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MATHEMATICS.
$3.9 TRILLION OVER 10 YEARS.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
.
HAS EXPIRED.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
I YIELD 10 SECONDS
JUST TO ANSWER IT.
HE CLAIMS RESPONSIBLE IN THIS
BUDGET.
THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN BALANCE
THE BUDGET IS BY DRASTICALLY
RAISING TAXING ON EVERY --
TAXES ON EVERY AMERICAN.
THAT'S NOT RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FORCE A
CHOICE.
THAT'S THE DEFINITION OF
IRRESPONSIBILITY, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD THREE MINUTES TO THE
BROOKS.
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA, MO
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I HAVE A CHART BEFORE ME AND I
HOPE EVERYONE WILL LOOK AT IT.
IT'S BASED ON CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE NUMBERS.
IF YOU GO TO FISCAL YEAR 2001
YOU SEE THAT WE ENJOYED A $128
BILLION SURPLUS.
AT THAT TIME WE HAD A
REPUBLICAN HOUSE, REPUBLICAN
SENATE, AND A DEMOCRAT
PRESIDENT.
THEN IF YOU NOTICE, LOOKING AT
THE BOTTOM, THAT WE HAD A
REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AND A
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND WE HAD
THE BEGINNING OF A SERIES OF
DEFICITS, $158 BILLION IN F.Y.
2002 WHICH IS IMMEDIATELY AFTER
9/11 AND THE RAMP UP AS A
RESULT OF OUR EFFORTS TO
PROTECT AMERICANS FROM
TERRORISM.
THEN WE GO TO F.Y. 2003, 2004,
2005, 2006, AND 2007 YOU CAN
SEE HOW THE DEFICITS HAVE
INCREASED TO A PEAK OF $413
BILLION.
THEN THE REPUBLICANS START
GETTING THINGS BACK UNDER
CONTROL.
$161 BILLION IS THE DEFICIT
THAT AMERICA SUFFERED IN F.Y.
2007.
THAT'S NOT GOOD.
MATTER OF FACT ONE OF THE
REASONS I WAS DISSATISFIED WITH
THE GEORGE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
IS BECAUSE OF THESE DEFICITS.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
AFTER THE ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER
OF 2006 IN WHICH NANCY PELOSI
BECAME HOUSE SPEAKER AND HARRY
REID BECAME MAJORITY LEADER OF
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
THESE DEFICITS WHICH WE WERE
GETTING UNDER CONTROL IN F.Y.
2008, $459 BILLION, IN F.Y.
2009 WE ALMOST GO OFF THE
CHART, $1.4 TRILLION.
THEN WE LOSE THE WHITE HOUSE,
THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN TOTAL
CONTROL, AND F.Y. 2010 A
DEFICIT OF $1.3 TRILLION.
IN F.Y. 2011, A PROJECTED
DEFICIT OF $.1.6 TRILLION.
FOLKS WE ARE HERE TODAY FORCING
THIS ISSUE BECAUSE AMERICA IS
AT RISK.
WE ARE AT RISK OF INSOLVENCY
AND BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE THE
SOCIALIST MEMBERS OF THIS BODY
CHOOSE TO SPEND MONEY THAT WE
DO NOT HAVE.
PROGRAMS.
THEY BELIEVE IN WEALTH TRANSFER
POINT OF ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ALABAMA MR. SUSPEND THE
GENTLEMAN WILL SAY HIS POINT OF
ORDER.
I WOULD LIKE THE
GENTLEMAN'S WORDS TAKEN DOWN
FOR THE REFERENCE TO CERTAIN
MEMBERS OF THIS BODY AS
SOCIALISTS.
WE REGARD THAT --
THE GENTLEMAN WILL
SUSPEND.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA WILL
PLEASE TAKE A SEAT.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
WORDS.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, AS THE
RECORD REFLECTS I HAVE NOT
REFERRED TO ANY PARTICULAR --
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT?
I ASK FOR UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO STRIKE THE
PARTICULAR USE OF ONE WORD THAT
THE FOLKS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE HAVE OBJECTED TO.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN
WITHDRAW HIS WORD OR NOT?
IS THERE OBJECTION
TO THE REQUEST?
THAT ONE WORD.
WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE WORDS ARE WITHDRAWN.
PROCEED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA MAY
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF
AMERICA, WE ALL KNOW WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE
DEFINITIONAL TERMS ARE.
AND I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO
RESUME THIS DISCUSSION OFF THE
HOUSE FLOOR, BUT FOR WHATEVER
REASON I'M NOT PERMITTED TO USE
ONE WORD.
HAVING SAID THAT, YOU CAN LOOK
AT THIS CHART AND YOU CAN SEE
THE KIND OF DEFICIT THAT IS WE
HAVE SUSTAINED OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS.
AND THE THREAT THAT THIS POSES
.
TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NOW, THIS PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET I SUBMIT TO YOU IS
NOTHING MORE THAN A TROJAN
HORSE.
THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, THOSE
WHO DO NOT LEARN FROM HISTORY
ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT.
WHY SHOULD ANYONE BELIEVE THAT
THE FOLKS WHO HAVE WRACKED UP
THESE MASSIVE DEFICIT THAT IS
PUT AMERICA AT RISK ARE NOW
GOING TO CHANGE THEIR STRIPES?
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
LET ME THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR
WITHDRAWING THE WORD
"SOCIALIST" FROM HIS MEANTARY.
AT THIS POINT LET ME RECOGNIZE
MS. WATERS FROM CALIFORNIA FOR
ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR
ONE MINUTE.
HOW MUCH TIME
DOES BOTH SIDES HAVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA HAS 9 1/4 MINUTES
REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA HAS
3 3/4 MINUTES REMAINING.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ALABAMA
EVIDENTLY HAS AMNESIA.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
ELIMINATED THE DEFICIT AND LEFT
A BALANCED BUDGET.
IT WAS THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
THAT CREATED THE DEFICIT.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT FOR
THIS THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
ALTERNATIVE BALANCED PEOPLE'S
BUDGET.
DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION,
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE MAXED OUT OUR
NATION'S CREDIT CARD FOR WARS
AND TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH.
ALL THE WHILE SAYING DEFICITS
DON'T MATTER.
NOW THEY ARE IN AN IDENTITY
CRISIS AS A RATIONALE TO
UNDERMINE PROGRAMS THEY HAVE
NEVER SUPPORTED AND PUSH A
DIVISIVE SOCIAL AGENDA THAT'S A
SIDESHOW TO OUR BUDGET DEBATE.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS COUNTRY IS
NOT BROKE.
WE HAVE SPENT OUR MONEY ON WARS
AND TAX CREDITS FOR THE VERY
RICH AND NOW IT'S TIME TO
GENERAL TAIN THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET, A BALANCED BUDGET.
THE RYAN BUDGET BREAKS OUR
PROMISE TO AMERICAN FAMILIES BY
EXPECTING THEM TO BEAR THE
ENTIRE BURDEN OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION.
NEGLIGENTING THE FACT THAT JUST
FOUR MONTHS AGO MY INSISTED --
MY COLLEAGUES INSISTED ON THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE AISLE ON
$80 BILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR THE
RICHEST 2% OF INDIVIDUALS IN
THIS COUNTRY.
THIS IS A BALANCED BUDGET.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS VERY RESPONSIBLE BALANCED
BUDGET.
THE GENTLELADY'S
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
WE I RESERVE THE
THE GENTLEMAN
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
TIME.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
LET ME RELINQUISH ONE MINUTE TO
MR. JOHN LEWIS, CONGRESSMAN
LEWIS, FOR HIS COMMENTS.
ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I WANT
TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
ARIZONA FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I HAVE NEVER BEEN
ONE TO STAND SILENT IN THE FACE
OF INJUSTICE.
TODAY I SEE BEFORE US ONE OF
THE GREATEST BETRAYALIALS IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE BETRAYAL OF OUR SENIORS,
DISABLED TO RELY ON MEDICARE
FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE.
