H3812 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 very enlightening and educated one. I I call on the administration to back down Members and they meet in a room and hope that the people that are watching from this flawed, unjust, and unwarranted pol- they sort out the differences between come to appreciate the value of travel icy and instead partner with us to get our trav- the two bills and then we eventually on vacation, family travel, just a get- el based economy in Southern New Jersey, get a conference report. away for the two of you, or, more sig- Las Vegas and other destinations back on Now, in years past—this is my 15th nificantly, for the discussion tonight, track. I also urge the media to immediately year in the Congress—that conference business travel, which is so important cease their hyperbolic attacks on legitimate committee always included Repub- to the economies of every State in the corporate travel in this country. I thank the licans and Democrats. We, being Re- Union. gentle lady from Nevada who Co-Chairs the publicans, were in the majority party I don’t know whether you knew Congressional Gaming Caucus with me for for 12 years. The Democrats would this—I’m sure you do as chairman of her leadership and I look forward to working come into the room, the Republicans the Tourism Caucus—but in 30 States with her and all of our colleagues to get our would come into the room, the Rep- tourism is the first, second, or third economy moving again. resentatives would come into the room, most important industry. For a city f the Senators would come into the like ours and a State like ours, obvi- room, and we’d hash out the differences ously it’s number one. But for 30 other AIG BONUSES and then at the end of the process ev- States we’re talking first, second, or The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. erybody who’s on the conference com- third. That is huge. POLIS). Under the Speaker’s announced mittee would sign the report, and We want to invite everybody back. policy of January 6, 2009, the gen- that’s what you have. Do those business meetings. Stop can- tleman from Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE) is Sadly, even though people have dis- celing. Stop being foolish. Enjoy and do recognized for 60 minutes. cussed this being the most transparent your business in Las Vegas, in Mon- Mr. LATOURETTE. I thank you for administration, the most transparent terey, in Florida, Atlantic City, New the recognition, Mr. Speaker. I want to Congress in the history of the country, York, Miami. We need you. thank the minority leader for granting no Republicans were invited into the Mr. FARR. Be healthy. Explore more. us this hour. I’m going to be joined by conference room. Clearly, what we Ms. BERKLEY. That’s perfect. And at least two other Members, Mr. TIBERI have seen—sadly, what we have seen— thank you all for sharing this hour and Mr. AUSTRIA, also of Ohio. is that this Congress is about as trans- with me. I’ve learned things from ev- We’re going to talk a little bit about parent as this envelope. We are not erybody that has participated. I appre- what occurred last week and the week being included. You know what? We ciate everything that you have said. before. I know the Speaker will remem- don’t have to be included. We are in the Thank you so much. ber that the Capitol was sort of roiled, minority, and clearly the majority Mr. LOBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to and our constituents continue to be party can write legislation as they see join with my colleague from Nevada, Ms. upset, as well they should, over the fit. But what they can’t do is what hap- BERKLEY, and to thank her for holding this news that somehow, after getting bil- pened last week. special order tonight. I agree that corporations lions of dollars of taxpayer funds, the So in this conference room all of a who accept taxpayer funded bailouts should insurance company, AIG, awarded $170 sudden somehow the Snowe-Wyden lan- curb lavish expenses that do little to improve million in bonuses. guage is removed that would have their profitability. However, legitimate business A lot of people came to the floor last stopped these bonuses from happening. functions held at casino-hotels in Atlantic City, week and said they were shocked. As I And the words behind me—they’re only Las Vegas, and elsewhere should not be the said last week, I’m really shocked at about 50 words on the chart behind subject of criticism by the media and govern- the shock. Because I can’t figure out me—were inserted. ment officials. how some people in this Chamber and This language specifically authorized In my district, Atlantic City casinos are our at the other end of Pennsylvania Ave- the payment of millions of dollars of region’s single largest employer. Unfortu- nue can be shocked when they ap- bonuses to people at AIG and anywhere nately, like most businesses, they are suf- proved the language that authorized else. So anybody who voted—when it fering in the current economic climate. Gaming the bonuses. came to us back in the House for a revenue is down to its lowest point in more Just a little bit of history here, Mr. vote, this language was included in the than a decade, thousands of employees have Speaker. When the economic recovery bill. been laid off and construction projects have plan or the stimulus bill was making So the reason I said I was shocked at ground to a halt. its way through the United States Con- people’s shock is that anybody that Corporate gatherings, conventions and other gress, there was an amendment offered voted for the stimulus bill voted to functions bring thousands of business trav- by two Senators, a Democratic Senator give and authorize and protect the bo- elers to Atlantic City, filling our retail outlets, from Oregon, Senator WYDEN, and a nuses at AIG and any other company restaurants and hotel rooms. The continuance Republican Senator from Maine, Sen- that has taken billion of dollars of these legitimate business functions is crit- ator SNOWE. That would have put a through the bailout program. ical if our region is going to pull out of this re- limitation on bonuses like in the AIG We don’t know—and I know the cession, put people back to work and expand case and in other cases that basically Speaker will remember last week we our economy. said that if you’re receiving billions of were on the floor for about an hour try- That is why I am outraged by the adminis- dollars in taxpayer funds to bail you ing to figure out how it did it happen. tration’s latest salvo against our casino-hotels out, perhaps you shouldn’t be giving We started with I talked about the fact and the thousands of workers they employ. millions dollars away in bonuses at that there’s a face book. There are 435 Forcing non profits and local governments this moment in time. If you’re not tak- Members of Congress, 100 Senators. We who receive stimulus funds to abstain from ing the taxpayer money, you run your began crossing them out. We got down holding legitimate events at casino-hotels is business the way you see fit. to about 520 during the course of that appalling. In my district, several nonprofits and Well, that amendment by Senators hour. I indicated we would come back government agencies hold important commu- SNOWE and WYDEN was adopted by a and report to the Speaker the progress nity outreach events at gaming properties in voice vote in the Senate and was in- of this search. I’m pleased to report to Atlantic City because these convenient venues cluded in the Senate version of the you that we have made significant are often the only ones able to accommodate stimulus bill. So I read about it in the progress. My friends and I are going to large numbers of people. For instance, our newspaper and I thought: Okay, the talk about that this evening. local Workforce Investment Board regularly bill is in pretty good shape. First of all, we can remove all 178 Re- holds job fairs and workforce development When the bill went into the con- publicans because there were no Repub- seminars at casino-hotels in Atlantic City. ference committee—and, Mr. Speaker, lican Representatives in the room. We Under the administration’s new rules, these I know you know this, but for those can also remove all 41 Republican Sen- services would likely have to be curtailed at a who may not be conversant with how ators because they were not in the time when they are critically needed and the things work here, we pass a bill over room. And I mentioned that we also economic recovery of our region’s largest em- here, the Senate passes a bill over have this Senate race that is unre- ployer would be further delayed. there, then each House appoints a few solved in Minnesota so we can cross off

