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OBAMACARE IN OUR LIVES SO THAT
WE DECIDE WE CAN'T GET ALONG
WITHOUT OBAMACARE.
TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF I
MIGHT INQUIRE HOW MUCH TIME I
HAVE LEFT, MR. SPEAKER.
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS 13 MINUTES
REMAINING.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS OBAMACARE
$23.6 BILLION THAT'S SITTING
THERE BEING IMPLEMENTED.
AND WITH -- WITH KATHLEEN
SEBELIUS, WITH THE CORRECTION --
DISCRETION TO SPEND THAT AND
SEND IT DOWN -- SEND THE ROOTS
DOWN, EXPAND THE DEFENDENCY
CLASS, HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.
ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES IS THIS.
THEY ADVERTISE THAT WE NEED TO
DO OBAMACARE BECAUSE WE HAD SO
MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND THEY
WOULD BE REFUSED FOR INSURANCE
SO WHEN THEY WERE REFUSED, THEY
DIDN'T HAVE ANY WAY TO GET
HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND THAT IT WAS A HUMAN TRAGEDY.
SO THESE HUGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE
THAT WERE UNINSURABLE WERE GOING
TO BE BROUGHT IN TO THE FOLD OF
THE NEW OBAMACARE UNDER THE
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS LANGUAGE
THAT ALREADY IS LAW.
BUT A MONTH OR SO AGO THEY
DISCOVERED THAT, IN SPITE OF HOW
HARD THEY TRIED TO RECRUIT
PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS, AND I REMIND YOU WE
AMERICA.
HAVE 306 MILLION PEOPLE IN
AND OF THOSE 306 MILLION PEOPLE,
THE NUMBERS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE
LARGE, IMPRESSIVE, MAYBE NOT
ASTRONOMICAL OF THOSE WHO HAD
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND
COULD NOT BUY INSURANCE.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND WERE, THEY
COULD FIND ONLY 18,000 PEOPLE IN
SPITE OF THEM ADVERTISING
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION INSURANCE
ALL ACROSS THIS LAND, 18,000
PEOPLE ONLY WHO HAD SIGNED UP
FOR THE PRE-EXIST N --
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
PUT 50 INTO THAT 18,000 AND SEE
WHAT KIND OF PROBLEM THAT IS,
IT'S A SMALL NUMBER WHEN YOU
DIVIDE IT BY THE 50 STATES.
AND THE STATES COULD MANAGE
THOSE KIND OF NUMBERS.
IF YOU DISTRIBUTE IT BY
POPULATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAJORITY OF THE
STATES, INCLUDING IOWA, HAVE A
HIGH RISK POOL THAT WE SUBSIDIZE
WITH TAX DOLLARS TO BUY THE
PREMIUMS DOWN SO PEOPLE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS CAN BUY
A POLICY.
I ENCOURAGE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD
RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
BUT OBAMACARE'S PRE-EXISTING
POLICY ONLY HAD 18,000 PEOPLE
AFTER A YEAR OF EFFORT TRYING TO
GET PEOPLE TO SIGN UP.
SO KATHLEEN SEBELIUS TOOK WHAT
SHE CONSIDERS TO BE LATITUDE
WITHIN THE LAW AND DECIDED TO
BUY THE PREMIUMS DOWN ANOTHER
40%, PAY ANOTHER 40% OF THE
PREMIUMS OUT OF THIS POT OF
MONEY THAT SHE HAS, THAT IS
AUTOMATICALLY APPROPRIATED TO
HER, A TOTAL TUNE OF $105
BILLION, AND THEY STILL COULDN'T
FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE THERE WAS A REASON TO
HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS
POLICY IN THE FEDERAL CODE, AND
SO THEY REMOVED THE CONDITIONS
THAT YOU HAVE A PRE-EXISTING
CONDITION.
NOW WE HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY
FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SIGN UP
FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE AN ILLNESS.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MAKE THE
CASE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN TURNED
DOWN BY INSURANCE BY A SINGLE
COMPANY IN AMERICA.
THEY JUST HAVE TO SIGN UP AND
THEY'LL PUT THEM ON THE POLICY
AND THEY'LL BUY THE PREMIUM DOWN
.
BY AT LEAST 40%.
AND THEY'RE SEEKING TO EXPAND
THIS IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING
MEDICAID AND COLLAPSE MEDICARE
INTO MEDICAID AND WE SAW WHAT
THEY WERE TRYING TO DO UNDER
BILL CLINTON'S ERA WHERE THEY
STARTED THIS.
SCHIP WHICH NOW IS CHIP,
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
DOES THAT IN, BUT IT WAS
PROGRAM, AND OBAMACARE KIND OF
EXPANDED WITHIN THE STATES, IT
STARTED OUT TO BE 200% OF
POVERTY, IF YOU'RE AT 200% OF
POVERTY OR LESS WE WILL HELP PAY
THE HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS
FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
THOSE -- THOSE ARE LOW COST
HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
PREMIUMS BY THE WAY, KIDS DON'T
AND BILL CLINTON WANTED TO LOWER
THE MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY AGE TO
55 IF YOU REMEMBER.
SO IF CAN -- IF YOU CAN INSURE
KIDS UP TO THE AGE OF 26 WHICH
OBAMACARE DOES AND YOU CAN LOWER
THE MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY AGE TO
55, NOW YOU'VE ONLY GOT THAT
LITTLE WINDOW IN THERE OF 24
YEARS WHEN THE MOST PRODUCTIVE
YEARS OF A PERSON'S LIFE
PRESUMABLY AND OFTEN IS THE
CASE, THE GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING
IN REQUIRING THAT YOU STAY ON OR
MAKE IT -- YEAH, MANDATING THAT
YOU BE ABLE TO STAY ON YOUR
PARENTS' HEALTH INSURANCE UNTIL
AGE 26, YOU GET ELECTED TO
CONGRESS WHEN YOU'RE 25, COME
DOWN HERE AND SWEAR IN, STILL ON
YOUR MOMMY AND DADDY'S HEALTH
INSURANCE AND COME OVER ON THE
GOVERNMENT PLAN RIGHT AWAY.