WE HAVE MADE A SOCIAL COMPACT
WITH OUR SENIORS AND THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET BREAKS THAT
COMPACT.
IT IS A DISGRACE AND A SHAME.
WHERE IS OUR SENSE OF FAIRNESS?
WHERE IS OUR OUTRAGE?
WE CAN AND WE MUST DO BETTER.
THE REPUBLICANS HEAD DOWN A
VERY DANGEROUS PATH.
WE CANNOT, WE MUST NOT, AND WE
WILL NOT BALANCE OUR BUDGET ON
THE BACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO CAN
LEAST AFFORD IT.
OUR SENIORS, THE DISABLED, THE
POOR, THE HUNGRY THEY HAVE DONE
NOTHING WRONG.
THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BEAR THE
BURDEN OF THESE BUDGET CUTS.
SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
IT IS THE RIGHT BUDGET.
IT IS FAIR.
AND IT IS JUST.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
WE RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
LET ME YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM TEXAS, MS.
THE THE GENTLEWOMAN
JACKSON LEE.
FROM IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
MY HEART PAINS
ME FOR THIS DAY AND THIS BUDGET
FOR AMERICA.
SOME OF US MIGHT FEEL AS THE
PRESIDENT DOES, A QUESTION OF
WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE SAYING TO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEY
ARE NOT UNDERSTANDING OR THAT
WE WHO ARE FIGHTING SIMPLY ARE
STUPID.
IT'S A TIME WHEN YOU WANT TO
REFLECT ON HOW GREAT A COUNTRY
WE LIVE IN.
AND IT HURTS MY HEART WHEN I
SEE INDIVIDUALS PUTTING ON THE
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE A BUDGET
THAT UNFAIRLY TARGETS
LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND
SENIOR CITIZENS WHILE
PROTECTING THE WEALTHIEST
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS WHO I CARE ABOUT.
AND SIMPLY ELIMINATING ANY
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR
WORKING AND MIDDLE CLASS
AMERICANS.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET, IT SAVES
MEDICARE.
THOSE ARE WORKING AMERICANS.
MIDDLE CLASS.
THOSE ARE AMERICANS THAT ARE
AND THEN OF COURSE WHAT ABOUT
OUR DISABLED PERSONS?
DO YOU THINK THAT THEY ARE ONLY
CLASSIFIED AS LOW-INCOME?
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO
BECOME SENIORS OR DISABLED WHO
NEED TO HAVE THE KIND OF
LOOK WHAT HAPPENS.
SACRIFICE.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET PROTECTS
THOSE WHO CANNOT PROTECT
THEMSELVES.
FINALLY, I ASK THESE
INDIVIDUALS IS THERE ANY SHARED
DO YOU BELIEVE --
SACRIFICE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA IS RECOGNIZED.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA IS
THE GENTLEWOMAN WILL SUSPEND.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
MAY I INQUIRE TO
THE TIME ON BOTH SIDES?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
INDIANA HAS 3 3/4 MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS
6 1/4 REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN
WE RESERVE.
RESERVES.
LET ME RECOGNIZE
CONGRESSMAN BLUMENAUER FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
OREGON IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
REMARKS.
WE HAVE BEEN
GREETED WITH THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET THAT IS PROFOUNDLY
NEGATIVE VIEW OF THE FUTURE.
REASONS.
YOU HAVE HEARD SOME OF THE
I WANT TO FOCUS ON JUST ONE.
IT DOESN'T JUST IGNORE THE
INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT OF
AMERICA FALLING APART OVER $2
TRILLION OF UNMET NEEDS AS
REFERENCED BY MY FRIEND FROM
MINNESOTA.
IT MAKES IT WORSE.
A 31% CUT IN ALREADY INADEQUATE
FUNDING FOR NATIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN
THE PROGRESSIVE BUDGET HEARS
PUBLIC AND ACTUALLY AGREES WITH
THE TRUCKERS, THE U.S. CHAMBER,
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THE TRIPLE-A
OF AMERICA, INDEED THE DEFICIT
COMMISSION ALL SUGGESTED THAT
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1993
WE RAISED THE GAS TAX.
MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS HAVE LOST
TRACK OF THE REPUBLICAN ROOTS.
FOR REPUBLICANS USED TO BELIEVE
IN INFRASTRUCTURE, LINCOLN,
EISENHOWER, MADE THE GAS TAX,
REAGAN RAISED THE GAS TAX.
THIS BUDGET IS A PROFOUND
INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT WILL PUT MILLIONS TO WORK.
RENEWING AND REBUILDING
AMERICA.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
LET ME YIELD 30
SECONDS TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA, MR. ELLISON.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINNESOTA IS RECOGNIZED FOR 30
SECONDS.
THE PEOPLE'S
BUDGET CONTAINS A PROVISION FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND
BANK.
THE NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
I WANT TO AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY
WITH CONGRESSMAN BLUMENAUER.
WE CANNOT ONLY PUT AMERICA BACK
TO WORK, BUT WE CAN STRENGTHEN
THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL
BRIDGE.
MAKE IT SAFE TO GO ACROSS A
WE CANNOT NEGLIGENT THE --
NEGLECT THE BRIDGES AND ROAD,
THE HIGH-SPEED OPTIC FIBER
CABLES AND ALL THE THINGS OUR
COUNTRY NEEDS FOR A 21ST
CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT'S A JOBS PROGRAM, THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET IS TALKING
ABOUT JOBS.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
.
HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
LET ME YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE GENTLELADY FROM
HAWAII, MS. HIRONO.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
OUR COUNTRY WAS BASED ON THE
GOAL OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
YES.
BUT WHAT ABOUT AND JUSTICE FOR
ALL?
THAT'S IN OUR PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE, AND WE PLEDGE THAT
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ON THE FLOOR OF THIS HOUSE
THIS BUDGET IS NOT JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
I WAS VISITED BY ADVOCATES FROM
HAWAII WHO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR
THE DISABLED, FOR THE BLIND,
FOR OUR SENIORS, EIGHTH
GRADERS.
THEY WERE ASTOUNDED BY THE
ANTI-PEOPLE PRIORITIES IN THE
RYAN BUDGET.
BUDGET HAS TO BE FAIR.
THAT MEANS THE
MULTIMILLIONAIRES IN OUR
COUNTRY HAS TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
THE OIL INDUSTRY HAVE TO PAY
THEIR FAIR SHARE.
THE COMPANIES THAT SHIP OUR
JOBS OVERSEAS HAVE TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE AND THEN WE CAN
INVEST IN THE FUTURE.
THAT MEANS EDUCATION, ENERGY
SELF-EFFICIENCYY,
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I ASK MY -- SELF-EFFICIENCY,
INFRASTRUCTURE.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR
THIS BUDGET.
ALOHA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
I YIELD TO THE
GENTLELADY FROM CALIFORNIA, MS.
CHU, ONE MINUTE.
THE GENTLELADY IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
IT WILL GIVE US A SURPLUS IN 10
YEAR.
THE REPUBLICAN HAS UNVEILED
THEIR ROAD TO RUIN BUDGET.
BUT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
CREATING JOBS, REPUBLICANS ARE
RIPPING THE BANNEDAGE OFF OUR
ECONOMY BEFORE THE SCAR HAS
EVEN HEALED.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET FOCUSES ON
REAL SOLUTIONS.
INSTEAD OF BILLION DOLLAR
HANDOUTS TO BIG OIL WE'RE
INVESTING IN JOB CREATION AND
LOANS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
INSTEAD OF ENDING MEDICARE AS
WE KNOW IT, WE KEEP OUR PROMISE
TO SECURE HEALTH CARE FOR
SENIORS.
INSTEAD OF GIVING MORE BREAKS
TO MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES, WE'RE COMMITTED
TO TAX RELIEF FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS.
