIDENT BUSH AND
PRESIDENT BUSH AND CLINTON.
SO IT'S THE TAP DANCE, LOSER'S
CLUB, THE LOSERS ARE SENIORS AND
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO NEED
ARE DISABLED.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND THOSE WHO
AND THEN FINALLY INSTEAD OF
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT IT IS
THE BUST THE BENEFITS OF THOSE
WHO ARE IN NEED.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO A NEW ATTITUDE AND
OPPORTUNITY IN THIS NATION.
NOT THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE
WHAT DO WE NEED?
WHICH IN NO WAY INVESTS IN
AMERICA, IT NO WAY ENDS THE
LOOPHOLES THAT ARE PREVAILING,
IT WILL BLOCK THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS FROM CLOSING LOOPHOLES
OF THOSE WHO MAKE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS EVERY THREE MONTHS.
WE NEED INNOVATION,
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATION.
THAT'S JOBS.
PARENTS, I DON'T WANT TO SEE
YOUR CHILDREN'S OPPORTUNITY BY
CLOSING ELEMENTARY AND HIGH
SCHOOLS AND DISALLOWING THEM
FROM GOING TO COLLEGE, THAT IS
WHAT THIS BILL IS.
NOT TO CUT, NOT TO CAP, NOT TO
BALANCE.
IT'S THE TAP DANCE, LOSER'S CLUB
AND BUST THE BENEFITS OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU --
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THESE ARE THE
LOSERS, THESE ARE THE LOSERS OF
THIS BILL.
DON'T ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO LOSE
IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THERE'S ONLY ONE
BILL IN THIS CONGRESS THAT
ABOLISHES EVERY SINGLE CORPORATE
LOOPHOLE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED
STATES TAX CODE.
THAT'S H.R. 25, THE FAIR TAX
ACT.
I WOULD WELCOME THE GENTLELADY
A DESIRE TO SEE THOSE LOOL
ON THAT BILL BECAUSE I TOO SHARE
LOOPHOLES ELIMINATED -- THOSE
LOOPHOLES ELIMINATED.
IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD.
I MUST NOW YIELD TO A CO-SPONSOR
OF THE FAIR TAX, A GENTLEMAN WHO
HAS CO-SPONSORED LEGISLATION IN
THIS HOUSE.
MR. GINGREY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR HOW LONG?
I'M SORRY, MR.
SPEAKER, TWO MINUTES.
TWO
MINUTES, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I
RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THIS
BILL AND RULE, CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE.
THE GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS JUST
STOOD UP AND SAID SHE WOULD CALL
IT THE TAP DANCE BILL.
QUITE FRANKLY WHAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS IN MIND I WOULD REFER TO AS
PLAN.
THE WHISTLING PAST THE GRAVEYARD
THIS CUT, CAP AND BALANCE
APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM IS JUST
THAT.
AND THE FIRST PROVISION OF
CUTTING SPENDING, MR. SPEAKER,
OF $111 BILLION, $35 BILLION OF
THAT BY THE WAY FROM MANDATORY
SPENDING, BUT NOT ONE DIME, NOT
ONE DIME FROM SOCIAL SECURITY OR
MEDICARE.
WE PROTECT OUR SENIORS.
BUT THIS SPENDING PROBLEM, I
MEAN, IT IS JUST LIKE THE
PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY WITH
ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THAT
DRUNK DRIVING.
PROBLEM BY RAISING THE BLOOD
ALCOHOL LEVEL?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THIS
PROBLEM OF RUNAWAY SPENDING BY
JUST SIMPLY RAISING THE DEBT
CEILING WITHOUT THESE CAVEATS OF
CUT, CAP AND BALANCE?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO DO THIS,
TO REIN IN THIS SPENDING AND TO
BRING IT DOWN AT HISTORICAL
LEVELS OF 20% OF G.D.P.
AND THEN THE FINAL PART OF CUT,
CAP AND BALANCE, MR. SPEAKER, IS
THE BALANCE PART.
THE PRESIDENT IS ASKING FOR A
BALANCED APPROACH, THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS THE BALANCED APPROACH
THAT MAKES SENSE.
BECAUSE EVERY OTHER PLEDGE IN
THE PAST IN REGARD TO REINING IN
SPENDING, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT PAY AS YOU GO, THE
DEMOCRATS LIKE TO TOUT THAT
PLAN, BUT IT NEVER HAS WORKED
BECAUSE WE DON'T ABIDE BY THESE
PLEDGES.
WE CONTINUE TO SPEND.
THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT
FUTURE CONGRESSES REIN IN THIS
SPENDING ON A PERMANENT LEVEL IS
TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT THAT CALLS FOR A
SUPERMAJORITY TO RAISE TAXES.
49 OUT OF 50 STATES HAVE A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULDN'T
DEMOCRATS JOIN WITH REPUBLICANS
IN CALLING FOR A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT?
AND TO THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT
WOULD ISSUE A STATEMENT OF
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY IN
OPPOSITION TO THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
RIDICULOUS.
SUPPORT THIS COMMONSENSE BILL.
STAND STRONG FOR OUR COUNTRY.
THIS IS THE LAND OF THE FREE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
BUT IT HAS TO BE
THE LAND OF THE STRONG BEFORE IT
AND I YIELD BACK.
CAN BECOME THE LAND OF THE FREE
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF 10 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I JUST WANT TO SAY
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA,
THE REASON WHY THE PRESIDENT
ISSUED A VETO THREAT IS BECAUSE
HE DOESN'T WANT YOU TO DESTROY
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SOCIAL
PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT
BENEFIT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
SENIOR CITIZENS.
I DON'T HAVE THE TIME.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, MS. MATSUI.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
FOR YIELDING.
I WANT TO THANK THE GENTLEMAN
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE AND THE
EXTREME IDEOLOGICAL BILL BEFORE
US TODAY.
THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE ACT OR
AS IT SHOULD BE MORE
APPROPRIATELY CALLED, THE CUT,
CAP AND END MEDICARE ACT, IS ONE
OF THE MOST RADICAL BILLS TO
BUT PERHAPS I SHOULD NOT BE
COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
SURPRISED.
I'VE ALREADY SEEN THE MAJORITY
OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE VOTE TO END
MEDICARE, SLASH MEDICAID AND NOW
BENEFITS TOO.
THEY WANT TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY
INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP CONTINUES
TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ELIMINATION
OF MEDICARE, ALL WHILE
CONTINUING TO PROTECT TAX
LOOPHOLES AND SUBSIDIES FOR BIG
OIL AND WALL STREET EXECUTIVES.
THIS BILL'S ACTUALLY MORE
EXTREME THAN THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET PASSED IN APRIL CALLING
FOR DEEPER CUTS AND MORE
HARDSHIPS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND OLDER AMERICANS.
IN FACT, THIS BILL DOES NOTHING
TO CREATE JOBS, NOR INVEST IN
THE ROADS, BRIDGES, CLEAN ENERGY
TECHNOLOGY AND JOB TRAINING THAT
WOULD REALLY GET OUR ECONOMY
MOVING.
IN SHORT, H.R. 2560 WILL STIFLE
GROWTH, HURT MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES AND UNDERCUT AMERICA'S
SENIORS.