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3813 Al Franken and Senator Coleman. If they did, more power to them, but I a bad idea, for government to get in- They are not the culprits in this par- doubt everybody read the thousand volved, to not have accountability, not ticular case. pages. have transparency, and not have a So we got down to a smaller group But what that leads to is an embar- plan; have, as the gentleman from Ohio that we are going to talk about. But rassment, and the embarrassment is described, a plan that was brokered be- then our group expanded because there everybody that voted for the stimulus hind closed doors by a small group of are a couple of news reports out that bill voted to give the bonuses to AIG. individuals. As a Member of Congress, I there were people from the administra- And then to cover their tracks, they have to tell you that my views haven’t tion that were also participating in come up with this, oh, let’s tax at 90 changed. these negotiations. So we had to add a percent. On that particular bill, when we few suspects to figure it out. Which, if you think about it, that is voted on that bill I could not find an- What is disappointing is that in a pretty silly, too, because let’s say the swers on how the $350 billion, the first transparent administration, in a trans- guy at AIG got $5 million in the bonus. half of the $700 billion bailout, how parent Congress, people make mis- Under that bill, he still gets to keep that money was spent, could not find takes. Everybody makes a mistake. I one-half million dollars. So if you are as far as any type of specific plan from probably made three before lunch so outraged, why don’t you take all of the Department of the Treasury on today. But when you make a mistake, the money away from them? Forget how they were going to turn around you should say: I made a mistake. about the Constitutional arguments the financial markets. There was no and the bills of attainder and all that b 1930 accountability, and I had a real prob- other business. It was political theater, lem with that with the TARP bill. What is not acceptable is to com- and it makes you sad when that hap- Now, as the gentleman from Ohio pound the mistake by pretending you pens. talked about with the stimulus bill, didn’t know about it; and then when So we are going to spend the remain- language that was inserted in a bill, you are caught, you come up with some der of our time this evening attempt- and which Leader BOEHNER stood on goofy piece of legislation like we had ing to sort of ferret out who was in the this floor and held up 1,100 pages, ap- on the floor last week to tax people at room. And I have good news, because proximately, that not one Member had 90 percent. the Secretary of the Treasury was at the opportunity to read before we And I have got to tell you, that was the Financial Services Committee voted on, to me, that is a terrible rea- political theater. It never is going to today, Mr. Geithner, and the Secretary son to be passing a bill. We should have become law. These people that are so was asked if he was in the room when had an opportunity to read that bill outraged about AIG executive bonuses, this happened and he said he was not. and understand what was in it before they are going to get their bonuses be- So we can cross off the Secretary of the we voted on it. cause that bill is not going anywhere. Treasury; he was not in the room when But when you have no account- My friend STEVE AUSTRIA is going to this was done. ability, when you have no trans- talk about that in just a second, but Last week, during the course of the parency, when you have no specific that is never going to become law. debate on Ms. KILROY’s resolution say- plan on how you are going to use that That was to provide cover for people ing that the administration was doing money to turn the financial markets who voted for the Economic Recovery everything that they could to stop around, when you have no opportunity Bill, because they found out, sadly, these bonuses, we asked the chairman to read the stimulus or spending bill, that they had authorized these 50 of the Financial Services Committee, what that equals is disaster. And that words that protected the AIG bonuses, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. He said is what we saw last week. We saw out- and now they are shocked. he wasn’t in the room, so he is off the rage. We saw the American people be- Now, on our side, I have to tell you list as well. And the Speaker actually ginning to understand for the first that we were kind of saddened. Even indicated the other day, Speaker time what was happening here in D.C. though we don’t need to be invited into PELOSI, that nobody from the House when 160-some million dollars of bo- the rooms, we don’t have to be invited did it, and so we have to look else- nuses were paid out to executives and to negotiate, before the stimulus bill where, I guess. And we are going to employees, of their hard-earned money, came to a vote in the House a motion talk a little bit about that. $170 billion of their hard-earned tax- was made, and the motion said that be- But first, to sort of set the table on payer money that was used to bail out fore any Member of Congress is asked this bill, this 90 percent tax bill that the same company. to vote on the stimulus bill we are was political theater, that was a farce, I do believe we had some opportuni- going to have 48 hours to read it. Every that was a fig tree to cover people who ties to do better. In an effort to try to Member of this House, every Repub- had made a mistake, I want to yield for resolve this situation, one of the things lican and every Democrat that was a minute to my friend STEVE AUSTRIA that I did was stand up with 14 mem- here voted to give the Members 48 from Ohio just to talk about what we bers of our freshman class and intro- hours to read the bill. And if you think think the prognosis is for this tax bill. duce a bill to try to get that money about that, Mr. Speaker, that is prob- Mr. AUSTRIA. I thank the gen- back; doing in a different way, rather ably a good idea, because the bill was tleman from Ohio for yielding, I think than raising taxes at 90 percent, get- over 1,000 pages long. next to the leader, our senior Member ting 100 percent of that money back, Well, sometime between Tuesday from Ohio. I thank you for yielding. asking the Department of the Treasury when every Member said we are going And it is an important issue. to use every resource they had avail- to get 48 hours, and Friday when we Being a new Member of Congress, able to get that money back within 2 voted on the bill, people forgot that having served less than 100 days in weeks; to ensure that any future con- promise. And on our side, at least, we Congress, to be faced with what we are tracts, that the Department of the were given 90 minutes, 90 minutes to facing right now, the amount of spend- Treasury would sign off on those con- read 1,000 pages to determine whether ing, the amount of borrowing, the tracts and know what we are using or not we could be supportive of the amount of debt that is accumulating. I that bailout money for. After all, the President’s most important domestic didn’t come to Congress—I have three government now owns, I believe it is, 80 economic policy position. sons at home—to pass this type of debt percent of AIG. I voted ‘‘no,’’ and I don’t have any on to our children. Unfortunately, we haven’t had any problem with the fact that I voted But specifically talking about the hearings on that bill, and it doesn’t ap- ‘‘no.’’ There were some good things in bailout, talking about AIG and what pear as though it is going to move. The the stimulus bill, there were horrible has happened, one of the first bills that opposite side decided they were going things in the stimulus bill. But I I was asked to vote on was the second to come up with a different solution couldn’t go home to Cleveland and say half of the TARP, the financial market with a 90 percent tax, to try to move to people, yeah, I voted for it, because bailout, the $700 billion bailout, some- that forward. I didn’t read it. And I don’t think any thing that I felt when I was running for But what is happening here, and I Member of this Chamber read the bill. office looking from the outside in was know many people are getting their

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3814 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 quarterly statements, their financial political theater, that was a fraud was say was that, ‘‘Somebody at Treasury statements, they are beginning to see such a lousy piece of legislation. said to put it in, and so my staff put it their accounts, their 401(k) and retire- If we take the fellow, or it might in.’’ But clearly Senator DODD is get- ment accounts, their children’s edu- have been a woman, that you have just ting fingered for a lot of this. But if he cation funds, their savings accounts. identified that got $6.4 million worth of did it, he should say so. If he didn’t do They are down significantly. We have bonuses, the Democratic tax bill that so, he should say, ‘‘I didn’t do it.’’ had calls into our office where people used the Tax Code to punish people for Over in the upper left-hand corner is have lost 40 percent, 50 percent of their the first time, at least in my memory, the Speaker of the House, Ms. PELOSI money, and they are very concerned as to that extent, that person still got to of California. Again, the news accounts to what is happening with the financial keep $640,000. Why? Why? If they kind of indicate that this took place in market bailouts. And I think we have shouldn’t have gotten any money, they her office, but we are not going to get an opportunity and we have an obliga- shouldn’t have gotten any money. So there yet. tion to turn things around, to ensure why do you give them just 10 percent? HARRY REID, if you read, Mr. Speak- that the taxpayers’ dollars, the $700 I promised, Mr. Speaker, that we er, yesterday’s Roll Call, people have billion that passed this body and is would attempt to move forward and try expressed concern as to the fact that being used to bail out the financial to solve this mystery. Now, it would be he appointed himself as the majority markets, that there is accountability easier if somebody would just come for- leader in the Senate as a conferee, and on the how that money is being spent, ward and say ‘‘I did it.’’ You know, ‘‘I that he may or may not have ties to that there is transparency, so we know did it. I am Professor Plum; I am Colo- AIG, and some questions are being exactly what is happening, that there nel Mustard, and I did it.’’ But we don’t raised. is a plan in place so that we can better have anybody that has been forth- And, at the bottom is DAVID OBEY, understand. coming on Capitol Hill or down at the the very distinguished chairman of the What we are finding out is that some White House or at the Department of Appropriations Committee who was of the dollars that have been spent the Treasury, except for Mr. Geithner also a conferee and in the room at least were bad investments. I am looking at and BARNEY FRANK and the people that some of the time. I mentioned that were not in the room testimony from Elizabeth Warren from b 1945 the Congressional Oversight Panel to when this happened. the Senate Banking Committee, that So with apologies to our friends from But let’s talk for just a minute, Mr. talks about how the Treasury invested Hasbro, we have sort of put this in the TIBERI. Can you shed any light based about $254 billion in assets that were form of the game of Clue, which a lot of on what you know or what you have worth only approximately $176 billion, us, Mr. Speaker, played as we were heard that may help us sort of narrow a shortfall of $78 billion. We can do bet- growing up, we play with our kids. And this thing down? ter than that. if you are not familiar with the game Mr. TIBERI. Thank you for your When you talk about the $165 million of Clue, Mr. Speaker, basically a crime leadership. I would certainly like to bonuses that were paid out to these is committed and the junior detectives thank you for bringing this matter to employees—and I am looking at a news have to try and solve the crime. And light this evening and last week. I article, this is from the New York Post the successful person, the winner, iden- know both of you have shared the same last week, ‘‘Fully, 73 executives got $1 tifies where it happened, who did it, experience that I have shared back in million or more each, of whom 22 were and with what weapon. my district. People are dying to know paid at least $2 million, while seven got Now, we start with a pretty good ad- what happened and when? Who was re- $4 million, and one lucky duck pock- vantage here this evening because we sponsible for this? As you said, the eted a cool $6.4 million.’’ know what the weapon is. We know Senator from Connecticut has said that We can do better than that. The that somebody took out the language somebody from the administration or American people expect us to do better that would have prohibited these bo- somebody from Treasury instructed than that and deserve better than that. nuses that were paid out and put in the them to put this language in the bill. But what all this is doing is creating language that is over Mr. TIBERI’s I think it is interesting to note the uncertainty in the market when you shoulder. And so we know it was done language behind me that you talked don’t have a plan and there is no ac- in writing, and the weapon at the bot- about earlier wouldn’t have gotten in countability for these dollars. tom of this chart was a pen. So we are the bill if, if we had transparency from In my prior life before being a State one-third of the way there, and now we the beginning, something that the new legislator for 10 years and coming to just need to figure out where it took President has talked about, talked Congress, I was a small business owner, place and by whom. about during the campaign, talked I was a financial advisor. And one And just to sort of go around with about repeatedly during the campaign. thing I can tell you that is certain is the whoms, we don’t have Colonel Mus- In fact, as both of you know, our that our financial markets, our busi- tard, we don’t have Ms. Scarlet, but Speaker of the House talked about nesses, they don’t like uncertainty. what we do have are people who were transparency before she became Speak- And we are seeing big fluctuations in either conferees or made observations er and how this was going to be the the market right now, we are seeing a or news accounts that we will get into most transparent House ever, the peo- lot of downturn in the market right in a minute indicate were in the room. ple’s House, and the fact is, not only on now I think because of that uncer- Beginning at the bottom on my right this legislation, but this certainly dem- tainty. is CHARLES RANGEL of New York, who onstrates it, but on countless pieces of I think because of public pressure, is the chairman of the Ways and Means legislation, there has been anything the American people stepping forward Committee; he was a conferee, he but transparency. And transparency and saying enough is enough and being signed the conference report. has led to what this chart is really all outraged about this, that we are finally Next is Rahm Emanuel, who is the about, and that is finding out who starting to see a plan brought forward President’s Chief of Staff, used to serve knew what when? that we hope will help resolve some of with us here in the Congress rep- People in my district are outraged this problem that has transpired as a resenting a part of Illinois in the that this language ended up in this result of this legislation. United States Congress. stimulus bill without anybody knowing I will yield back my time to the gen- At the top, the former president of about it, anybody but apparently the tleman from Ohio. I thank you for the Harvard University, Larry Summers, author of the amendment, but most ev- opportunity to speak on this, and who is now an economic advisor to eryone else, allegedly, didn’t know thank you for bringing this issue for- President Obama. about this important wording that al- ward. It is very important. At the top is Senator DODD. Now, I lowed AIG officials to receive millions Mr. LATOURETTE. I want to thank have to say Senator DODD in a lot of of dollars in bonuses. my friend from Ohio (Mr. AUSTRIA). early news accounts was blamed for it. In fact, I don’t know if the gentleman Your comments really bring out why I am feeling kind of bad for Senator has an answer for this, as I digress a that tax piece of legislation that was DODD, because the last thing I saw him bit, there was a news report today that

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3815 over half of the bonuses that were paid Mr. TIBERI. If the gentleman will tioned, about 60 percent of the Amer- to AIG went to non-Americans. yield, certainly I think as we continue ican public think that is a good idea. Mr. LATOURETTE. Taking 1 minute forward having a special investigation, Mr. TIBERI. I know that you’re push- of my time. I have not seen that news an Inspector General report trying to ing that legislation. You have many report. The news report that I’m famil- get to the bottom of this, if someone cosponsors. But some think we are too iar with—and if that is true, that is doesn’t come forward and say, yes, this busy to deal with that important legis- kind of shocking—is that 11 people of is the language that I wanted, and this lation. I think you have a chart that the 73 didn’t work for the company is the reason why, and X number of demonstrates maybe we are not. anymore. So you have 11 out of 73 who people that were paid were paid reten- Mr. LATOURETTE. We are not. And I aren’t even at AIG anymore, and so if tion bonuses, and by the way, we do want to—well, let’s do that now, and they are retention bonuses, they didn’t weren’t able to retain them, and by the then we will come back to seeing if we work so well, because they don’t work way, over half the bonuses were paid to can move along in the game of Clue. for AIG anymore. non-Americans, which is outrageous in And maybe if the gentleman will help I yield to the gentleman. the first place. me. Mr. TIBERI. We are getting more Mr. LATOURETTE. Taking back my Mr. TIBERI. The gentleman from questions on the table than answers. time, I thank the gentleman for that. Ohio has a chart that just shows an And that is what happens when you And I hope we don’t need to have an in- amazing—— Mr. LATOURETTE. And you could don’t have transparency. That is what vestigation. I would hope that whoever sort of be my Carol Marol. I would ap- happens when backroom deals are cut, screwed up would come forward and backroom deals on this stimulus bill preciate that. say, do you know what? I did it. And Last year we used the chart that Mr. that was done back in February. then tell us why he or she did it rather TIBERI is going to give me a hand with. In fact, Mr. LATOURETTE, I will quote than hiding behind the skirts of staff And people may remember back home from a Los Angeles Times article back and hiding behind this bogus tax bill that gasoline prices started high and in February that in the first major that we did last week. I would really they ended up even higher. And for the piece of legislation pushed by the hope somebody would come forward entire month of August, we spent time President, transparency was missing. and do it. on the floor arguing that perhaps we In fact, the President has no constitu- But the other thing I would tell my should have an energy policy in this tional authority to set rules for Con- friend is we don’t need to wait for an country that considered everything, re- gress. But he suggested he would use investigation. Tomorrow in the House newable energy, solar, wind, geo- his influence to see that Congress Financial Services Committee chaired thermal, nuclear in the mix, together doesn’t conduct its work ‘‘in the dead by the aforementioned Congressman with additional exploration for fossil of night and behind closed doors,’’ FRANK of Massachusetts, a number of fuels which we are going to need in the which is exactly what happened in this us have filed something known as a near term at least. But we were told we process. ‘‘resolution of inquiry.’’ And the reso- were too busy. We were very, very busy The Times article goes on to say, Mr. lution of inquiry requests the Treasury here in the United States Congress. Speaker, maybe we can add a picture Department to provide to the Congress, And so we didn’t have a chance to get here to your graph, important negoti- not to me, not to the Republicans, but things going. ating sessions devoted to the stimulus to the Congress, all documents that As, Mr. Speaker, you will remember, took place in a congressional office they have in their possession that will the Republicans did such a bang-up job outside public view, Representative help us identify—if the person won’t in the majority that they threw us out HENRY A. WAXMAN (D) Beverly Hills come forward and say, ‘‘I did it,’’ then in the 2006 elections and installed the said he was in the meeting about the this resolution of inquiry would direct Democratic majority. And we are hon- stimulus plan Tuesday night in the of- them to give us the documents so we ored to have Speaker PELOSI being the fice of House Speaker NANCY PELOSI can figure it out and not add expense first woman to serve in that position (D) San Francisco. Among the partici- on top of the taxpayer in trying to fer- since the beginning of the country. So pants was White House Chief of Staff ret out who did this thing. when Ms. PELOSI and her colleagues be- Rahm Emanuel. Again, I wish somebody, as I said last came the majority party, gas was So, one person who says he was in the week, would just man up and say they about $2.22, and the most important meeting in negotiations was the chair- did it. piece of legislation that folks thought man of the Energy and Commerce Com- Mr. TIBERI. Would the gentleman we could discuss here on the floor was mittee. But still, my question back to yield? And you’re being far too modest congratulating the University of Cali- you would be, do you have to be in the because the resolution does much more fornia-Santa Barbara soccer team for meeting to instruct conferees in the than that. And in fact, in reading a poll winning something. Now I like soccer. dead of night in one of these offices to today, over half of the American people And I’m sure that everybody’s parents put something in this bill? Because you believe that AIG should be broken up. of that team are proud. And gas was could still have the Treasury Secretary And part of your resolution does just only $2.22. So, okay, let’s congratulate instruct everybody else that this is an that, if you want to expand upon that. people. important measure by telephone, Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, that’s ex- Then gas went up to $2.84, and the couldn’t you? actly right. The resolution not only most important thing that we had to Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, you could. asks for documents, but it indicates do on the floor that day was to declare And taking back my time, I will tell that the American public now own, as it—that was about September 6—de- you that there are telephones, but the Mr. AUSTRIA has indicated, 80 percent clare it National Passport Month. And gentleman is making our task much of AIG. And quite frankly, I will say I began getting calls, I’m sure you guys more difficult if you continue to widen something bad about the Republican got calls from people saying, Hey, it’s the net and now we have to deal with administration. I thought President really costing a lot of money to fill up Mr. WAXMAN and others. But sure, con- Bush and his Secretary of the Treasury my tank. Well, gas went up to $3.03, ceivably. were wrong in asking for this $700 bil- and on that day, the new majority de- I would just say that today—I don’t lion. The mantra was that these insti- termined that the most important think it was under oath, but you’re not tutions are too big to fail. Well, most thing we could do was commend the supposed to lie to Congress—the Treas- Americans now recognize that they are Houston Dynamo soccer team for I sup- ury Secretary did indicate that he only too big period. And as a result, they pose winning something as well. And found out about it on March 10, which should be broken into pieces, going we are told that as elected officials you is pretty amazing, and that he under- back to Teddy Roosevelt and the really have to get the soccer moms. stands that staff did it, but he really trustbusters. Let’s break these things And I guess this was an attempt to doesn’t know a lot about it, and he apart. really make sure we had the soccer knows he didn’t do it. So, yeah, it So we do have legislation to divide moms squared away, because we passed could have been somebody outside the this thing up. And I hope that it is fa- two pieces of legislation dealing with room. vorably considered. And as you men- soccer.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3816 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 Then gas went to $3.77. And so clear- 7,114, and, oh, son of a gun, 2 years in cans across this country are getting ly, we are going to talk about gas a row, we passed the Monkey Safety their quarterly statements and they prices now, right? No. We declared it Act. And I don’t want to make light of are seeing their account values down. National Train Day was what we did it this time because there was a hor- They are struggling to make it right then. And then gas goes up a little rible situation in Connecticut where a now. And they turn on the television more to $3.84. And what did we do that woman was attacked by a chimpanzee and they see that these executives day? Oh, we passed the Great Cats and and suffered horrible injuries. And so from AIG are getting $100 million of bo- Rare Canids Act. And I didn’t know— clearly our thoughts and prayers with nuses of the $170 billion bailout that we talk about reading things, I know what her, and that is a terrible event. How- gave to them of hard working tax- a cat is. I didn’t know what a canid is. ever when the stock market is down to payers’ dollar. These are the same offi- It is a dog. And so we celebrated Dog 7,114 and people have lost their life sav- cials that, you know, and were prob- and Cat Day when gas is $3.84. ings, clearly, the Monkey Safety Act ably involved in a lot of these risky in- It goes up to $4.09, and the most im- was not the thing that was foremost on vestments that brought AIG down to portant thing to do is to declare the the mind of my constituents. begin with. International Year of Sanitation. Actually, the interesting thing to And so what does the House do? We That’s what we did around here. Then show you how busy we were on that then rush a bill through to try to re- the price of gas goes up to $4.14. My date of February 23, and it had only gain some of that money for our mis- phones are ringing off the hook. So been 8 days before that the chimpanzee takes by trying to pass a 90 percent tax clearly, we are going to talk about gas attacked the woman, and so we, as the on this money to try to get it back, 90 prices then. No, we passed the Monkey greatest legislative body in the world, percent of it back. Safety Act here in the United States rushed in 8 days to pass the Monkey And I am reading from The Hill Congress. So you would think that Safety Act. Then it went down a little today, seeing where the headline on the maybe people would be chastened by bit further, and we, you know, like the front page here is ‘‘House Bonus Bill Is that when we are no longer talking soccer moms, we like animals, and so Buried By the Senate.’’ That despite about gas prices. And sadly I hope we we passed the Shark Conservation Act the public outcry, despite the reaction don’t go the way that we did in the on that particular day, not dealing that the House had in trying to get that money back, which I don’t think 1970s. Now that gas is down to about with the economic crisis. $1.89, I hope we don’t forget about when Then we sort of roll out to March 9. we ever should have been in that posi- it was $4 a gallon and make those seri- And this probably was my favorite res- tion to begin with, that bill appears to be not moving in the Senate right now. ous investments in renewables and get olution. We supported pi. And when I I yield back. us off of carbon-based fuel and make us read the schedule that morning, I like Mr. LATOURETTE. I thank the gen- not dependent on countries around the pie, just look at me. And I thought tleman for his observations. And if the world that don’t like us. what kind of ‘‘pie’’ is it going to be? gentleman would go to the jump on Well, this year, as everybody knows Well, it is not p-i-e, it is p-i, which you Page 8, you will find a quote from the that isn’t living under a rock, we have know, Mr. Speaker, is 3.1416. And ap- President of the United States, Presi- a little bit of an economic crisis going parently we felt that when the stock dent Obama that I think sort of echoes on. And you would think that we would market had lost 3,000 points in value in at least my sentiments. And he said we attempt to deal with that in a con- 2 months, rather than helping our con- shouldn’t use the tax code to punish structive way. On January 6 of this stituents deal with that and using the people and that is why he is not in year, which was the first day of the full might of the United States Con- favor of this bill, which is why that bill 111th Congress, that is the opening day gress to get to the bottom of that, we was a piece of political theater to give of this Congress, the stock market, the recognized pi here in the United States cover to people who are embarrassed Dow Jones industrial, was at 9,015 Congress. because, by voting ‘‘aye’’ on the eco- points. So I don’t think—and this has been nomic recovery package, they specifi- We get to January 20, and that is the sort of tongue in cheek, but I don’t cally authorized, with the amendment day, of course, our new President, think we are too busy. that is on the chart that we were talk- Barack Obama, became the 44th Presi- Mr. AUSTRIA. And I appreciate you ing about before—thank you Mr. dent of the United States. It was a very pointing this out, because while all TIBERI—that specifically authorized exciting day. All of us were pretty this is happening, the three of us rep- this