July 29, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5767 Smith (TX) Tonko West that accountability, we need to do anced budget amendment—what Amer- Smith (WA) Towns Westmoreland what 49 States in America do, and icans are calling for: permanent ac- Southerland Tsongas Whitfield Stark Turner Wilson (FL) that’s pass a balanced budget amend- countability from Washington. No Stearns Upton Wilson (SC) ment. The first of that series of steps more spending tricks, no more budget Stivers Van Hollen Wittman was accomplished tonight. Now it’s the gimmicks. Just do what every Amer- Stutzman Vela´ zquez Wolf Senate’s turn to pass that balanced ican family and business has to do. Sullivan Visclosky Womack Sutton Walberg budget amendment provision, have Woodall Just balance our budget. Terry Walden Woolsey both Chambers pass it, and have a ma- Thompson (CA) Walsh (IL) f Wu jority of the States ratify it. This is Thompson (MS) Walz (MN) b 1850 Thompson (PA) Wasserman Yarmuth what the American public wants. They Thornberry Schultz Yoder want us to balance our checkbook, just ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Tiberi Watt Young (AK) as they do theirs. Tierney Webster Young (FL) PRO TEMPORE Tipton Welch Young (IN) f The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. NOT VOTING—12 EVERYONE SHOULD SACRIFICE CRAWFORD). The Chair would remind Baca Grijalva Paul FOR OUR COUNTRY all persons in the gallery that they are Gallegly Hinchey Speier (Mr. RYAN of Ohio asked and was here as guests of the House and that Giffords Lofgren, Zoe Waters any manifestation of approval or dis- Gohmert Maloney Waxman given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend approval of proceedings is in violation b 1839 his remarks.) of the rules of the House. So (two-thirds being in the affirma- Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, f tive) the rules were suspended and the there’s something missing in this en- AMERICAN ECONOMY IS NOT SAFE bill was passed. tire debate. Over the course of the last The result of the vote was announced 30 years, in the 1970s, if you would have (Mr. MCDERMOTT asked and was as above recorded. seen the real income for the top 1 per- given permission to address the House A motion to reconsider was laid on cent, it accounted for about 9 percent for 1 minute and to revise and extend the table. of real income. Today the top 1 percent his remarks.) accounts for 25 percent of real income. Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, the f The top 400 wealthiest people in the House has acted. No time for celebra- SERGEANT MATTHEW J. FENTON United States of America pay a tax tion—it’s not over yet. Until it passes POST OFFICE rate of 17 percent, while the fellow in both houses, the American economy is The SPEAKER pro tempore. The un- Youngstown, Ohio, is paying a much not safe. finished business is the question on higher tax rate. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s an- suspending the rules and passing the The sky is falling, and the Repub- nounced to the University of Wash- bill (H.R. 789) to designate the facility lican Party wants to make all these ington and to Seattle and to King of the United States Postal Service lo- huge decisions about how we need to County that if there is a default on cated at 20 Main Street in Little Ferry, fix our country. We need the wealthiest Tuesday, these institutions in my New Jersey, as the ‘‘Sergeant Matthew in our country to become patriots and State go on the credit watch list for J. Fenton Post Office.’’ step up to bat and help us solve this downgrade because they received The Clerk read the title of the bill. problem. Everyone here is being asked money from the United States Govern- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The to sacrifice. The military, the middle ment, and there is no certainty that question is on the motion offered by class, the parents trying to send their the United States Government is going the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. kids to college with Pell Grants, the to pay its debts. This is a question schools that get title I, all are being LANKFORD) that the House suspend the about whether the United States is asked to sacrifice but for the top 1 per- rules and pass the bill. going to be viewed in the world as cent of the wealthiest people in this The question was taken; and (two- being responsible and paying their country. It is absent from this debate. thirds being in the affirmative) the debts. It is irresponsible for us to continue It’s not about the future; it’s about rules were suspended and the bill was this process without asking the what we have already contracted, and passed. wealthiest in the United States of this House, led by the Republicans, has A motion to reconsider was laid on America, who have been blessed to live put every State, every county, every the table. in this country, to help us solve this city, every university that writes f problem. bonds for their financing at risk. BALANCE THE BUDGET f It’s going to cause people to pay (Mrs. SCHMIDT asked and was given PERMANENT ACCOUNTABILITY more in the State of Washington and in permission to address the House for 1 FROM WASHINGTON every other State because of this fool- minute and to revise and extend her re- (Mr. HARRIS asked and was given ishness. We need a clean lifting of the marks.) permission to address the House for 1 debt limit. Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, just to- minute and to revise and extend his re- f night we passed the debt ceiling vote, marks.) DEBT LIMIT and it had a very critical feature, a fea- Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, this ture that requires accountability in evening is a moment in history. Very The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under our House—a balanced budget amend- few times does this House vote to ad- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- ment. vance an amendment to the United uary 5, 2011, the gentleman from Cali- Every day, millions of Americans sit States Constitution, but we did it fornia (Mr. GARAMENDI) is recognized at their kitchen tables, trying to figure today. And the gentlelady from Ohio, for 60 minutes as the designee of the out how they pay their bills. But before she just talked about what Americans minority leader. they write that check and determine talk about at home. It’s about bal- Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you very how much they’re going to have to ancing your checkbook. It’s about not much. This evening I am going to be spend out of that checking account, spending more than you take in. We joined by several of my colleagues. And they first balance that checking ac- don’t have a problem with too few as they come to the microphone, let me count to know how much money is in taxes here in Washington. We have a just lay down some of the facts. it. But we, in the United States Con- problem with too much spending. Mr. Not more than an hour ago this gress, don’t do that. We don’t balance Speaker, we still borrow 41 cents out of Chamber voted on Speaker BOEHNER’s our account. We don’t know how much every $1, and we’re borrowing a lot of proposal to deal with the debt limit. money’s in there. We just spend money. that money from the Chinese. Very interesting comments that he The American public expects ac- What this bill we passed tonight will made prior to the speech—and while I countability from us. In order to have do is put us on a track to pass a bal- can’t quote them precisely—he did say