WE MUST ELIMINATE THE DEFICIT
BUT WE MUST DO IT RESPONSIBLY,
AND THAT MEANS TAKING THE
REPUBLICAN TARGET OFF THE BACKS
THE GENTLEWOMAN
OF WORKING FAMILIES.
YIELDS BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
AT THIS TIME I YIELD 2 1/2
MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
WISCONSIN.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 2 1/2 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS SUBSTITUTE BUDGET.
ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE, AND
AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND
SMALL BUSINESS OWNER FOR 30
HERE.
YEARS IS THIS DOCUMENT RIGHT
THIS IS THE
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
IT IS 9,959 PAGES LONG.
THIS PLAN THAT IS OFFERED UP
TODAY WILL ADD HUNDREDS IF NOT
THOUSANDS OF PAINLS OF
ADDITIONAL COMPLEXITY.
RECENTLY WE ALL HEARD ABOUT A
LARGE U.S. CORPORATION THAT HAD
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROFITS
AND PAID ZERO TAXES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THE REASON THEY
WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE
THEIR ATTORNEYS KNEW WHAT WAS
IN AND BURIED WITHIN THIS
DOCUMENT.
DO WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE IT
MORE COMPLICATED AND MORE
COMPLEX?
I THINK NOT.
I ALSO OPPOSE THIS BECAUSE THEY
TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS TO
LOWER INCOME AMERICANS AND YET
BY REMOVING THE 2001 AND 2003
TAX CREDITS AND TAX RATES AND
RETURNING THEM TO THE PREVIOUS
LEVELS, YOU'LL INCREASE TAXES
FROM 10% TO 20%.
AND ON TOP OF IT, SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS WILL SEE THEIR
TAX RATES GO TO 45%.
45%.
NOW, THINK OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER IN NORTHEAST
WISCONSIN WHO WILL ALSO PAY AN
8% STATE INCOME TAX, WILL PAY A
5% OR 6% SALES TAX, WILL PAY 50
CENTS A GALLON GASOLINE TAX,
WILL PAY PROPERTY TAX, WILL PAY
FICA TAX, WILL PAY SOCIAL
SECURITY TAX.
I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER IF ALL
THEY WILL DO IN THEIR LIFE IS
PAY TAXES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT
THIS PROPOSAL AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK THE REMAINDER OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
IF I MAY I'D LIKE
TO YIELD 10 SECONDS TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM WISCONSIN FOR A
SIMPLE INQUIRY.
AS PART OF THE FAIRNESS IN OUR
TAX CODE I'D LIKE TO ASK, IS IT
FAIR, LET'S SAY, WARREN
BUFFETT, SHOULD PAY A LOWER
INCOME TAX RATE THAN HIS
RECEPTIONIST?
IS THAT FAIRNESS IN OUR TAX
CODE?
I'D CONCUR THAT
IT'S NOT FAIR.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
THANK YOU.
LET ME YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK,
CONGRESSMAN RANGEL.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU FOR
GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THIS SUBSTITUTE BUDGET IS
LISTED AS THE PROGRESSIVE
BUDGET.
AND FOR REASONS THAT CLEARLY
THAT ANYONE COULD TAKE A DEEP
BREATH AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
AS OPPOSED TO WHAT MR. RYAN IS
PRESENTING TO US, IT'S REALLY
WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS ALL ABOUT.
BUILD ON THE GREAT THINGS THAT
WE HAVE DONE AND MAKE CERTAIN
THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT
FOLLOW US WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE IMPROVED THEIR
OPPORTUNITIES.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT.
BORROWING TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AND PAYING INTEREST ON THAT
MONEY PUTS US IN A VERY BAD
ECONOMIC POSITION.
NOT ONLY IN OUR COUNTRY BUT
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND I ASSUME THAT NONE OF US
HERE WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF
TIME AND POINTING THE FINGER AT
EACH OTHER ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO
BE WHERE WE ARE.
BUT ONE THING THAT'S ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR, THAT IF AMERICA IS GOING
TO BE PROGRESSIVE, IT HAS TO
FIND A PROGRESSIVE SOLUTION IN
ORDER TO GET OUT OF THAT.
AND I HAVE SAID CONSISTENTLY
THAT WHEN WE START LOOKING AT
HOW WE'RE GOING TO TREAT OUR
FAMILY IN TERMS OF PRIORITY
WITH LIMITED INCOME --
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
CAN I GET 30
SECONDS MORE?
I YIELD 30
SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
YIELDED 30 SECONDS BUT IF
YOU'LL SUSPEND.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA
BEFORE YIELDING HAS A MINUTE
AND A HALF REMAINING AND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA HAS 2
1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA HAS
1 1/2 MINUTES REMAINING.
I'LL RETAIN THE
THE GENTLEMAN
MINUTE AND 30 FOR CLOSING.
RESERVES?
YES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
INDIANA.
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA,
IF YOU'LL SUSPEND, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA HAS THE
RIGHT TO CLOSE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
AND I'M RESERVING
MY RIGHT TO CLOSE.
ARE THEY NOT GOING TO USE MORE
TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA HAS A MINUTE AND A HALF
REMAINING AND YOU HAVE TWO
MINUTES REMAINING.
AND I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
ARIZONA.
I'D ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT FOR CONGRESSMAN FATTAH
FOR A UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
I'D ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO RISE IN SUPPORT OF
THE PROGRESSIVE BUDGET
SUBSTITUTE.
THANK YOU.
I'D REQUEST, MR.
CHAIRMAN, UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
EXTEND AND REVISE COMMENTS AND
TO SUBMIT EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL
FOR THE RECORD.
THE GENTLEMAN'S
REQUEST IS ACTUALLY COVERED BY
GENERAL DEBATE.
THANK YOU.
AT THIS POINT FOR CLOSING ON
OUR ALLOTTED TIME, LET ME ASK
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
FOR HIS COMMENTS, MR. HONDA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THE REMAINDER --
FOR THE BALANCE
OF THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
HALF.
RECOGNIZED FOR A MINUTE AND A
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
IN CLOSING, BUDGETS ARE A
STATEMENT OF OUR VALUES.
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS BUDGET IS THE REFLECTION
OF VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF
WORKING FAMILIES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
OUR BUDGET CHARTS A PATH THAT
KEEPS AMERICA EXCEPTIONAL WHILE
ADDRESSING THE MOST PRESSING
PROBLEMS FACING OUR NATION
TODAY.
OUR BUDGET ELIMINATES THE
DEFICIT AND STABILIZES THE DEBT
BY 2021.
IT DOES THIS IN A MANNER
CONSISTENT WITH THE ASPIRATIONS
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT DOES THIS BY RESTORING OUR
ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS SO WE
CAN ALL EXPERIENCE THE FULLEST
DEFINITION OF THE AMERICAN
DREAM THAT EACH OF OUR CHILDREN
WILL DO BETTER THAN WE DID.
WE DID NOT SET THESE GOALS
ARBITRARILY.
OUR BUDGET WAS CRAFTED BY
LISTENING TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
IN POLL AFTER POLL THEY ARE
TELLING US THAT THEY WANT US TO
PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE, MEDICAID, TO MAKE
HIGHER EDUCATION MORE
AFFORDABLE, TO EXPAND JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS AND TO INVEST
IN ROADS, RESEARCH AND ABOVE
ALL GREAT SCHOOLS FOR OUR
CHILDREN.
WE CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS AND
ELIMINATE OUR DEFICIT.
WE HAVE A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
DO SO.
IT IS JUST.
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET IS FAIR.
IT IS A STEP TOWARDS MOVING
THIS DEBATE BACK TO TRUE
CENTER.
I URGE A YES VOTE ON THE
REPUBLICAN -- SORRY -- ON THE
PROGRESSIVE BUDGET, AND IT IS
THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET.
PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
--
IN CLOSING, I'D FIRST LIKE TO
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIR.
IN CLOSING, I'D LIKE TO RECALL
THE WORDS OF THE GENTLEMAN FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WHO SPOKE ABOUT
THE HONESTY OF THIS PROPOSED
AMENDMENT.