IN MY DISTRICT THERE ARE OVER
93,000 SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFICIARIES AND OVER 85,000
MEDICARE ENROLLEES.
ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS AND
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS I STAND
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO THIS
BILL AND THE RULE.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WHO
WANT TO SUPPORT A REASONABLE
PLAN TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT.
THIS IS NOT THE PLAN.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE TO REJECT
THIS DANGEROUS PROPOSAL AND I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO MY FRIEND, MR.
PENCE.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING.
I RISE AS A CO-SPONSOR AND URGE
STRONG SUPPORT OF MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE
ACT, H.R. 2560.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE IF
YOU OWE DEBTS, PAY DEBTS.
WE MUST FIND A WAY TO HONOR THE
FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BUT
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT WE
MUST FIND A WAY TO RESTORE THE
FAITH AND CONFIDENCE OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE WORLD
COMMUNITY AND FISCAL -- IN THE
FISCAL INTEGRITY OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THAT IS OUR CHALLENGE.
AFTER YEARS OF RUNAWAY FEDERAL
SPENDING BY BOTH POLITICAL
PARTIES, AFTER FAILED ECONOMIC
POLICIES BY THIS ADMINISTRATION
WE FIND OURSELVES AT A PLACE OF
UNPRECEDENTED FISCAL CRISIS.
MORE THAN A $14 TRILLION
NATIONAL DEBT, $1.65 TRILLION
DEFICIT.
WE NOW BORROW MORE THAN 40 CENTS
OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND
D.C.
THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE ACT
APPLIES COMMONSENSE PRINCIPLES
AND FISCAL DISCIPLINE TO THE
CHALLENGES OF SPENDING RESTRAINT
TODAY BUT IT ALSO INTRODUCES A
NEW ELEMENT AND THAT IS A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
YES, WE CUT SPENDING BY $111
BILLION NEXT YEAR, ABOUT $5.8
TRILLION OVER 10, YES, WE CAP
20% OF G.D.P.
FEDERAL SPENDING TO BACK UNDER
BUT I THINK THE TIME HAS COME TO
MAKE ANY INCREASE IN THE DEBT
CEILING CONTINGENT ON SENDING A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
STATES AND HERE'S WHY.
WASHINGTON, D.C., IS NOT ONLY
BROKE, IT'S BROKEN.
LET ME SAY AGAIN.
AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE HERE,
SEEING MY PARTY IN POWER IN
CONGRESS AND IN THE WHITE HOUSE,
SEEING ANOTHER PARTY IN POWER IN
CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE, I
AM CONVINCED THAT WASHINGTON,
D.C., IS NOT ONLY BROKE, IT'S
BROKEN.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW IN
THEIR HEART OF HEARTS THERE'S
SOMETHING MISSING IN THE
EQUATION.
AND IT'S THE GUARDRAILS IN THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
IT IS THE GUARDRAILS THAT SAY IT
MUST BE THE OBJECTIVE OF THE
CONGRESS AND OF THIS AND OF
FUTURE ADMINISTRATIONS TO LIVE
WITHIN OUR MEANS.
31 STATES HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET
REQUIREMENT IN THEIR
CONSTITUTION, INDIANA HAS A
PROHIBITION ON INCURRING DEBT.
49 STATES REQUIRE BALANCED
BUDGETS.
THE TIME HAS COME TO CUT, THE
TIME HAS COME TO CAP SPENDING.
THE TIME HAS COME TO MAKE ANY
INCREASE IN THE DEBT CEILING
CONTINGENT ON SENDING A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION, TO THE STATES FOR
DO.
RATIFICATION AND THIS WE MUST
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
I YIELD 30 SECONDS
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS.
I WANTED TO ASK THE
DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN FROM
INDIANA A QUESTION WITH MY 30
SECONDS IF HE WOULD BE WILLING.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 30 SECONDS.
AS I UNDERSTAND
IT, UNDER YOUR BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, IN THE EVENT THAT
CONGRESS IS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE A
BALANCED BUDGET, A LAWSUIT
COULD BE FILED FORCING THE
FEDERAL JUDICIARY INTO THE
BUDGET PROCESS.
IN EFFECT, YOUR BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT WOULD REVERSE THE
CONSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP BY
LEGALIZING THE LEGISLATURE AND
POLITICIZING THE JUDICIARY, IS
FEDERAL JUDGE COULD ULTIMATELY
THAT YOUR EXPECTATION THAT A
HAVE THE FINAL SAY OVER BUDGET
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE?
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD THE
GENTLEMAN 10 SECONDS.
IT WOULD BE MY
EXPECTATION THAT WOULD NOT
YIELD CONSTITUTIONALITY
EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE
JUDICIARY.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY IT HAS
MOSTLY SETTLED THERE.
RECLAIMING MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE SOLE INTERPRET
OF THE CONSTITUTION IS THROUGH
THE FEDERAL COURTS.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I'M PLEASED TO
YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
CULBERSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE HOUSE IS
AMERICA AND THE LARGEST
HONORING A PLEDGE WE MADE TO
LANDSLIDE ELECTION WHEN THE
AMERICA PEOPLE ELECTED A NEW
MAJORITY TO GOVERN THE HOUSE,
TO TAKE AMERICA DOWN THE PATH
TO A BALANCED BUDGET, TO
RESTORE PROSPERITY, TO RESTORE
JOBS THAT HAD BEEN LOST UNDER
THIS PRESIDENT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SPOKE
DECISIVELY LAST NOVEMBER AND
ASKED THIS NEW CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY IN THE
HOUSE TO CUT SPENDING, TO CAP
SPENDING, TO ENACT A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION, TO SHRINK THE
SIZE OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO GET
THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF OUR
LIVES, OUT OF OUR POCKETS, AND
PUT US ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY.
THIS LEGISLATION DOES.
I'M PROUD TO BE A CO-AUTHOR OF
THE CUT, CAP AND BALANCE, THE
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION WHICH HAS
TEXAS IS A BEACON TO OTHER
WORKED SO WELL IN TEXAS.
STATES.
WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN TEXAS
WHEN YOU LIVE WITHIN YOUR
MEANS, WHEN YOU CUT TAXES, WHEN
YOU LIMIT LITIGATION AND
REGULATION, WHEN YOU GET THE
GOVERNMENT OFF OUR BACKS THAT
AMERICAN INGENUITY, AMERICAN
ENTREPRENEURSHIP WILL THRIVE
AND THE ECONOMY WILL GROW.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVING TO
TEXAS.
WE IN THIS NEW CONSTITUTIONAL
CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY IN THE
HOUSE ARE DOING TODAY WHAT WE
PROMISED AMERICA WE WOULD DO
LAST NOVEMBER.
WE ARE CUTTING.
WE'RE ENACTING, WE'RE
REAFFIRMING THE RYAN BUDGET
WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT ANYONE
OVER THE AGE OF 55 THAT'S UN
AFFECTED BY THE RYAN BUDGET.
IF WE DO NOTHING, IF YOU ARE
UNDER THE AGE OF 55, YOU WILL
BE AFFECTED.
MEDICARE IS ON THE PATH TO
BANKRUPTCY AS IS SOCIAL
SECURITY.