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:45 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29JY7.033 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H5768 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 29, 2011 that his whole strategy started way tionally to, say, 4.5 or 5 percent, that have cost us jobs. They are costing us back in January when he told the would solve a quarter, a quarter of this jobs at an ever accelerating rate, and President that he was going to use the deficit and debt crisis. That would be now they want to cut one other, just debt limit as a way of getting his way. $2.5 trillion over 10 years. one other point. They want to cut all Well, we saw what his way is, and Now, the Republicans here have pro- investment in transportation by 35 per- that’s what was voted on today with- posed $2.7 trillion of cuts over 10 years. cent. That’s an immediate loss of out any support at all from the Demo- So if we could put people back to work, 600,000 private-sector jobs. crats and a lot of Republicans saying we would have about the same savings. It means we won’t deal with the that it was not the right way to go. Then, you know, if we got people 150,000 bridges of the national highway So what did he propose? We have two back to work and healed the economy system that need rebuilding. We won’t very, very basic paths that are facing a bit, all we have to do, and I talked deal with the half of the payment on the American public today. One of about this earlier this week, is noth- the national highway system that those paths is a path that we voted on, ing. Let the Bush tax cuts expire. Go needs redoing. We won’t deal with the which is a path to basically unravel back to the bad old days of Bill Clin- $70 billion backlog for new equipment most of the things that America holds ton, 3.8 percent unemployment, paying for our transit systems, transit sys- dear. down debt, the rich paying a fair share. tems that are so decrepit in places like In order to carry out the caps and the Those were the bad old days, according the Nation’s Capital that people are $2.5 trillion in reductions that are in to the Republicans, because those job being killed. We won’t deal with any of that legislation, we would have to deci- creators were paying some taxes. that. mate Medicare. There is no way it Oh, my God, billionaires required to b 1900 could possibly continue to provide the pay taxes at the rate equal to or higher services to our seniors and similarly than their secretaries and the janitors. We won’t put millions of people to Medicaid, of which 70 percent of that Can you imagine that? Oh, what dis- work building new transit vehicles or money goes to seniors who are in nurs- aster. So, now, they are not only cut- new buses or bridges with steel and all ing homes. And so those two critical ting programs and ignoring the jobs those things with Buy America. parts of the foundation of the Amer- crisis, they are making the jobs crisis The Republicans say, well, we’ll just ican society—that is providing health worse. give the corporations the money and care to our seniors and the aged, blind, Last week, they ended the Federal the rich people the money and they’ll and disabled—are going to get unrav- Aviation Administration construction trickle down on the rest of us. Well, eled as a result of the legislation that program for safety and security. They we’ve been pretty well trickled down passed. stopped collecting the tax. The Repub- upon for way too long. It’s time for Similarly, there is no way to meet licans stopped collecting the tax. It’s a new priorities. And I would reject the those spending reductions without user paid-for system on airline tickets. Republican agenda. going after Social Security. The other That’s $30 million a day. Most airlines Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. DEFAZIO, path is one that we have suggested on have taken it as a windfall. So the Re- thank you very much. You clearly the Democratic side, and we are going publicans’ mantra that if we lower pointed out the dichotomy between the to spend some time talking about these taxes on corporations they will pass it Democratic proposal, which is one of two today, and that is the path that through to the consumers—no, sorry building and creating and putting to- maintains these pillars of the society suckers. They keep the money and you gether a society and an economy that of America that basically express the pay the same. actually works, and the Republicans values of our country, that our country But then the other mantra is, well, if seem to be just dismantling time after is one that cares deeply about our citi- we get rid of taxes, we will create jobs. time. zens, whether they are aged, seniors That’s how you create jobs, by cutting I would like now to turn to Congress- who may need medical care and who programs and cutting taxes. woman BETTY SUTTON, our colleague need an income, Social Security and Interesting. We have cut taxes on the from the State of Ohio, who has seen Medicare, or whether they are young airline industry by $30 million a day, the effect of the cuts and what they children that need an education and $210 million a week. That’s well over— mean in her district. those in between that need jobs. you know, that’s a lot of money on a So, Ms. SUTTON, if you would care to That’s the path that the Democrats year’s basis, over a billion dollars. And share with us your thoughts. have offered in the budget that we put guess what? We have lost 94,000 jobs; Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentleman forth on this floor that we voted on, 4,000 jobs of people in the FAA who for his leadership. You have been a that was our recommendation on how oversee the safety and security con- stalwart; and, boy, do we need leader- to move forward. It failed without any struction program to make sure tax- ship at this point. Republican support, but it was a path payers get a fair value for their dollar Here we are, it’s been 29 weeks, more that basically spoke to the values of and 90,000 private-sector construction than 200 days since the Republicans this Nation that we have held dear for jobs across America. took over the majority of the House, these many, many years. And guess what? The American pub- and not only have they not done any- I would like to turn now to my col- lic doesn’t know it yet, but this could thing to create jobs or help working leagues here. I would like to start with well lead to either, you know, opening families. Here we are today looking at my colleague from Oregon, PETER the door to terrorist attack because we what they have done. DEFAZIO. don’t do some of the security pro- What have they done? After walking PETER, I know that you have some grams, or causing a runway incursion away from the table five times in nego- remarks that you would like to share because we don’t finish the runway in- tiations to restore our Nation’s fiscal with us this evening. cursion program before the bad weath- health, House Republicans have passed Mr. DEFAZIO. Thanks, JOHN. Thanks er in the winter, or I don’t get my in- a bill today to kick the can down the for helping organize this response to strument landing system in Coos Bay, road so we can continue to have this the Republicans. North Bend, before the winter and a debate over again in a matter of We do have one real and prevailing plane goes awry, we could have people months. But make no mistake, this is crisis in America. It’s been with us now die because of that. But to them this is a political dodge. Republicans could since 2008, and that’s a jobs crisis. all good—we are giving people back not agree on a long-term solution with- There are probably 20 million Ameri- their money, or we are giving the cor- in their own ranks, so they just decided cans who are unemployed, under- porations the money, and don’t worry. to take a vote on a bill that kicks the employed in this country when you get We need to focus on jobs. There is can down the road that they know to the real numbers. nothing that they have been doing here there is not support for, and it’s a part Now, credible economists say if we for the last 6 months, 8 months, 7 of this pattern. could find a way to put those people or months, however long they have been What have they been doing in this most of those people back to work and in power—it seems like 10 years—that over 200 days? They have an agenda get unemployment down from 9.6 na- has created a single job. In fact, they that aims to end Medicare, that guts

