4050 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 158, Pt. 3 March 26, 2012 SENATE—Monday, March 26, 2012 The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was in a period of morning business until the highway bill. That is, at this stage, called to order by the Honorable RICH- 4:30 p.m. today. Following that morn- without any suggestion that they ARD BLUMENTHAL, a Senator from the ing business the Senate will resume would go to conference with us. It State of Connecticut. consideration of the motion to proceed would seem to me that is the most PRAYER to S. 2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Sub- practical thing to do—have a short- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- sidies Act. At 5:30 p.m. there will be up term extension and during the process fered the following prayer: to two rollcall votes. The first vote will work to see what we can come up with, Let us pray. be a cloture vote on the motion to pro- working together. I know this is for- Almighty God, look beyond the ceed to S. 2204. If cloture is not in- eign language to what has gone on in harmful paths on which we have voked, there will be a second cloture the House in the last year and a half, walked and see our spirits created in vote on the motion to proceed to the but that would be a good idea—to try Your likeness and longing to commune postal reform bill. that, to work together to come up with with You. f a bill, a 2-year bill, a 3-year bill. Work- ing together, we could do that on a bi- Speak to our lawmakers today and MEASURES PLACED ON THE CAL- teach them to listen through earth- partisan basis, as we did here. Their ENDAR—H.R. 5, S. 2230, AND S. short-term bandaid bill is no solution. quakes, wind, and fire for Your still 2231 small voice. Guide them to learn the Communities and contractors need cer- language of prayer and daily experi- Mr. REID. Mr. President, there are tainty—especially going into the sum- ence its power in their lives. May they three bills at the desk due for a second mer construction season. We want to be calm when You would have them lis- reading. I would like the clerk to re- make sure projects do not grind to a ten and obedient when You would have port them if you so order. halt in 3 months because the House them act, always eager to receive di- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- once again refuses to act. rections from You. pore. The clerk will read the bills by The American people certainly know We pray in Your holy Name. Amen. title for a second time. at this stage whom to blame because of The legislative clerk read as follows: the problems over there. It is a crisis. f A bill (H.R. 5) to improve patient access to It is a chaotic place we find over there. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE health care services and provide improved They are looking to cost us 3 million The Honorable RICHARD BLUMENTHAL medical care by reducing the excessive bur- jobs. One week remains until these led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: den the liability system places on the health projects around the country lock their care delivery system. gates and lay off their workers. It is I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the A bill (S. 2230) to reduce the deficit by im- United States of America, and to the Repub- posing a minimum effective tax rate for time for House Republican leaders to lic for which it stands, one nation under God, high-income taxpayers. do what is responsible: take up the indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. A bill (S. 2231) to amend the Federal Credit Senate-passed Transportation bill and f Union Act, to advance the ability of credit pass it. The American people are unions to promote small business growth and watching and time is wasting. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING economic development opportunities, and for PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE other purposes. f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to clerk will please read a communication any further proceedings with regard to FORGING A PATH FORWARD to the Senate from the President pro these three pieces of legislation. Mr. REID. Mr. President, while tempore (Mr. INOUYE). The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- House Republicans are squandering The legislative clerk read the fol- pore. Objection having been heard, the precious time and risking American lowing letter: bills will be placed on the calendar. jobs, the Senate will now move forward U.S. SENATE, f with a bill to repeal billions in sub- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, sidies to big oil companies. Washington, DC, March 26, 2012. TRANSPORTATION JOBS Last year, Big Oil raked in $137 bil- To the Senate: Mr. REID. Mr. President, tens of lion in profits—more than ever before— Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, thousands of bridges—70,000, to be but still received billions in taxpayer- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby exact—and millions of miles of roads funded giveaways. It does not make appoint the Honorable RICHARD BLUMEN- THAL, a Senator from the State of Con- across the country are in a state of dis- sense. Even with domestic oil produc- necticut, to perform the duties of the Chair. repair. But rather than putting Ameri- tion at its highest level in almost a DANIEL K. INOUYE, cans to work fixing these roads and decade, prices at the pump are rising. President pro tempore. bridges—and, of course, repairing the Oil companies are making money hand Mr. BLUMENTHAL thereupon as- crumbling train tracks, highways, and over fist. sumed the chair as Acting President sidewalks across this country—House When the price of a gallon of gas goes pro tempore. Republicans are pandering to the tea up by a single penny, quarterly profits party. They cannot do a bill. They can- for the five major oil companies go up f not do a bill. They have tried. They $200 million. I heard on the news this RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY cannot do a bill. They are now not morning that the price of gas in the LEADER fighting us, they are fighting among last couple weeks has gone up 12 cents. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- themselves. As if putting the tea party Well, that is more than $2 billion for pore. The majority leader is recog- ahead of efforts to repair our Nation’s the oil companies. nized. crumbling infrastructure was not bad This country continues to give tax- f enough, House Republicans are risking payer dollars to some of the most prof- almost 3 million jobs in the process. itable corporations in the world—not SCHEDULE I was very disappointed last week to some of the most profitable, the most Mr. REID. Mr. President, following hear that the House Republican leaders profitable. They are doing better than any leader remarks the Senate will be hope to pursue a 3-month extension of Google and Microsoft and all of them. ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:35 Mar 17, 2017 Jkt 019102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR12\S26MR2.000 S26MR2 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD March 26, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 158, Pt. 3 4051 They are the No. 1 profitable corpora- MORNING BUSINESS But the Medicaid expansion did not tions in the world. It is time to end The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- stop with wrecking Federal budgets. It this careless corporate welfare. pore. Under the previous order, the hammers State budgets as well. This The only real way to bring down Senate will be in a period of morning program already consumes 24 percent prices at the pump is to reduce U.S. de- business until 4:30 p.m., with Senators of State budgets. The law’s Medicaid pendence on foreign oil. That will take permitted to speak therein for up to 10 expansion will force $118 billion in ad- additional responsible domestic oil pro- minutes each. ditional unfunded mandates on our duction and smart investments in Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a States through 2023. The National Gov- clean energy technology. quorum. ernors Association has weighed in on The Senate will vote this evening to The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- this issue. They said: ‘‘Spending on advance the Repeal Big Oil Tax Sub- pore. The clerk will call the roll. Medicaid is expected to consume an in- sidies Act. This legislation ends more The legislative clerk proceeded to creasing share of State budgets and than $2 billion a year in tax breaks for call the roll. grow much more rapidly than State Big Oil, and it invests the savings in Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I ask revenue growth, resulting in slow or no the clean energy industry, where it will unanimous consent that the order for growth in education, transportation, or grow our economy and create jobs. the quorum call be rescinded. public safety.’’ Repealing wasteful subsidies will not The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- The Nebraska impact tells the story. cause oil prices to go up. Repealing pore. Without objection, it is so or- The Governor commissioned a study in Nebraska to see what the impact would wasteful subsidies, I repeat, will not dered.