WE ARE WORKING TO PUT AMERICA
BACK ON A PATH TO PROSPERITY,
TO GROW JOBS, TO GET THE
GOVERNMENT BACK WITHIN THE
BOUNDS OF THE CONSTITUTION WITH
A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT.
I'M VERY PROUD TODAY, MR.
SPEAKER, TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT
OF THIS LEGISLATION.
HONOR THE PROMISE WE MADE TO
AMERICA.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA, A
MEMBER OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
MR. HONDA.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
HONDHOND THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE --
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO
THIS CUT, CAP AND BALANCE
PROPOSAL.
FROM THE DEFICIT COMMISSION TO
THE BIDEN COMMISSION TO DIRECT
TALKS TO THE PRESIDENT, THE
REPUBLICAN PLACE POLITICS ABOVE
RESPONSIBLY SOLVING THE
COUNTRY'S BUDGET PROBLEM.
THIS IS THE FIRST BUDGET
REDUCTION PLAN IN THE PAST
QUARTER OF A CENTURY THAT
PROTECTS PROGRAMS FROM THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
THE DUCK, DODGE AND DISMANTLE
ACT WILL HURT MEDICARE,
MEDICAID, UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, CHILD NUTRITION, THE
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM,
WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN,
PLANNED PARENTHOOD,
SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME FOR THE
ELDERLY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
TEACHERS AND PAY FOR
FIREFIGHTERS AND COPS.
ALSO, THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PROTECT TAX BREAKS AND TAX
SUBSIDIES FOR THE WEALTHY AND
POWERFUL BY ERECTING A
CONSTITUTIONIAL BARRIER TO ANY
MEASURE THAT WOULD RAISE ANY
REVENUE.
IS UNPRECEDENTED.
THIS BILL IS AS EXTREME AS IT
IT IS NOT A SERIOUS RESPONSIBLE
GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION ON THE
REPUBLICANS.
I ASK THE REPUBLICANS TO STOP
THE GAMES, QUIT THE POSTURING
AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I ASK COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THIS
BILL.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
LOUISIANA, DR. BOUSTANY.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
YIELDING TIME TO ME.
OUR COUNTRY IS AT A PIVOTAL
POINT IN ITS HISTORY.
ECONOMISTS WILL CALL THIS AN
INFELIX POINT.
FOR THOSE THAT IS NOT AN
ECONOMIST IT'S A CRITICAL TIME.
IT'S A PIVOTAL POINT.
WE HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE WE GOING
TO COMPETE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
AND SEE THIS COUNTRY PROSPER
AND LEAD IN THE 21ST CENTURY OR
WE -- WILL WE SINK IN A SEA OF
READ INK?
I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH A BOLD PLAN.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING FROM
THE PRESIDENT.
HE HASN'T PUT ANYTHING ON THE
TABLE.
PLAN THAT'S CREDIBLE.
WE ARE COMING FORWARD WITH A
IT LAYS OUT A PATH, A CREDIBLE
PATH THAT GETS US BACK TO
FISCAL SANITY.
$46,000 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN
AND CHILD IS WHAT THE DEBT
STANDS AT TODAY.
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
UNFUNDED LIABILITIES GOING TO
THE FUTURE WHICH TAKES US WELL
NORTH OF THAT FIGURE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS CONGRESS TO
GET SERIOUS ABOUT ITS
RESPONSIBILITY, ITS
RESPONSIBILITY TO BRING FISCAL
SANITY AND FISCAL BALANCE BACK.
WE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM.
THERE'S CLEARLY A SPENDING
PROBLEM.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE TWO
FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS FACING THE
COUNTRY IT'S OUR UNSUSTAINABLE
DEBT BUT IT'S ALSO THE LACK OF
ECONOMIC GROWTH TO CREATE
PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.
NOW, IF YOU TAKE THE PATH OUR
FRIENDS WANTS TO TAKE THEY ARE
GOING TO RAISE TAXES ACROSS THE
BOARD AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO
SEE IS WORSENING ECONOMIC --
WORSENING ECONOMIC SITUATION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE KIND
OF JOB GROWTH.
WE COULD WALK OURSELF BACK IN A
RECESSION.
OUR BILL HAS A STRATEGY AND
MOVES FORWARD WITH A TRADE
POLICY.
YOU'LL SEE A COMPETITIVE
AMERICA.
YOU'LL SEE JOB GROWTH IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE TO GET SPENDING UNDER
CONTROL.
TODAY IS THE DAY WE CAN CAST
THAT VOTE.
TODAY IS THE DAY WE CAN RESTORE
AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS.
WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE AMERICAN
CREDIBILITY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE
AMERICAN CONFIDENCE.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
I SAY TO THE
CAN'T COMPETE WITHOUT
GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA, WE
INVESTMENT AND INNOVATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EDUCATION.
AND THE BILL THAT MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS HAVE BROUGHT BEFORE US
TODAY ON THE FLOOR WOULD
DEVASTATE THIS ECONOMY.
IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATE
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
AT THIS POINT I YIELD TWO
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK, MR. SERRANO.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I ASK NEAKS TO
REVISE AND EXTEND.
I THANK THE
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
GENTLEMAN.
I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK AGAINST
THIS RULE AND THIS BILL.
THIS WILL NOT SAVE OUR NATION'S
PROBLEM BUT INSTEAD DEVASTATE
OUR ECONOMY IN THE MOST
VULNERABLE -- AND THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.
OUR NATION HAS RUN INTO FISCAL
PROBLEMS FOR THREE RUNS NONE
ADDRESSED BY THIS BILL.
BUSH TAX CUTS, FOREIGN WARS AND
A RECESSION.
WHEN A FISCAL SITUATION OF THE
GOVERNMENT WAS BETTER I WARNED
THAT THE SPENDING AND TAX CUTS
AND FOREIGN WARS WOULD CAUSE
PROBLEMS BETWEEN REPUBLICANS
WHICH WILL BALANCE ON THE BACKS
OF SOCIAL PROGRAMS.
WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD,
REPUBLICANS SAID THAT TAX CUTS
PAY FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMOUSLY
DEFICITS DON'T MATTER.
THEY WERE WRONG AND WORKING
FAMILIES ARE SUFFERING.
NOW WE GET THE EXPLANATION THAT
BY CUTTING GOVERNMENT JOBS AND
SPENDING IT WILL CREATE JOBS
AND REVIVE THE ECONOMY.
HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR THAT WHAT
WE REALLY NEED ARE GOOD, STABLE
JOBS AND STIMULUS IN ORDER FOR
THE ECONOMY TO GROW AGAIN.
MY CONSTITUENTS NEVER GOT THE
BENEFIT OF THE BUSH BUBBLE.
THEY WORKED THE JOBS THAT WERE
AVAILABLE AND PAID THEIR TAXES.
NOW THE JOBS HAVE EVAPORATED
AND THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET THEY
PAID INTO IS UNDER SEVERE
THREAT.
I WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL
ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS
AND THE PEOPLE LIKE THEM ACROSS
THIS NATION.
I WILL BE CASTING A VOTE FOR
FAIRNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
AGAINST THE BUSH POLICIES THAT
THE REPUBLICANS ARE SEEKING TO
EXTEND AND FOR A BETTER FUTURE
FOR OUR CHILDREN.