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:45 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.069 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE July 29, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5769 Medicaid, that has threatened Social has some concepts and ideas he would ministration, but we are where we are Security, and at the same time they like to share with us this evening. and we’ve got to deal with it. And it’s have even targeted energy-efficient Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my got to be done in a balanced way, both light bulbs. They have used time in friend from California and Ms. SUTTON the revenue side of the ledger and the this body to do all of these things, from Ohio. expense side of the ledger. If our goal is while at the same time fighting to pre- And as they’ve said, the best way to to pay down the debt, you need more serve tax breaks for the wealthy, for pay the debt that this Nation has in- revenue and you need less expense. And Big Oil, and for companies that ship curred is for people to work. All of a it’s both sides. And you can’t just say jobs overseas when at this time we sudden you’ve got revenue coming in, we’re going to cut, cut, cut. We’re know that we have a jobs deficit in this and you don’t have to pay unemploy- going to take it out of Medicare, we’re country. ment, you don’t have to pay a lot of going to privatize Social Security. There is nothing more important Medicaid, you don’t have to pay We’re going to eliminate early child- that we can do than to, of course, make COBRA and all these other things. You hood education. You’ve got to deal sure that America pays its bills, but have revenue coming in and less ex- with the expenses, and we know that; the most important priority facing our pense going out. but you’ve got to have revenue. Nation is to get America back to work One of the things about this Nation is In this instance, the Republicans say, because we can’t solve that long-term that it has always provided to those you know what, we’re not going to deficit problem without people having people who really are prepared to work, have additional taxes for millionaires jobs. And, frankly, the American who are prepared to play by the rules, and billionaires and some corporations Dream doesn’t live if we don’t have op- who take responsibility for their lives with loopholes, no, that’s off limits. portunities for families out there to go and the lives of their family members, But we are going to go after Medicare, to work and take care of those that a chance to get ahead. That’s what we are going to go after Social Secu- they love, to send their kids to college. America has meant to millions and rity, we are going to go after early That’s another thing that the Repub- millions and millions of people childhood education. That’s just not lican agenda has targeted, to put col- throughout our history. right, and this country knows it. lege out of reach again of so many mid- And one of the reasons this country dle class families. was able to provide that kind of a set- b 1910 Well, I’m glad to be here with the ting for all of us is because 235 years Every American knows that, so we gentleman from California and my ago or so, this Nation went through a have to get busy, ladies and gentlemen, other colleagues to make sure that we war. And after that war, the States because we have work to do. If we are explain to the American people that banded together and said, you know going to restore the American Dream, there are people who get it, people who what, we as a country will pay the we have a lot of work to do. And that know that the number one priority is debts of our Revolutionary War. And is what Democrats are going to do. We to put people back to work, to focus on this young Nation paid its debts and have a lot of work to do, and it is time building our infrastructure, to became a strong Nation overnight be- to get busy. strengthening U.S. manufacturing, be- cause it paid its bills. And so for 235 Mr. GARAMENDI. Mr. PERLMUTTER, cause we know that we have to be a years now we’ve been paying our bills. you are so very correct. The American country that makes things, that makes You bet. And that’s why we have had Dream, you laid it out there so well— things made out of American iron and the strongest credit, the full faith and job, family, home, ability to take care, steel and manufactured goods; that credit of the United States of America kids off to school, good health care— every time you have a manufacturing for two centuries. the American Dream. When you get job, that there is a ripple effect of four My friends on the Republican side of old, you’ve got Medicare, you have So- more jobs, or if it’s in the auto indus- the aisle, for the last 3 months or cial Security. That’s really the founda- try, it’s 10 more jobs. We know that if more, have been putting that credit at tion. we are not a country that manufac- risk. And I’d like to say there was a However, what happened on this floor tures things, then we are at the mercy real reason for them to do that, but not more than an hour and a half ago of those who do. It is incumbent upon there is no reason. When you have in- will destroy that dream. Now, we have us to stand up to make sure that we curred a bill, you pay that bill. You work to do; indeed, we do. And now I focus the agenda. would like to turn to my friend and We’ve got to stop this political the- don’t say, you know what, we’re not colleague on the floor, sometimes we ater, deal with getting the debt ceiling going to pay the bill unless some call it the East Coast/West Coast show, issue dealt with for the long term, not things happen in the future. You pay my friend from New York, Mr. PAUL for 6 months, not for 6 months and be the bill, and you deal with the future TONKO. right back at this again, leaving the separately. Mr. TONKO. Representative American people to wonder, seniors to But not in this Congress, not with GARAMENDI, it is a pleasure to join with wonder whether they’re going to get this Republican leadership. They tie it you, speaking for your base in Cali- what they need in their Social Security all together and say if we don’t get our checks, veterans to wonder whether way, we’re not going to pay our bills. fornia, joining with our colleagues they’re going to get what they need. Well, baloney, that isn’t how it works. from Colorado and Texas and Con- We really, really know that the pri- And so what we’ve got to do is come to- necticut and Ohio and Virginia, myself ority has to be on jobs, and we implore gether. The President has proposed a from New York, across this country, we our Republican colleagues to join us. balanced approach to getting this are speaking for the American public. Two hundred days is too long; 200 country’s fiscal house in order. The great populous of this Nation are days is more than the American people Now, let’s not forget how we got asking: Where are the solutions? Where and the American families that I am so here. Ten years ago, we had a surplus; is the responsiveness to a job situation, honored to serve can take. We must revenues exceeded expenses. So in a jobs deficit, a jobs crisis? focus on getting people back to work. these last 10 years we had two big tax The solution here, well, last night we Mr. GARAMENDI. It is about jobs. cuts—that’s a couple trillion dollars saw it. We saw the drama unfold, not There are very few economists—except under George Bush. We had a couple here on the House floor, but behind maybe some that supported the pro- big wars, which instead of everybody closed doors. We moved into recess. posal that the Republicans put to- being patriotic and really assisting the The Republican leadership of the House gether today—but nearly every econo- country, we would borrow and do it on said we are going to move to recess. We mist in this Nation said the only way a credit card—that’s a couple trillion were fully anticipating a vote last we will ever get this Nation back to a dollars. And then we had a crash on night in short order, but we waited for balanced budget is with full employ- Wall Street—another $2 trillion or $3 hours and hours. They didn’t have the ment, putting people to work. And that trillion. That’s where the debt came votes. So what happened? Today they is the Make it in America agenda. from. moved for a measure that moved fur- Let me now turn to Mr. PERLMUTTER Now, I can lay the blame at the feet ther from the center, took us to the ex- from the great State of Colorado, who of the Republican leadership and ad- treme edge in order to get just by a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.070 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H5770 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 29, 2011 vote to amass sufficient support for a Representative GARAMENDI, it’s ag- conservative budget in terms of spend- very extreme solution that really kicks gravating. It is ignoring what the ing on the table, other budgets would the can down the road, as the gentle- public’s wishes are, and it’s not re- probably cut the deficit just as much, woman from Ohio (Ms. SUTTON) indi- sponding