AND I THINK IT WAS AN
APPROPRIATE THING TO SAY.
THIS IS AN HONEST PROPOSAL.
I BELIEVE THAT THE PROPONENTS
OF THIS AMENDMENT BELIEVE
EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE
AMENDMENT AS A POSSIBLE
SOLUTION.
BUT HONESTY, MR. CHAIRMAN, DOES
NOT EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS ISN'T THE PEOPLE'S BUDGET
THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
IT'S THE BLANK CHECK BUDGET.
YOU SEE, IT DOESN'T FORCE ANY
CHOICES.
IT SPENDS $13 TRILLION OVER 10
IT TAXES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
YEARS.
IT HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
CONFISCATE FROM THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE $16 TRILLION ADDITIONAL
OVER 10 YEARS.
THAT'S NOT FORCING CHOICES.
EVERY FAMILY IN THIS NATION
UNDERSTANDS THAT WHEN THEY
PREPARE A BUDGET YOU HAVE TO
MAKE CHOICES.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.
THIS JUST OPENS UP THE RIGHT OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DIP
INTO THE WALLET OF EVERY
AMERICAN.
I HEARD A LOT ABOUT TAX CUTS
FOR THE RICH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
THE BUDGET THAT CAME OUT OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE CALLS FOR
REVENUE NEUTRAL TAX REFORM.
WE ARE MOTIVATED BY THE SAME
REFORM PRINCIPLES THAT'S IN THE
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL COMMISSION,
TO BROADEN THE TAX BASE AND
LOWER TAX RATES FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME
STATISTICS.
THE BOTTOM 50% OF TAXPAYERS PAY
LESS THAN 3% OF INCOME TAXES.
IN FACT, 47% OF INDIVIDUALS PAY
NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX
WHATSOEVER.
OUR IDEA IS TAX NEUTRAL.
IT'S REVENUE NEUTRAL.
IT LOWERS THE TAX RATES FOR
EVERYBODY, MAKES ALL OF US PAY
SOMETHING, AND IT DOESN'T GIVE
TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH.
WE'RE PLANNING TO TAKE AWAY THE
LOOPHOLES SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE
BETTER OFF THAN WE ARE CAN'T
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIGH -- I ASK
MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE NO ON
THIS AMENDMENT.
ALL TIME HAS
EXPIRED.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR,
THE NOES HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, ON
THAT I ASK FOR A RECORDED VOTE.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6
OF RULE 18, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM ARIZONA WILL BE
POSTPONED.
THE COMMITTEE WILL RISE
INFORMALLY TO RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE
HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE CHAIR WILL RECEIVE A
MESSAGE.
THE MESSENGER: MR. SPEAKER, A
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.
THE SECRETARY: MR. SPEAKER.
MADAM
SECRETARY.
THE SECRETARY: I HAVE BEEN
DIRECTED BY THE SENATE TO
INFORM THE HOUSE THAT THE
SENATE HAS AGREED TO H.CON.RES
43, PROVIDING FOR A CONDITIONAL
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND A
CONDITIONAL RECESS OR
ADJOURNMENT OF THE SENATE.
THE
COMMITTEE WILL RESUME ITS
SITTING.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
BE IN ORDER.
IT IS NOW IN ORDER TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4 PRINTED IN
PART B OF HOUSE REPORT 112-62.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
I HAVE AN
AMENDMENT AT THE DESK.
THE CLERK WILL
DESIGNATE THE AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 4
IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
PRINTED IN PART B OF HOUSE
REPORT 112-62.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE
RESOLUTION 223, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY, MR. GARRETT,
AND A MEMBER OPPOSED, EACH WILL
CONTROL 15 MINUTES.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
AND I THANK THE
CHAIR.
THE COMMITTEE WILL
BE IN ORDER.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD MYSELF ONE
MINUTE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
MR. SPEAKER, I
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
RISE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE
SUBSTITUTE THAT'S NOW ON THE
FLOOR.
THIS SUBSTITUTE AMENDS AND
BUILDS UPON THE GREAT WORK OF
CHAIRMAN RYAN AND THE ENTIRE
HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
AND WHILE I DO COME TO THE
FLOOR AND SUPPORT CHAIRMAN
RYAN'S PROPOSAL, THE R.S.C.
WANTED TO PUT A PROPOSAL THAT
WILL GO A STEP FORWARD.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING WILL NOT
BE EASY.
WHY?
BECAUSE REAL SOLUTIONS ARE NOT
NECESSARILY EASY SOLUTIONS.
BUT GIVEN OUR NATION'S FISCAL
SITUATION, WE MUST RECOGNIZE
THAT TOUGH CHOICES MUST BE MADE
AND MUST BE MADE NOW.
THE R.S.C. BELIEVES WE CAN DO
BETTER THAN ANY OF THE BUDGET
ON THE FLOOR TODAY SO WE HAVE A
BUDGET THAT WILL ENSURE OUR
NATION SPENDS RESPONSIBLY BY
FREEZING TOTAL DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING AT 2008 LEVELS.
THE R.S.C. BUDGET ENSURES OUR
NATION'S SECURITY WILL BE MET
BY MEETING DEFENSE SECRETARY
GATES' REQUESTS.
THE R.S.C. BUDGET PUTS
NONDEFENSE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH.
IN ADDITION, THE R.S.C. BUDGET
SUSTAINS MEDICARE'S LONG-TERM
FINANCES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY
UNLIKE ANY OTHER BUDGET ON THE
FLOOR TODAY WILL BALANCE WITHIN
OUR LIFETIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
TO CLAIM TIME AND
RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL
THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR WORK ON
THIS BUDGET AND CHAIRMAN RYAN
FOR HIS WORK ON THE BUDGET AND
COMMITTEE'S WORK.
IN PARTICULAR THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY, MR. GARRETT,
MR. MULVANEY FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, MR. MCCLINTOCK FOR
THEIR WORK IN PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER.
THE R.S.C. BUDGET AS THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
MENTIONED KEEPS TAX RATES LOW
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN ECONOMIC
GROWTH, STARTS THE PROCESS OF
SAVING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL
SECURITY, PROTECTS NATIONAL
DEFENSE WHICH IS THAT AREA WE
ARE SUPPOSED TO ACTUALLY SPEND
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
STUDY COMMITTEE BUDGET DOES IS
IT BALANCES.
IT DOES WHAT EVERY SINGLE
FAMILY, EVERY SINGLE SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, EVERY SINGLE
STATE GOVERNMENT, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT HAS TO DO.
IT ACTUALLY PUTS FORTH A BUDGET
THAT BALANCES, LIVERS WITHIN
YOUR MEANS, DOESN'T SPEND MORE
THAN YOU TAKE IN, GETS TO
BALANCE WITHIN A DEFINABLE
PERIOD OF TIME, AND THAT'S WHY
WE THINK THIS IS APPROPRIATE.
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THE FINANCIAL SITUATION,
FISCAL SITUATION OUR NATION IS
IN.
SO I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT OF
THE BUDGET AND COMMEND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY FOR
THE GREAT WORK THAT HE'S DONE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
TO PROVIDE AS
MUCH TIME AS I NEED, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
IF THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET IS A DOUBLING DOWN OF
THE POLICIES THAT BROUGHT US TO
THE BRINK, WHICH IS CONTAINED
IN THIS BUDGET, MY BROTHER FROM
NEW JERSEY PRESENTS A BUDGET
WHICH I THINK QUADRUPLES DOWN
ON THE ECONOMIC POLICIES AND
LACK OF OPTIMISM IN THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE BUDGET BELIEVES WE CANNOT
AS PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID, A
LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS AGO, BEAR
ANY BURDEN AND MEET ANY
HARDSHIP IN ORDER TO BETTER OUR
NATION.
THAT'S WHAT AMERICA IS ALL
ABOUT.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR PARTY
PERSUASION.
THIS BUDGET GIVES TRILLIONS IN
INCOME TAX BREAKS TO THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS.