OUR NATION BECAME GREAT BY
MAKING VEFMENTS IN OUR PEOPLE
AND INFRASTRUCTURE --
INVESTMENTS IN OUR PEOPLE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE AND BY CREATING
A STABLE MIDDLE CAST AND A
ROBUST SOCIAL SAFETY NET.
IT BECAME GREAT FOR REPUBLICANS
PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE
TAXES.
TODAY WE WATCH AS THE
REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO TURN
THEIR BACKS ON THAT HISTORY AND
CONTINUE THEIR PUSH TOWARDS A
ME FIRST ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
I DON'T WANT NO PART OF THAT
BLEAK FUTURE.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I YIELD MYSELF 15
SECONDS TO SAY THAT COMPETING
VISION OF TRILLIONS MORE IN
STIMULUS AND MORE IN GOVERNMENT
JOBS AND MORE IN GOVERNMENT
SPENDING IS ONE IDEA HOW TO
REVIVE THIS ECONOMY.
IT'S JUST NOT ONE THAT I SHARE.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD AT THIS TIME
TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ALABAMA WHO I DON'T
BELIEVE SHARES THAT OPINION,
THE GENTLEMAN, MR. BROOKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
BACK HOME IN MY DISTRICT, ONE
OF THE THINGS I'M UNDERSTANDING
IN COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE IS
THE DIFFICULTY IN THEIR
DIFFERENCE OF UNDERSTANDING IN
MILLIONS IN DEBT, BLTS IN DEBT
AND TRILLIONS IN DEBT.
I HEARD AN ANALOGY THE OTHER
DAY THAT WILL HELP THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE A PAMLY AND
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING TRACK
OF YOUR FINANCES FOR A WHILE.
FINALLY YOU DECIDE TO SIT DOWN
AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE, THE TWO
SPOUSES GET TOGETHER AND THEY
ACCUMULATE THEIR INCOME, THEY
ACCUMULATE THEIR EXPENSES, THEY
ACCUMULATE THEIR DEBT.
AND AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR
INCOME THEY DISCOVER THEY HAVE
ABOUT $50,000 THAT THEY CAN
SPEND, THAT'S THEIR INCOME, FOR
THE UPCOMING YEAR.
AND THEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR
EXPENSES AND PUT ALL THE BILLS
TOGETHER AND HOW THEY SPENT
OVER THE PAST YEAR AND DISCOVER
$80,000.
THAT LAST YEAR THEY SPENT
MANY OF THEM SPENT $30,000 MORE
THAN THEIR INCOME.
AND THEN FINALLY THEY PICK UP
THEIR VISA CARD BILL AND THAT
VISA CARD BILL IS $320,000.
THOSE ARE THE EXACT SAME RATIOS
THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AND THE DEBT THAT WE FACE.
WE GOT A BUDGET THAT IS AROUND
$3.5 TRILLION.
LITTLE OVER $2 TRILLION.
WE HAVE AN INCOME THAT'S A
AND WE HAVE A DEFICIT THAT'S
$14.3 TRILLION.
ALL OF THAT IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
IT'S A FBLE HOUSE OF CARDS AND
WE HAVE TO TAKE A TOUGH BUT
REASONABLE COURSE AND THAT'S
WHY CUT, CAP AND BALANCE IS ALL
ABOUT.
CUT, CAP AND BALANCE.
THAT IS THE WAY TO RESTORE
FINANCIAL SECURITY FOR THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THAT IS THE WAY TO CREATE JOBS.
WILL THE
GENTLEMAN YIELD?
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM CONNECTICUT,
MS. DELAURO.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM CONNECTICUT IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I RISE IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS RULE AND THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY.
IF WE DO NOT ACT IN TWO WEEKS,
THE UNITED STATES WILL FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY DEFAULT
ON ITS DEBT.
WITH THE ECONOMY IN THE
VULNERABLE POSITION RIGHT NOW,
WE SHOULD BE WORKING TO CREATE
JOBS INSTEAD OF ACTING
RESPONSIBLY AND IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING,
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS
DECIDED TO MAKE THIS A FORM OF
HOSTAGE TAKING TO PRESS THEIR
AGENDA.
CONGRESS HAS ALWAYS PAID FOR
ITS PAST FINANCIAL COMMITMENT.
WITH REPUBLICAN MAJORITIES
AGREEING ON RAISING THE DEBT
CEILING SEVEN TIMES DURING THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS A
BUDGET DEFICITS AND PRESIDENT
LONG-TERM CHALLENGE POSED BY
OBAMA AND DEMOCRATS SUPPORTED A
BALANCED APPROACH TO ADDRESSING
THAT CHALLENGE.
YES, THE IDEOLOGICAL AND
EXTREME BILL BEFORE US TODAY
DOES NOT ADDRESS THE NUMBER ONE
CONCERN OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC,
JOBS, BUT RATHER SEEKS TO
IMPLEMENT AN AGENDA THAT WILL
IN FACT DESTROY JOBS AND THE
SOCIAL SAFETY NET, END MEDICARE
AND REDUCES THE SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS OUR SENIORS HAVE
EARNED AND DESERVED.
RATHER THAN MAKING INVESTMENTS
TO CREATE JOBS, ECONOMIC
GROWTH, THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
IS PROPOSING CUTS WHICH WILL
LEAD TO A LOSS OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS, EVEN AS WE
ARE MIRED IN UNACCEPTABLY HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
WITH THIS BILL, THE REPUBLICANS
CHOOSE TO PUT IN PLACE A
SPENDING CAP THAT WILL CEMENT
IN LAW THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET
THAT CHOOSES TO END MEDICARE,
PLACES THE BURDEN OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION ON THE BACKS OF
MIDDLE CLASS AND THE MOST
VULNERABLE.
AND FINALLY, THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY IS CHOOSING TO HOLD AN
I SHALL CREASE IN THE DEBT
CEILING HOSTAGE TO AN APPROVAL
OF AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL MAKE
IT IMPOSSIBLE TO RAISE REVENUE.
WHAT DO I MEAN?
IT WILL MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO
END THE SUBSIDIES TO BIG OIL,
MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE
LOOPHOLES THAT ALLOW
CORPORATIONS TO SHIP THEIR JOBS
OVERSEAS OR ABUSE TAX HAVEN
THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PAY ALMOST
NOTHING IN FEDERAL TAXES.
TO ACHIEVE DEFICIT REDUCTION,
THEY WILL END MEDICARE,
IMPLEMENT DEEP CUTS TO SOCIAL
SECURITY AND OTHER PROGRAMS
THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
INSTEAD, WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
IS TO GO AFTER THE 12 LARGEST
CORPORATIONS IN THIS NATION
THAT CITIZENS FOR TAX JUSTICE
HAD SAID THAT THOSE
CORPORATIONS PAY A NEGATIVE
1.5% TAX ON $171 BILLION IN
PROFITS AND ABOUT $64 BILLION
IN TAX SUBSIDIES.
YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET AND MAKE
DEAL WITH DEFICIT REDUCTION, GO
AFTER THOSE CORPORATIONS THAT
ARE PAYING ZERO IN TAXES.
INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS OR
SENIORS WHO RELY ON MEDICARE
AND WHO RELY ON SOCIAL
SECURITY, MR. SPEAKER, THIS
REPUBLICAN AGENDA UNDERMINES
AMERICA AS A COUNTRY WHERE
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICAN FAMILIES
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A
DECENT RETIREMENT.
OPPOSE THIS OUTRAGEOUS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
WOULD THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA YIELD TO A QUESTION?
I DON'T HAVE THE
TIME.
SURE YOU DO.
THIS WOULDN'T BE TAKING UP YOUR
TIME.
THE ANSWER IS NO.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
YIELD, HOWEVER, MR. SPEAKER, TO
A COLLEAGUE WHO IS A GREAT
LEADER ON THIS ISSUE, THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE, MRS.
BLACKBURN.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE IS
RECOGNIZED FOR HOW LONG?
TWO MINUTES.
TWO
MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THIS IS QUITE AN INTERESTING
DEBATE THAT WE'RE HAVING AND I
THINK IT IS A HISTORIC DAY.
IT IS A TIME WHEN WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THE OUT-OF-CONTROL,
RECKLESS WASHINGTON SPENDING.
IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
AND I HAD AN EMAIL FROM A
CONSTITUENT A FEW MINUTES AGO,
THEY'RE WATCHING THE DEBATE.
AND I WOULD OFFER TO MY
AMERICANS ARE WATCHING THIS
COLLEAGUES, I THINK LOTS OF
DEBATE.
THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE IF WE
HAVE THE COURAGE, IF WE HAVE THE
POLITICAL WILL TO ACTUALLY DO
SOMETHING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY
WE DON'T HAVE FOR PROGRAMS OUR
CONSTITUENTS DON'T WANT.
AMAZINGLY MY CONSTITUENT COULD
NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE
PEOPLE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY COME
TO THIS FLOOR AND SAY THAT THEY
GOVERNMENT SPENDS.
OPPOSED CUTTING WHAT THE FEDERAL
BECAUSE WE'RE BORROWING 40 CENTS
OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS SPENT.
THEY WERE AMAZED THAT PEOPLE
WOULD OPPOSE PLACING A CAP OVER
WHAT THAT GOVERNMENT CAN SPEND
AND THEY WERE QUITE AMAZED THAT
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY STAND AND
OPPOSE A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT.
SOMETHING THAT IS LONG OVERDUE
FOR OUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN
YEARS, DECADES IN THE MAKING.
I THINK WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT.
BUT I ALSO THINK THERE'S ONE
THING THAT WE WILL ALL AGREE
WITH, THE PAST THREE YEARS HAS
SEEN SUCH A RAPID RATE OF
ACCELERATED SPENDING THAT IT HAS
ADDED $3.4 TRILLION, THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS ADDED $3.4
TRILLION TO OUR DEBT.
UNPRECEDENTED.
AND INDEED INCLUDED IN THAT WAS
THE PASSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT'S
HEALTH CARE BILL, OBAMACARE,
WHICH SENT ANOTHER $1.2
TRILLION, AND BY THE WAY TO MY
COLLEAGUES, YOU ALL MADE THE
CHOICE IN THE DECISION IN THAT
BILL TO CUT $575 BILLION OUT OF
MEDICARE.
I JUST REMIND YOU OF THAT.
THE TIME HAS COME FOR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS TIME TO PASS CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THE RULE AND TO SUPPORT
THE BILL AND I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER,
BEFORE I YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MASSACHUSETTS, I JUST WOULD
LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM TENNESSEE WHEN
POLITICAL WILL.
SHE TALKS ABOUT THE NEED FOR
WHAT WE NEED IS THE POLITICAL
WILL TO STAND UP TO BIG OIL AND
TO END SUBSIDIES THAT AMOUNT TO
CORPORATE WELFARE.
THE BILL THAT MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ARE BRINGING TO THE
FLOOR TODAY LET'S THEM OFF THE
-- LETS THEM OFF THE HOOK AND
GOES AFTER THE POOR AND THE MOST
CITIZENS.
VULNERABLE AND OUR SENIOR
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS SO
OUTRAGEOUS, BECAUSE IT'S SO
UNFAIR.
AT THIS TIME, MR. SPEAKER, I'D
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS,
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
MR. MARKEY.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
I THANK MY FRIEND FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
AMERICANS TODAY ARE GETTING AN
UPCLOSE VIEW OF REPUBLICANS'
MISGUIDED PLANS, MISPLACED
PRIORITIES AND MASSIVE ASSAULT
ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.
IT'S NOT, AS THEY CALL IT, CAP,
CUT AND BALANCE, IT'S REALLY A
CASH COW FOR BILLIONAIRES.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING
GRANDMA AND MIDDLE CLASS
FAMILIES OVERBOARD WHILE
PROTECTING THE SUPERRICH AND THE
POWERFUL -- SUPER RICH AND THE
POWERFUL.
WILL REPUBLICANS PROTECT
GRANDMA'S MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY CHECKS?
NO.
GRANDMA IS BEING PUSHED
OVERBOARD.
WHAT ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT HELP
LOW INCOME CHILDREN VISIT THEIR
DOCTOR?
NO.
THEY ARE GETTING PUSHED
OVERBOARD.
WHAT ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE
THAT VETERANS' BENEFITS ARE PAID
ON TIME?
NO.
THAT -- VETERANS ARE BEING
PUSHED OVERBOARD.
BUT THE MASSIVE BUSH TAX CUTS
FOR THE WEALTHY, THE TAX
SUBSIDIES FOR BIG OIL, THEY'RE
TOO PRECIOUS TO REPUBLICANS --
REPUBLICANS SAY.
THEY'RE TOO PRECIOUS, THE
THEY HAVE TO BE KEPT ONBOARD SO
BILLIONAIRES WILL NOT SEE THEIR
UNDESERVED TAX BREAKS TAKEN
AWAY.
THE OIL INDUSTRY WILL NOT SEE
THEIR UNJUSTIFIED TAX SUBSIDIES
AS CONSUMERS ARE TIPPED UPSIDE
DOWN AT GAS STATIONS TAKEN AWAY
FROM THEM.
NO.
KEPT ONBOARD.
THOSE SUBSIDIES, THEY HAVE TO BE
AND, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
THAT'S NOT BALANCED.
GRANDMA, KIDS, VETERANS, THEY
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE TO
BALANCING THE BUDGET BUT
BILLIONAIRES AND BIG OIL ARE
EXEMPTED BY THE REPUBLICANS.
THIS IS THE FACE OF THEIR PARTY.
BIG OIL AND BILLIONAIRES.
THAT'S WHO THEY ARE PROTECTING.
THEY HAVE DEFICIT ATTENTION
DISORDER.
IF THERE WAS SUCH A THING AS A
NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS AND --
THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST WINNERS
THE
OF IT.
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. SPEAKER, AT
THIS TIME I'M PLEASED TO YIELD
TWO MINUTES TO MR. KINGSTON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK THE
AFTER A THREE-YEAR SPENDING
GENTLEMAN.
