Speeches
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. January 6, 2011. M. Speaker:
I rise to express the hope that historians will look back on the 112th Congress as the session that restored American prosperity – and to express my strong agreement with the new leaders of this House who have declared that every action of this body must be measured against this goal.
We speak of “jobs, jobs, jobs,” but jobs are a product of prosperity. And prosperity is the product of freedom.
M. Speaker:
This lame duck session is rapidly descending into farce. I believe this House is now in danger of becoming a caricature of everything the American people rejected in November: incompetence, arrogance, and a complete detachment from reality.
Nearly two months ago, the American people said very clearly they don’t want this Congress legislating for them any longer. And instead of graciously and humbly accepting the public’s verdict, the Democratic leaders seem intent to thumb their noses at the American people.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. December 21, 2010. Mr. Speaker:
On November 2nd, the American people spoke loudly and clearly: stop the spending.
Instead of graciously bowing to the public will, the Left has embarked on a frantic lame-duck spending spree with a majority already turned out of office by the voters.
First, they exacted another $136 billion in spending as the price to prevent a devastating tax increase on New Year’s Day.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. December 16, 2010. M. Speaker: I commend the Senate for passing the tax relief measure yesterday, and I hope that the House passes it today.
According to the CBO, this bill comprises $136 billion in additional spending and $721 billion in tax relief. That means fifteen percent of this bill is spending – the other 85 percent is tax relief:
· No across the board increase in income tax rates next year.
· No AMT biting deeper into middle class families.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C. December 14, 2010.
M. Speaker:
Mr. Speaker: Titles 3 through 6 of the bill purport to settle four water rights claims against the United States by signing away the public’s right to nearly 300 BILLION gallons of water annually AND in perpetuity -- in addition to spending more than $1.2 billion.
The proponents of the bill are correct that if taxpayers will end up paying more if the claims go to trial, then we should settle out of court. But I sincerely doubt this is the case.
El Dorado Hills, California, October 25, 2010.
In a moment of breathtaking condescension during the debate over ObamaCare, Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it…”
Well, they passed it. And ever since, the American people have been finding out what’s in it. There’s a reason that not a single Democrat in a competitive race is touting his or her support for ObamaCare.
House Chamber, Washington, D.C., September 23, 2010. M. Speaker:
House Chamber, Washington, D.C., September 14, 2010.
Throughout what was supposed to be a “recovery summer,” the President has repeated a familiar theme: that Republicans ran us into a ditch and now they want the keys back.
That’s an important point, and we need to understand exactly what the Bush administration did to run us into a ditch. In fact, President Bush made two major policy blunders.
Mr. Speaker:
Many people are asking why Congress is here today. I think the answer’s pretty simple: we’re not bankrupting the country fast enough and so we need to come back and spend more.
In the merciful week that Congress was not in session, my constituents had one message: STOP THE SPENDING. Obviously, Congress isn’t listening.