Speeches

House Chamber, Washington, D.C. M. Speaker:

The proponents tell us that this bill will increase lending to small businesses. To do so they are creating a $30 billion slush fund to make loans to smaller banks, therefore encouraging smaller banks to make loans to small businesses. Or so they say.

It is a splendid example of what I like to call McClintock’s Second Law of Political Physics: the more we invest in our mistakes, the less willing we are to correct them.

House Chamber, Washington, D.C. M. Speaker:

Suppose your family is deeply in debt, bills are piling up, your credit cards are eating you alive. Finally, you seek the help of a financial counselor.

What’s the first thing that counselor is going to say? He’s going to say, “the very first thing we’ve got to do is sit down and sketch out a family budget.”

We all know that.

It’s hard work. It’s painful. But it’s absolutely necessary if you’re going to get control of your finances.

Our national debt is fast approaching the size of our entire economy.

House Chamber, Washington, D.C. May 25, 2010. M. Speaker:

The failure of this House to pass a budget at a time of unprecedented deficit spending speaks volumes about the house majority.

In order to resolve a crisis you must first be willing to face it. If you can’t face the problem, you can’t deal with it.

That’s what the budget process is: the painful but necessary assessment of our financial affairs. Without it, there cannot be even a theoretical solution.

House Chamber, Washington, D.C. May 20, 2010. M. Speaker:

I rise to take strong exception to the speech of the President of Mexico while in this chamber today.

The Mexican government has made it very clear for many years that it holds American sovereignty in contempt and President Calderon’s behavior as a guest of the Congress confirms and underscores this attitude.

It is highly inappropriate for the President of Mexico to lecture Americans on American immigration policy, just as it would be for Americans to lecture Mexico on its laws.

WASHINGTON, DC – Representative Tom McClintock (R – Granite Bay) delivered the following remarks on the House floor today in opposition to the costly “Cash for Caulkers” weatherization program:

Learning from Experience (NOT)
House Chamber, Washington, D.C.
May 6, 2010

M. Speaker:

Since “Cash for Caulkers” is based on the “Cash for Clunkers” program maybe somebody ought to ask, “How did that one work out?”

House Chamber, Washington D.C.
April 29, 2010

Mr. Speaker:

Proponents have a problem. They want statehood for Puerto Rico. But in 1998, the majority voted no.

What to do?

Replace a straight-forward up or down vote with a two-step process.

If 40 percent support the Commonwealth, and 20 percent favor each of three alternatives, the overwhelming plurality is defeated on the first ballot and left only to chose among three options they do not support.

House Chamber, Washington, D.C. April 27, 2010. M. Speaker:

During the recent health debate, the Speaker ominously said, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.”

They passed it. And now we’re finding out what’s in it.

They told us it would keep costs down. Now they admit health costs will soar by $311 billion, increasing to 21 percent of GDP by 2019.

House Chamber, Washington, D.C.,
March 20, 2010.

M. Speaker:

In the introduction to his epic “Ten Commandments,” Cecil B. Demille asked the question: “Are men the property of the state, or are they free souls under God?”

Congress will fundamentally address that question tomorrow.

Will the federal government order Americans to buy products that government thinks they should buy, and to fine or imprison them if they refuse?

Will it empower a new health Czar to make decisions over the most minute details of every American’s health care?