SPREE IN WHICH THE PRESIDENT
DROVE UP THE NATIONAL DEBT BY
56%, THE PRESIDENT HAS THE NERVE
TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT
THEY HAVE TO EAT THEIR PEAS.
THIS FROM A PRESIDENT WHO HAS
HAD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON A
SUPER SIZE ME DIET SINCE THE DAY
HE WAS SWORN IN.
MARIA ANTOINETTE WOULD BE PROUD
OF SUCH ARROGANCE.
ONE MUST ASK, WHERE HAS THE
PRESIDENT BEEN?
HE OWNS THIS ECONOMY, IT'S HIS
POLICIES THAT HAVE LEFT 15
MILLION AMERICANS WITHOUT WORK,
IT'S HIS POLICIES THAT HAVE
STIFLED BUSINESS GROWTH AND
INVESTMENT, IT'S HIS POLICIES
THAT HAVE GIVEN US MORE DEFICIT
SPENDING THAN ANY OTHER
ADMINISTRATION IN HISTORY.
THE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT
ENTITLEMENT REFORM BUT OFFERS NO
PLAN, NO LEGISLATION.
THE PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT HIS
BUDGET FAIRNESS AND YET THIS
VERY BUDGET WAS REJECTED BY THE
HARRY REID SENATE DEMOCRATS BY A
VOTE OF 97-0.
THE PRESIDENT DENOUNCES THE BUSH
TAX CUTS.
YET PERSONALLY EXTENDED THEM A
FEW MONTHS AGO.
IN 2006 THE PRESIDENT VOTED
AGAINST INCREASES IN THE DEBT
CEILING, CITING A LACK OF
LEADERSHIP.
NOW HE OFFERS NONE.
BUT TODAY THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS
WILL LEAD WITH A PLAN.
THAT PLAN IS CUT, CAP AND
BALANCE.
AND ON THE BACK WE HAVE THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAN.
THIS IS IT.
SPEECHES.
THAT'S WHAT WE GET AFTER THREE
YEARS AND THE LARGEST DEFICIT IN
HISTORY FROM THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
SPEECHES AND ADMONISHMENTS.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN
YIELD?
I'LL BE GLAD.
THANK YOU.
IS IT THE GENTLEMAN'S OPINION
THAT UNDER THE REPUBLICAN CUT,
CAP AND BALANCE --
RECLAIM MY TIME,
YOU GOT TO GO FAST, I'M WILLING
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BUT --
IS THE GENTLEMAN
WILLING TO TURN THE BALANCING
ACT OF THIS PROGRAM OVER TO THE
FEDERAL JUDICIARY?
THE PRESIDENT HAS
BACKED UP AGAINST THE WALL.
IF WE DON'T --
IS THE GENTLEMAN
PREPARED TO TURN THE BALANCING
ASPECT OVER TO THE FEDERAL
JUDICIARY?
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
TO HAVE BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT SO THAT
CONGRESS' HANDS WILL BE TIED
FROM INCREASING THE DEFICIT.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD BACK TO MY
FRIEND.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
AT THIS TIME I'D
LIKE TO YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEWOMAN FROM MARYLAND, MS.
EDWARDS.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM MARYLAND IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE RULE
AND THE UNDERLYING BILL.
FOR MONTHS OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE HAVE KNOWN OF THE
FEED TO AVOID A DEFAULT CRISIS
AND MEET OUR NATION'S
OBLIGATIONS BUT INSTEAD TODAY
THEY MOVE WITH LIGHTNING SPEED
TO THE FLOOR, A SHAM BILL THAT'S
NOTHING MORE THAN A WAY TO SCORE
POLITICAL POINTS AT A TIME THAT
WE NEED, THE MARKETS NEED AND
THE WORLD NEED SERIOUSNESS.
IT'S TIME TO MEET OUR
OBLIGATIONS FOR SENIORS,
RETIREES AND VETERANS.
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
AND TO CREATE JOBS AND GROW THIS
ECONOMY.
THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE KNOW THAT THE BILL THAT'S
ON THE FLOOR TODAY WOULD DO
NOTHING LIKE THAT.
THE UNDERLYING BILL WOULD IN
FACT REAP CATASTROPHIC
CONSEQUENCE FOR OUR NATION'S
ECONOMY AND OUR NATION'S MOST
THAT'S THE TRUTH.
VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND
THROW OUR ECONOMY INTO ANOTHER
WHAT KIND OF MAJORITY WANTS TO
TAILSPIN BY HAVING US DEFAULT ON
OUR OBLIGATIONS?
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU.
IT'S THE IRRESPONSIBLE KIND.
THEY'VE BEEN UNRELENTING IN
THEIR QUEST TO ELIMINATE
MEDICARE AND CUT SOCIAL SECURITY
AND THIS BILL IS NO DIFFERENT.
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC NEEDS TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.
IT'S THE DEFAULT ON OUR NATION'S
OBLIGATIONS THAT WILL THROW OUT
OF WHACK SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE BENEFITS, VETERANS
BENEFITS, EVERYTHING THAT WE
KNOW IN THIS ECONOMY BECAUSE OF
THE FOOLISHNESS THAT'S GOING ON
HERE IN THIS CHAMBER.
AND WITH THAT I WOULD ASK US TO
YIELD AND I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO
PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE, PROTECT
OUR SPEW FUR -- FUTURE, PROTECT
OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE, INVEST IN
OUR ROADS AND OUR BRIDGES AND
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATE JOBS
BUT PLEASE STOP THIS
FOOLISHNESS.
AND WITH THAT I WOULD YIELD AND
I WOULD ASK FOR A NO VOTE ON THE
BILL AND A NO ON THE UNDERLYING
RULE.
THE
GENTLELADY YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
MR. SPEAKER, I
RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS, MR.
JACKSON.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ILLINOIS IS
THANK YOU.
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO SPEAK AS
QUICKLY AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
UNDER THE BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, THE SOLE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INTERPRETING
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES IS THE FEDERAL COURT
SYSTEM, A FEDERAL JUDGE.
AND I WANTED TO ASK THE CHAIRMAN
IF HE'D JOIN ME IN AN ANSWER TO
THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD QUALIFY
A FEDERAL JUDGE TO CUT A FEDERAL
PROGRAM?
WHAT WOULD QUALIFY THEM?
THE SENATE ASKING THEM WHAT
WOULD WE TAKE INTO A PROCESS IN
PROGRAMS THEY SUPPORT?
ARE WE POLITICIZING THE
THERE'S NOTHING
JUDICIARY?
DIFFERENT FROM THISED A
AMENDMENT THAN ANY OTHER
AMENDMENT IN THE CONSTITUTION
THAT RELIES ON THE --
THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES MAKING A JUDGMENT
ABOUT PROGRAMS AND THEN
ANSWERING TO THE PEOPLE IN AN
ELECTIVE POLITICAL PROCESS, WE
ARE SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY
IN A PROGRAM.
TO A FEDERAL JUDGE TO MAKE A CUT
IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT IS NOT
CORRECT.
THE RESPONSIBILITY LIE HERE'S,
AS MY COLLEAGUE KNOWS.
BUT AS IS TRUE WITH EVERY WORD
IN THE CONSTITUTION --
RECLAIMING MY TIME.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
INTERPRETING THE CONSTITUTION IS
A FEDERAL JUDGE.