to the challenges of the mo- but all of those severe deficit reduction cated. It means that we don’t have this ment. This is a tipping point moment bills would require a three-fifths vote. long-term solution that builds con- for the Nation. This is a chance to re- Now remember, when the Clinton fidence in the economy but, rather, a engineer the economy after a long and budget passed, it passed by the thin- political response, a political solution deep and painful recession, and they nest of margins. We balanced the budg- that bought enough votes, that puts are risking that by perhaps pushing us et and were on course to paying off the into play measures that we know will back into a recession, if not a full- national debt, created a record number not find support as negotiations need blown depression. of jobs. The Dow Jones Industrial Aver- to come to conclusion in just a matter Mr. GARAMENDI. What took place age almost quadrupled. Fifty Demo- of hours. here on the floor, Mr. TONKO, over the crats lost their seats when they voted And so this has been a disingenuous last couple of hours was really a cha- for that bill. When you vote for deficit approach to a very serious issue. But rade. It was theater. It had no sense of reduction, a lot of people will be cast- what they are doing is destroying jobs, reality. There is no way that piece of ing career-ending votes. Increasing the because as you kill the confidence legislation is going to move forward. threshold to three-fifths will just make within our economy by threatening You said it so very well: It became it harder or even more impossible to this economy with credit ratings that more and more radical with each pass. could be reduced, that call for greater iteration over time. What you can get three-fifths for, interest payments, from car loans to It seems as though there is a small once you need three-fifths, any kind of mortgages to student loans to savings group within the Republican Caucus budget can pass. You can have more to pension plans, we’re putting the peo- that really doesn’t want government at tax cuts, and we got three-fifths votes ple of this country, every household, all. Almost an anarchist attitude about from the $800 billion tax cut back in regardless of income strata, economic government is bad, get rid of it in December. But a three-fifths vote, you strata, at risk. But an assault certainly every way. can pass new tax cuts and new spend- on the middle class of this country. And then there is group in that same ing. You can make the deficit worse And is that the right thing to do caucus that actually published a piece under the balanced budget amendment when we have this looming dark cloud of paper, it came from the leadership, and probably will. of a jobs crisis, and how do we solve and one of the things that they said Also consider that it had the provi- that? We do it by investing in pro- that they wanted to do was to bring sion of two-thirds vote to increase grams that create jobs and undo the down the President. Well, we have an taxes. That will obviously make it programs that are outmoded, don’t cre- election coming up, to be sure. But to more difficult to balance the budget. ate jobs. And we make certain that use the full faith and credit of the Two-thirds vote to spend more than 18 there is an investment made in innova- United States, that is the honor and tion, in clean energy, in manufac- really the dignity, to say nothing of percent of GDP, a number we haven’t turing, making things here in America, the financial strength of this Nation, seen since Medicare was enacted. That taking ideas, moving them along, em- to bring down the President seems to means you’re going to have pressure on bracing the pioneer spirit of the people be unconscionable. Medicare and Social Security. of this great land. That’s not being Mr. TONKO. Our goal here should be Interestingly, if you put all of these done. to build up a Nation rather than to things together, you’ll notice that you What they do is move to destroy bring down a President, and it is can cut Medicare benefits or Social Se- some 700,000 jobs. They kill the con- shameful to even have that acknowl- curity benefits with a simple majority. fidence factor for the economy. They edged. But to save those programs with new move forward with harmful measures Mr. GARAMENDI. Earlier this after- taxes, a two-thirds vote in the House that destroy our economic growth and noon before we started this 1-hour, one and a two-thirds vote in the Senate. end Medicare, because with their pro- of our colleagues on the Republican And then to add insult to injury, it re- posal, we see it clearly, they would end side brought up a nice little picture of quires a three-fifths vote to increase Medicare and transition Social Secu- a woman balancing her budget, pre- the debt ceiling. rity into a privatized format. sumably at home, and a checkbook. b 1920 These are the things that our phones She said that 40-some States have a have been ringing off the hook about. balanced budget amendment, and they As if the drama that we’ve been We have heard, through the President’s balance their budget. through in the last few days and last encouragement, from several constitu- Earlier this afternoon, I was talking few weeks isn’t enough of a spectacle, ents, routinely through this debate of to my friend from the great State of they wanted to make that kind of several weeks and months now but en- Virginia, and he said: Let me share thing routine, where we’d have to go hanced over the last couple of days, with you how one State balances their through this every year. We’ve had to and people are very clear, couldn’t be budget. increase the debt ceiling on average clearer: Why do we become a lesser pri- I yield to BOBBY SCOTT. once a year for the last 50 years. They ority than Big Oil and millionaires and Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I would like want to go through this spectacle with billionaires? People are asking that to bring that up because the legislation a supermajority so that we can have question, and they have every right to. that we considered earlier today had a these kinds of problems all along. This is an assault on the values of provision that required a constitu- Now, we heard during consideration the middle class of this country. It is a tional amendment that is mislabeled. of the balanced budget amendment neglectful response to the jobs crisis of It is called the Balanced Budget when we were in committee about Ari- this country, and it has moved us fur- Amendment. zona’s balanced budget amendment and ther away from the deficit situation Well, if you look at the provisions of how well it works. And we kept hearing with the debt ceiling discussion by the bill, not just the title, the provi- this over and over again. So I thought, moving it to the extreme, because the sions, you will see that it requires a I wonder how they do that? So I extreme of their party, in order to get three-fifths vote to pass a budget that Googled it. their support, said over the last several is not in balance. Every budget that we Mr. GARAMENDI. Excuse me. You hours, the last half day: You want my have considered for the last 9 years and said that Arizona has a balanced budg- support, move extreme. Don’t move to every budget that we will consider for et amendment in their Constitution the moderate zone. Don’t build a con- the foreseeable future will be unbal- and somehow they balance their budg- sensus. And so now the consequences of anced in the first year. So all you’ve et. their action puts this economy at risk done is increase the threshold for any Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. And I and does nothing but reduce jobs rath- budget to be balanced. couldn’t figure out how they have done er than promote the investments that The Republican Study Committee it over the past few years. I figured will create jobs. budget, which is probably the most there must be something in there. So

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.072 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE July 29, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5771 we Googled it, thanks to Google. And High-speed rail, investments in our fu- nickle of that benefit was ever paid for we found out. The first thing I found ture. Immunizations and AmeriCorp. with either offsetting revenue or other out is, with 6.3 million people, they got Cut. spending reductions. $6.4 billion of stimulus money that the Then routine functions of govern- And the 2008 stimulus bill which the Federal Government borrowed and ment that you would hope would not Bush administration had presented. A then sent to them. A thousand dollars have to get cut, like air traffic control- lot of people don’t remember the check for every man, woman, and child— lers. They’re working so hard, they’re that people got sent during that time. $4,000 for every family. That helped falling asleep on the jobs. Cops and Again, none of those expenditures were them balance the budget. firefighters. Cut. FBI agents. We spent paid for. Many of those expenditures, But that wasn’t enough. You know the last couple of days in the Judiciary such as the Bush tax cuts and the Iraq what else they did? They sold their Committee talking about trying to and Afghanistan wars, are still recur- State capitol and supreme court build- chase down cases involving child por- ring expenses, which are still accumu- ing. Did you hear what I said? They nography, and we don’t have enough lating bills and debts which this coun- sold the State capitol building for $735 FBI agents to chase them down. And try is obligated for. million and sold the supreme court what do they do? Cut FBI agents. When the Obama administration building for $300 million and leased it Clean Water grants, poison control, took office in January of 2009, they back. That extra billion dollars in the aid to small shipyards. We have a lot of faced an economy that was in free fall. budget was necessary for them to bal- shipyards in my district. National There were 800,000 jobs lost in January ance their budget. parks. OSHA—Occupational Safety and of 2009. Obviously, a crisis that needed Mr. GARAMENDI. Excuse me for a Health Administration—personnel cut. to be addressed in terms of counter-re- second, if I might interrupt. One of the FEMA. With all the problems we’ve got cessionary policies such as extending proposals coming from some of the Re- all over the country now, floods and ev- unemployment benefits and some stim- publicans was to sell America’s assets. erything, FEMA is cut. They talk ulus, which is to get work out there in Do you suppose they intended to sell about border security. Border protec- terms of road and bridge construction the U.S. Capitol? tion and border security. Cut. Food in- projects, sewer treatment facilities. Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Well, the Ari- spection. I’m cutting a ribbon on Monday morn- zona State capitol was sold and leased That’s just a small sample of what ing in my district for a plant which back. So there’s no telling what they they had in that. Then in the next bill provided a lot of work for people. might want to do. But the really re- they’re cutting Medicare. All of those Again, nonrecurring expenses to deal grettable part of this is the process cut. And that’s just the first trillion. with the emergency that we faced as a that we’re in. Because we just passed a I yield to the gentleman from Colo- Nation. bill that provides for trillions of dollars rado. When you look at, again, the com- in unspecified cuts. They slapped the Mr. PERLMUTTER. I was going to parative cost of the policies and the thing together behind closed doors. The say to my friend, over the course of the Bush administration and the Obama final version was developed this morn- last 10 years we know where the debt administration and you think about ing after the bill had been debated. really came from. It wasn’t in early the fact that we have these bills and There was only 1 minute left in the de- childhood education. It wasn’t in na- expenses which have been accumulated bate, and they changed the bill. They tional parks. It was in two tax cuts—a by our Nation since 2002, and yet we added in the balanced budget amend- couple trillion dollars or more. It was had a default debate here an hour and ment and some other kinds of changes in two wars—at least a couple trillion a half ago, where the Speaker, who, by and sprung it on the House. dollars. And it was in a crash on Wall the way, voted for every single one of We finished the debate this after- Street when people were laid off and those Bush policies from 2002 up until noon. Vote it up or down, no amend- had to have some kind of assistance. President Bush left office, stood on this ments. We took all that time doing it Obviously, you said Arizona needed floor, blamed the debt crisis that we on a bill that 53 Senators have signed a assistance—$6.4 billion and they still face in our Nation just on one adminis- letter saying that they’re going to op- sold their capitol. tration, which, again, CBO clearly doc- pose it as soon as it gets over there. I would yield to my friend from Con- uments was far less culpable in terms Now, I said unspecified amendments necticut because he has the chart that of what the numbers show. because they don’t cut anything in describes this. Again, it just shows how really corro- their bill. There are no cuts. There are Mr. COURTNEY. Thank you, Mr. sive the partisan debate that’s oc- caps. So we don’t know what the cuts PERLMUTTER and Mr. GARAMENDI, for curred under the 112th Congress since will be because they’re just spending holding this. this new majority took office, com- caps. We will find out next month what As John Adams, our second President pleting omitting the fact that eight they have in mind because that’s when once famously said, Facts are stubborn times during the Bush administration we’ll try to appropriate under the caps, things. This chart here, which is a they voted to raise the debt ceiling to and then we’ll figure out what actually chart which is using the Congressional avoid default. Under Ronald Reagan, 18 has to be cut. Budget Office facts and figures in times. We’ve had clean debt limit in- But we’d have an idea of what they terms of what happened to this country creases. Yet this administration, the might cut because earlier this year since 2002, which as my friend indi- Obama administration, for the first they had a bill of about $66 billion. cated, was the last time we had a bal- time in American history is being held Annualized, that would be about a hun- anced budget in this country. This to a different standard in terms of try- dred billion for the full year. In 10-year chart shows that we have accumulated ing to deal with the debts and obliga- costs, that would be about a trillion. about $7.5 trillion in debt. And $5 tril- tions of this country. So if you want to know what a trillion- lion of that was due to the policies of The rating agencies have spoken loud dollar 10-year cut would look like, we the last administration, starting with and clear in terms of the bill that was can see it. the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, two just voted on here an hour and a half Look at what they cut. They cut wars which, again, lots of debate about ago. A short-term extension of 6 safety net programs like community whether it was in our national interest. months is thumbs down from the rat- action agencies, legal aid, energy as- In any case, what is not debatable is ing agencies because they see that as sistance for low-income seniors, com- that we never paid a penny for either just an invitation this coming Decem- munity health centers, WIC nutrition. one of those conflicts. ber to go through the same political All cut. They had investments in our The Bush tax cuts, $1.8 trillion; non- and economic instability that we saw future, education. All kinds of edu- defense discretionary spending, $608 this past week. And that’s not what cation programs, including Head Start billion. TARP, the Wall Street bailout, our economy needs today. and Pell Grants. Cut. Job training pro- which a lot of people forget occurred Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. It’s in that grams in the middle of an economic under the last administration; a Medi- context that the actions of this Con- downturn. Cut. NASA and other sci- care drug benefit which was passed in gress have to be taken into consider- entific research, energy research. Cut. 2005 and was never paid for. Not a ation because last December we passed

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.074 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H5772 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 29, 2011 an $800 billion, 2-year tax cut—not new stead of protecting those companies I know that Texas likes to say every- tax cuts—extending the ones that were that ship jobs overseas, we want to thing is great in Texas, but I have there. level the playing field, to allow our talked to our colleague, SHEILA JACK- b 1930 manufacturers and our workers to fair- SON LEE, many times we’ve talked to ly compete because we know that they her on the floor, and it’s not all per- Had we let them expire, which I are the best in the world and given a fect. think would have been better judg- chance, a fair chance, they will not Could you share with us the view ment, we would not be in the situation only compete, they will out-compete from Texas? we’re in. We passed $400 billion a year anybody in the world. We need tax poli- Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. The tax cuts. We now have a general con- cies that make sense. We need to focus gentleman from California is very kind sensus that we need, in the next 10 on not only manufacturing but build- for leading this effort, and I’m de- years, $4 trillion worth of savings, def- ing our infrastructure. The world is lighted to be here. We’ve really got a icit reduction, about $400 billion a working on building their infrastruc- regional, national perspective here: the year, exactly the same as what we did ture, and here we are, we heard the gentlemen from Colorado, from Con- in tax cuts last year. All of these cuts cuts that are going on aimed at our in- necticut, the gentlelady from Ohio, we’re talking about are necessary to frastructure. and, of course, the gentleman from partially offset the fact that we ex- It is time, it is past time, that we New York, and the gentleman from tended the tax cuts last year. And the turn to the hard work of putting Amer- Virginia, and Texas. process was all up or down. You had to ica back to work, because while we Texas is a big State. I heard a col- vote it all up or down, one vote, with- have a jobs deficit, we don’t have a def- league on this side of the aisle say that out any choices. We didn’t need to ex- icit of work that needs to be done. Let Texas has got all kinds of articles to tend all of the tax cuts. Maybe if we ex- us get away from this risk of default, talk about how great a State it is. It’s tended some but not all, we could have let us settle the matter, allow America a great State, but when you don’t avoided cuts in Head Start, in food in- to pay its bills, because if we don’t, spend money on people, you wind up spectors, firefighters and those kinds of we’re going to lose even more jobs. like Texas, being 43rd in education, or things. We didn’t make the choice step Economists tell us we’re going to lose you wind up having the State with the by step. It was, we have to extend the 700,000 more jobs if America defaults. largest number of individuals without tax cuts, and in order to preserve those We don’t want to go in that direction. health insurance, and so I have joined tax cuts, we’re making the cuts in We want to go in the direction that al- my colleagues today because I truly be- Medicare and Social Security and Pell lows our workers, our companies and lieve, standing on this side of the Grants and Head Start, clean water our country to make it—Make It in Chamber, that there is an opportunity grants, poison control, and on and on. America. for bipartisanship. But yet we have in- It’s in that context that these cuts are Mr. GARAMENDI. And there’s the dividuals who have been influenced by so regrettable. voice from the central part of the heart signs that say No Surrender. No Sur- Mr. GARAMENDI. If I might, my of America from the great State of render. Those words were more appro- good colleague from Virginia, on the Ohio. priate for our Founding Fathers as floor today it was perfectly clear that We know that America can make it. they stood against oppression. No Sur- the Republicans are refusing to even This is still the greatest manufac- render. But these words are not appro- consider any increases in taxes or the turing center in the world, and part of priate against the American people, elimination of tax breaks, on oil, on our job agenda on the Democratic side that we won’t surrender, no matter corporations that send jobs overseas, is what we call Make It in America. what happens to the American people, it’s no. On the high end, the hedge fund The gentlewoman from Ohio very we in this Congress are so influenced managers that have a billion dollars of quickly pointed out several elements by voices that truly do not have the income, no, they’re going to keep those in that. I put this up while she was concept of invest and grow, and they tax breaks. talking so we could think about it. don’t have the concept of Make It in Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. On that Trade policy. We can’t give away our America. What a wonderful statement point, if we do nothing and let them ex- jobs on trade policy. about the greatness of America. Not No pire—we’re not talking about new tax Taxes. We talked about the tax Surrender but Make It in America, be- cuts—if we just let them expire, we issues, corporations getting tax breaks cause America is not broke, and the have enough deficit reduction on the for going offshore. voices of negativism that would pro- table to match Simpson-Bowles. Energy. We need energy security. We pose legislation that would have us cut Mr. GARAMENDI. There you have it. can’t afford to continue to pay all of without investment, cut without rev- Our colleague from Ohio, if you could our hard-earned dollars to the petro- enue, means that we surrender on the comment. We’re going to do this kind dictators of the world and the most American people. of moving along more rapidly. We’ve dangerous places of the world. We need I wanted to mention that we haven’t got several different comments. Our a domestic energy policy, a green en- said what is happening to local govern- colleague from Texas is back. ergy policy, a clean energy policy, with ment. Here is a major headline that Please, if you would, and then I’ll the tens of thousands, hundreds of says States Feel Pain Over Debt Im- turn to our colleague from Texas. thousands of jobs there. passe. We all come from the people, Ms. SUTTON. I just want to say one Labor policies. We talked about edu- outside of the Beltway, and what is more time, because I know that the cating our kids. BOBBY SCOTT from Vir- happening to the States is that the people that I represent in northeast ginia talked about the cuts that are in markets are being troubled. I had a Ohio, they don’t want government on the Republican budget when we need to press conference and a meeting with their backs but they do want govern- educate, re-educate and prepare our my city comptroller whose invest- ment on their side, and how do we show labor force. ments are in Treasury notes. It’s not that we’re on their side? We focus on Education. In this budget that they just what we do here on the floor of the the issue that matters to them the just put forward are tremendous cuts House. Our cities will have a troubled most, and all they want is a chance. to the Pell Grants that allow kids to go economic infrastructure if the Treas- They want a chance at that American to school. ury notes that they have invested in Dream. Research. Again, BOBBY, you talked all of a sudden drop with severe, if you How do we do that? We do that by fo- about the research cuts, and the infra- will, losses. cusing on jobs, and we do that by focus- structure we’ve talked about several And so I wanted to say that this is ing on this agenda to Make It in Amer- times. This is all part of our agenda. more than just us, it is more than one ica. What does that mean? It means This is how we’re going to build Amer- person in a leaky boat, it is many of us policies that make sense regarding ica, how the American Dream can be- in a leaky boat. Just in the last 48 trade, that instead of fighting to pro- come a reality once again by making hours, to the gentleman, the Dow went tect companies as the Republicans are the critical investments on the public down 200 points. In the last 12 hours through this whole default debacle, in- side, bringing the private side along. coming in today, the Asian markets

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.075 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE July 29, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5773 and our markets have seen a dramatic should, we will grow jobs; we’ll respond of next month, and they’re worried drop, and as you well know, we were to the jobs crisis; we’ll create revenues about whether their Medicare is going here until 11 o’clock at night trying to and they’ll grow; we’ll cut spending re- to be there. wait until the conference, in essence, quired when unemployment rises; and What I would just say—and I know got itself together. we will solve many crises. all of us agree—is we all understand So let me just say that the debt ceil- I have seen the region I represent that it is our solemn duty to protect a ing from my perspective should be a grow per capita, in per capita measure- program that just celebrated its 45th clean one, but we should go forward ment, to be the number one green-pow- anniversary, Medicare, which has made with innovation, investment, and bal- ered job growth region in the country. a difference to every single one of us in anced cutting. We should preserve our That happened because of Federal in- terms of our parents and our grand- Medicare, Medicaid and Social Secu- vestment and State investment. Let’s parents. We understand that we are not rity. just make it in America and do sound going to allow this political bullying Finally let me say this. If the States policy that is bringing us together and effort, using the tool of the default as are being troubled now and people are not dividing us as the leadership of this a device, to butcher the Medicare pro- being influenced by the language or the House has done with their approach. gram. That is a solemn pledge which I words No Surrender, can you imagine Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you, Mr. know every single one of us believes in, what happens when 6 months from now TONKO. and we are going to fight until this epi- the bill that passed with no Democrats, Let’s move to the great State of Vir- sode is over in order to make sure that we would come back again to the ginia, down in the tidewater country. we protect the basic components of re- American people, tell them to be fear- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Thank you tirement security for seniors in Amer- ful about Medicaid, Medicare, Social very much, and I appreciate your doing ica, which is Social Security and Medi- Security, tell our students they might this. care. not have Pell Grants for the second se- As our friend from New York has Mr. GARAMENDI. How about the mester, tell people in the midst of buy- said, we need to be focused on jobs. The view from Colorado? ing a house their interest rates will other side of the aisle is quick to say Mr. PERLMUTTER. I thank my skyrocket, because we’ll be back again that you cannot raise taxes in the mid- friend from California. trying to debate the debt ceiling, and if dle of an economic downturn, and then I would say the view from Colorado various draconian measures are not the next thing they say is we need to is, there’s a lot of pushing and pulling passed such as balanced budget amend- cut spending. Spending cuts have a back here, and I would call upon my moderate friends in the Republican ments by three-fifths, two-thirds, we much larger impact on employment be- Party, if there are any anymore, to will have another default. cause, when you have an agency and when you cut the budget, people get stop this tomfoolery. 1940 b fired immediately. There is a more im- No longer can we put the full faith We need to be focusing on what is mediate effect than tax cuts, which and credit of the United States at risk. good about America. Make it in Amer- you don’t pay until later on. It has a I mean, we do have a duty to preserve ica. Invest, innovate and grow, and larger effect. So, when we start talking and protect our Constitution, and the have mutually balanced sacrifice. about the jobs, these cuts will have an full faith and credit of this country is That’s what will make us great. adverse effect on jobs. We need to focus referred to at least three times in the article about the Congress in the ‘‘full Mr. GARAMENDI. Ms. JACKSON LEE, on jobs first. thank you so much. We wouldn’t be going through this faith and credit’’ section of the Con- We have about 10 minutes left here, kind of attack on our economy, on stitution and then in the 14th Amend- and I’d like to do lightning rounds. Medicare, on the education programs if ment. We pay our debts. We pay our bills. So I’d just say that the President My colleagues, you’ve been so elo- it had not been for the threat to shut has proposed a solid, long-term fiscal quent and have really brought these down the economy. This threat is un- plan. It took us 10 years to get into issues to bear, but why don’t we all do precedented. We need to pay our obli- this financial mess from the time we a wrap—we’ll do about a minute—and gations. We cannot default. It’s actu- had a surplus under Bill Clinton, and it we’ll just pass it around. ally manufactured, because never in will take us several years to right our- Let’s start with the great State of American history has there been any selves, but we can do it. This is Amer- New York. So we’ll go to the east coast serious effort to fail to pay our obliga- first. ica. tions as we’ve been going through in Then as we’re doing that, we really Mr. TONKO. just these past few days. do have to focus on making sure that Mr. TONKO. Thank you, Representa- We need to increase the debt ceiling people who play by the rules, who are tive GARAMENDI. in the same way we’ve done it every responsible and hardworking, have a Let me just say that the challenge year, sometimes twice a year—on aver- shot at getting advanced in this world. for America to pay her bills, many of age about once a year, sometimes twice The best way to do that is through a those bills that were accrued before a year—over the last 50 years. Just in- good job and through making things in this administration, is not a Repub- crease the debt ceiling. We should not America. lican challenge; it’s not a Democratic be jeopardizing. We should not be hav- For Democrats, really our formula is challenge. It’s an American challenge. ing all this uncertainty in the markets to innovate, educate, rebuild this econ- The default crisis that is challenging with what’s going on here today. As omy, and rebuild our infrastructure. our economy, threatening our economy that saying goes, ‘‘Just do it.’’ That will make this country strong, is not a Republican crisis; it’s not a Mr. GARAMENDI. Indeed, we do. If and it will make Colorado strong. We Democratic crisis. It’s an American we’re going to have the American love our clean energy industry. That’s crisis. The jobs crisis is not a Repub- Dream continue to be a reality, we’ve a good place to start. lican crisis or a Democratic crisis. It’s got lot of work to do. We’ve got to put Mr. GARAMENDI. And from Texas, an American crisis. the American people back to work, and SHEILA JACKSON LEE. You get the message. We need to we’re going to have to deal with the Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. I thank come together, not pull farther apart. deficit, and it will take us a while to do the gentleman. I represent what I’d like to call the it. First of all, thank you for allowing original Tech Valley. The Erie Canal/ Mr. COURTNEY, you very well and elo- us to really talk about how great Barge Canal were hosted in the 21st quently pointed out how we got into America is—I agree with you—and we Congressional District. It provided for the deficit. Please, your final thoughts. are not broke. Chairman Bernanke said a westward movement. It embraced the Mr. COURTNEY. Sure. Tonight, I fast, undefined cuts will hamper the pioneer spirit of America. Mill towns know and every one of us here knows economy, and he is nonpartisan as became the epicenters of invention and there are a lot of older Americans who Chairman of the Federal Reserve. innovation. That same pioneer spirit is are watching this debate extremely So what do we need to do? in our DNA at the very present day, closely who are worried about their So- We need to look at our history. today. If we invest as we know we cial Security checks at the beginning Twenty million jobs were created

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.077 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE H5774 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 29, 2011 under the Democratic Presidency of HOUR OF MEETING ON TOMORROW here to the floor, and we’re putting to- William Jefferson Clinton—and then Mr. WEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- gether an actual presentation of the this President, with the American Re- mous consent that when the House ad- Medicare actuary report to walk people covery and Reinvestment Act that we journs today, it adjourn to meet at through, both our citizens and our fel- supported, 3 million jobs. We know how noon tomorrow, and further, when the low Members here, the reality of the to do this. House adjourns on that day, it adjourn numbers. But there was so much rhet- What I would say to my friends is to meet at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, oric on the floor today, and even with- that we have the responsibility to be 2011. in the last couple of hours, that it be- not ‘‘any’’ party, but Democrats are The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there came one of those ‘‘it was time to come here to be for the American people, and objection to the request of the gen- back here to the floor.’’ this weekend, Democrats will be the These are some slides that we used tleman from Florida? ones standing in the gap for the Amer- about a week ago. And it was my great There was no objection. ican people. I am proud of that. frustration, because how do you man- My last point is, there is no shame in f age your government? How do you en- taking care of the vulnerable. The last gage in this political process when THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEBT thing we want to do as we leave this we’re operating under mathematical CEILING place in these next couple of days with folklore? We’re living in a fantasy land the debt ceiling in place, as it should The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under when you see Members walk up to that be, is to leave behind us seniors who the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- microphone, look the public in the eye may be thrown out of nursing homes uary 5, 2011, the gentleman from Flor- through that camera and say, If we because we didn’t do what was right. ida (Mr. WEST) is recognized for 60 min- would just get rid of those incentives So I say we can do it, and we can do the utes as the designee of the majority to buy corporate jets, if we would just debt ceiling in the way that creates leader. tax Big Oil, if we would just tax those jobs and protects the American people. Mr. WEST. Mr. Speaker, free mar- millionaires and billionaires. Mr. GARAMENDI. Thank you. kets, free enterprise, innovation, and So one more time, we’re going to ac- I’ll do a wrap here, and we’ll be fin- entrepreneurship are the foundation tually walk through a little bit of ished for this evening. for economic growth and job creation mathematical reality so we might be Unfortunately, the work has not yet in America. able to start having an argument, a de- been completed. We do need to lift the For the past 4 years, Democrats in bate, a discussion that has some basis debt ceiling. We can, and it will be Washington have enacted policies that in fact instead of basis in, I’m going to done one way or the other. The Presi- undermine these basic concepts which say whatever is necessary from this dent has the ultimate authority under have historically placed America at microphone to get reelected. And it the 14th Amendment of the Constitu- the forefront of the global market- breaks my heart, but in my 7 months tion to simply order the Treasury to place. As a result, most Americans here, I think that happens an awful pay the bills. know someone who has recently lost a darn lot. All that has gone on here today will job, and small businesses and entre- A quick sample of where we are at devastate the United States. It will preneurs lack the confidence needed to today. That’s a dollar bill. Do you see devastate it. We’ve talked about that invest in our economy. Not since the this first part? That’s 42 percent. So 42 part of this is the requirement that no Great Depression has our Nation’s un- pennies of every dollar this Federal more debt ceilings will be lifted until employment rate been this high for Government is spending today is bor- there is a constitutional amendment this long. rowed. That’s why this debate that that requires a two-thirds, or a 60 per- Enough is enough. More taxation, we’re going through right now is so cent, vote to do anything. That is guar- regulation, and litigation will not cre- much more than just the debt ceiling anteed gridlock. The only thing that ate more jobs. Government takeovers and how much more our borrowing ca- could take place on a majority vote of the economy have failed while the pacity is. It is the fact we’re buried in would be cuts. Think about that, size and scope of the Federal Govern- debt and we are crashing, being America. In order to raise taxes, in ment has exploded. Washington has crushed under that weight. order to end the tax breaks given to tied the hands of small business owners If you go and read the S&P letters the oil companies or the rich barons on and job creators with onerous regula- and the Moody’s letters, it’s so much Wall Street, it takes a two-thirds vote. tions and backward fiscal policies that more than, Raise the debt ceiling or But to cut Medicare?—a majority vote. have stalled the economy, slowed inno- you might get downgraded. It is, You We’re not going to let that happen. vation, and destroyed jobs. are going to get downgraded unless. There is one place that the Demo- There is a credible plan to dem- We need commonsense growth poli- cratic Party is going to stand, and that onstrate how you intend to bend this cies to give small businesses and entre- is: Keep your hands off Social Security debt curve. That’s the real debate preneurs renewed confidence in our and Medicare. No way. Nohow. I don’t around here. That’s what you are see- economy and to remove Washington as care about all of this talk that goes on ing the Republicans passionately try to the roadblock to job creation. here. The bottom line is: That is a fun- discuss with the American people and America is at a crossroads, and damental building block foundation of with our brothers and sisters from the House Republicans are committed to this Nation. It brought every senior other side that this was so much more taking every possible step to spur pri- out of poverty. than raising the debt ceiling. It was a vate sector job creation and get our discussion about saving this Republic. b 1950 economy back on track so that Ameri- So if you have a Republic, this gov- There’s not a family in America that cans can do what they do best: create, ernment borrows 42 pennies out of doesn’t depend upon Social Security innovate, and lead. every dollar we spend. How long do you and Medicare for their parents. Now, if Tonight, my colleague and I will con- think that’s going to last? you want that cut, you stay there with vey the frustrations of small business So what sort of rhetorical things do what the Republicans are talking owners and those who have received we get to hear around here? Well, let’s about because there’s no way that you the bad end of the stick of horrible actually, now, do a little analysis on a could possibly carry out what they’re policies created by the Obama adminis- couple of them. proposing unless you go after Medicare tration. How many of you in the last 24 hours, and Social Security and Medicaid. At this time, I yield to the gen- both either in the gallery or here on We will not let it happen. This is tleman from Arizona, my friend and the floor with me or my good friend where we stand. It’s not a line in the colleague, Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. WEST, have heard Members walk sand. It is etched into the very heart of Mr. SCHWEIKERT. I thank the gen- up to microphones, shake their hands the Democratic Party. tleman from Florida. and say, No more subsidies for those With that, I thank my colleagues for One of my reasons for asking you for corporate jets? joining me this evening, and I yield a little bit of your time this evening is Okay. Maybe they’re right. But let’s back the balance of my time. one of these days I’m supposed to come actually do the math.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:01 Jul 30, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K29JY7.079 H29JYPT1 jbell on DSKDVH8Z91PROD with HOUSE