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
I WANT MY KID WITH -- KIDS TO
GROW UP.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO ENSURE
KIDS THROUGH SCHIP OR CHIP OR A
FEDERAL MANDATE UP TO AGE 26 AND
PAY A LOT OF THOSE PREMIUMS OUT
OF TAX DOLLARS AND THEN LOWER
THE MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY AGE AS
CLINTON WANTED TO DO AND IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
TODAY DOWN TO 55 IT'S ONLY A
24-YEAR WINDOW.
THEN THEY WOULD ADD TO THOSE AT
THE LOWER END AND LOWER THE
UPPER END AGE UNTIL THEY GOT TO
TO COLLAPSE ALTOGETHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, COLLAPSE
MEDICARE INTO MEDICAID, YOU HAVE
THE FORMULA FOR SOCIALIZED
MEDICINE.
THAT WOULD BE A GREAT GLEE OF
MOST EVERYBODY ON THIS SIDE OF
THE AISLE, MR. SPEAKER.
THEY WANT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE.
JOHN CONYERS BACK IN 1981
INTRODUCED SOCIALIZED MEDICINE
POLICY THAT FORBID ANYONE FROM
DOING HEALTH CARE SERVICES ON A
FEE FOR SERVICE, THEY HAD TO BE
ON THE SALARY OF THE NATIONAL
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD
HIRE AND PRESUMABLY FIRE
EVERYBODY THAT WORKED IN HEALTH
CARE AND NO ONE COULD CHARGE A
FEE FOR IT AND NO ONE COULD BE
PAID A FEE FOR SERVICE, THEY
GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE HEALTH
WOULD HAVE TO BE WORKING FOR THE
CARE SYSTEM.
WE KNOW WHAT HAPPEN WHEN IS
GOVERNMENT TAKES THINGS OVER.
I ASKED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
HOW'S THE SERVICE IN THE PLACES
WHEN YOU GO INTO GOVERNMENT
OFFICES?
IT'S ABOUT THE SAME IT IS WHERE
YOU GO IN WHERE SOMEBODY HAS A
MONOPOLY.
I'M NOT PICKING ON GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT OFTEN BY DEFINITION
WORKERS.
HAS A MONOPOLY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE COMPETITION,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NICE.
AND I LEARNED THAT IN THE AUTO
-- WHAT DO I CALL IT?
THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION
DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY
COURTHOUSE THE FIRST TIME I WENT
IN TO REGISTER A VEHICLE AT
ABOUT AGE 16.
I LEARNED THAT THEY HAD THE
MARKET CORNERED, THEY HAD THE
MONOPOLY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
NICE, THEY COULD OPEN THE DOOR
WHEN THEY WANTED TO AND CLOSE IT
WHEN THEY WANTED TO AND THERE
WASN'T MUCH OF ANY MOTIVE FOR
THEM TO TRY TO FIND A BETTER WAY
TO PROVIDE SERVICE FOR ME OR
ANYONE ELSE.
HOWEVER LONG THE LINE WAS, WE
STOOD IN IT.
IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO TO
WASHINGTON, D.C., DOWN TO THE
VEHICLE PARKING DEPARTMENT HERE
IN WASHINGTON, D.C., YOU WILL
FIND THE SAME THING.
WHEN MY WIFE GOES DOWN TO GET
HER ANNUAL $10 TICKET SO SO WE
CAN PARK OUR CAR ONCE IN A WHILE
FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME ON
INVARYABLY IT'S A FOUR-HOUR
THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,
PROCESS AND I'VE HAD TO SEND MY
CHIEF OF STAFF AND A DRIVER DOWN
THERE THROUGH A FOUR-HOUR
PROCESS TO GET A $10 PERMIT
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT AND AT TUDE.
THIS ATTITUDE IS, WE DON'T HAVE
TO SERVICE ANYBODY, WE HAVE THE
MARKET CORNERED.
THAT'S THE ATTITUDE, GO DOWN
THERE AND GO BUY A PARKER PERMIT
, IF YOU THINK OBAMACARE AND THE
NATIONAL HEALTH CARE ACT ARE
GOOD FOR YOU, MR. SPEAKER, OR
ANYONE ELSE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE MONOPOLY, I
WANT TO SEE COMPETITION.
AND OBAMACARE ELIMINATES
COMPETITION AND IT PRESCRIBES A
PRODUCT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE TO BUY, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY A PRODUCT, A
GOVERNMENT-APPROVED OR IF THEY
HAD THEIR WAY A
GOVERNMENT-CREATED HEALTH
INSURANCE POLICY THAT A PERSON
HAS TO BUY UNLESS YOU'RE OF LOW
ENOUGH MEANS TESTED INCOME THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY THE PREMIUM
FOR YOU.
THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN THE
HISTORY OF AMERICA AND HOW ONE
COURT, ONE LOWER COURT COULD
COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT THE
INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IS
CONSTITUTIONAL -- IT IS
APPALLING TO ME THAT A JUDGE
COULD SIT ON A BENCH AND COME TO
A CONCLUSION LIKE THAT OR A
PANEL OF JUDGES, A MAJORITY OF A
PANEL OF JUDGES AND IT WAS 2-1
ON A THREE-JUDGE PANEL.