UNDER A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, A FEDERAL JUDGE WOULD
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CUTTING THESE
PROOM PROGRAMS IS THAT CORRECT?
IF THE GENTLEMAN
WOULD YIELD, I HAVE THE SPONSOR
OF THE LEGISLATION RIGHT HERE TO
ANSWER THAT VERY QUESTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
HAVE NO MORE SPEAKERS ON THIS
SIDE.
SO I WILL -- THE GENTLEMAN HAS
--
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS I'LL LET HIM
I DON'T ALTHOUGH I
DO HAVE THE RESOLUTION SPONSOR
HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU
ALL MIGHT HAVE.
HE DIDN'T ANSWER
ANY OF THEM LAST NIGHT.
I'M NOT SURE WE'LL GET MANY
ANSWERS TODAY.
LET ME YIELD A MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA VOICED
FOR HOW LONG?
ONE MINUTE.
ONE
MINUTE.
I WILL NOT TAKE A
MINUTE.
BILL LIKE I DID LAST NIGHT IN
I WILL ASK THE SPONSOR OF THE
THE RULES COMMITTEE, DO YOU
GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT THIS
PARTICULAR MEASURE IS GOING TO
BECOME THE LAW?
IF THE GENTLEMAN WILL YIELD,
I GENUINELY HOPE THIS DOES
BECOME THE LAW.
RECLAIMING MY
TIME.
I HEARD THE WORD THAT YOU HOPE.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I TOLD YOU
LAST NIGHT.
I BET YOU CASH MONEY THAT IT
IF THE GENTLEMAN
AIN'T GOING TO BECOME THE LAW.
WILL YIELD.
I YIELD.
THE GENTLEMAN
YIELDS HIS TIME.
I DON'T TAKE CASH BETS BUT YOU
ALSO TALKED ABOUT BOUNCING.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO
BOUNCE IS THE GOVERNMENT'S
CHECKS.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
SORRY.
I THOUGHT HE YIELDED TO ME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I RESERVE MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN CONTINUES TO RESERVE
HIS TIME.
I'M THE FINAL
SPEAKER.
I'M PREPARED TO
CLOSE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF THE REMAINING TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, ONCE
AGAIN I STAND IN STRONG
OPPOSITION TO THIS CLOSED RULE
AND TO THE UNDERLYING BILL.
IT'S TIME FOR A GROWNUP MOMENT,
MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S TIME FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT,
TO COME TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE
LOOMING CRISIS OVER THE DEBT
LIMIT.
WE ARE EXACTLY TWO WEEKS, TWO
WEEKS AWAY FROM THE POSSIBILITY
OF THE UNITED STATES DEFAULTING
ON ITS OBLIGATIONS OF NOT PAYING
ITS BILLS.
THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE
OUTCOME.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, IN
FACT I TALKED TO ONE JUST THIS
MORNING WHO WILL NOT VOTE NOR
FIGURE THAT RAISES THE DEBT
CEILING.
THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
DEFAULT WOULD RESULT IN
COLLAPSING MARKETS AND
SKYROCKETING INTEREST RATES.
IT WOULD DEAL A DEVASTATING BLOW
TO THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF
THE UNITED STATES, IT WOULD
THROW EVEN MORE AMERICANS OUT OF
WORK.
THE BILL BEFORE US DOES
NOTHING, NOTHING TO PREVENT
THAT OUTCOME.
SLASHING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY WHILE PROTECTING TAX
CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY IS NOT A
RESPONSIBLE SHUTION.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE MADE IT CLEAR IN POLL
AFTER POLL AFTER POLL.
THEY HAVE SAID TO MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF
THE MEDICARE AND OFF OF SOCIAL
SECURITY.
WHAT MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
ARE TRYING TO DO WITH
LEGISLATION IS LOWER THE
STANDARD OF LIVING FOR OUR
SENIOR CITIZENS.
THEY DESERVE A HELL OF A LOT
BETTER.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
SENIOR CITIZENS DESERVE BETTER
FROM THIS CONGRESS.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO
BALANCE THIS BUDGET BECAUSE
IT'S NOT -- THEY DID NOT CAUSE
THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS.
AND IT'S JUST SIMPLY UNFAIR TO
PROTECT ALL THIS CORPORATE
WELFARE, ALL THESE TAX
LOOPHOLES TO PROTECT
CORPORATIONS WITH JETS AND
PROTECT CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE
TO PAY TAXES AND THEY CAN
INCORPORATE OVERSEAS IN BERMUDA
OR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST WRONG.
IT IS WRONG TO CONTINUE THESE
SUBSIDIES TO BIG OIL THAT HAVE
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
FAIR SHARE?
WHY AREN'T THEY PAYING THEIR
MR. SPEAKER, IT'S JUST WRONG TO
RADCALLY ALTER THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
-- RADICALLY ALTER THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON JOBS PLUS
INFRASTRUCTURE PLUS EDUCATION
EQUALS JOBS.
WE HAVE TO INVEST AS WELL AS
CUT.
THIS BILL WILL SLASH THE
INVESTMENTS WE NEED TO PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK AND TO GROW
OUR ECONOMY.
IT CUTS PELL GRANTS.
IT WILL CUT EDUCATION AT EVERY
LEVEL.
IT WILL CUT MONEY FOR ROADS AND
BRIDGES.
IT WILL CUT MONEY THAT WILL
HELP THIS ECONOMY GROW THAT CAN
HELP PUT MORE PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK SO WE CAN START REDUCING
THE DEBT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.
MR. SPEAKER, AT THE END OF THIS
DEBATE, I WILL ASK THE HOUSE TO
DEFEAT THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
I WILL AFTER AN AMENDMENT THAT
WILL ENSURE THAT THIS -- I WILL
OFFER AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL
ENSURE THAT THIS BILL DOES NOT
IMPEDE JOB CREATION AND
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
SO A VOTE IN FAVOR IS TO HURT
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
GIVEN THE FACT YOU HAVE GIVEN
US A CLOSED RULE I DON'T THINK
IT'S HARD TO ASK TO PUT
LANGUAGE IN HERE THAT WILL
PROTECT JOBS AND THE AMERICAN
WORKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
INSERT THE TEXT OF THE
AMENDMENT IN THE RECORD ALONG
WITH EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE VOTE
ON THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION, REJECT THIS
CLOSED RULE THAT IS UNFAIR AND
REJECT THE UNDERLYING
LEGISLATION.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, IT
WAS 224 YEARS AGO THAT THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WAS
WRAPPING UP, THAT SUMMER IN
1787.
BEN FRANKLIN WALKED OUT OF THE
FRONT DOOR AND A WOMAN ASKED
HIM, WHAT DID YOU CREATE?
AND HE FAMOUSLY RESPONDED, A
REPUBLIC, IF YOU CAN KEEP IT.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEBATE IS ABOUT
HERE TODAY, MR. SPEAKER, OUR
REPUBLIC AND CAN WE KEEP IT.
MR. SPEAKER, THE LAST TIME WE
DEBATED A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT WAS BACK IN 1995, 16
YEARS AGO, AND AT THAT TIME NOW
-MINORITY LEADER STENY HOYER
SAID THIS, THIS COUNTRY
CONFRONTS A CRITICAL THREAT
BASED ON THE CONTINUATION OF
LARGE ANNUAL DEFICITS.
I'M ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT
THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF
REFUSING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH
THE NECESSITY TO BALANCE OUR
BUDGET WILL BE CATASTROPHIC.
AND THOSE WHO WILL PAY THE
HIGHEST PRICE FOR OUR FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD WE FAIL
WILL BE THOSE LEAST ABLE TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE
CHILDREN OF TODAY AND THE
GENERATIONS OF TOMORROW.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS DEBATE IS
ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LEAST ABLE
TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND THIS
IS ABOUT THE VISION WE HAVE
CHOSEN FOR OURSELVES AS
AMERICANS.
223 YEARS AGO, MR. SPEAKER, IN
A LETTER WRITTEN IN NOVEMBER,
THOMAS JEFFERSON SAID THIS.
I WISH IT WERE POSSIBLE TO
OBTAIN A SINGLE AMENDMENT TO
OUR CONSTITUTION.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO DEPEND ON
THAT ALONE FOR THE REDUCTION OF
THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR
GOVERNMENT TO THE GENUINE
PRINCIPLES OF ITS CONSTITUTION.
I MEAN AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE
TAKING FROM GOVERNMENT THE
POWER OF BORROWING.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS 223 YEARS
AGO.
FOLKS TALK ABOUT A BILL BEING
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE
THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION.
SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR
NATION, AND WE HAD THIS
DISCUSSION IN 1995 AND 1994.
EVERY CONGRESS FOR THE 10 YEARS
BETWEEN 1985 AND 1995 WE
DISCUSSED A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT, MR. SPEAKER.
APPARENTLY THERE WAS NO NEED TO
DISCUSS IT LONGER.
LOOK WHERE WE ARE.
I WAS DOWN IN CHINATOWN, MR.
SPEAKER.
OUR UNITED STATES DEBT AUCTIONS
IN CHINATOWN.
WE SOLD IT AT 0.00005%
INTEREST.
BUT HEAR THIS.
I CLOSE AS I HOPE, MR. SPEAKER.
FROM OUR FRIENDS AT S&P, WE
VIEW AN INABILITY TO TIMELY
AGREE AND CREDITABLY IMPLEMENT
MEDIUM-TERM FISCAL POLICY AND
INCONSISTENT WITH THE A.A.A.
SOVEREIGN RATING.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS ISN'T ABOUT
RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT.
THIS IS ABOUT PRESERVING THE
REPUBLIC.
GO AHEAD AND RAISE THE DEBT
LIMIT.
MOODY'S SAYS THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
GO AHEAD AND RAISE THE DEBT
LIMIT.
ANYWHERE.
S&P SAYS THAT WILL NOT GET YOU
INCONSISTENT WITH A A.A.A.
RATING IS THE BORROWING AND
SPENDING THAT THIS CONGRESS HAS
BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE.
NOW, WE TALK ABOUT RUSHING A
BILL TO THE HOUSE FLOOR, MR.
SPEAKER.
I SAY THIS AND SOME OF MY
COLLEAGUES SAID IT AND I
ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH THEIR
COMMENTS.
THIS REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES OF
THIS HOUSE.
WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON TODAY IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE WORKING ON
WHEN WE WORKED ON H.R. 1 IN
FEBRUARY, ONE OF THE MOST OPEN
AND BRILLIANT MOMENTS IN THIS
HOUSE'S HISTORY IN TERMS OF
DEBATE WHERE THE PARTIES WERE
SETTING -- PRIORITIES, THE SAME
PRIORITIES WHEN WE HAD THE SAME
BUDGET DEBATE EARLIER, WHERE WE
SAID, WHAT CAN WE AGREE ON AS A
HOUSE?
YOU KNOW WHAT WE AGREED ON, MR.
SPEAKER?
WE AGREED ON THE PRIORITIES
THAT ARE SET FORTH IN CUT, CAP
AND BALANCE.
NOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT WHO'S WILLING TO
COMPROMISE.
MR. SPEAKER, I CAN'T FIND A
SINGLE COLLEAGUE ON THIS SIDE
OF THE AISLE THAT'S
DEBT LIMIT.
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT RAISING THE
THERE IS NOT ONE.
BUT FOLKS ARE WILLING TO DO IT
SO WE CAN PRESERVE THE DEBT FOR
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
WHICH WE CAN DO WITH CUT, CAP
AND BALANCE.
MR. SPEAKER, THERE'S ALL THIS
TALK IN WASHINGTON ABOUT
DEFAULT ON THE NATIONAL DEBT.
THAT'S A SERIOUS CONVERSATION,
A SERIOUS CONVERSATION.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DEFAULTING
ON THE PROMISES OF OUR
FOUNDERS.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DEFAULTING
ON OUR REPUBLIC, MR. SPEAKER.
ONE WISH THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD,
ONE WISH, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE
TO OBTAIN A SINGLE AMENDMENT TO
OUR CONSTITUTION IT WOULD BE AN
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE TAKING FROM
GOVERNMENT THE POWER OF
BORROWING.
I UNDERSTAND, MR. SPEAKER, THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF RELUCTANCE TO
DO THAT.
THERE'S LOTS OF GREAT THINGS
THAT FOLKS HAVE PRIORITIES THAT
THEY WANT TO SPEND ON.
THESE ARE NOT ABOUT THE
SPENDING PRIORITIES.
H.R. 1 WAS ABOUT THOSE
PRIORITIES.
OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION WAS ABOUT
OUR PRIORITIES.
TODAY, IT'S ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
OUR REPUBLIC.
YOU NEED READ NO FURTHER, MR.
SPEAKER, THAN THE CREDIT RATING
AGENCIES TELLING US THAT AUGUST
2 IS NOT THE DATE WE HAVE TO
FEAR.
TODAY IS THE DAY WE HAVE TO
FEAR BECAUSE IF WE FAIL TO PASS
THIS BILL, OUR REPUBLIC STANDS
IN PERIL.
MR. SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS RULE.
I'M GRATEFUL TO THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING FORWARD
THIS RESOLUTION, AND I ASK FOR
A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF SUPPORT AS
THIS RESOLUTION COMES TO THE
FLOOR.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND I --
PARDON ME LR I MOVE THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
THE
QUESTION IS ON ORDERING THE
PREVIOUS QUESTION ON THE
RESOLUTION.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE AYES HAVE IT.
MR. SPEAKER, ON
NAYS.
THAT I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
THOSE FAVORING A VOTE BY THE
YEAS AND NAYS WILL RISE.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, ANDREW.
-- THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 9 OF RULE
20, THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO
FIVE MINUTES ON ANY VOTE ON
ADOPTION.
THIS IS A PIFMENT VOTE.
-- THIS IS A 15--MINUTE VOTE.
-- THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
INSTITUTE, INC., IN COOPERATION
REPRESENTATIVES.
WITH THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS
EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON
THIS VOTE THE YEAS ARE 235.
THE NAYS ARE 175.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS
ORDERED.
THE HOUSE WILL BE