WE BOTH AGREE ON THAT.
YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD POLICY.
WE THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE
POLICY.
AT THE SAME TIME CUTS $18
BILLION, LET ME JUST TAKE ONE
EXAMPLE, THE SCHIP PROGRAM, $18
BILLION CUT TO OUR CHILDREN.
OUR OWN CHILDREN.
OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME.
THIS BUDGET GIVES TRILLIONS IN
ESTATE BREAKS TO THE WEALTHIEST
AMERICANS.
MANY PEOPLE HAVING ESTATES PAY
NO TAXES.
YET THIS SLASHES FUNDING FOR
PELL GRANTS.
FOR OUR KIDS, OUR GRANDCHILDREN
TO GO TO COLLEGE.
THIS BUDGET GIVES TRILLIONS IN
TAX BREAKS TO CORPORATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN SHIPPING JOBS
OVERSEAS.
BUT ASK OUR CONSTITUENTS IN
YOUR DISTRICT AND MY DISTRICT,
EVERYBODY'S DISTRICT, TO TAKE A
20% CUT IN THE SCHEDULED
BENEFITS TO SOCIAL SECURITY,
IT'S EASY TO SIT HERE AS A
CONGRESSMAN WAITING UNTIL YOU
TURN 70, WHY ARE YOU SMILING?
TO RETIRE WITH BENEFITS YOU
HAVE EARNED.
BUT YOU ARE ASKING THIS OF OUR
ASPHALT LAYERS, OUR
SECRETARIES, AND TEACHERS.
IT COMES DOWN TO A CLEAR SET OF
PRIORITIES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOUR
PRIORITIES ARE TO CUT TAXES FOR
THE WEALTHY ON THE BACKS OF THE
RETIREES, THEN I THINK THAT
THIS SECOND BUDGET IS THE
BUDGET FOR YOU.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE IN AN
AMERICA THAT PROTECTS OUR
SENIORS, OUR CHILDREN, THE
DISABLED, OUR VETERANS LEVELS
THE PLAYING FIELD, INVESTS IN
FUTURE GENERATIONS, THEN I URGE
YOU TO STAND WITH US.
I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN
RESERVES THE BALANCE OF HIS
TIME.
RESERVE THE
BALANCE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
AT THIS TIME, MR.
SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA WHO
RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT WE
MUST LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS NOW
AND UNLIKE THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY DOES NOT WANT TO PUT
ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON FUTURE
GENERATIONS, MR. MULVANEY.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
JERSEY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD
SAY IT'S NOT EASY TO DO.
WHY ARE WE HERE?
WE ARE HERE FOR A SINGLE
PURPOSE.
WE TAKE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
COMMITTEE HAS DONE AND SIMPLY
LAID OUT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE HOW HARD IT IS TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHIN 10
YEARS.
IT IS NOT EASY TO DO.
BUT TO SIT AND HEAR THESE
ONSLAUTS ABOUT HOW WE ARE
GIVING TAX BREAKS FROM A GROUP
OF PEOPLE THAT PROMISED THEY
WOULD NOT RAISE TAXES ON FOLKS
WHO MAKE LESS THAN $250,000 AND
REPEATEDLY VIOLATED THAT
PROMISE OVER THE COURSE OF THE
LAST TWO YEARS IS SIMPLY HARD
TO TAKE.
THIS IS THE ONLY BUDGET, THE
ONLY BUDGET WE WILL GET A
CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK
THAT BOTH BALANCES THE BUDGET
WITHIN 10 YEARS AND DOES NOT
RAISE TAXES.
COMMITTEE HAS DONE.
WE TAKE WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
WE BUILD ON IT TO SHOW EXACTLY
HOW DEEP THE HOLE IS THAT WE
HAVE DUG FOR OURSELVES AND HOW
HARD IT IS TO GET OUT.
BUT TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO IT ON
THE BACKS OF THE POOR IS SIMPLY
DISINGENUOUS.
THANK YOU.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
HOW MUCH TIME DO
WE HAVE?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY, MR. GARRETT, HAS 12
MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY,
MR. PASCRELL, HAS 12 1/2
MINUTES.
WITH THAT I WILL
PROVIDE TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OREGON WHO IS
ABSOLUTELY ON TARGET AND MOST
OF THESE ISSUES DEALING WITH
THE BUDGET AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
MINUTES.
OREGON IS RECOGNIZED FOR TWO
THANK YOU.
COURTESY.
I APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE'S
THE WORDS RINGING IN MY EARS
FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVING INCREASED
TAXES.
THERE IS THIS COLLECTIVE
AMNESIA ON THE SIDE OF OUR
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WHO FORGET
THAT A CRITICAL PART OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RECOVERY ACT
THAT WAS PASSED BY THE LAST
CONGRESS, 42% OF WHICH WAS TAX
CUTS OR RELIEF, INCLUDED A TAX
CUT FOR EVERY WORKING AMERICAN.
KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT THAT.
THE PRACTICAL MATTER, MR.
CHAIRMAN, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS
TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER OUR
INITIATIVE WITH SOMETHING THAT
WILL ENABLE US TO REBUILD AND
RENEW AMERICA.
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM
OUR FRIENDS HERE WITH THIS
ALTERNATIVE BUDGET, FROM MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM NEW JERSEY, I
DO APPRECIATE BECAUSE THIS IS
WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
WANTS TO GO.
THE RYAN BUDGET IS BAD ENOUGH,
WILL BE DEAD ON ARRIVAL IN THE
SENATE, AND WILL BE
RESOUNDINGLY REJECTED AS
AMERICANS SEE WHAT IS
HAPPENING, TAKING AWAY THE
RETIREMENT, HEALTH CARE
SECURITY OF AMERICANS, 230
MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE
RETURNED TO THE TENDER MERCIES
.
OF THE PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET
REMEMBER THE PRIVATE INSURANCE
MARKET DIDN'T WANT TO INSURE
FASHION WITH COMPREHENSIVE
SENIOR CITIZENS AT AFFORDABLE
COVERAGE, THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO
HAVE MEDICARE IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
NOW THE TRICK IS TO PROVIDE A
VOUCHER TO INSURANCE COMPANIES
HOPING THAT THEY WILL STEP UP
AND FILL THE GAP.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW PRIVATE
INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAVE MORE
THAN DOUBLED IN THE LAST 10
YEARS, YOU SEE WHAT A HOLLOW
PROMISE THIS IS.
AND WHAT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IT'S
GOING TO BE FOR AMERICAN
FAMILIES TRYING TO PLAN FOR
THEIR FUTURE.
THIS IS THE VISION THAT WE HAVE
FROM OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS.
NOT ONLY TAKE THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET COMMITTEE, GO BEYOND IT.
IN TERMS OF MORE BENEFITS FOR
THOSE WHO NEED IT THE LEAST.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW
JERSEY YIELD MORE TIME?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND WILL
CONTROL THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
AT THIS TIME I
WOULD LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA WHO HAS NO AMNESIA
BUT RECOGNIZES THE FACT THAT WE
DO NO FAVORITE FOR THIS
GENERATION BY PUTTING THE
BURDEN FOR FUTURE CONSTRAINTS
ON OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR.
MCCLINTOCK.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR ONE MINUTE.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
THIS NATION IS ON A COLLISION
COURSE WITH A SOVEREIGN DEBT
CRISIS THE MAGNITUDE OF WHICH
HAS NEVER BEEN KNOWN TO THIS
COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT SOME MOONLESS NIGHT
ON THE ATLANTIC.
WE ARE BARRELING FULL SPEED
TOWARD THAT ICEBERG OF DEBT IN
THE FULL LIGHT OF DAY.
WE CAN ALL SEE IT DEAD AHEAD.
THE RYAN BUDGET TURNS THE SHIP
AROUND JUST ENOUGH TO AVOID
HITTING THAT ICEBERG, THE
R.S.C. BUDGET DOES IT WITH AN
ADDED SAFETY MARGIN BY
INCORPORATING MORE OF THE DEBT
COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS
AND IMPLEMENTING THEM FASTER.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE KNOW THE
CHALLENGE.