THINK OF THIS, MR. SPEAKER.
WHEN YOU GET YOUR PAYCHECK AND
LET'S JUST SAY YOU'VE GOT --
LET'S KEEP IT REASONABLE, A $500
TAKE-HOME PAY FOR A WEEK'S
PAYCHECK.
AND IF YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE
PREMIUM IS $100 A WEEK AND THE
GOVERNMENT SAYS YOU MUST BUY
HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY THAT IS
OF A VALUE THAT COSTS YOU $100 A
WEEK, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS
CONFISCATED 20% OF YOUR
PAYCHECK, OF YOUR TAKE-HOME
PAYROLL, YOUR AFTER TAX DOLLARS
AND IT IS AFTER TAX DOLLARS.
AND THEN LET'S JUST SAY THE
GOVERNMENT DECIDES YOU NEED TO
BUY A GENERAL MOTORS OR A
CHRYSLER BECAUSE WE HAVE A
VESTED INTEREST IN THAT, SO --
AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE A CLUNKER,
WE'RE GOING TO OUTLAW THOSE, SO
WE HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR EVERY
10 YEARS OR HAVE ONE THAT'S
WITHIN 10 YEARS NEW, THEY COULD
PRESCRIBE THAT WITH THE SAME
STANDARDS THAT THEY'VE
PRESCRIBED OBAMACARE ON US.
AND LET'S SAY THAT CAR PAYMENT
TAKES ANOTHER $100 A WEEK.
NOW YOU'VE GOT $200 OF $500 THAT
ARE SWALLOWED UP BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
THAT'S 40% OF YOUR TAKE-HOME PAY
COMMANDEERED BY UNCLE SAM.
AND THEN THEY DECIDE THAT THE
APPLIANCE COMPANIES AREN'T
MAKING ENOUGH MONEY AND YOU NEED
TO BUY CERTAIN APPLIANCES AND I
CAN GO THROUGH THIS A LITTLE
FASTER, THEY MIGHT DECIDE YOU
HAVE TO BUY THIS DIET FOOD I
TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER.
THEY MIGHT PUT THE TAX ON THE
NONDIET POP AND PRETTY SOON
YOU'RE PAYCHECK IS SWALLOWED UP,
YOUR WHOLE $500 IS GONE BECAUSE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TOLD YOU HOW
TO SPEND EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR.
IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN COMMANDEER
A SINGLE DOLLAR OUT OF YOUR
PAYCHECK THAT THEY DIRECT TO YOU
SPEND ON A PRODUCT THAT'S
PRODUCED BY GOVERNMENT OR
APPROVED BY GOVERNMENT THEN THEY
CAN COMMANDEER THE SECOND DOLLAR
AND THE THIRD DOLLAR AND THE
99TH CENT OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR
AND 100 CENTS OUT OF EVERY
DOLLAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FACED WITH,
THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON WHY
OBAMACARE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL,
MR. SPEAKER.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT
ADEQUATELY OUTRAGED.
WE HAVE A CHARACTER AMONG US,
WE'VE GOT A HISTORY THAT THE
PRODUCT OF THE WILL OF THE
PEOPLE EMERGES OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE AND GOES TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE
OR A VETO.
AND AN ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE A
VETO.
THAT HAPPENS ONCE IN A WHILE.
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE VOICE
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WE
EXPECT IT BECAUSE THE STRUCTURE
OF THIS REPUBLICAN FORM OF
GOVERNMENT, AND I WANT TO
EMPHASIZE THE CONSTITUTION
GUARANTEES US NOT A DEMOCRACY,
THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES US A
GOVERNMENT.
REPUBLIC -- A REPUBLICAN FORM OF
THAT MEANS REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT MEANS WE DON'T GO OUT THERE
AND TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE
PUBLIC AND DO A POLL AND DECIDE
IT'S THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE
TODAY, LET'S RACE IN THAT
DIRECTION.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LISTEN
TO THE PEOPLE.
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT.
AND HAVE VERY SENSITIVE AND --
ANTENNA TO PICK UP ON THE WILL
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, DOESN'T
END THERE, MR. SPEAKER.
IT STARTS THERE.
AND OUR JOB IS TO BE FULL TIME
PAYING ATEXT TO ALL THE FACTS
AND THE FIGURES AND ALL OF THE
COMPONENTS AND MAKING THE BEST
DECISIONS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE
ARE REPRESENTATIVES HERE IN A
REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
THIS REPUBLIC IS NOT A DEMOCRACY
, IT ISN'T TWO COYOTES AND A
SHEEP TAKING A VOTE ON WHAT'S
FOR DINNER.
WE HAVE LIBERTY, WE HAVE
AMERICAN LIBERTY, WE HAVE RIGHTS
THAT COME FROM GOD THAT ARE
GUARANTEED TO US IN THE
CONSTITUTION AND I BELIEVE THAT
GOD MOVED THE FOUNDING FATHERS
AROUND LIKE MEN ON A CHESSBOARD
TO SHAPE THIS NATION AND I
BELIEVE THAT FOR A LOT OF
REASONS BUT ONE OF THEM IS I
CAN'T GO BACK ON THIS MONDAY
MORNING OF 2011 AND REDRAW THE
COURSE OF HISTORY AND EVEN
IMAGINE THAT I COULD COME UP
WITH A RESULT THAT WOULD BE HALF
OF WHAT'S BEEN PRODUCED BY THIS
GREAT GIFT OF LIBERTY AND
FREEDOM, FREEDOM OF SPEECH,
RELIGION AND THE PRESS, ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE TO
EXERCISE THEIR RELIGIOUS
LIBERTY, THEIR FREE ENTERPRISE
LIBERTY, THEIR PROPERTY RIGHTS,
TO BE PROTECTED FROM DOUBLE
JEOPARDY AND HAVE A JURY OF
ACCUSERS.