paragraph, these 50 words. And happy about it. But the stock market resent the State of Ohio, there are real when you voted for the economic re- took a little dip. Now that is not Presi- families out there that are hurting covery bill, you voted to give the peo- dent Obama’s fault, because he was right now that we are asking to make ple at AIG and everywhere else the bo- just getting sworn in that day. But the sacrifices. nuses. And then, you know, because no- Congress, however, had a responsibility b 2000 body read it, we are shocked. And so because we had already been in almost now we are going to use the Tax Code There are over 900,000 businesses in 1 month now by the time you get to to punish people. February 2. The stock market goes the State of Ohio, and small businesses But you know, the President has said down to 7,936, and the most important that make up 70 percent of our work- that is wrong, and apparently the Sen- thing we can do on the House floor is force out there across this country that ate majority leader has said it is to pass a resolution supporting the are struggling to make payroll, they wrong. Goals and Ideals of National Teen Dat- can’t get financing. They can’t get Before we go back to our exercise in ing. That was a pretty important issue debt. And instead of dealing directly Clue, however, as we want to narrow back in Ohio. I’m glad we took care of with their problem, I mean, you laid this thing down if we can, because we it. out what has been happening here in are going to come back every week The stock market dips a little bit Congress. But in addition to that, we until somebody has the—I promised my further, and on that day, I guess be- passed the $700 billion TARP bailout wife I would be really tactful this cause it didn’t go down quite 100 with no accountability, in my opinion, evening and not use words that people points, and so we commended Sam not enough transparency. There was no find offensive. So somebody has the Bradford for winning the Heisman tro- specific plan by the Department of the courage to stand up and say I did it and phy. Now, I’m sure that Mr. Bradford’s Treasury. Then we passed the stimulus here is why I did it and sort of, you family is proud of him. I’m proud of bill which contains the language that know, be a grown up about it. him. And anybody that wins the allows the bonuses to be paid out that But you were here, you have been Heisman trophy is deserving of our you pointed out earlier; not an oppor- here now to four or five terms, Mr. congratulations. But when the stock tunity for any Member of this Congress TIBERI, and I am going to yield to you. market is in the tank and people are to read that bill before we vote on it I mean, is it your experience as a Mem- losing their 401(k)s, I don’t know if and pass it. ber that we are just so busy that we that is the most important thing, but And then, you know, our constitu- don’t have time to deal with gas now it takes a precipitous dip down to ents back home, hardworking Ameri- prices?

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3817 Mr. TIBERI. I think the gentleman is And I want to refer to one. On Ander- wanting to take names off, but maybe right on target here. And as stocks son Cooper, a show on CNN, Dana Bash, we should add another picture there. tank, let me tell you, it impacts every- who some of us see as a reporter that We have got to figure out who the body. It impacts those police officers covers politics here in Washington, I other Senator was that he is speaking that protect our streets, firefighters, have a transcript of her reporting on about. who are working in a courageous line the night that this happened, that the I do think we can take off the chair- of work, teachers in Ohio, as you know, crime happened. And I will submit it man of the Ways and Means Com- who are part of a state teachers retire- for the RECORD, Madam Speaker. mittee, Mr. RANGEL. I feel pretty con- ment system. As someone whose dad And Dana Bash says, ‘‘well, Ander- fident he wasn’t the one. lost his pension and health care and job son, as we speak, the White House I think we can take the chairman of in high school, when someone sees Chief of Staff, Mr. Emanuel, and the the Appropriations Committee off. But their pension related to the stock mar- President’s Budget Director are inside I am thinking we need to add a couple ket tank, sees their moms and dads Nancy Pelosi’s office.’’ too. seeing their children’s college funds ab- Mr. TIBERI. Not to interrupt, but Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, I do too. solutely go into the ground, this is im- should we add the Budget Director to And let me just get to that for a sec- portant. It impacts every single family the chart? ond. And there was another article out there as this market has tanked. Mr. LATOURETTE. Well next time that appeared on March 19, and the And what are we doing? We are debat- we come back we are going to put the headline is that the ‘‘White House Staff ing the Shark Conservation Act. In Budget Director because he is up there Botched It’’. And this was, appeared in fact, the last several weeks, to your too. And then she goes on to report, something called the Huffington Post, point, we have debated noncontrover- and, in fact, they have been coming up which is clearly not a conservative Re- sial issues that have passed nearly on 8 hours straight. Eight hours publican organization. But I would sub- unanimously, and not taken up the straight shuttling between the House mit this for the RECORD as well. hard stuff like your resolution that Speaker’s Office, and that is why we It quotes an AIG executive, well, the could come to the floor. can’t get quite to the Speaker’s office article says according to AIG, the pay- In fact, let me just add one thing. yet because of this reporting. But ments were okayed by the White House Today the leader, JOHN BOEHNER, put maybe we will get there a little bit last Thursday. Why? Because it ap- together a working group with respect later. Shuttling between the Speaker’s pears that David Axelrod, now we have to savings, and I was part of that office and the Senate majority leader, got to add somebody else, senior policy group. And we unveiled a blueprint HARRY REID’s office urgently trying, advisor to the Obama administration that will help American families and attempting to broker a compromise be- and Rahm Emanuel grossly underesti- American savers. And unfortunately, tween House Democrats and Senate mated how infuriating this would be. based upon past history, that piece of Democrats. And you know what is in- The quote from the AIG executive is legislation will not see the light of day. teresting about that sentence is I this: ‘‘We were not authorized until And it is not like we are spending a lot didn’t hear the word Republican in Thursday night,’’ that, is to give out of time around here passing sub- there. So this was Democrats negoti- these millions of dollars in bonuses. stantive pieces of legislation. And ating with Democrats negotiating with ‘‘We were negotiating with the Treas- when we do, we don’t get to read it. Democrats. And we now know that we ury and the Federal Reserve. Treasury And what else was in that stimulus had the President’s Budget Director indicated that they needed it cleared bill that was as controversial as this? was here for 8 hours shuttling back and by The White House as well. We hit the We don’t know. That may be another forth, a little shuttle diplomacy, to- go for the payments on Friday,’’ after exercise for us to find out what other gether with the President’s Chief of they got the clearance from the White controversial measures, in addition to Staff, Mr. Emanuel, who was also House. the game of Clue, I think we know it there. So I think we are getting closer. Mr. TIBERI. I think again it is im- was the Speaker’s Office, based on And if it is all right with you gentle- portant to note, interrupting, and I press reports, but maybe it was the men, I would like to exclude Mr. OBEY apologize for interrupting, what Mr. Senate leader’s office. Maybe it was on because I don’t think his fingerprints AUSTRIA said earlier in which Ameri- the other side of the Capitol. are on this. And Mr. RANGEL, I do have cans are beginning to find out and are Mr. LATOURETTE. Taking back my an observation from Mr. RANGEL, who very troubled with, is that the Amer- time. I want to get back to that, but indicated that, Mr. RANGEL, in this ican people own 80 percent of AIG. So before I do, the gentleman’s point is same report, and actually this was in somebody had to approve it with the right on the money. In the last 21⁄2 the Congressional Quarterly, House Federal Government, and maybe that years, the American public can rest as- and Senate Democratic negotiators is the smoking gun. sured that they will not go into a post met in the Speaker’s Office—and we Mr. LATOURETTE. Maybe. Well, the office in this country that doesn’t have are really getting close to the Speak- smoking pen. We have got the pen. a name on it because we spend a lot of er’s Office here, Madam Speaker—with Mr. AUSTRIA. Point of clarification. our time naming Post Offices. But the White House Chief of Staff, Eman- I assume the pen has been eliminated, what they can’t rest assured is who put uel and White House Budget Director right? those 50 words in the economic recov- Peter Orzag into the evening Tuesday, Mr. LATOURETTE. We know it is the ery bill that authorized the payments breaking at 9 p.m. and then Chairman pen. of bonuses to these AIG officials; and RANGEL is quoted in this reporting, ‘‘it Mr. AUSTRIA. Well, somebody had now they are horrified, shocked and ev- is so difficult to talk with a body that to put that in there and write it in erything else. is controlled by three people. You have there. Somebody had to use the pen. And just before we leave this, so that no idea.’’ But no, I appreciate the point that the three of us don’t get a lot of e- So I think that the distinguished the gentleman from Columbus made. mails and hate mail from animal chairman of the Ways and Means Com- Or is Columbus correct? lovers, all three of us want sharks to be mittee is expressing frustration that Mr. LATOURETTE. New Albany, I conserved, and all three of us think three people, basically, figured out how think. that we should have safe monkeys in to spend $792 billion in an economic re- Mr. AUSTRIA. I wanted to make sure this country. But we don’t, none of us covery package and okayed these 50 I got that right for Central Ohio. But I think that it is the most important words that authorized the payment of think that is a very important point. issue facing the country last year or bonuses to AIG and other people simi- When the government owns 80 per- this year. larly situated. So I think we are get- cent of a company and not knowing Now, back to the Clue, and I think ting a little closer. what is going on and we can’t get an that Mr. TIBERI makes a pretty good Mr. TIBERI. I think what he is say- answer as to who put this language in. point because we do have—when you ing is three Members of the Senate. We I mean, I appreciate the gentleman play Clue you try to collect clues. And have two Members of the Senate on the from Ohio with this game of Clue be- there have been some clues recently. Clue board, so I keep, you know, I keep cause I think that it is as good as any

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 other methodology that I know of try- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- Obama has no constitutional authority to ing to figure out who is responsible for tleman has 10 minutes remaining. set rules for Congress, but he suggested he putting that language in because we Mr. LATOURETTE. I thank the would use his influence to see to it that Con- are not getting the clear answers. We Speaker. gress doesn’t conduct its work ‘‘in the dead of night and behind closed doors.’’ are not getting a specific answer to Mr. TIBERI. Will the gentleman In the first major piece of legislation that question. yield? pushed by Obama, transparency was missing. Mr. LATOURETTE. I thank the gen- Mr. LATOURETTE. I’m happy to Important negotiating sessions devoted to tleman. And I think we are making yield. the stimulus took place in congressional of- some progress because we have a weap- Mr. TIBERI. Clearly, to your point in fices, outside pubic view. Rep. Henry A. Wax- on, it was the pen. We are getting down this exercise, most would point the fin- man (D–Beverly Hills) said he was in a meet- in the suspect list. And I am com- ger at the Senator from Connecticut— ing about the stimulus plan Tuesday night in Mr. LATOURETTE. Right. the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D– fortable, if you gentlemen are com- San Francisco). Among the participants was fortable saying that this crime was Mr. TIBERI.—which probably means he didn’t do it, which probably means White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. committed either in the Speaker’s Of- ‘‘We had to do some hard bargaining,’’ fice or in the Senate leaders office be- it’s somebody else, because he is the Waxman said. cause all of the— most obvious choice having played the The abundance of private deliberations Mr. TIBERI. Or the conference room. game. made for some comical moments. Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, taking Rep. Dave Camp (R–Mich.) was walking Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, the con- back my time, I am a big fan of Agatha through the Capitol on Wednesday on his ference room was where the conferees Christie’s, and as you read through way to a public meeting in which Senators met. Well, I’d say the conference room those books, you’re sure it’s the butler and House members were supposed to hash too. I think we know it didn’t happen out differences over the stimulus. As he or somebody else, and it’s never the in the Appropriations Committee or passed the Rotunda, Camp spotted Senate butler. So, you know, I don’t think we the Ways and Means Committee. The Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–Nev.) holding can exclude the Senator, but I’m with Banking Committee is still out there. a news conference announcing that a deal you. I think, you know, when every- had already been struck. And the reason that the Senate Bank- body is shooting at the Senator from ‘‘This is the largest spending bill in the ing Committee is still out there is that Connecticut, it’s probably somebody history of the United States, and I believe the person that really came under the else. the public business should be done in pub- harshest scrutiny at the beginning was lic,’’ said Camp, who had been appointed to Mr. TIBERI. Well, yielding back to the Senator from Connecticut, Senator the 10-member conference committee created me again—and I appreciate that—I DODD. And I would just suggest, to reconcile differences between the two think what we found in his comments Madam Speaker, that he has a vested chambers. last week in that impromptu press con- ‘‘President Obama made that commitment interest in finding this out just like we ference is that, one day, he said he repeatedly in his campaign,’’ he said. do, because when you don’t know who didn’t know anything about it, and the Obama aides say that the president is still did it, when you won’t help us find out next day, he said, ‘‘Well, yes, I did do committed to transparency in government. who did it and have people come clean, He reiterated the pledge during the transi- it, but it was at the direction of some- people begin to circulate ugly rumors. tion, posting a promise on his website to ‘‘re- body in the administration.’’ Obvi- And I have heard, for instance, that the store the American people’s trust in their ously, he doesn’t want to throw some- distinguished chairman of the Senate government by making government more body under the bus, but he has already open and transparent,’’ and cited closed con- Banking Committee is one of the larg- been thrown under the bus, so I would ference committee sessions as a practice ripe est recipients of campaign contribu- hope that we could end this rather for overhaul. tions from AIG. Now people will say, But the White House isn’t apologizing for quickly with: Who is it? oh, well, he must have done it because how the stimulus bill was handled. Given the Mr. LATOURETTE. Right. dismal economic climate, White House aides he got campaign cash. Well, I think In just taking back my time, what that is unfair to the Senator, quite said, the country needed a stimulus bill— troubles me about this is, the last time fast. frankly, and I think that he should join I checked, the Constitution does not Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, asked abut with us and let’s find out who did it. let anybody in the administration the private negotiations, said that Obama Today, and Madam Speaker, I will write a law. So somebody could have wasn’t troubled. submit an additional document from suggested it at Treasury, said the ‘‘He’s pleased with the process and the product that has come out,’’ Gibbs said while the Hartford Courant, if I may, into President wants it, the Secretary the RECORD. And today, this article briefing reporters Friday. ‘‘I think when the wants it, whatever the facts are, but process is done, the American people will be starts with ‘‘No wonder Senator Dodd the fact of the matter is that nobody at went wobbly last week when asked proud of the product that we believe and we Treasury can write legislation. That is hope will begin to stimulate the economy.’’ about his February amendment ratify- the job of the United States Senate and Democratic leaders said the bill was han- ing hundreds of millions of dollars in of the United States Congress. dled according to procedures and customs bonuses to executives at AIG. Dodd has Mr. TIBERI. Will the gentleman that have been in place for years, including been one of the company’s favorite re- when Republicans controlled Congress. yield? Waxman said Congress’ treatment of the cipients,’’ so an ugly rumor is out Mr. LATOURETTE. Oh, I’m happy to. there. But it turns out that Senator bill was fairly standard. Could Congress have Mr. TIBERI. To your point, I would demanded that all negotiations play out in DODD’s wife also benefited, in that she like to submit this for the RECORD as public? Waxman said that would have been was employed by an AIG subsidiary. well. It’s a Los Angeles Times article impractical. b 2015 from February. ‘‘There are too many moving parts in this [From the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 14, 2009] bill,’’ Waxman said. ‘‘We would be sitting in So, look. I don’t know who did it, and an open conference committee meeting for PRIVATE TALKS FOR PUBLIC STIMULUS; OBAMA I hope that the Senator from Con- weeks, if not a whole month, to process all HAS SAID HE WANTS CONGRESS TO WORK IN necticut didn’t do it, but now people the amendments that would have been of- THE OPEN. BUT HE ISN’T TROUBLED BY THE fered.’’ are throwing mud at him and are basi- RECENT NEGOTIATIONS cally saying, you know, to the average (By Peter Nicholas) Again to your point, this says the President has no constitutional au- Joe Sixpack at home, well, of course he WASHINGTON.—Upending Washington’s en- did it. You know, he got a bunch of trenched ways of doing business is proving thority to set rules for Congress, ‘‘but cash from him, and his wife used to tougher than President Obama may have as- he suggested he would use his influence work for one of their companies, so of sumed. to see to it that Congress doesn’t con- course he did it. So the Senator should The nearly $800-billion stimulus bill served duct its work ‘in the dead of night and come out and identify—somebody as a test case. behind closed doors,’ ’’ when in fact, in knows who did it. That’s the problem. During the campaign, Obama released a po- this particular exercise, as we know sition paper stating his commitment to open So just tell us. Move on. They screwed government. As president, he said, he would and as your chart indicates and as the up. Move on. not only insist on transparency in his own Senator from Connecticut has indi- Madam Speaker, I’ll ask how much administration, he would press Congress to cated, these words came from the ad- time we have left. revamp its practices as well. ministration and were put into the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3819 stimulus bill in the dead of night. We to stand up and say, ‘‘we want account- Late into the Evening * House and Senate still don’t know who in the administra- ability for this dollar,’’ and offer legis- Democratic negotiators met in the Speaker’s tion. We don’t know everybody who lation that we would hope that the ad- office with White House Chief of Staff Rahm was in the room from the administra- ministration would stand behind, but it Emmanuel and White House budget chief Peter Orzsag late into the evening Tuesday, tion, so the administration can claim doesn’t seem to be getting any trac- breaking at 9 p.m., working intensely to firm they have nothing to do with Congress. tion. I hope your resolution moves to- up an overall cap for the package and sort Based upon the documents from the morrow because, you know, the Amer- through differences. press that we have submitted tonight ican people deserve answers. I think ‘‘It’s so difficult to talk with a body that is and that you have submitted tonight you’ve made some very good points to- . . . controlled by three people. You have no and based upon the shuttle diplomacy night, and I appreciate the opportunity idea,’’ Ways and Means Committee Charles that occurred during the days before to participate with both gentlemen B. Rangel, D–N.Y., said as he left the meet- the stimulus vote, there were top ad- from Ohio. ing, noting that the health and spending por- tions of the bill were proving most difficult ministration officials involved, in the Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, listen. I to reconcile. room, writing the bill in the dead of thank you. ‘‘There’s no obstacle that’s come up that night, with no transparency, no Repub- Mr. TIBERI, would you like to close? we cannot resolve with a lot of pain,’’ he licans, no press, no C–SPAN, with no- Mr. TIBERI. Let me just, again, said. body witnessing what was being done. thank you for your leadership on this. As Senate Finance Committee Chairman The product you have at the end of the I would hope that we don’t have to Max Baucus, D–Mont., left the meeting, he process are these 50 words that nobody come back next week and add pictures said that $800 billion was the ‘‘ballpark’’ in America is taking credit for. Your limit for the conference report, and that the and subtract rooms, but I am willing to final figure might come in a little lower than resolution tomorrow will begin to get do that if nothing occurs tomorrow. I that. Baucus said that getting a deal by the to the bottom of this, unfortunately, if certainly would not want to be in the weekend was the goal understood by every- someone does not come forward. majority—a Democrat in a competitive one involved. Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, taking district—having to defend a ‘‘no’’ vote back my time, I do hope that in the on your resolution tomorrow and a [From www.theleftcoaster.com, Mar. 19, 2009] markup of the resolution of inquiry to- ‘‘yes’’ vote on a bill that allowed these WHITE HOUSE STAFF BOTCHED IT morrow that we do see transparency 47 words to go forward and millions and Folks, Geithner, Bernanke, and the Bush and bipartisanship. Both Republicans millions of dollars to citizens and non- Treasury Department knew about the AIG and Democrats on that committee citizens of a failing company that bonuses for months. According to AIG, the want to answer the question as much should go into bankruptcy or should be payments were OK’d by the White House last as we do and as much as, I’m sure, Sen- split up into several different compa- Thursday. Why? Because it appears that David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel grossly ator DODD would like to have this nies. This is an outrage. Americans are underestimated how infuriating this would cloud lifted from his shoulders, and so outraged. We will get to the bottom of be. I hope it moves in that direction. this, and at the end of the day, I pre- ‘‘We weren’t authorized until Thursday I have to tell you I am not opti- dict that we will find out who was re- night,’’ the AIG executive said. ‘‘We were ne- mistic. I mean I will not be surprised sponsible for that pen. gotiating with the Treasury and the Federal when I get a telephone call tomorrow Mr. LATOURETTE. Well, I thank Reserve. Treasury indicated that they need- that the Financial Services Committee both gentlemen for participating. ed it cleared by the White House, as well. We has somehow made it impossible for Madam Speaker, I thank you for hit the go button for the payments on Fri- that to see the light of day, which it day.’’ your courtesy. For the new administration, the bonuses can by a majority vote—they have the To reinforce Mr. TIBERI’s point, I were a distraction from what senior aides votes—and we’ll see what happens. But think Senator DODD has a vested inter- called the main focus: getting the economy you know what? I’m a big fan of Chair- est in helping us with this because, working and people back to work. ‘‘People man FRANK’s, and he is a fair man, and currently, it looks like ‘‘Senator DODD are not sitting around their kitchen tables I think he’ll give it fair consideration in the conference room with a pen.’’ thinking about AIG,’’ Axelrod said. ‘‘They tomorrow. I look forward to that tele- Now, I don’t think that that is true, so are thinking about their own jobs.’’ phone call. Bad decision Dave. I hope that whoever did this will tell us Their message to the president when the Mr. AUSTRIA, is there anything you about it. group assembled for their first extended con- want to say before we leave here? Dana, what is happening? versation about AIG in the Roosevelt Room Mr. AUSTRIA. If you would yield for Dana Bash, CNN Senior Congressional Cor- on Sunday was not optimistic: They told him just a moment. respondent: Well, Anderson, as we speak, the they had ‘‘done and will do what we legally Mr. LATOURETTE. I would be happy White House chief of staff and the president’s can,’’ Axelrod said. to. budget director are inside House Speaker But Obama made clear at that meeting Mr. AUSTRIA. Let me just say, as a Nancy Pelosi’s office. that he was unwilling to throw up his hands. new Member up here from Ohio—I And, in fact, they have been here coming He instructed Geithner and the others to mean I served 10 years in the State leg- up on eight hours straight—eight hours seek legal ways that the government might islature. I’ve been here less than 100 straight—shuttling between the House recover the bonuses. And he made plans to speaker’s office and Senate Majority Leader tell the public what he thought the next day. days. I’m just starting my third month. Harry Reid’s office, trying to urgently That decision ran counter to the belief I have never seen this kind of process broker a compromise between House Demo- among some in his inner circle that the where bills are rolled out, where lan- crats and Senate Democrats in order to get bonus issue while an outrage was a small guage is stuck in that we don’t have the president’s stimulus package to—to his problem compared with the economic issues the opportunity to read before we vote desk by this week. confronting his young presidency. ‘‘The first on it, and where language is put in and And I just spoke to a Democratic source and most important job we have is to get no one will take responsibility for that who says that, in these talks, they are nar- this economy moving again,’’ Axelrod said. language. rowing their differences. ‘‘As galling as this is, it doesn’t go to the (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) main issue.’’ I think the American people out Bash (voice-over): House Democrats are What you see is a fine example of poor de- there are looking at this, scratching not happy that Senate Democrats cut some cision making clouded by being inside the their heads, saying: How can this be? $100 billion in spending from their stimulus White House bubble. After spending two How can it be that language is put in a package, tens of billions slashed from Demo- years out on the campaign trail ensuring bill, and nobody has an opportunity to cratic priorities, like education. that your message and actions mesh with read that bill, and nobody wants to But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now what people are thinking, Axelrod is now in- take responsibility now for that lan- signaling, they will likely have to live with side the bubble and cannot see that the op- guage? it. tics of this fiasco do matter to people, be- I appreciate the exercise that the Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D–CA), Speaker of the cause he assumes naively that people will House: As President Obama cautioned the look beyond it due to an overriding fear of gentleman from Ohio has gone through nation, that we cannot allow the perfect to their own situations. He also assumes his tonight to make the point, and I appre- be the enemy of the effective and of the nec- boss can talk his way out of anything, when ciate your offering that resolution. It essary. And we will not. in fact Obama has surrounded himself with shouldn’t take 14 Republican freshmen CQ— two tone deaf lops in Geithner and Summers.

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3820 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 DODD’S WIFE A FORMER DIRECTOR OF BER- also of the very important issues that fiscal situation of the United States, MUDA-BASED IPC HOLDINGS, AN AIG CON- he comes to the floor to discuss this and to deal with investing in education TROLLED COMPANY evening. in the future. (By Kevin Rennie) There is another important event What I would like to do this evening No wonder Senator Christopher Dodd (D– that occurred today, and that was the is address the element of the budget Conn) went wobbly last week when asked 97th birthday of Dr. Dorothy Height. I that speaks to climate change, global about his February amendment ratifying don’t think I have to remind my col- warming, energy independence, and in- hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses to leagues of how important a person Dr. executives at insurance giant AIG. Dodd has vesting in our energy future. been one of the company’s favorite recipi- Height is today and how important she It has been interesting listening to ents of campaign contributions. But it turns has been over the years. She is now the our Republican friends who have been out that Senator Dodd’s wife has also bene- chairman and president of the National told by Mr. BOEHNER, the Republican fited from past connections to AIG as well. Council of Negro Women, but she was leader, that they are not to be legisla- From 2001–2004, Jackie Clegg Dodd served the only woman present at the 1963 tors, that they are to be communica- as an ‘‘outside’’ director of IPC Holdings, March on Washington. She has pre- tors, evidently deciding that dealing Ltd., a Bermuda-based company controlled viously been an icon, working with by AIG. IPC, which provides property cas- with the messy problems of govern- ualty catastrophe insurance coverage, was Presidents as far back as Franklin ment with energy, with the budget, formed in 1993 and currently has a market Delano Roosevelt. A civil rights leader with the nuts and bolts that the Amer- cap of $1.4 billion and trades on the NASDAQ she is, but an empowerment of women ican people sent us here to address under the ticker symbol IPCR. In 2001, in ad- is her calling. She has led the National might be a little too risky. So, instead, dition to a public offering 15 million shares Council of Negro Women now for dec- they’re talking about communicating of stock that raised $380 million, IPC raised ades. some of their concerns. more than $109 million through a simulta- Today, at that very building—really, neous private placement sale of 5.6 million We have heard the mantra about the at the only building owned by African President’s budget—taxing too much, shares of stock to AIG—giving AIG a 20 per- Americans on Pennsylvania Avenue, cent stake in IPC. (AIG sold its spending too much and borrowing too Clegg was compensated for her duties to women gathered from around the Na- much. We have not heard constructive the company, which was managed by a sub- tion to celebrate Dr. Height’s birthday. alternatives, and they certainly have sidiary of AIG. In 2003, according to a proxy Dr. Height was a pillar in the civil not acknowledged that the policies of statement, Clegg received $12,000 per year rights movement, standing alongside of the Republican majority and the Re- and an additional $1,000 for each Directors’ A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther publican President, when they were in and committee meeting she attended. Clegg King and numbers of others. She has served on the Audit and Investment commit- charge for the last 8 years with the also been someone to encourage women Bush administration and in charge for tees during her final year on the board. to participate in the governmental IPC paid millions each year to other AIG- a dozen years in the House of Rep- related companies for administrative and process, to be educated, to stand resentatives, actually created these other services. Clegg was a diligent director. strong. She is a spokesperson for the problems. unempowered, and of course, she is a In 2003, the proxy statement report, she at- Spend too much? These are people tended more than 75 percent of board and mentor to so many of us. She is a who understand spending. They pro- committee meetings. This while she served friend of the Congressional Black Cau- duced record budget increases, increas- as the managing partner of Clegg Inter- cus, of the NAACP and of the National ing spending faster than Bill Clinton, national Consultants, LLC, which she cre- Urban League. When there is an issue faster even than one of the favorite ated in 2001, the year she joined the board of of concern, you have the need to call IPC. (See Dodd’s public financial disclosure whipping boys they have—the Great Dr. Height. She is also a recipient of reports with the Senate from 2001–2004 here.) Society of Lyndon Johnson. the Congressional Gold Medal along Dodd is likely more familiar with the com- Borrow too much? Well, these are plicated workings of AIG than he was letting with many, many other awards. people who, when President Bush took on last week. This week may provide him I am privileged today to be able to with another opportunity to refresh his stand on the floor of the House to rec- office, were faced with the daunting recollections. ognize an American icon, a patriot, a prospect of a $5 trillion budget surplus. f woman of valor and courage. That was the official estimate. Re- Madam Speaker, it is again my great member, there were smart people con- THE PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE TO cerned with what would happen if we CONGRESS pleasure to salute Dr. Dorothy Height for a happy, happy birthday, now some paid off the national debt. What would The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. 97 years old, and to thank my friend be the instruments for insurance and DAHLKEMPER). Under the Speaker’s an- and colleague for allowing us to share pensions and other commercial trans- nounced policy of January 6, 2009, the this with all of our colleagues and to actions? Well, they solved that problem gentleman from Oregon (Mr. celebrate, again, a life that has been by turning a $5 trillion surplus, with a BLUMENAUER) is recognized for 60 min- worth living and is still worth living— pattern of reckless spending and ill- utes. a champion of the people. considered tax cuts, to a record deficit. Mr. BLUMENAUER. Thank you, Dr. Dorothy Height, happy birthday. It was a $5 trillion surplus, and they Madam Speaker. I appreciate the op- I yield back to the gentleman. added $5 trillion to the national debt. portunity to address the House this Mr. BLUMENAUER. Thank you. I ap- They have given President Obama a evening because tomorrow is going to preciate the gentlelady making that record $1.8 trillion deficit that he is be a very important day as we move presentation. struggling with now. forward with a markup in the Budget Madam Speaker, the President of the They know about spending too much. Committee to deal with priorities that United States has issued a challenge to They know about borrowing too much are going to be facing this Congress. this Congress and to the American peo- because much of this was money bor- Before I begin my presentation, I ple that is embodied in the budget that rowed from the Chinese, the Japanese would like to recognize the gentle- he outlined before us when he ad- and the Europeans. Under their watch, woman from Houston, Texas (Ms. JACK- dressed this Chamber in his first joint the current accounts and the balance SON-LEE), if I could yield to her for a 3- session of Congress and has followed up of all of the goods and services and minute presentation. I know she has with in his budget submission. He has trade in and out of the United States some information that she would like given a challenge to us to deal with the increased from 3.6 percent to over 5 to share with the House, and I would great interrelated problems of the day. percent, a 40 percent increase—rather recognize her at this time. He has suggested that we move for- sobering—and it is contributing to the DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT’S 97TH BIRTHDAY ward to deal with health care in terms instability that we face. Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Allow of fundamental reform for all Ameri- Well, these people are, hopefully, me to thank the distinguished gen- cans, for dealing with energy insta- going to stop communicating long tleman from Oregon and to emphasize bility and global warming, to deal with enough tomorrow to maybe roll up the point that he just made of the im- the incredible budget deficit that he their sleeves and help us deal with very portance of the budget markup and has inherited to try and stabilize the specific opportunities as part of the

VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE