July 10, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 158, Pt. 8 10899 SENATE—Tuesday, July 10, 2012 The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was SMALL BUSINESS JOBS AND TAX taxes for firms that invest in new called to order by the Honorable RICH- RELIEF ACT—MOTION TO PROCEED equipment, allowing more than 2 mil- ARD BLUMENTHAL, a Senator from the Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to lion businesses to grow faster. State of Connecticut. proceed to Calendar No. 341, S. 2237. These two proposals will create al- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- most 1 million new jobs, and econo- PRAYER pore. The clerk will report. mists from across the political spec- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- The legislative clerk read as follows: trum agree this is the most effective fered the following prayer: Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 341, S. and efficient way to give the economy Let us pray. 2237, a bill to provide a temporary income a badly needed boost. If my Republican Eternal God, the world and all that is tax credit for increased payroll and extend colleagues want their record to match in it belong to You. You built our bonus depreciation for an additional year, their rhetoric, they will end their fili- Earth on the deep waters and laid its and for other purposes. buster of this worthy measure, and foundations in the ocean depths. Great SCHEDULE they will vote to support the real job and marvelous are Your works. Give Mr. REID. Mr. President, the next creators. Your Senators this day Your hand of hour will be equally divided between Unfortunately, while Republicans mercy so that they will feel Your peace Democrats and Republicans. The ma- agree we should cut taxes, their ap- and be guided by Your wisdom. Remind jority will control the first half and the proach is completely different from them that their value comes not only Republicans will control the final half. ours. Congressional Republicans want in actions in the work arena but also in At 11:30 the Senate will proceed to to lavish huge across-the-board tax reflection and meditation and prayer executive session to consider the nomi- cuts on billionaire hedge fund man- when they are not on Capitol Hill. Keep nation of John Fowkles to be U.S. Dis- agers and mega-rich celebrities such as them close to You and constantly trict Judge for the Western District of Donald Trump. aware of Your abiding spirit in their Tennessee. At noon there will be a roll- Unlike our proposal, the Republican lives. As they make time for quiet de- call vote on the confirmation of that plan, which passed the House of Rep- liberation and circumspection, may nomination. resentatives, would not do a thing to they grow in the assurance of Your The Senate will recess from 12:30 encourage hiring. More than 99 percent power. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for our weekly of businesses in America would qualify We pray in Your sacred Name. Amen. caucus meetings. for this extravagant tax break—even if f At approximately 2:25 p.m., there will they didn’t create a single new job or be a cloture vote on the motion to pro- raise wages for one solitary employee. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ceed to S. 2237, which is the Small In fact, fabulously rich so-called small The Honorable RICHARD BLUMENTHAL Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act. business owners such as Kim led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: MEASURE PLACED ON CALENDAR—S. 3364 Kardashian and Paris Hilton could I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Mr. REID. Mr. President, I under- qualify for these wasteful giveaways. United States of America, and to the Repub- stand that S. 3364 is at the desk and is Even though three-quarters of Ameri- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, due for a second reading. cans oppose more tax breaks for the indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- wealthiest few, nearly half of the bene- f jority leader is correct. fits of this $46 billion Republican pro- APPOINTMENT OF ACTING The clerk will report the bill by title posal would go to millionaires and bil- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE for the second time. lionaires. Mr. President, we Democrats want to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 3364) to provide an incentive for cut taxes for small businesses, but the clerk will please read a communication Republican alternative that passed the to the Senate from the President pro businesses to bring jobs back to America. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to House of Representatives is simply the tempore (Mr. INOUYE). wrong way to do it. The legislative clerk read the fol- any further proceedings with respect to lowing letter: this bill at this time. RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- U.S. SENATE, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, pore. Objection having been heard, the pore. The minority leader is recog- Washington, DC, July 10, 2012. bill will be placed on the calendar. nized. To the Senate: SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUTS THE ECONOMY Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Mr. REID. Mr. President, my Repub- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, last of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby lican colleagues talk a good game on Friday morning the American people appoint the Honorable RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, a Senator from the State of taxes, but Democrats’ record of cutting woke up to the news that the economy Connecticut, to perform the duties of the taxes for small businesses speaks loud- is on life support. The first response of Chair. er than Republican rhetoric. the President of the United States was DANIEL K. INOUYE, Since President Obama took office, that we are headed in the right direc- President pro tempore. taxes have been cut for small busi- tion. Mr. BLUMENTHAL thereupon as- nesses 18 times. Today he will advance Let’s just think about that for a sec- sumed the chair as Acting President a plan to cut taxes for small firms for ond. The President’s first reaction to pro tempore. the 19th time in just 31⁄2 years. the news that more Americans signed f The Small Business Jobs and Tax Re- up for disability last month than got lief Act would put money back into the jobs was to flash a thumbs up and head RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY coffers of true job creators. Under our back to the campaign trail, just like LEADER plan business owners who hire new his first reaction to a question about The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- workers or give raises to current em- the economy at a recent White House pore. The majority leader is recog- ployees would get a 10-percent tax press conference was to say that the nized. credit. Our legislation would also cut private sector is doing just fine. ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 13:35 Apr 28, 2017 Jkt 019102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\TEMP\BR12\S10JY2.000 S10JY2 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD 10900 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 158, Pt. 8 July 10, 2012 Well, obviously, answers like that come redistribution. It is his idea of tend all income tax rates while we just aren’t going to cut it. The Presi- fairness, which means you earn and he make progress on fundamental tax re- dent’s advisers must be telling him takes. His definition of fairness means form. that much. So yesterday the Presi- you earn and he takes. It is time to put the failed policies of dent—the man at the wheel—changed Third, it is purely political. The the past 31⁄2 years aside and try some- his tune by doing his Washington best President’s top priority for the last thing else. Washington has done to change the subject. year hasn’t been creating jobs; it has enough damage to the economy al- For 31⁄2 years, this White House has been saving his own. Let me say that ready. Let’s focus on the kinds of shown an utter lack of imagination again. The top priority of the President progrowth jobs proposals the Repub- when it comes to jobs and the econ- hasn’t been creating jobs for anybody lican-led House has already passed. omy. If the solution doesn’t involve else; it has been saving his own job. His And above all, let’s do no harm. It is more government, they are not inter- advisers seem to think if they create time to give the private sector and the ested. That is all they have. So yester- enough scapegoats that he will slip by innovators and the workers who drive day the President went back to the in November. it a fighting chance. same well one more time. After 31⁄2 That is why he has spent the past Mr. President, I yield the floor. years of more government, more debt, year trying to convince the public that RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME more spending, more taxes, and more somehow his predecessor is more re- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- regulations, he demanded even more. sponsible for the economic failures of pore. Under the previous order, the 1 Yesterday the President issued an ul- the past 3 ⁄2 years than he is; that all leadership time is reserved.