THEIR PEERS AND FACE THEIR
A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM ROMAN
LAW.
THE REASONABLE WESTERN
CIVILIZATION CULTURE THAT LETS
US ANALYZE OUR PROBLEMS IS PART
OF WHO WE ARE.
THEY LANDED IN A CONTINENT WITH
UNLIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES, AT
THE DAWN OF THE INDUSTRIAL
REVOLUTION.
AND SETTLED IT FROM SEA TO
SHINING SEA IN THE BLINK OF AN
HISTORICAL EYE.
THAT'S AMERICA.
WE ARE A VIGOROUS PEOPLE.
WE'VE GOT THE VIGOR OF EVERY
DONOR CIVILIZATION ON THE PLANET
AND NOW THEY WANT TO IMPOSE
OBAMACARE ON US AND THEY WANT TO
RAISE THE DEBT CEILING BY $2.4
OR $4 TRILLION AND ASK US TO GO
FURTHER AND DEEP FLOOR DEBT AND
PUT THAT ON OUR GRANDCHILDREN
AND CHILDREN NOT YET BORN?
AND MY YOUNGEST GRANDDAUGHTER,
REAGAN ANNE KING, ENTERED THIS
WORLD WITH $44,000 THAT SHE SO
HED UNCLE SAM.
THAT'S GOT TO STOP, MR. SPEAKER.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
AND I YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF
MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEWOMAN
FROM THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
MS. NORTON, FOR 30 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
ON ANY GIVEN DAY IF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE LISTEN TO THE SPEAKERS ON
THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES THEY WILL COME
TO THE CONCLUSION THEY SURE DO
HATE GOVERNMENT.
AT THE VERY LEAST THEY CERTAINLY
DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN THE LIVES
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN ANY
WAY.
WELL, I'VE COME TO THE FLOOR NOT
TO GIVE A LECTURE BUT TO OFFER
AN EXPLANATION.
BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
PROBABLY PUZZLED AT SOMETHING
THEY RECENTLY SAW.
THEY SAW THE RESIDENCE OF THE
NATION'S CAPITAL -- RESIDENTS OF
THE NATION'S CAPITAL EMBARKING
ON WHAT I MUST TELL YOU IS A NEW
PHASE OF AN OLD STRUGGLE, TO
PRESERVE THE RIGHTS OF LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT, A BATTLE THEY
WON ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE
SPEAKERS ON THE FLOOR WHO HATE
GOVERNMENT WOULD BE VERY QUICK
TO SAY WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT THEM,
THEY LIKE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THEY
DON'T WANT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT INVOLVED WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT AND CERTAINLY
INTERFERING WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT.
YET THE VERY SAME SPEAKERS ARE
THE PRIME MOVERS OF INTERFERENCE
WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
AND SO THE RESIDENTS OF YOUR
NATION'S CAPITAL ARE EMBARKED ON
A NEW PHASE OF THEIR STRUGGLE
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE
STORIED FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS
AND STATEHOOD BECAUSE MANY
RESIDENTS, MEN MANY -- MANY
AMERICANS NOW KNOW THAT THIS IS
THE ONLY JURISDICTION IN THE
UNITED STATES WHERE PEOPLE PAY
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES AND GO TO
WAR, FOUGHT IN EVERY WAR SINCE
THE NATION WAS CREATED, AND
DON'T HAVE FULL VOTING RIGHTS IN
THE CONGRESS.
, NO I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY TODAY THE
CITY IS FORCED TO FIGHT SIMPLY
TO MAINTAIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT,
THE LOCAL RIGHTS THAT ARE
UNQUESTIONED EVERYWHERE IN THE
UNITED STATES EXCEPT BY SOME ON
THE FLOOR OF THIS HOUSE.
AFTER REPUBLICANS TOOK CONTROL
OF THE HOUSE IN JANUARY, THEIR
TAX ON THE CITY GOVERNMENT
BECAME SO FIERCE THAT THE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL,
ALMOST THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE
AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH WERE
ARRESTED FOR SITTING DOWN IN THE
STREETS IN FRONT OF PARTS OF THE
CAPITOL.
THE WORLD AT THE TIME WAS
FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE IN THE
STREETS OF THE MIDDLE EAST
DEMANDING FREEDOM BUT THEY WERE
RIVE OTED BY CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
IN THE NATION'S -- RIVETED BY
CIVIL DISABEANS IN THE NATION'S
CAPITAL THAT INCLUDED HIGHEST
GOVERNMENT.
OFFICIAL OF THEIR OWN LOCAL
THE SITDOWN OCCURRED AFTER THE
CITY WAS CAUGHT IN A FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DISPUTE THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CITY.
ABOUT CUTS IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET
AND BARELY -- THE CITY BARELY
AVOIDED BEING SHUT DOWN,
ALTHOUGH THE CITY'S LOCAL FUNDS
WERE NO PART OF THE FIGHT
BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WOULD NOT EVEN ALLOW THE CITY TO
SPEND ITS OWN LOCAL FUNDS TO
KEEP THE CITY OPEN.
THAT IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF YOU
A TOCK ARE ASY.
AND CONGRESS STILL HOLDS ONTO
THE ANTIQUATED PRACTICE OF
APPROVING THE CITY'S LOCALLY
RAISED BUDGET, A BUDGET THAT THE
CONGRESS DID NOT PUT ONE RED
CENT IN, $4 BILLION RAISED BY
COLUMBIA.
THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE
REPEATEDLY REFUSED MY AMENDMENTS
TO LET THE DISTRICT KEEP OPEN BY
SPENDING ITS OWN LOCAL FUNDS.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE LONG
RATIONALIZED SUCH IRRATIONAL
TREATMENT OF THE RESIDENTS OF
THE NATION'S CAPITAL BUT HOLDING
THE DISTRICT HOSTAGE IN A
FEDERAL SHUTDOWN FIGHT WAS A NEW
-- REPUBLICANS FINALLY SUCCEEDED
IN GETTING HEFTY BUDGET CUTS IN
THE 2011 APPROPRIATION BILL BUT
STILL REFUSED TO SEAL THE DEAL
UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS TO MAKE SOME
OF THE -- TO TAKE SOME OF THE
DISTRICT'S HOME RULE ON THAT.
THEY INSISTED ON TWO WRITERS,
ONE PROHIBITING THE DISTRICT
FROM USING ITS OWN LOCAL FUNDS
FOR ABORTION SERVICES, FOR LOW
INCOME WOMEN WHICH IS DONE IN 17
RED AND BLUE STATES BECAUSE IT'S
A MATTER OF LOCAL MONEY AND
LOCAL LAW.
AS THEY IMPOSE THE PRIVATE
SCHOOL VOUCHERS ON THE CITY
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PROJECTS
OF ANOTHER REPUBLICAN, JOHN
BOEHNER.
MIND YOU THAT THIS CITY HAS
ALMOST HALF OF ITS CHILDREN
GOING TO PUBLIC CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
IT'S ABOUT THE LAST CITY IN THE
WORLD THAT YOU WOULD IMPOSE AN
ALTERNATIVE SENSE IT HAS GROWN
-- SINCE IT HAS GROWN ITS OWN
HOME RULE ALTERNATIVE.
IT'S AN AUTOCRATIC INSISTENCE
ON THESE HOME RULE AS WELL AS
THE SHUTDOWN OF THE GOVERNMENT
AFTER A BOLD RESPONSE FROM THE
CITY.
YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT ONLY THE
MOST PROVOCATIVE ACTIONS COULD
ONLY LEAD THE MAYOR OF THE
GREAT CITY TO BEING ESCORTED
AWAY IN HANDCUFFS.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAD DEVOTED
THEIR FIRST MONTH IN POWER TO
SLICING AWAY AT THE CITY'S
LOCAL HOME RULE.
THEY TOOK CONTROL OF THE HOUSE
ON THE PROMISE OF JOBS BUT HAD
YET TO INTRODUCE A JOBS BILL.
FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE 112TH
CONGRESS, THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY HAS BEEN PREOCCUPIED,
MESMERIZED WITH THE INTERNAL
AFFAIRS OF A CITY WHOSE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, LIKE MANY OTHER
JURISDICTIONS DIFFERS WITH THEM
ON SOME LOCAL MATTERS.
THIS IS AMERICA.
GET USED TO IT.
WITH HEARTBREAKING AUDACITY
THEY BEGAN BY WITHDRAWING THE
DISTRICT'S VOTE ON THE HOUSE
FLOOR IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
AND THIS VOTE WAS ONLY GRANTED
BY RULE, WHICH IS WHY THEY
COULD WITHDRAW IT.
BUT IT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE
FEDERAL COURTS.
REPUBLICANS NOW IN THIS HOUSE
HAVE WITHDRAWN A LEGITIMATE
VOTE OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO
PAY THEIR FULL FREIGHT IN
FEDERAL TAXES AND HAVE FOUGHT
IN EVERY WAR SINCE THE REPUBLIC
WAS ESTABLISHED, INCLUDING THE
WAR THAT ESTABLISHED THE
REPUBLIC ITSELF.
AFTER TAKING D.C.'S LIMITED
VOTE, REPUBLICANS TURNED TO
TAKING AWAY THE CITY'S HOME
RULE.
A HOUSE-PASSED HARSH
ANTI-CHOICE BILL AFFECTING THE
NATION'S WOMEN CONTAINED AN
UNPRECEDENTED PROHIBITION
AFFECTING ONLY THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
INSTEAD OF THE D.C. ABORTION
WRITER THAT HAD BEEN ADDED --
YOU HAVE TO ADD THESE WRITERS
ON A NATIONAL BASIS, THEY
WANTED TO BAR PERMANENT
SPENDING ON ABORTION SERVICES
FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN.
IMAGINE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
TELLING A LOCAL JURISDICTION
THAT FOREVER IT CANNOT SPEND
ITS LOCAL MONEY ON LOCAL
MATTERS THAT DOZENS AND DOZENS
OF LOCAL JURISDICTIONS SPEND
MONEY ON EVERY YEAR, ON MATTERS
THAT ARE FULLY CONSTITUTIONAL.
MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT THE
RIGHT TO ABORTION.
ALTHOUGH MANY OTHERS OPPOSE IT.
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WE
RESPECT THESE DIFFERENCES.
AND FEDERAL ALREADY MAY NOT BE
USED TO PAY FOR ABORTIONS.
BUT NO ONE QUESTIONS THE
LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF THE 17
STATES I MENTIONED WHO USE
THEIR OWN FUNDS FOR ABORTIONS
FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE
MATTERS ARE CONTROVERSIAL.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE A FEDERAL
UNION.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT YOU DO
NOT DO IN THE NATION AS A
WHOLE.
WE GIVE THAT RESPECT TO THE --
GET THAT RESPECT TO THE
RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA JUST AS WE GET THAT
JURISDICTION.
RESPECT FOR EVERY OTHER
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES NOW THAT
THE 2012 APPROPRIATION SEASON
HAS BEGUN AND AN PROPING
COMMITTEE APPROVED BILL
INCLUDES ONLY ONE WRITER AND
THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT
I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A
MOMENT.
THAT IS, OF COURSE, ONE WRITER
TOO MANY, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT
THIS IS SOME RESPONSE TO AN
EXPANDED COALITION THAT'S BEEN
FORMED AND YET TO THE CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE AND PROTEST OF THE
RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
MORE WRITERS COULD STILL COME,
MORE PROTESTS
SO GREAT, THOUGH, IS THE
CONTINUING DANGER OF
INTERFERENCE WITH THE
DISTRICT'S RIGHT TO GOVERN
ITSELF THAT A NATIONAL
COALITION OF 100 ORGANIZATIONS
WHO TOGETHER HAD MILLIONS OF
MEMBERS HAD COME FORWARD WITH A
WEAPON D.C. RESIDENTS DO NOT
HAVE.
THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION HAS
ACTIVATED ITS MEMBERS, THEIR
MEMBERS WHO LIVE IN
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS TO WARN
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THAT IF
THEY MEDDLE IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA, THEY WILL LET IT BE
DISTRICT.
KNOWN THROUGHOUT THEIR
MOST MEMBERS CAST THEIR VOTES
UNANIMOUSLY.
NATION'S CAPITAL BUT IT'S HARD
WE HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE
TO GET WORD OF THEM OUT.
NOW ORGANIZATIONS ARE FANNING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TELLING
THOSE, AS WE SAY, WHO MEDDLE
AFFAIRS.
WITH THE LOCAL JURISDICTION
NOR HAS THE DISTRICT FOCUSED
ONLY ON THE REPUBLICAN.
WHEN IT COMES TO AND HAD A HUGE
RALLY, THE LARGEST YET,
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD WAS THERE
AND SAW THE UNPRECEDENTED SITE
OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE RIGHT AT
THE WHITE HOUSE TO PROTEST THE
FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES WHO STRONGLY
SUPPORTED IN THIS CITY,
2011 BUDGET DEAL.
NEVERTHELESS, SIGNED ON TO THIS
I BELIEVE THAT THAT INDICATES
THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE ACTING
IN A PRINCIPLED MANNER, NOT IN
A POLITICAL MANNER.
AND THEY ARE SAYING AS CLEARLY
AS THEY CAN THAT THEY WILL NOT
RULE.
SURRENDER ANY PART OF THE HOME
IT TOOK THEM 128 YEARS TOO LONG
TO GET.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE NATION'S
CAPITAL UNTIL ACTUALLY 28, 38
YEARS AGO DID NOT HAVE A LOCAL
MAYOR AND A LOCAL CITY COUNCIL,
WAS RUN BY THREE COMMISSIONERS
APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES?
THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS WHO GOT A
HOLD OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE,
AND ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT WAS A
MAJORITY WHITE CITY UNTIL THE
1960'S, KEPT THE DISTRICT FROM
GETTING HOME RULE AND VOTING
RIGHTS BECAUSE THERE WAS A
SIZEABLE NUMBER OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THIS CITY.
THAT'S JUST HOW DEEP THIS WENT.
REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE
ROLE, NOT BECAUSE OF RACE, BUT
ENTIRELY BECAUSE OF POLITICS.
WHICHEVER WAY YOU CUT IT, THEY
TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS, AND WHEN
YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR RIGHTS YOU
DON'T SEE NO DIFFERENCE, YOU
DON'T ASK THE MOTIVE.
ALL YOU KNOW IS EVERYBODY ELSE
HAS HER RIGHTS, AND YOU ARE AN
AMERICAN CITIZEN AND YOU ARE
ENTITLED TO THE VERY SAME
RIGHTS.
YOU RAISE THE FUNDS YOURSELF.
YOU AND YOUR LOCAL
JURISDICTION, YOU ALONE GET TO
SAY HOW THOSE FUNDS WILL BE
SPENT.
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES FINALLY CEDED ITS POWER
OVER THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
IN 1973.
IT TOOK THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT TO GET IT DONE.
ESSENTIALLY IT SHAMED THE
SOUTHERN DEMOCRATS INTO FINALLY
GETTING THE DISTRICT HOME RULE.
ACTUALLY, PROTESTORS OVERTHREW
THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRAT WHO
WAS IN CHARGE OF THE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE.
AND WHEN THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
LOST THAT DEMOCRAT, THERE WERE,
YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WHO BELIEVED IN DEMOCRACY SO
THE DISTRICT GOT HOME RULE.
AND THE CITY GETS TO MAKE ITS
OWN DECISIONS ON VIRTUALLY
EVERYTHING UNTIL SOMEBODY IN
THE CONGRESS POPS UP AND SAYS
THAT IS NOT IN MY IDEOLOGICAL
PLAYBOOK SO YOU CAN'T DO IT.
AS UN-AMERICAN AS IT GETS.
INTERESTINGLY, MANY OF THE
NEWEST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE
AMONG THE MOST ROBUST, LOUDEST
IN MAKING CLEAR THAT THEY DO
NOT SUPPORT FEDERAL
INTERFERENCE.
I QUOTE FROM THE REPUBLICAN
STUDY COMMITTEE WHICH HAS A
WHOLE 10TH AMENDMENT TASK
FORCE, AND I QUOTE THEM SAYING
THEIR INTENT WAS TO USHER IN A
NEW ERA OF FEDERALISM AND TO
DISPERSE POWER FROM WASHINGTON
BACK TO REGIONS, STATES, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS AND INDIVIDUALS.
HOW CAN PEOPLE HAVE THAT
PRINCIPLE NOW PUT THE BIG
THWART OF A FEDERAL ON THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RIGHT HERE IN
THEIR FACE, IN DEFINES OF THEIR
OWN PRO-- DEFIANCE OF THEIR
PRINCIPLE?
YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT PRINCIPLE
AND NOT APPLY IT RIGHT HERE AS
YOU VOTE ON MATTERS AFFECTING
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THOSE WHO
VOTE AND REMEMBER WE'RE ONLY
TALKING ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL
ISSUES, ISSUES LIKE MARRIAGE,
EQUALITY OR THE REPRODUCTIVE
CHOICE.
THESE ARE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES.
THE LOCAL JURISDICTIONS VOTE
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON HOW THEY
WANT TO HANDLE THESE ISSUES.
SO WHEN THESE VOTES COME
AGAINST NEEDLE EXCHANGE, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT HAS KEPT ***-AIDS
IN LARGE CITIES AND SMALL RURAL
AREAS FROM BEING TRANSMITTED,
ONLY IN THE DISTRICT DID THEY
VOTE TO KEEP NEEDLE EXCHANGE
PROGRAMS FROM OCCURRING.
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
IT GOT THE HIGHEST ***-AIDS
RATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT MATTER LED TO KILLING
PEOPLE, THAT LED TO INNOCENT
PEOPLE GETTING ***-AIDS.
WHAT DOES THE PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN
THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES, IN THE SENATE OF THE
UNITED STATES HAVE TO DO WITH
THE DESIRE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TO USE THE
SAME WEAPONS THAT ARE NOW USED
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO
CONTROL THIS TERRIBLE VIRUS?
SO THOSE WHO WANT TO DISMANTLE
OUR OWN SELF-GOVERNMENT, OUR
HOME RULE PIECE BY PIECE,
BETTER BE PREPARED TO FIGHT,
AND THEY BETTER BE PREPARED TO
FIGHT WHERE THEY LIVE FOR THEY
ARE NOW BEING TARGETED WHERE
THEY LIVE AND NOT BECAUSE
FRANKLY OF THESE UNDERLYING
ISSUES THAT ARE VERY
CONTROVERSIAL BUT BECAUSE OF
THE OVERARCHING PRINCIPLE OF
SELF-GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL
SELF-GOVERNMENT AT THAT.
THE FIRST TRIAL OF THE 74
RESIDENTS WHO WERE ARRESTED IS
GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
A NUMBER OF THEM PAID A FINE
AND DID NOT GO TO TRIAL.
SOME OF THEM ARE INSISTING ON
GOING TO TRIAL SO THAT THE
POINT WILL NEVER BE LOST.
THIS FIRST PERSON IS AN
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMISSIONER.
HIS NAME IS KEITH SILVER.
HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY ON
CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY
AND DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
HE WILL FACE UP TO $250 IN
FINES AND 90 DAYS IN JAIL.
HE WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST
AMERICAN.
WHEN I WAS A VERY YOUNG WOMAN I
WAS A MEMBER OF THE STUDENT
NONVIOLENT COORDINATING
COMMITTEE.
AND GOING TO JAIL SEEMED TO US
TO BE JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT THING
TO DO WHEN WE WERE DENIED OUR
RIGHTS.
NOW THE ONLY AMERICANS DENIED
SUCH BASIC RIGHTS IRONICALLY ARE
COLUMNIA.
RIGHT HERE IN THE DISTRICT OF
MR. SPEAKER, MAY I INQUIRE HOW
MUCH REMAINING TIME?
THE
GENTLEWOMAN HAS 10 MINUTES
REMAINING.
MR. SPEAKER, WHAT
HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING TO US
IS THAT WE NOW KNOW WE ARE NOT
IN THIS FIGHT ALONE.
IMAGINE HAVING TO FIGHT AGAINST
THE ALMIGHTY CONGRESS WHEN YOU
ARE ONE JURISDICTION, OBVIOUSLY
WITHOUT THE MEANS TO LET THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY UNDERSTAND WHAT
IS HAPPENING AND SO MOST
RESIDENTS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAS
BEEN HAPPENING AND HAD NO IDEA
UNTIL THE ARRESTS TOOK PLACE.
JUST AS WHEN THE DISTRICT -- AS
THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN FIGHTING
FOR JUST A VOTE IN THE PEOPLE'S
HOUSE, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WE FIND THAT MOST
AMERICANS THOUGHT WE HAD THE
VOTE.
THERE HAS BEEN A NATIONWIDE
SURVEY DONE AND IT IS VERY
INTERESTING.
IT SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 70% OF
THE PEOPLE ARE FOR VOTING RIGHTS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND
THAT HAS BEEN DONE AND CUT SO AS
TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES AS TO WHERE PEOPLE
LIVE, NORTH AND SOUTH, WHAT
PEOPLE -- WHETHER PEOPLE SERVE
IN THE MILITARY OR NOT, WHETHER
PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH OR NOT AND
THE ENCOURAGING THING TO THOSE
OF US WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA IS THAT NO MATTER
HOW YOU CUT IT AMERICANS BELIEVE
THAT IF YOU PAY FEDERAL INCOME
TAXES YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A VOTE
IN THIS BODY.
YES, I HAVE A VOTE IN COMMITTEE,
YES, I CAN SPEAK AS I AM NOW,
YES I HAVE EVERY PRIVILEGE OF
THE HOUSE EXCEPT THAT PRIVILEGE
THAT CREATED THE NATION, THE
PRIVILEGE TO VOTE, TO CAST THE
FINAL VOTE.
I HAVE GONE TO FUNERALS OF YOUNG
MEN WHO DIED IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN BUT I COULD NOT VOTE
YEA OR NAY ON WHETHER THEY
SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE IN THE
FIRST PLACE.
SURELY IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
REALIZE THAT THERE WOULD BE
SHAME CAST ON THE CONGRESS, IT
HAS GOT TO CHANGE.
NOW THE DISTRICT IS STRUGGLING
NOT FOR THE VOTING RIGHTS AND
STATEHOOD IS DESERVES -- IT
DESERVES BUT FOR THE HOME RULE
AND SELF-GOVERNMENT IT ALREADY
HAS.
IT IS FAR TOO LATE IN HISTORY
FOR ANY AMERICANS TO BE
STRUGGLING FOR THE RIGHT TO
GOVERN THEMSELVES AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL AS THEY SEE FIT.
AND TO SPEND THE FUNDS THEY
RAISE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN ANY
WAY THEY CHOOSE.
THAT, MY FRIENDS, IF YOU ARE
LOOKING TO THE FOUNDERS WILL
FIND THAT THAT WAS FOR THEM A
FIRST PRINCIPLE AND SO OTHER
AMERICANS HAVE NOW COME TO OUR
ASSISTANCE AND THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THEM AND THE RESIDENTS
WHOM I REPRESENT IS THAT THEY
HAVE THAT TO VOTE ON THIS FLOOR
OF THE HOUSE WHILE I DO NOT, AS
THEY VOTED AGAINST -- AS THEY
VOTED TO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE
LOCAL RIGHTS OF THE DISTRICT I
REPRESENTED, EVERY MEMBER OF
THIS BODY COULD VOTE ON THAT
MATTER EXCEPT THE MEMBER WHO
REPRESENTED THE NATION'S CAPITAL
THAT WAS THE OBJECT OF THAT
VOTE.
YOU WILL NOT FIND ANY AMERICAN
ANYWHERE WHO WILL SAY THAT THAT
REPRESENTS WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR
WHAT OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR.
THAT IS WHY EVERY MEMBER OF THIS
HOUSE HAS BEEN SENT OR WILL BE
SENT A LETTER AND I AM READING
FROM JUST ONE PART OF IT, SHOULD
LAWMAKERS -- BECAUSE THIS LETTER
COMES FROM THIS COALITION OF 100
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SHOULD
LAWMAKERS CONTINUE TO ADVANCE
ATTACKS ON THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA'S AUTONOMY WE WILL MAKE
CERTAIN THAT OUR MEMBERS IN
EVERY DISTRICT KNOW HOW THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES ARE SPENDING
THEIR TIME IN WASHINGTON,
MEDDLING IN THE AFFAIRS OF A
LOCAL JURISDICTION, THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA, RATHER THAN
FOCUSING ON THEIR OWN RESIDENTS
AND ON THE NATION'S TRUE
PRESSING BUSINESS.
I HAVE SPENT MY ENTIRE SERVICE
IN THE CONGRESS TRYING TO RID
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION OF
ANTIHOME RULE ATTACHMENTS.
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN CLEARING
THE D.C. APPROPRIATION BILL OF
ALL OF THESE ANTIDEMOCRATIC
ATTACHMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
LAST CONGRESS.
WE DID NOT ENGAGE IN THAT FIGHT
ON.
ONLY TO HAVE THEM PUT RIGHT BACK
WE DID NOT ENJOY SEEING CONGRESS
PLAY SHUTDOWN CHICKEN WITH THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE EITHER.
BUT CONGRESS MUST NOT EVEN THINK
ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN A LOCAL
GOVERNMENT EVER AGAIN OVER A
FEDERAL FIGHT.
DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
WE CALLED OUR APPROACH PASSIVE
RESISTANCE, TO TELL THE WORLD WE
WERE NONVIOLENT.
BUT THAT WAS ALL THAT WAS
PASSIVE ABOUT US.
THE OPERATIVE WORD WAS
RESISTANCE.
ONCE WE RESISTED CIVIL RIGHTS
WORKERS KNEW WE WERE NOT ALONE.
TODAY DISTRICT RESIDENTS ARE
JOINED BY ALLIES WHO STAND WITH
US AND ARE WORKING WITH US, ON
THIS WE HAVE NO DOUBT.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WITH
DISTRICT RESIDENTS WHEN WE SAY
LOCAL LAWS ARE FOR LOCAL
RESIDENTS ALONE AND MOST
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE INSIST THAT
WHEN IT'S OUR MONEY WE MEAN OURS
AND ONLY OURS.
THE NATION'S CAPITAL SHOULD BE
THE 51ST STATE BY NOW, THE
CITY'S TAX PAYING CITIZENS
SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A VOTE IN
CONGRESS, THE VERY CONGRESS THAT
DEMANDS THAT THE CITIZENS WHO
LIVE HERE ABIDE BY THE LAW THAT
THE CONGRESS ENACTS.
D.C. RESIDENTS AND THEIR LOCAL
LEADERS ARE FIGHTING WITH ALL
THEY HAVE.
WHAT THEY NEED MOST NOW AND WHAT
I AM GRATIFIED THAT THEY ARE
RECEIVING IS THE SUPPORT OF
OTHER AMERICANS WHO DO HAVE THE
BASIC RIGHTS THAT THE CITIZENS
OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL ARE
STILL SEEKING.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
DON'T TREAD ON D.C.
THE
GENTLEWOMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HER TIME.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE HOUSE WILL STAND IN
RECESS SUBJECT TO THE CALL OF