H3792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 those who broke the laws. And we also this was a government cartel that was ipal power companies, not investor have to have stiff new regulatory re- protecting these AIG bonuses. owned, but owned by municipalities. forms to make sure this doesn’t happen And why do we need to know this? And one such one has said that it will again. And none of that is happening, Because the American people have fig- quadruple, quadruple the rates that sad to say. ured out something that Congress is their ratepayers pay. Quadruple. Now f only just now beginning to figure out. my mom and dad, who are on a fixed Under President Obama’s budget, we income, will see their electric go up. UNPRECEDENTED TAXING AND see that the administration is spending They will see their gas bills to heat SPENDING too much, they are taxing too much, their home go up. They will see their The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under they are certainly borrowing too much, gasoline that they pay for in their 14- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- so much so that the American people year-old car go up in cost. This will be uary 6, 2009, the gentlewoman from are saying ‘‘I have had it up to here, I a huge, huge tax increase on them not Minnesota (Mrs. BACHMANN) is recog- can’t take it any more.’’ And the econ- to even mention the goods and services nized for 60 minutes as the designee of omy is following suit. that will go up, just the energy tax the minority leader. Well, our colleagues are here today alone. Mrs. BACHMANN. Mr. Speaker, I to talk about this. They have a lot to We on this side of the aisle believe just wanted to comment also with the say. Joining me right now is a col- that an all-of-the-above energy ap- preceding gentleman, my colleague league from the great State of Ohio. He proach to solving our domestic energy from Oregon. I would agree with him. I represents the people in the 12th Con- needs should be debated rather than a think he is 100 percent right. We do gressional District of Ohio and the cap-and-tax program that will dev- need to have an investigation. The great city of Columbus, Mr. PAT astate economies like Ohio’s economy. American people were outraged last TIBERI, the new father of triplets, and I It will be absolutely a killer to jobs in week when they heard about these bo- defer now to my colleague from Ohio, our State. nuses. I would agree with the colleague Mr. PAT TIBERI. Now the other issue that you may from Oregon. We do need to have an in- Mr. TIBERI. I thank the gentlelady hear about in the next week is spend- vestigation. Who knew what when? from Minnesota for yielding me some ing, that my colleagues and friends on And the fingers need to be pointed time to talk about a very important the other side of the aisle are going to right here at Members of Congress, subject. As you mentioned, as the new constrain spending. Well, here are the Members of the House, Members of the father of triplets, looking at this budg- facts, the Congressional Budget Office Senate, and also the administration. et is pretty frightening, not just for facts. The blue has been the spending Who was it that negotiated these pay- me, but obviously what I feel for them over the last 8 years. The red is the ments? We still don’t have an answer. and my older daughter as we have in spending over the administration’s The American people deserve to know. this budget an unprecedented level of budget. Clearly, we are going to see an We have a timeline. We have some spending and also some policy issues incredible amount of new spending. facts in evidence out there. We had Mr. that are going to cost them and many b 1630 Liddy, the CEO of AIG, in front of the in my State of Ohio a tremendous House Financial Services Committee amount of money. So the problem in Washington, D.C. just last week. I sat in that committee. So this budget has real consequences is not a revenue problem. The problem Mr. Liddy, under questioning, I asked on real people. In fact, the chart behind in Washington D.C. is a spending prob- Mr. Liddy myself, did the Federal Re- me demonstrates a little bit about that lem. There is no such thing as a spend- serve chair know about these bonuses? budget and what that budget does to ing restraint. Did he acquiesce to them? The answer our national debt. This debt, as you see Ladies and gentlemen of the House, was ‘‘yes.’’ Also the Treasury Sec- in red, is representing the administra- this is an eye-popping proposal, one retary. The Treasury Department was tion’s budget, a staggering number that is going to have huge con- involved in negotiating the compensa- that will go up considerably if this sequences to our economy, to our chil- tion contracts. budget, which is being debated in the dren, to our grandchildren, to our way Today in Financial Services Com- House Budget Committee this week, of life. We must, we must put a stop to mittee, the Treasury Secretary again presumably on the House floor, next this proposal, and the only way we can was sitting at the table before the com- week, if it passes, as it is, this will be do that is with the help of the Amer- mittee. The Federal Reserve chair was the result, a doubling of the debt held ican people because, quite frankly, this there as well. The questioning came be- by the public. It is unbelievable. side of the aisle just doesn’t have the fore them. The Treasury Department Who is going to pay that debt? It is votes. The other side of the aisle does, was involved. The Federal Reserve was going to be our children and our grand- and we need the American people en- involved. And we know that the bill children. They are going to be saddled gaged in a proposal that will have a that was brought to this body and with unprecedented debt, debt as far as killer effect on our economy and one voted here in this Chamber, the stim- the eye can see. that will have a devastating effect on ulus bill, the $1.1 trillion bill with debt When I got elected to Congress in the future of our children and our chil- service, this tremendous historic- 2001, when I was sworn in, you can see dren’s children. spending-levels bill that came before where the national debt was. The Re- I yield back to the gentlelady from us, that was the smoking gun. Senator publicans and the administration dur- Minnesota. CHRIS DODD inserted that amendment ing the last 8 years were criticized for Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gen- into the bill. He claimed that the not dealing with that debt in blue. And tleman from Ohio’s 12th district, PAT Obama administration insisted that it went up. And it went up entirely too TIBERI. The remarks that he is making that amendment be put into the bill, much. But not nearly as much as it is about the burdens that our children the language that would protect these going to go up if this budget passes. and grandchildren will bear are star- AIG bonuses. And as a matter of fact, The consequences are devastating to tling. I had a baby born to my husband you could call President Obama’s stim- our economy. and I back in 1987, and I did a study on ulus bill the ‘‘AIG Bonus Protection In fact, within that budget is some- what the Social Security tax would be Plan’’ because bonuses were simply thing called ‘‘cap-and-trade.’’ It is an on that baby, who is now 22 years old, protected by this bill. energy issue to deal with the issue of when he gets to be in his peak earning I would agree with my colleague from global warming. But in Ohio, what it years. Now, I know that Mr. TIBERI has Oregon. We need an investigation. We will do is devastate our already ailing triplets that were born this year. We need a special independent prosecutor economy. It will cause people to leave are looking at the debt burden on my who can look into this and find out the and businesses to leave. In fact, within son, now 22. In his peak earning years, true facts. What did the Obama admin- my district, there is a municipal power 25 percent of his income will have to be istration know? When did they know company. It will create the loss of jobs devoted just for the Social Security it? What did Members of Congress as well. Within my district and many portion of his tax bill. It is simply know? When did they know it? Clearly, other districts in Ohio there are munic- unsustainable.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3793 And our concern is that, under Presi- Maybe we should remember some of we should do everything in our power dent Obama’s budget, which clearly the things that Thomas Jefferson said. to help small businesses, because they spends too much, taxes too much, bor- Of course he helped write, or he did create 70 percent of the jobs in this rows too much, we are looking at a leg- write the Declaration of Independence. country. acy cost that is simply unsustainable. He wrote a lot while he was President. But this new budget, loaded down The President is putting together an Here’s a quote from Thomas Jefferson, with borrowing, is also loaded down unbelievable $3.9 trillion budget, tril- Mr. Speaker. He said it in 1821, shortly with taxes. And it taxes the producers lion dollar, which, as Mr. TIBERI said, before he died. He said, ‘‘There does not of this country. Like I said, if some- will double the debt limit for every exist an engine so corruptive of the thing keeps moving we just tax it. And man, woman and child in the United government and so demoralizing of the that is the plan. States. Double it. We are seeing these Nation as a public debt. It will bring on And it seems to me, this is just my numbers go through the roof of the us more ruin at home than all the en- opinion, this whole philosophy that we Capitol right now, like nothing we emies from abroad.’’ Wise Thomas Jef- are moving to in this country is a gov- have ever seen. It is like a sugar high. ferson. Maybe we would do well to read ernment-controlled culture, govern- It is as though the people who are put- some of the things that Thomas Jeffer- ment-controlled society; kind of makes ting together this budget in the Obama son wrote about saddling American us look like the French socialist soci- administration were all staying up late taxpayers with public debt. It is worse ety, in my opinion. And I don’t think one night drinking 24-packs of 20-ounce than our foreign enemies we have got that is what liberty is all about. So Mountain Dews. They are on a sugar all over the world. maybe we should go back to some ba- high right now. They can’t spend We cannot afford to pay for this sics. enough of your money. budget because we don’t have any Like most American taxpayers, they And the message that everyone needs money. We have spent it all. We have don’t spend money they don’t have. to send to Washington, D.C. is, I can’t given it to, you know, these banks that Maybe the government shouldn’t spend afford it. My family can’t afford it. My can’t fail, and all these other special money it doesn’t have. Maybe we small business can’t afford the Obama interest groups. So we are broke. So we shouldn’t be borrowing money because administration’s spending habit. are going to have to borrow the money. we have to pay the debt on it. And we are not going to live to see it, so we are We have this movie that is out now And we are going to have to borrow the passing that debt on to our kids yet to called Shopaholic. This is a shopaholic money from foreign countries. Number be born, to the tune of $70,000 a piece. bill that we have got in front of us, and 1 on the list, the Chinese. You know, it is time to let the people know that And that ought not to be. our good friends, the Chinese. We are But that’s just the way it is. those who are paying the bill, the going to borrow their money. American people, have enough debt. We I yield back my time. It was embarrassing to me, as a cit- Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you to the don’t need to take this on too. izen, to see our Secretary of State go Joining us now, from the great State gentleman from Texas. to China and beg to allow us to borrow of Texas, is someone, Mr. Speaker, that Mr. Speaker, it is clear President money from them in the future. Even all Americans are familiar with. His Obama’s $3.9 trillion plan for the budg- they are a little worried about whether name is TED POE. Congressman TED et, for the American people clearly we can pay off this great debt that we POE is a former judge. He understands spends too much, taxes too much, bor- are incurring and putting on kids yet that that’s the way it is in the United rows too much for our kids and our to be born. It is disgraceful, Mr. Speak- States. grandkids. er. I yield now to Representative TED There is a man that we respect and And the second thing is, if we can’t POE of Texas. admire. He hails from West Chester, Mr. POE of Texas. I thank the gentle- borrow enough money, the govern- Ohio, the eighth district. He is the lady for yielding, and her comments es- ment’s answer is, we will just tax leader of the Republicans in the House, pecially. them. Tax them to death. You know, but more importantly, he is the leader Mr. Speaker, we are discussing the the old statement goes, if something on the issue of fiscal restraint for the proposed budget. And disregard wheth- moves, regulate it. If it keeps moving, American people. er it has some good projects in it or tax it. And if it stops moving, then sub- He stood right down here in the well, not. It breaks the back of the Amer- sidize it. We are doing all of the above Mr. Speaker, he held up so the Amer- ican citizen. And we hear a lot of num- right now. Things that aren’t doing ican people could see what 1,100 pages bers about how much it is costing and, any good for the economy, oh, we are of a bill looks like. He held those 1,100 of course, it does cost too much. But I subsidizing those. But we are taxing pages and made the incredible state- will try to put it in perspective. the American taxpayer to death, those ment that not one person in this cham- I have four kids, 71⁄2 grandkids. Mr. that work for a living. And we are also ber had a chance to read this bill before TIBERI just had triplets. Mrs. taxing those small businesses. we were expected to vote on it. There BACHMANN’s got a handful of kids. And I want to make one thing clear about was no true debate on this stimulus when kids are born, every parent re- jobs. We hear so much about the budg- bill that was passed earlier this year, members that they are given an arm et is going to create jobs. Jobs, jobs. $1.1 trillion. And now the President has band, and the arm band usually says Well, we have to define what a job is. a budget for $3.9 trillion that spends who that child is. My kids all had an There are government programs, and too much, taxes too much, borrows too arm band that said ‘‘Poe kid.’’ They’re those are not jobs. A government pro- much. going to have to change arm bands on gram takes taxpayer money and gives Leader JOHN BOEHNER stood on this my grandkids from Poe kids to just it to different projects to build some- House and demonstrated to the Amer- poor kid because every child born after thing. Now, that is not a job because ican people just how massive this is. this budget passes will have to pay off that is subsidy by the American tax- I yield now to our leader, a man that the debt to the tune of $70,000 a piece. payer to this entity. we respect and admire, from the eighth So when kids are born in America, if Jobs are not created by government. district of Ohio, leader JOHN BOEHNER. this budget passed, give them an arm Jobs are not created by government. Mr. BOEHNER. Let me thank my band that says, you owe Uncle Sam Small businesses create most of the colleague for yielding, and thank the $70,000. jobs in this country because, you see, rest of my colleagues for participating Mr. Speaker, that is disgraceful that when small business has money, we in this discussion about the budget. we are saddling debt on kids yet to be call that capital, thus the term cap- Before we get to the budget, you born in this country. So much for free- italism. When they have money they know, when I held those 1,100 pages up dom. They are going to be enslaved to hire people. The taxpayers don’t have and indicated that no one had read the the Federal Government to the tune of to subsidize that worker, whereas the bill, it was pretty clear no one had be- at least $70,000 a piece. And that taxpayers have to subsidize the govern- cause if someone had read the bill they doesn’t count all these other spending ment program worker. would have realized there were 50 programs that we are seeing going to So let’s be clear about that. There words in there that protected AIG ex- come down the pike later this year. are jobs, and then are real jobs. And so ecutives, to make sure they were going

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 to get their bonuses; more proof that piled up if we allow this budget to go small businesses to make sacrifices. we ought to actually read what we pass into effect. There are almost 9,000 earmarks in it. here on the House floor. And I yield back. Now we are being faced with a $3.6 The discussion, though, is about the trillion budget. I think the gentlelady b 1645 budget. And I have seen a lot of things has pointed out very well and right on over the years that I have been in poli- Mrs. BACHMANN. Thank you to the target that the problem with this budg- tics, whether it be a Township Trustee gentleman from Ohio, Leader JOHN et right now is that it contains too in West Chester, or in the State House, BOEHNER. We have tremendous respect much spending, too much borrowing, or the 18 years I have spent in Wash- for Leader BOEHNER and have great ad- which we have already seen in these ington. But I have never seen a legisla- miration for his courage in leading this other bills, but in addition, we are now tive document more audacious, more effort in fiscal restraint. The American talking about $1.4 trillion of new taxes far reaching, and, frankly, more bizarre people are begging for fiscal restraint, that are going to be put on Americans than the budget that has been sub- and Leader BOEHNER has emphasized across this country. mitted by President Obama, because it that to our caucus, and is leading that There is a cap-and-trade, or what is does spend too much. It is pretty clear, charge here in the United States House being referred to as a cap-and-tax, on when you look at the giant increases in of Representatives. anything that uses carbon or CO2. We spending. But it is not just that it Also joining us today, Mr. Speaker, is are going back and are going to raise spends too much. It taxes too much. a brand new freshman also from the the estate tax. There is the raising of There are nearly $2 trillion worth of great State of Ohio, our third speaker the capital gains tax, the removing of new taxes that are imposed on the from Ohio during this hour. Ohioans itemized deductions, the increasing of American people in that budget. represent the heartland of our country. marginal rates. All of these tax in- Whether it is the national energy tax, Hailing now from Ohio’s Seventh Dis- creases concern me in this budget. for those who would drive a car, or trict is Mr. STEVE AUSTRIA, who has a Let me tell you, as a former small those who would produce something lot to say. He represents the Dayton- business owner and as a father of three, with electricity, or someone who would Columbus area, and he is going to be I did not come to Congress to begin flip on a light switch, every American speaking to us now as a small business- major spending, running up a deficit, is going to pay a higher tax. man himself. I yield now to Mr. STEVE running up debt like we are running But even with all the spending and AUSTRIA from Columbus, Ohio. up, passing on debt to my three chil- the much higher taxes, look at what Mr. AUSTRIA. I thank the gentle- dren at home. That is not why I came happens. Look at what happens to our lady from Minnesota. to Congress. I came to Congress to turn debt. Even after $2 trillion of new We are well represented here today this economy around and to really taxes, the national debt will double here in Ohio in this Chamber. There is begin to save jobs, to create new jobs over the next 6 years under this pro- a lot going on in Ohio, and this budget and to be able to sustain those jobs posal, more than what has happened in directly affects us, and I appreciate the over the long term. I believe it is our the 43 presidents that preceded Presi- opportunity to be able to speak today. small businesses that can do this. I can dent Obama over the last 220 years. Let me just say, as a new Member of tell you, as a small business owner, Now, there was a lot of criticism of this Congress and having served less when I look at this budget that we are President Bush, criticism of the Repub- than 100 days, we have been faced with faced with, I have deep concerns about licans, that we didn’t have a big tremendous challenges and issues be- what is facing me—new taxes, taxes enough handle on spending. Frankly, I fore us. I will start out with the second and taxes. agree. We should have had a bigger half of the bailout of the financial mar- I talked about the cap-and-trade—we handle on spending. kets, the TARP bill, which was $700 bil- have heard that, too—the increase of But having said that, over the next 6 lion that I felt did not have enough ac- taxes on those who have incomes of years, President Obama’s budget is countability and not enough trans- over $250,000 or more, on the so-called going to make President Bush look parency. The Treasury did not have a ‘‘wealthiest’’ Americans of the coun- like a penny pincher. And look at the specific plan in place when we voted on try. Many of those are small business debt. And what is going to happen here, that bill, and I had deep concerns with owners. Over half of those are small with all of this debt that is piled on the that, and I voted against that bill. business owners in this country. If I am backs of our kids and grandkids, means The second bill I was asked to vote a small business owner and I know I that in about 10 years, 70 cents of every on was the $791 billion over 10 years, have these taxes coming at me in 2011, tax dollar that comes to Washington is $1.1 trillion stimulus bill that had a I doubt if I am going to be looking at going to be used just to pay the inter- tremendous amount of government investing in my business and in ex- est on the national debt, just the inter- spending that I felt was not targeted panding my business and in taking a est. 70 cents of every dollar. toward where it should be, to small risk. I am going to be preparing for So what happens to our national de- businesses, which are the economic en- that new tax increase that is coming fense? What happens to our Homeland gine of this country. Seventy percent right at me, and I don’t believe that is Security? What happens to Medicare or of the businesses across this country good for our economy. I don’t believe Medicaid, Social Security and all of are small businesses. We have 900,000 that helps our small businesses. the other government programs that small businesses in the State of Ohio. Again, in Ohio, we have over 9,000 we have? There is not going to be any Yet this plan did not focus on small small businesses. Seven out of ten of money for it, because all of the debt businesses. It did little to nothing to all new jobs are created by small busi- that is going to get built up, interest help small businesses. It was focused nesses. America’s small businesses are has to be paid on that debt and the fact on increasing government spending, the world’s second largest economy, is, it won’t happen. which I felt was wrong. trailing only to the United States as a This budget, we need to start over. We just heard the leader talk about whole according to NFIB. According to And I had a press conference earlier what happens when you don’t read a a Zogby poll released last week, nearly today where I suggested to the Presi- bill, when you don’t have account- two-thirds of Americans, 63 percent of dent, why don’t we just start over? ability, when you don’t have trans- Americans, said that it is small busi- Why don’t we sit down, as Democrats parency, when you don’t have a plan. nesses and entrepreneurs that are and Republicans, and build a budget When you don’t read a bill, all of a sud- going to lead this country, lead the that restores fiscal sanity and shows den, you run into what we ran into last U.S., to a better future. Well, you the American people we can work to- week with AIG bonuses being paid out know, while we look at what is going gether for the good of our country. of hardworking taxpayers’ dollars. on within this budget, it does not make We can’t buy our way to prosperity. Then there was a $410 billion omnibus sense what we are doing. And that is what this budget seems to appropriations spending bill that had I had an opportunity on Monday to believe. And I would hope my col- an 8 percent increase, or a $32 billion meet with many of our business folks leagues would help each other under- increase, this year when we are asking at a luncheon that was sponsored by stand the enormous debt that will be Americans to tighten their belts and the U.S. Chamber. We had the rotary

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3795 there, and we had the local chambers The Congressional Quarterly just stimulus package—first Federal agen- there. I had a chance to talk with some yesterday came out with a chart, show- cies, then State agencies. So bureau- of our small businesses about this ing that we are going to add $1.840 tril- crats all over the country are going to budget and what we are facing, and lion to our national debt just this year, come out just fine, and maybe a little they had deep concerns. I mean they and then we are going to add another bit is going to trickle down to every- are struggling right now. Americans one $1.370 trillion next year and an- body else, but this is not who is hurt- are struggling right now. They are other $970 billion the year after that. ing. This area is one of the wealthiest making sacrifices. Businesses are In 3-years’ time, we are going to add areas in the country, this Washington, struggling to make it from paycheck to over $4 trillion to our national debt D.C., northern Virginia, southern paycheck, payroll to payroll. They can- under the most optimistic scenario by Maryland area. Yet they are going to not get financing. They cannot get the the estimate of the Congressional receive a massive financial windfall ac- credit necessary to keep their busi- Budget Office. cording to The Washington Post. nesses moving forward. What are we That comes on the heels of several On Lou Dobbs last week, he said 4 going to do? We are going to go out and weeks ago when this Congress—most of million jobs had been lost in the pri- propose a budget that is going to in- us in the Chamber right at the moment vate sector in the last year alone. Four crease spending, increase borrowing, voted against it—voted to raise the na- million jobs lost. Yet government pay- run our debt up to $3.9 trillion on the tional debt limit to $12.104 trillion. rolls had expanded by 151,000. Now, be- conservative side, and increase taxes That is an incomprehensible figure. No- cause of what we passed up here, gov- by $1.4 trillion on all Americans. I be- body can humanly comprehend that ernment payrolls are going to expand lieve it is the wrong way to go. I think much, but we are going to hand over $4 once again. we can do better. I think the American trillion to that. What it means, Mr. There have been so many exaggera- people expect better and deserve bet- Speaker, is this: tions over what is going to be done ter, and we can produce a better bill In just a few years, we are not going with this money. A couple of weeks than what we have before us. to be able to pay all of our Social Secu- ago, a daily newspaper in Montana re- I thank the gentlelady. I yield back rity and veterans’ pensions and all of ported that the two Montana Senators my time, and I thank her for the oppor- the things that we have promised our had put out a press release saying that tunity to speak today. own people. I used to say—and I have 40 jobs were going to be created be- Mrs. BACHMANN. I think, Rep- heard many people say in the last few cause of a $1.3 million portion of the resentative AUSTRIA, those are wise weeks even—what we are doing to our stimulus package. The paper went to words, and thank you for sharing those children and grandchildren is terrible— that agency, and that agency said: No, with us this afternoon. I appreciate and it is—but actually, I think now we we have already got almost full em- your work. are doing it to ourselves because I ployment. We are going to add two peo- Mr. Speaker, we are joined now by a think that, in 10 or 15 years, if that ple because of this, and the rest of it is great gentleman and a longtime advo- long, we are not going to be able to pay going to be spent on the employees cate for the people in his district, the all of these things we have promised they already have. So I think a lot of Second District in Tennessee. He has our own people. So I think it is really people are going to be disappointed been serving as a faithful Member of sad what we are doing to the American over some of this money that we are Congress for 21 years, Mr. JIMMY DUN- people because we are spending too spending, and we are spending, as I CAN, who is a tremendous gentleman, much, taxing too much and borrowing said, money that we do not have. serving the people of Knoxville and the too much. Now, two of the Members from surrounding community. I yield now to Joe Scarborough said on his national Ohio—my colleague Mr. TIBERI and the Mr. JIMMY DUNCAN of Tennessee. television program just this morning: new Member, Mr. AUSTRIA—both men- Mr. DUNCAN. Well, Mr. Speaker, We are like a doctor who has diagnosed tioned coal and utility bills and things thank you very much. diabetes in a patient but who has then of that nature because it has such a I first want to thank the gentlelady prescribed a diet of cotton candy. He great effect on their State. We have from Minnesota for giving me this said: We are like somebody making powerful people in this body who are time. She has been a real leader in this $100,000 a year who has suddenly gone attempting to cut way back and who battle to try to restore some type of out and bought ten $1 million houses. are attempting, hopefully, to even fiscal sanity to this government, and I He said repeatedly something that I eliminate coal in this country. Well, I can tell you this: have said many times over these last can tell you this: Anybody who is sup- I represent a little over 700,000 people couple of months: We can’t afford it. porting that is going to really hurt the in East Tennessee. Fortune magazine We are spending money that we do not poor and the lower income and the said in 2000 that the Knoxville area had have, and every place in this world and working people because coal provides become the most popular place to move throughout history, when a govern- over 50 percent of our energy in this in the whole country based on the ment has gotten in the position that country today. If we cut way back on number moving in in relation to the we are in, you either have staggering coal, we are going to double or triple or fewest moving out. For many, many inflation or staggering deflation, and quadruple our utility bills, and we are years now, we have had a tremendous one is just about as bad as the other. I going to hurt a lot of poor and low-in- movement in of people from all over don’t have a crystal ball to know which come people. the country and, in fact, of many from one we are headed into. My guess around the world. About half of the would probably be staggering inflation. b 1700 people I represent have moved from What we are doing is reckless, and I have noticed throughout the years someplace else, so I have got a real what we are doing is dangerous. We that most of the environmental radi- cross-section of people from almost passed a stimulus bill, and it had some cals and environmental extremists in every State in this country. Over these good things in it, but once again, we this country come from very wealthy last few weeks, I can tell you, from were spending money that we did not or very upper income families, and per- spending more time at home than I do have. haps they don’t realize how much they up here, that people in East Tennessee The Washington Post, which favored hurt the poor and the lower income and think we have just gone almost crazy the stimulus bill, had a front-page the working people when they destroy up here, throwing around trillions just story in which they said it was going to jobs and drive up prices. But if they cut almost in a meaningless, haphazard mean a massive financial windfall— way back on coal, that’s exactly what way. those are their words—for Federal is going to happen. The gentlelady from Minnesota agencies. Then they had another story Our leader, Mr. BOEHNER, mentioned showed this chart a while ago which a couple of days later in which they another thing. He said that this bill— says President Obama’s budget spends said tens of thousands of new jobs and we heard a presentation from the too much, taxes too much, borrows too would be added on or new hires would ranking member of the Budget Com- much. No truer words, Mr. Speaker, be added on by Federal agencies. That mittee just this morning which said were ever said on this floor. is who is going to benefit from this that the President’s budget has $1.9

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3796 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 trillion in tax increases in that budget. this spending bill will bankrupt Amer- Government. We have been promised Jim Cramer, the famous stock man— ica. It will bankrupt our country. that those wasteful programs of the he’s on television every night, and he And it caused me to think—I was Federal Government would be cut and has been a six-figure contributor to the writing some notes down. I was think- eliminated. What do we see? We see a Democratic Party—he described the ing about the very first Congress. We bigger growth of the Federal Govern- President’s budget as the greatest are the 111th Congress. And I was ment, and we see more wasteful spend- wealth killer in history. And I will tell thinking back to the very first Con- ing and a huge increase in the size of you, that is a pretty serious charge gress and the founders of our Nation. the Federal Government. coming from that source: the greatest And I was thinking that they are here We were promised that any bill that wealth killer in history. in this Chamber, symbolically, and we, has earmarks in it would be vetoed. And we just don’t have enough people as Members of Congress—Mr. DUNCAN Well, the omnibus bill—I call it the who understand—there is waste in the who served for 21 years; myself, this is ominous omnibus bill—was nothing but private sector but a business who con- my third year—I think of the first earmarks. The whole bill was nothing tinually wastes money cannot stay in Members of Congress who are here as but paybacks to the folks who elected business very long. But a government we symbolically stand on their shoul- the leadership here in Washington agency that wastes money, they use ders and observe their example from today, and that promise has been bro- that as a justification for getting in- the rear-view mirror of history. ken. creased funding the next year. And I think about these founders who And now we have a budget. Leader So every dollar we can keep in the wrote our Nation’s Declaration of Inde- BOEHNER was here just a few minutes private sector is going to do more to pendence to get away from a mother ago and spoke about the increase of the create jobs and hold down prices be- country who abused its taxing author- Federal debt. And I want to make it cause money in the private sector is ity against the American colonists who clear something that he said that is spent so much more efficiently than then went on to write our great Con- very important to the American peo- this money that is turned over to gov- stitution which was clear as to the lim- ple, should be important to the Amer- ernment. Governor Edward Rendell, its on government authority. That was ican people. The deficit spending, the who is a former chairman of the Demo- the greatest fear that the Founders had debt that has been created with this cratic Party, when he was mayor of was a government that would be tyran- budget alone, is greater than all presi- Philadelphia, he testified before a Con- nical and reach too far in the pockets dencies combined. Every one of them gressional committee and he said gov- and in the freedom of the American combined. This one budget is greater ernment does not work because it was people. than all of those. We can’t continue not designed to. He said there is no in- The very same day that our founders, down this road. This budget bill is a steamroll of so- centive for people to work hard, so the first Congress, passed that Con- cialism that has been shoved down the many do not. There is no incentive to stitution, known across the world, they throats of the American public. It is save money, so much of it is squan- also passed the 10 amendments to that going to strangle the American econ- dered. That pretty much summed up Constitution. And those amendments omy. It is going to choke the American the reason that money in the private were written for one reason. It wasn’t people economically. sector is spent so much more effi- to limit the freedom and the power of We have been promised that 95 per- ciently than money turned over to the the American people as individuals, it cent of Americans were going to get a government. So every dollar we can was written to limit the power of the tax cut. We saw that in this recent keep in the private sector will do more Federal Government over the indi- stimulus bill where the tax cut is $1.10 to create jobs and hold down prices. vidual. And the 10th Amendment, the per day. That’s it, $1.10 per day. I’m a So we certainly don’t need a budget last of those 10, reserved to the States physician, and I don’t believe in smok- that increases taxes by $1.9 trillion. It all power not expressly given to the ing. I think everybody should quit. But has been proven all over the world that Federal Government in the Constitu- you can’t even buy a pack of cigarettes when you let government get too big, tion. for that amount of money. what you do is you create this elite This spending bill that President And not only that, but this cap-and- class at the top, you wipe out the mid- Obama is putting forward to the 111th tax issue that’s being proposed in this dle class, and you create this huge Congress would shock the founders of budget is going to tax every single starvation, or underclass, and certainly our Nation. I believe it would shock American family by over $3,100 per we have all traditionally in this coun- them because they might say that they family. Let me repeat that. Every sin- try had the biggest middle class in the bled and died and sacrificed their for- gle family is going to pay an increase world because we kept our govern- tune and their sacred honor so that in their cost of living by $3,100 per fam- ment—it has been very difficult, but what? So that we could selfishly con- ily. We can’t afford that. It is going to throughout history we have kept our sume material wealth sufficient to hurt the poorest of people in this coun- government one of the smallest in pro- bankrupt our Nation? That hardly try. It is going to hurt our seniors who portion to the GDP in this Nation. seems what America is about or what are living on a fixed income. It is going I know there are some other people America was founded upon. to hurt small business because of this who want to speak. So once again, I Well, Mr. Speaker, joining us now is class envy and class warfare that’s want to thank the gentlelady from Dr. PAUL BROUN. He is a great patriot being proposed by this administration. Minnesota for her hard work and her hailing from the State of Georgia. I ap- We have seen promise after promise leadership in regard to the fiscal condi- preciate Dr. BROUN. He represents Ath- broken by this administration. And not tion of this government. We need more ens, Augusta, and northeast Georgia only that, we are creating a debt for people like her in the Congress, and it hailing from the Tenth Congressional our future generations so that their is an honor to serve with her, and I District. standard of living is going to be much thank her for giving me her time I yield now to a great physician, a less, much lower than ours today. today. great friend, a great patriot, Dr. PAUL As Mr. DUNCAN was talking about, we Mrs. BACHMANN. I want to thank BROUN. are either going to have hyperinflation Mr. DUNCAN for standing strong for re- Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I thank the or deflation. I think we’re fixing to straint. When you have got donors to gentlelady for yielding. head for hyperinflation. We have seen the other party who are standing up Promises made, promises broken. in the past that gross deficit spending and saying this is a wealth killer, that This administration has made many, by governments has created hyper- is a wake-up call. As a matter of fact, many promises to the American public inflation to the point that people al- we just had one of the former com- and has broken promise after promise most literally had to have a wheel- merce secretary appointees, Senator after promise. barrow to take the currency to the gro- JUDD GREGG, say of this budget that it We were promised that wasteful cery store to buy one loaf of bread. clearly spends too much, taxes too spending would decrease and be elimi- That’s where we’re heading today. War- much, borrows too much from our kids nated. But what do we see? We see a ren Buffet just 2 weeks ago said that and grandkids. He said himself that huge increase in the size of the Federal we’re off the cliff.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3797 I think we’re headed towards a Mrs. BACHMANN. I thank the gen- Minden, Louisiana. He’s a freshman, marked prolongation of this recession, tleman from Georgia, Dr. PAUL BROUN. and Dr. JOHN FLEMING has been a phy- a deepening of this recession, and very I have such great respect for Dr. sician for 32 years and also a small probably a severe depression. BROUN. I appreciate his words. He’s business owner. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when he made the hue and cry that the Amer- And I yield, Mr. Speaker, to Dr. was spending taxpayers’ dollars like a ican people need to know that this FLEMING. drunken sailor, did nothing but prolong budget is historic by any measure. We Mr. FLEMING. Well, I want to thank that Depression. That’s exactly what would agree. The Obama presidency is the gentlelady from Minnesota. Thank this philosophy that’s being promoted historic, Mr. President. It is historic in you for your work and leadership, par- here in this House and in the Senate the amount of debt that will be accu- ticularly in this area. And by the way, across the way and by this administra- mulated. I love watching you speak because I tion is going to do. Leader BOEHNER stood on this floor think I can learn a lot of tips from you. In fact, the only thing that got us just a few moments ago and stated that So I do appreciate that. out of the Great Depression was the the debt in this country will double in I also want to reflect on my col- creation of a manufacturing entity in just 6 years. It spends more than all league from Georgia that just spoke, a America to supply the needs for World the previous Presidents put together. physician, who made a lot of good com- ments about the tilt that we have right War II. Are we going to need a world And Leader BOEHNER said this: He said war to get us out of this depression that when a dollar flows in to the Fed- now going towards socialism, certainly that we’re headed towards? I hope not. eral Government, 70 cents of that dol- liberal socialism at the very least. You know, it’s true, Mr. Speaker, But this deficit spending is totally ir- lar will be needed just to pay for inter- that we’ve spent in this bill and prior responsible. It is unconscionable that est. bills over the last 2 months, it’s evi- we would have this kind of philosophy This is absolutely unsustainable. dent that our government is spending promoted in this Congress. It is going Pretty soon we will have currency too much, taxing too much, and bor- to hurt the people who can stand to be equal to Zimbabwe’s if we continue rowing way too much. Remember, that hurt the least, and that’s the poor peo- down this road because of currency de- the Congress just passed a $787 billion ple, the retirees, those on fixed in- valuation. This is what we’re seeing. stimulus package, $410 billion omnibus comes. We’re looking at essentially a doubling This cap-and-tax policy is going to appropriations bill loaded with over of the debt under what the Obama ad- 9,000 earmarks, and remember, our raise the price of all goods and serv- ministration wants to put together. President promised that he would not ices: medicines at the drug store, which But what we hear over and over again support earmarks. Now the administra- is going to hurt our elderly; it is going from the Obama administration, they tion has unveiled a $3.6 trillion Federal to raise the price of groceries at the say this is a debt that we inherited. Is spending plan, a spending plan that the grocery store for everybody, and that’s it really? We need to look at the facts. nonpartisan CBO, Congressional Budg- going to hurt all of us. 1715 et Office, has now determined will We cannot continue down this road. b produce $2.3 trillion of more red ink We have to put a stop to it. The steam- The facts tell us something different. January of 2007 is when Congress was than the President initially predicted. roller of socialism that’s being shoved I want to turn the camera and the run by the Democrat majority. Repub- down the throats of the American pub- people across America to this picture licans ran it up until 2007 January. At lic that’s being driven by NANCY here and explain really what it is. that point, both the House and the Sen- PELOSI, HARRY REID and Barack These are kids in Germany in 1923, and ate took over and were run by the Obama, it needs to hit a speed bump. It they’re stacking what looks like Democrats. At that point, we saw the needs to hit a stop sign. And the only bricks. What they are, in fact, stacking Federal deficit begin to rise and sky- people in America that could put up is their currency. That’s Deutsche rocket. Discretionary spending was ris- that stop sign, that speed bump up is notes right there, and in 1923, the value ing and then skyrocketing, and manda- the American public to cry out, No, of the currency in Germany as a result tory spending was rising and sky- we’re not going to put up with this. We of cranking out money, cranking out want bipartisanship. We Republicans rocketing. We had the stimulus bill money, printing paper to pay back war and Democrats to come together and that was passed, an over $152 billion. reparations they couldn’t pay back, it ELOSI, Major- solve the problem. Speaker of the House P made the currency so dilute that it And small businesses are going to be ity Leader REID and Senator Obama all took a wheelbarrow, literally a wheel- hurt markedly by the tax increases, voted ‘‘yes’’ for every one of these barrow of cash just to buy a loaf of and that’s going to cost jobs. We’re not spending measures that has gotten us bread. That’s just how bad inflation creating jobs. into the place we’re in. Did they in- can be, and we all know the end of that We have been promised by this ad- herit this mess or did they help create story. It ended up into Nazi Germany. ministration that we were going to in- this mess? The American people need I also bring your attention to this. vest in our infrastructure. Well, the to decide. This is, believe it or not, a $10 billion stimulus bill had only a miniscule We have been down this road before. bill. It can be found in Zimbabwe, the amount of the—this huge deficit spend- As a matter of fact, President Roo- same problem, trying to solve their fis- ing geared towards infrastructure sevelt’s Treasury Secretary said it best cal problems by printing more money. which would, at least, create some jobs when he said, ‘‘We have tried spending And if you keep printing more, you get in the private sector. money. We are spending more than we a situation like this where a $10 billion But where are the jobs being created have ever spent before and it does not bill is required to buy an egg. Yes, Mr. by bigger government? Bigger social- work. I say after 8 years of the admin- Speaker, that’s what this bill will buy. ism. Taking our freedom away, taking istration we have just as much unem- However, that’s only a few weeks ago. our money away, taking our future ployment as when we started and an Today, they have something—in my away and taking our children and our enormous debt to boot!’’ hand, you can see a $100 trillion bill, grandchildren’s future away. Because Mr. Speaker, we’ve been down this believe it or not. And what is it worth? this budget spends too much. It taxes road before. We’ve all heard the saying The same value as confetti. too much. It borrows too much. And that, if you don’t learn from history, Now, we might think, well, these we’ve got to put an end to it. It is up you are doomed to repeat it. Unfortu- kind of tragedies cannot happen to us to the American people to cry out to nately, the Obama administration ap- in America. Well, is that true? Just Members of Congress to say, No, abso- pears to making that same mistake. today, the Chinese announced that lutely no. We’re going to stop this. Now, to speak to the American peo- they do not like our dollar. They feel So I encourage people to contact ple is great man, a wonderful physi- like that even though they’re one of their congressman, contact their sen- cian, a man I’m just getting to know. our largest debtors, they no longer ator and say ‘‘no’’ to this budget. His name is Dr. JOHN FLEMING. He’s trust us in our debt. And I thank the gentlelady for yield- serving the people of Louisiana’s Mrs. BACHMANN. Reclaiming my ing. Fourth District from the big city of time, I yield to the gentleman from

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3798 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 New Jersey’s Seventh, Mr. LEONARD was referred to the House Calendar and a simple routine screening called a LANCE. ordered to be printed. colonoscopy. That is 50,000 moms and Mr. LANCE. Thank you very much, f dads and sons and daughters that could and thank you for taking the lead on still be enjoying the great gift of life if COLON CANCER AWARENESS this extremely important issue. they would have just taken the time to MONTH Overspending and over-taxation are get a routine colonoscopy by their 50th terrible factors in the American econ- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under birthday. omy today, but from my perspective the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- Mr. Speaker, a colonoscopy takes the worst factor is levels of debt, and I uary 6, 2009, the gentleman from Okla- under 1 hour to complete, and the re- think that this is, in effect, homa (Mr. BOREN) is recognized for 60 sults you receive will literally save generational theft. minutes as the designee of the major- your life. The American Cancer Soci- The Congressional Budget Office, in ity leader. ety estimates that if detected early, 90 calculating the proposals of the Obama Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I don’t percent of all colon cancer deaths administration, indicate that spending come to the House floor very often to could be prevented. will hit about 28.5 percent of GDP dur- speak. In fact, last year I addressed Now, just, if you will, take a look at ing fiscal year 2009, and this is a record this body only a handful of times. I this board here. Look at the stages. amount. CBO also estimates that next think that I am much more effective in Now, the stage where my mom was di- year spending will be 25.5 percent and representing my constituents by devel- agnosed is stage IV. There’s about an 11 at 23 and 24 percent over the course of oping relationships in a personal set- percent survivability rate and at stage the next decade. ting rather than arguing my viewpoint I, 90 percent, and despite the effective- As someone who tries to be a student on the House floor. But today marks a ness of this colonoscopy that can figure of American history, over the last 40 special time of year. this out, only 50 percent of Americans years, the level of debt has been rough- Mr. Speaker, the month of March is use this procedure. ly 20 percent, and this is an historic av- colon cancer awareness month. I think I think that’s a very shocking sta- erage. And yet over the course of next that it’s only fitting that the month of tistic. Compare that prevention rate several years we increase this dramati- March, a month where Congress has with breast cancer, where over 80 per- cally. Let me repeat the figures: 28.5 the most legislative work days, is de- cent of women get a routine mammo- percent in this fiscal year, and similar voted to an illness that is often rel- gram, and you can see why I work so amounts in the next 2 fiscal years. egated to the back burner of cancer hard to spread the word on preventing I believe that this spending is too awareness. Obviously, colon cancer is this disease. great, and I hope that the administra- not an issue that garners a lot of head- But there is some outstanding news. tion will review its budget and working lines, but colon cancer has had a dra- The outstanding news is that there is in a bipartisan capacity to bring this matic effect on my life, as it has mil- hope ahead in fighting this killer. The amount down. lions of Americans. Centers for Disease Control, along with f I bring a picture of my mom up. Elev- groups like the American Cancer Soci- en years ago, my mom died of colon ety and the Colorectal Cancer Coali- REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- cancer. She was a vibrant woman. She tion, have taken it upon themselves to VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF was filled with joy. She was filled with raise awareness about this disease. SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. optimism. This horrendous disease Specifically, the American Cancer 146, OMNIBUS PUBLIC LAND MAN- took her from Earth far too early. Be- Society has launched a campaign to AGEMENT ACT OF 2009 cause of colon cancer, she never had push the number of Americans who get Mr. POLIS (during the special order the opportunity to hold her grand- screened for colon cancer from 50 per- of Mrs. BACHMANN), from the Com- daughter. She never had the oppor- cent to 75 percent by the year 2015. It’s mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- tunity to attend my wedding and see a lofty goal, but it’s a goal that’s leged report (Rept. No. 111–51) on the me marry my beautiful wife, Andrea. worthwhile. In fact, a few of my col- resolution (H. Res. 280) providing for It’s a tragedy that has forever left a leagues have introduced important leg- consideration of the Senate amend- void in my life. islation aimed at reaching this mile ments to the bill (H.R. 146) to establish You know, she was like so many marker. a battlefield acquisition grant program mothers. She was always so proud of One particular piece of legislation for the acquisition and protection of her son. She was always pushing me. that I hope will receive strong consid- nationally significant battlefields and She always cared about my grades. She eration in the House Energy and Com- associated sites of the Revolutionary always cared about how I did in school. merce Committee is my legislation, War and the War of 1812, and for other And I was probably not the best stu- H.R. 1330, the Colon Cancer Screening purposes, which was referred to the dent but she kept after me. She kept and Detection Act of 2009. My legisla- House Calendar and ordered to be telling me how smart I was, and she tion is pretty simple. Just like a mam- printed. kept pushing me. mogram, my bill would require every f The last memory I have of my moth- health insurance plan in America, both er is in a hospital room dying from this group and individual, to cover a pre- REPORT ON RESOLUTION PRO- disease. She didn’t get to see me be- ventive colonoscopy before the deduct- VIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF come a Congressman. And like all ible. This legislation is very badly H.R. 1404, FEDERAL LAND AS- Americans who have felt the pain and needed. SISTANCE, MANAGEMENT AND fear that comes with losing a loved one One of the top reasons many Ameri- ENHANCEMENT ACT to cancer, I wouldn’t wish that grief on cans do not get screened is the cost. Mr. POLIS (during the special order anyone. The average cost of a typical of Mrs. BACHMANN), from the Com- The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that I colonoscopy is over $1,000. That mittee on Rules, submitted a privi- am not alone. This disease kills tens of wouldn’t be a concern to many citizens leged report (Rept. No. 111–52) on the thousands of Americans every year. It who are currently covered under a pri- resolution (H. Res. 281) providing for is the third most diagnosed cancer and vate health insurance plan, but most consideration of the bill (H.R. 1404) to one of the leading causes of cancer health insurance plans have authorize a supplemental funding death in the United States. The Amer- deductibles exceeding $1,000, or worse, source for catastrophic emergency ican Cancer Society estimates that they have a restrictive cap on preven- wildland fire suppression activities on 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed tive care, sometimes as low as $250, and Department of the Interior and Na- with colon cancer in 2009, and out of that’s the issue. tional Forest System lands, to require that 150,000 citizens, over 50,000 of them We have thousands of Americans who the Secretary of the Interior and the will die from it. are covered by insurance plans that Secretary of Agriculture to develop a What is so shocking about these pay little to none of the costs associ- cohesive wildland fire management deaths is the vast majority of them ated with a colonoscopy, so they never strategy, and for other purposes, which could have easily been prevented with get one. It’s a shame. We live in the

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