House Proceeding 02-25-09 on Feb 25th, 2009 :: 0:52:40 to 0:54:35
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0:52:36 to 0:52:58( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: we are not cutting the deficit but increasing the federal debt. this is intolerable and this will rule should be rejected. the speaker pro tempore: who seeks recognition? the gentleman from texas, for what purpose does do you rise? mr. sessions: i would like to yield 1 1/2 minutes to the

0:52:40 to 0:54:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles W. Dent

0:52:59 to 0:53:19( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: gentleman from allen town, pennsylvania. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for 1 1/2 minutes. >> we are operating under a closed rule and i appreciate the fact that we are going to eliminate the pay raise. we should not be getting a raise in a time like this. but ordinarilyly we operate what

0:53:20 to 0:53:40( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: is normally an open rule so we can offer amendments. that is our custom and i'm disappointed we're not allowed to do that. we all talk about bipartisan, as we should and we should try to work for bipartisan legislation. the president, just the other day, said something to the effect that the majority needs to be inclusive in the minority needs to be constructive.

0:53:41 to 0:54:02( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: i agree. and in that spirit, i offered an amendment to the rules committee that would have limited the increase in spending in this legislation to the rate of inflation, to 3.8% and it was rejected on a party-line vote. he again, that amendment was substantive and it was constructive and would have been

0:54:03 to 0:54:24( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: benefiting to the american taxpayer. we have an obligation to govern and we must pass appropriations bills to fund the government. that is important and that's something we must do. but the fact that we are operating under this closed-rule process shuts people out of the process. it is unfair, it's unreasonable and not bipartisan and we should heed president obama's advice

0:54:25 to 0:54:35( Edit History Discussion )

Charles W. Dent: that the minority should be constructive and the majority should be inclusive, and that is not what is occurring with respect to this omnibus appropriations act. i'm disappointed.