WE SEE THE AMERICAN DREAM AT
RISK AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
BUT A FLEETING MOMENT IN
HISTORY TO AVOID THE HARDEST
KNOWN.
TIMES OUR NATION HAS EVER
WE CAN ACT NOW.
PLACE OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ON
SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTINGS,
ARREST THE DEBILITATING SPIRAL
OF DEBT THAT THREATENS THE VERY
SURVIVAL OF OUR NATION AND
RETURN OUR ECONOMY TO THE
PROSPERITY THAT IT HAS KNOWN
WHEN IT ENJOYED WHAT JEFFERSON
CALLED A WISE AND FRUGAL
GOVERNMENT.
OR WE CAN CONTINUE ON OUR
PRESENT COURSE UNTIL WE CRASH
INTO THE ICE COLD AND HARD
REALITY THAT WE CAN ALL SEE
DEAD AHEAD.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE VICE
CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS, MR. BECERRA OF
CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
THREE MINUTES.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR THREE MINUTES.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
I PROBABLY ONET WEAN USE THE
THREE MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, BUDGETS ARE A
REFLECTION OF OUR VALUES AND
OUR PRIORITIES.
JOBS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, FISCAL
DISCIPLINE, FAIRNESS, SHARED
SACRIFICE.
MOST AMERICANS TALK ABOUT THIS
ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY ARE AT
THEIR KITCHEN TABLE.
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.
SO QUITE HONESTLY THE QUESTION
BEFORE US IS NOT WHETHER TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT, BUT HOW.
BUDGETS INVOLVE TRADEOFFS.
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET THAT IS
PRESENTED TO US TODAY ALONG
WITH THIS REPUBLICAN STUDY
COMMITTEE ALTERNATIVE WOULD SAY
THAT WE MUST, WE MUST CONTINUE
THE TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHIEST
AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO GIVE A
MILLIONAIRE ABOUT $130,000 IN
TAX CUTS IN THIS BUDGET EVEN
THOUGH WE ARE FACING THE
LARGEST DEFICITS OUR COUNTRY
HAS EXPERIENCED.
AT THE SAME TIME THE CHOICE
THAT THIS REPUBLICAN BUDGET
MAKES IS TO SAY TO SENIORS, WE
IT.
MUST END MEDICARE AS WE KNOW
WE MUST ELIMINATE THE GUARANTEE
THAT YOU AND SENIORS HAVE HAD
MORE THAN 35 YEARS UNDER
MEDICARE TO CHOOSE YOUR DOCTOR
AND HOSPITAL.
AND WE MUST IMPOSE UPON YOU AN
ADDITIONAL $6,000 IN HEALTH
CARE COSTS BECAUSE THESE
DEFICITS ARE SO BIG.
SO AS THE PRESIDENT SAID A
COUPLE DAYS AGO, UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET YOU WOULD
NEED TO TAKE 22 SENIORS PAYING
$6,000 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO
COVER THE COST OF GIVING ONE
MILLIONAIRE IN THIS COUNTRY THE
$130,000 TAX CUT.
WE MUST DO THAT UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID, WE MUST
NOT DO THAT.
WE MUST DO THIS DIFFERENTLY.
AND WE MUST INVEST AGAIN IN OUR
PEOPLE.
ON HEALTH CARE, WE DON'T
BELIEVE THAT AMERICANS WHO ARE
SENIORS SHOULD BE GIVEN A
COUPON INSTEAD OF A GUARANTEE,
BUT THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
BUDGET DOES.
IT SAYS YOU ARE GOING TO GET A
VOUCHER.
A COUPON, ESSENTIALLY.
ONCE YOU HAVE USED THE EXTENT
OF THE VALUE OF THAT COUPON,
THE REST OF THE MONEY TO PAY
FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE COMES OUT
OF YOUR POCKET.
THAT'S WHY THE PRESIDENT SAID
$6,000 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS PER
EACH SENIOR UNDER THE
REPUBLICAN PLAN.
COUPON CARE INSTEAD OF
MEDICARE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU MUST HAVE UNDER
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
DEMOCRATS SAY, WE MUST INVEST
IN MEDICARE AND FIND THE CUTS
TO GET RID OF THE WASTE IN
MEDICARE WE KNOW EXIST.
THE DUPLICATION OF SERVICES
THAT SENIORS DON'T NEED.
WE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT DENYING
SENIORS GUARANTEED BENEFITS.
FINALLY, IF I GO TO THE NEXT
CHART, WE MUST CREATE JOBS BUT
THE REPUBLICAN BUDGET MOST OF
THE LEADING ECONOMISTS TELL US
NOT CREATE.
WILL COST US $1.7 MILLION JOBS.
COST US 1.7 MILLION JOBS.
UNDER THE BUSH RECESSION EIGHT
MILLION AMERICANS LOST THEIR
JOBS.
THE MONTH THAT GEORGE BUSH
HANDED THE KEYS TO BARACK
OBAMA, WE HEMORRHAGED NEARLY
800,000 JOBS.
WE MUST DO THIS RIGHT.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY.
AT THIS TIME, MR.
SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
PUN MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM GEORGIA WHO JUST LIKE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA
UNDERSTANDS WE MUST NOT SINK
THE SHIP AS THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WOULD DO BY EXCESSIVE
TAX BURDENS AND DEBT.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT BEING HERE
TODAY AND TALKING ABOUT THE
RYAN PLAN IS IT'S A BLUEPRINT.
YOU CAN ADD TO, TAKE AWAY FROM.
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE
PROGRESSIVES A MINUTE AGO IS
PLUNDER THE PEOPLE'S PLAN, RIPS
THE PAGES OUT OF THE HISTORY --
FUTURE OF THIS NATION AND OUR
.
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THE R.S.C. R.S.C. SAVES -- THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
GOING TO 2008 LEVELS.
SAVES THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IS THE
DEBT AND DEFICIT PROBLEMS WE
HAVE HERE TODAY IS NOT BECAUSE
WE ARE TAXED TOO LITTLE.
IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE SPENT TOO
MUCH.
AND IT IS THE RESULT OF TWO
FAILED YEARS OF MORE
GOVERNMENT, MORE TAXES AND MORE
SPENDING THAT WE'VE SEEN.
IT'S TIME TO PUT THAT IN
HISTORY.
LET'S PUT IT IN THE DRAWER.
LET'S MOVE ON AND LET'S PASS
THE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
PLAN BECAUSE I CAN ASSURE YOU
THIS, IT DOESN'T GO WHERE THE
PRESIDENT AND LIBERALS OF THIS
HOUSE GOES AND THAT'S INTO THE
WALL ETC. OF THE TAXPAYERS OF
THIS -- WALLETS OF THE
TAXPAYERS OF THIS NATION.
THE TIME OF THE
GENTLEMAN HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THE BIPARTISAN
REPUBLICAN COMMISSION SAYS IT
DOESN'T ASK FOR SHARED
SACRIFICE.
IT'S A LOPSIDED APPROACH.
I WILL YIELD TWO MINUTES TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY, MR.
ANDREWS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO REVISE AND EXTEND MY
REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
SPEAKER.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE
COUNTRY HAS TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT BY RESTRAINING
SPENDING.
THAT'S WHY WE FAVOR HAVING
MEDICARE GET THE SAME DEAL ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THE V.A.
DOES WHICH WOULD SAVE $24
BILLION A YEAR, BUT THERE IS A
QUESTION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
MEDICARE, AND TODAY WE'RE GOING
TO TAKE A VOTE.
WILL MEDICARE PROSPER OR
PERISH?
WILL MEDICARE SURVIVE OR DIE?
THAT'S THE ISSUE BEFORE THE
HOUSE TODAY.
THE FACT IS THE REPUBLICAN PLAN
PUTS AN INSURANCE COMPANY
BETWEEN OUR SENIORS AND THEIR
DOCTORS AND THAT IS WRONG.
THE FACT IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PLAN DOES NOT REDUCE HEALTH
CARE COSTS.
HOSPITALS WILL NOT CHARGE LESS.
DOCTORS WILL NOT CHARGE LESS.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL PAY LESS
AND SENIORS WILL PAY MORE.
$6,000 PER SENIOR PER YEAR.
THE FACT IS THAT THIS IS ALL
BEING DONE NOT TO REDUCE THE
DEFICIT BUT TO REDUCE TAXES OF
THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
AMERICA.
THE FACT IS WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
THIS, AND THE FACT IS THIS, WE
CAN HAVE AN AMERICAN THAT
DOESN'T HAVE -- BUT HAVE
MEDICARE.
LET'S SENSEABLY REDUCE SPENDING
AS WE DID YESTERDAY ON -- LET'S
SINCIBLELY REDUCE SPENDING AS
WE DID YESTERDAY.
WE WILL FIGHT THIS EFFORT AND
WE WILL PREVAIL.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
AND AT THIS TIME
I'D LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO
THE GENTLEMAN FROM KANSAS.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
KANSAS IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE R.S.C.
BUDGET BECAUSE WE CANNOT WAIT
TO GET OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN
ORDER AND THE R.S.C. BUDGET
WILL GET US ON THAT PATH
FASTER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED
OF TAX DOLLARS GOING TO
WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH EMPTY
PROMISES AND FEDERAL STRINGS.
THEY ARE TIRED OF ADDING TO THE
NATIONAL DEBT.
PEOPLE ACROSS KANSAS AND ACROSS
COUNTRY WANT THEIR POWER BACK
FROM WASHINGTON.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS GOT THIS
CONCEPT OF FEDERALISM RIGHT AND
IT'S TIME WE RETURN GOVERNMENT
POWER FROM BUREAUCRATS AND
PEOPLE.
POLITICSES BACK TO THE AMERICAN
IT WILL ALLOW
STATES AND PEOPLE CLOSEST TO
THE PEOPLE TO USE THEIR
INGENUITY AND CREATIVITY TO
MAKE MEDICAID DOLLARS WORK MORE
EFFECTIVELY IF YOU REALLY CARE
ABOUT THE POOR, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY 455
MEDICAID WAIVERS AND WE NEED TO
MAKE CERTAIN --
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
WE NEED TO HAVE
A BLACK GRANT SYSTEM THAT
REQUIRES THE POWER OF
FEDERALISM BACK TO THE STATES
AND THE R.S.C. BUDGET WILL DO
JUST THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S THE RIGHT TIME NOW TO
BALANCE OUR BUDGET IN THIS WAY.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK MY
TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
RANGEL.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW YORK IS RECOGNIZED FOR.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
LIKE SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES,
I DON'T -- UNLIKE SO MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES, I DON'T HAVE A
CHART TO SHOW HOW OUR COUNTRY
SHOULD BECOME.
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES COME FROM
HARLEM AND IN THESE MINDS ARE
THE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS OF
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE
PART OF THE PROGRESS THIS
MOST OF THEM, THEIR PARENTS
NATION HAS MADE.
HAVE NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT HAVE BEEN
THE RECIPIENTS OF PELL GRANTS
AND OTHER KIND OF EDUCATIONAL
BENEFITS.
MOST OF THEIR PARENTS AND
GRANDPARENTS HAVE DEPENDED ON
MEDICAID, MEDICARE.
MOST OF THESE KIDS HAVE DREAMS
THAT MOST OF YOUR KIDS HAVE
TODAY.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT WHEN
THEY GO HOME THEY SHOULD NOT BE
ABLE TO SAY THAT THEY WITNESSED
A PROTECTION OF THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES BUT
THEY SHOULD GO HOME AND TO SAY
THAT THEIR DREAMS CAN BE
ACQUIRED, OUR NATION CAN BE
STRONGER AND THEY WANT TO BE
PARTNERS IN MAKING CERTAIN THAT
AMERICA CAN BE ALL THAT SHE CAN
BE.
SO AS WE WELCOME THEM, THEY'RE
ONLY SYMBOLIC OF THE GREAT
YOUNG PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
I THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO YIELD
ONE MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN
FROM ARIZONA WHO REALIZES THAT
THE YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD DO BEST
IF WE WOULD NOT PUT ADDITIONAL
BURDENS OF TAX BURDENS OF OVER
$40,000 ON THEIR BIRTH BY NOT
LIVING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED.
FLANK FLANK I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF THE R.S.C. BUDGET.
WITH A DEFICIT OF $1.6 TRILLION
AND DEBT OF $14 TRILLION, IT'S
NO SURPRISE THAT WE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING AND WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING DRAMATIC.
THIS BUDGET BALANCES
OVER A NINE-YEAR PERIOD AND
REFORMS THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT TO AMERICANS, TO MAKE
THEM SOLVENT AND SUSTAINABLE
OVER TIME.
THE PROPOSALS FROM THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE SIMPLY DON'T
DO THAT.
THEY IGNORE THE TIME BOMB THAT
WE HAVE IN THESE PROGRAMS.
SO I COMMEND THE R.S.C. STAFF
AND MEMBERS FOR PUTTING THIS
TOGETHER.
THIS IS A GOOD BUDGET.
WE OUGHT TO SUPPORT IT TO PUT
OUR NATION ON A PATH OF
FINANCIAL STABILITY AND
SECURITY.
I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN YIELDS
BACK.
THE CHAIR WOULD REMIND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND THAT
THE TIME REMAINING IS 4 1/2
MINUTES, AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY HAS EIGHT MINUTES.
WHO SEEKS RECOGNITION?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
THE TIME BOMB ON THE MEDICARE
THE TIME BOMB THAT'S TICKING IS
GUARANTEE.
WITH THAT I YIELD TWO MINUTES
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
CALIFORNIA, THE RANKING MEMBER
OF THE ENERGY AND COMMERCE
COMMITTEE.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
MR. SPEAKER, I
CAN'T EXPRESS MY CONCERN WITH
GREATER ALARM ABOUT THIS
BUDGET.
IT IS A BUDGET THAT'S GOING TO
INFLICT TERRIBLE HARM ON
AMERICANS FROM ALL WALKS OF
LIFE WHILE PROTECTING THE
WEALTHIEST TAXPAYERS IN
AMERICA, BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND
CORPORATIONS.
NOW, IF I GIVE THE BENEFIT OF
THE DOUBT TO OUR REPUBLICAN
SPONSORS OF THEIR BUDGET
PROPOSAL THAT THEY'RE SINCERE,
THEY ARE SPEAKING FROM AN
IDEOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW.
THEY WANT TO TRY A SOCIAL
EXPERIMENT IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT
IF THEY FAIL TO LIVE UP TO WHAT
THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO
ACCOMPLISH, THERE'S GOING TO BE
TREMENDOUS HARM.
WE HAVE A SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH
SENIORS TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE,
ACCESSIBLE, COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH CARE UNDER MEDICARE, AND
THEY WANT TO TAKE MEDICARE AND
END IT AND TELL THOSE PEOPLE TO
GO TO PRIVATE INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
WE HAVE ESTIMATES THAT THE
AVERAGE SENIOR WILL FACE COST
INCREASES OF $6,000 WHEN THE
PROGRAM BEGINS.
AND IT COULD BE OVER $11,000
PER BENEFICIARY IN LATER YEARS.
BUT RIGHT AWAY, TO ADD INSULT
TO INJURY, THEY WOULD REOPEN
THE DOUGHNUT HOLE ON THE PART D
PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT,
MEANING PEOPLE STILL HAVE TO
PAY ALL OF THE COSTS OF THEIR
DRUGS, REVERSING WHAT THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PROVIDED.
BUT MOST OF THEIR CUTS ARE
COMING FROM THE MEDICAID
PROGRAM.
THEY WANT TO TAKE MEDICAID AND
TURN IT INTO A BLOCK GRANT.
MEDICAID ACCOUNTS FOR 43% OF
TOTAL LONG-TERM CARE SPENDING
IN THE U.S.
MOST OF IT GOES TO SENIORS AND
DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
NURSING HOMES.
IF THE STATES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY IN THEIR BLOCK GRANT, ARE
THEY GOING TO DUMP THESE
PEOPLE?
THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS.
AND YOU'RE PLAYING WITH THEIR
LIVES.
THIS MEANS REAL HARM WILL BE
INFLICTED WHEN MEDICAID
SPENDING IS THE GREATEST.
BY CUTTING REIMBURSEMENT RATES,
MEDICAID WILL LOSE PROVIDERS,
NURSING HOME QUALITY AND
STAFFING LEVELS WILL DECLINE.
REJECT THIS BUDGET.
DON'T EXPERIMENT ON THE MOST
VULNERABLE OF OUR POPULATION.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
AT THIS TIME I'D
LIKE TO YIELD ONE MINUTE TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IT'S A
SOCIAL EXPERIMENT TO SAY TO DO
WHAT ALL FAMILIES HAVE TO DO TO
LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA.
FOLKS, NO PREPARED REMARKS
I BROUGHT ME A FINANCIAL
OR FINANCIAL SPEECHES.
CALCULATOR.
AMERICA IS SPENDING TOO MUCH
MONEY.
YOU KNOW, FOR THREE YEARS IN A
ROW WE SPENT OVER $1 TRILLION
NATION.
THAN WE'RE BRINGING IN AS A
WE'RE OVER $13 TRILLION IN
DEBT.
THIS BUDGET PUTS ON A CLEAR
PATH TO PAYING BACK THE
NATIONAL DEBT, TO REDUCING AND
ENDING DEFICITS IN A VERY
TIMELY MANNER, TO PROTECT THE
FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN, OUR MOST
PRECIOUS RESOURCE AS AMERICANS.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO GET
BEHIND THIS BUDGET, VOTE FOR IT
AND LET'S PUT THE AMERICAN
SPENDING IN PRIORITY.
LET'S STOP THE SPENDING
INSANITY HERE IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND LET'S DO WHAT WE TELL
THE FOLKS BACK HOME ARE GOING
TO DO AND LET'S GET OUR FISCAL
HOUSE IN ORDER AND I YIELD
BACK, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MARYLAND.
WE CAN GET OUR
FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER AND DO
THIS IN A BALANCED WAY WITHOUT
ENDING THE MEDICARE GUARANTEE.
WITH THAT I RECOGNIZE THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW YORK, MR.
ISRAEL.
THE GENTLEMAN IS
RECOGNIZED FOR TWO MINUTES.
I THANK MY FRIEND.
MR. SPEAKER, EVERY BUDGET IS
ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE, AND
HERE'S THE RYAN BUDGET BOTTOM
LINE.
THE CHAIR STANDS
CORRECTED.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
30 SECONDS.
IF YOU ARE MAKING
OVER $1 MILLION, YOU GET A
$100,000 TAX CUT.
IF YOU ARE A SENIOR ON
MEDICARE, YOU GET AN EXTRA
$12,000 MEDICAL BILL.
IF YOU MAKE OVER $1 MILLION,
YOU WIN THE LOTTERY.
IF YOU'RE A SENIOR CITIZEN, YOU
LOSE YOUR MEDICARE.
MR. SPEAKER, THEY SAY THIS IS
ABOUT BALANCING THE BUDGET, BUT
THEY ARE TRYING TO BALANCE THE
BUDGET BY GIVING TAX CUTS TO
PEOPLE EARNING OVER $1 MILLION
AND TAKING MEDICARE AWAY FROM
OUR SENIORS.
THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO BALANCE
THE BUDGET AND I YIELD BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
FIRST, MAY I ASK
THE CHAIR HOW MUCH TIME?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY HAS SEVEN MINUTES
REMAINING, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MARYLAND HAS TWO MINUTES
REMAINING.
SO AT THIS TIME,
THEN, I'D LIKE TO YIELD ONE
MINUTE TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, WHO RECOGNIZES THE
FACT THAT THE SOLUTIONS TO ALL
THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD THAT
THE OTHER SIDE MAY THINK IS NOT
RAISING TAXES ON ANYONE AND
CERTAINLY NOT RAISING THE TAXES
ON THOSE WHO PRODUCED THE JOBS
IN THIS COUNTRY, THE GENTLEMAN
FROM VIRGINIA.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FOR YIELDING AND I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
ALTERNATIVE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS WE'RE
BROKE.
THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT IS
PROJECTED TO BE $14 TRILLION IN
THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND $2
BILLION ANNUALLY FOR THE NEXT
DECADE.
WE SUSTAIN THIS PATH WITHOUT
BANKRUPTING OUR COUNTRY.
CONGRESSMAN RYAN'S BUDGET
PROPOSAL IS A GREAT START AND
SETS US ON A PATH TO BRINGING
THE BUDGET INTO BALANCE.
HOWEVER, THAT PROPOSAL TAKES 28
YEARS TO DO SO.
I SUPPORT AND WILL VOTE FOR HIS
BUDGET, BUT I'M CONCERNED WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO IT IF FUTURE
CONGRESSES ARE NOT AS WILLING
TO MAKE THE TOUGH CHOICES THAT
ARE NECESSARY TO SEE THIS
BUDGET PATH TO COMPLETION.
THAT'S WHY I STRONGLY SUPPORT
THE R.S.C. BUDGET WHICH
BALANCES THE FEDERAL BUDGET
ULTIMATELY, WE NEED A
WITHIN NINE YEARS.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO
REQUIRE A BALANCED BUDGET TO
FORCE ALL FUTURE CONGRESSES TO
MAKE THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.
THE R.S.C. DOES THE BEST JOB OF
GETTING OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN
ORDER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND NOW I URGE ALL MEMBERS TO
SUPPORT IT AND YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY
IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
GENTLEMAN.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
INDIANA IS RECOGNIZED FOR HOW
MANY MINUTES?
THE GENTLEMAN FROM
INDIANA IS RECOGNIZED FOR ONE
MINUTE.
FOR ONE MINUTE.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS.
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MR.
CHAIRMAN.
I RISE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE
REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE
BUDGET ALTERNATIVE TODAY.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY FOR HIS
COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP ON THIS
ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THE FIRST
STEP IN DEALING WITH ADDICTION
IS RECOGNIZE THAT YOU GOT A
PROBLEM.
AFTER 10 YEARS OF FIGHTING
RUNAWAY FEDERAL SPENDING BY
BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C., I'M CONVINCED
WASHINGTON, D.C., IS ADDICTED
.
TO SPENDING.
IT'S TIME WE GOT SERIOUS.
I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET OFFERED BY
PAUL RYAN AND I'M A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THE RUBBLE STUDY
BY MR. GARRETT.
COMMITTEE ALTERNATIVE OFFERED
THE LEGISLATION BEFORE US TODAY
WOULD ACTUALLY PUT US ON A
PATHWAY TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED
FEDERAL BUDGET BY THE YEAR
2020.
THERE ARE HARD CHOICES IN THIS
BUDGET, BUT IT'S TIME THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE BROKE THIS
ADDICTION.
IT'S TIME THAT THE PEOPLE IN
BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES CAME
TOGETHER AND PLAYED IT STRAIGHT
WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND
SAID THERE ARE TOUGH CHOICES
AHEAD.
WE CAN DO THEM IN A WAY THAT'S
HUMANE AND REPRESENTS FISCAL
DISCIPLINE AND REFORM, BUT WE
HAVE TO ACT AND WE HAVE TO ACT
NOW.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
THIS IMPORTANT ALTERNATIVE.
THE GENTLEMAN'S TIME
HAS EXPIRED.
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
I THANK THE
SPEAKER.
AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO