House Proceeding 03-19-09 on Mar 19th, 2009 :: 0:26:00 to 0:46:00
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0:25:25 to 0:26:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles B. Rangel

0:25:42 to 0:26:01( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: a disingenuous attempt to cover their rears. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: mr. speaker, it seems like my friends on the other side got the wrong bill. if you want support for an inquiry, let's talk about it. we want the taxpayers' money back no matter who is wrong.

0:26:02 to 0:26:22( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: so talk about the inquiry, we're talking about recouping the taxpayers' money. i yield one minute to my friend, mr. blumen naur, my friend from friend from oregon. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized.

0:26:05 to 0:27:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Earl Blumenauer

0:26:23 to 0:26:43( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: mr. blumenauer: thank you, i apprecia with you on what's been a sharp reversal. in most of my career here, we have watched the tax code twisted, stretched, bent to lavish rewards on a tiny minorityf americans a few thousand of the richest americans, and the favored special interests.

0:26:44 to 0:27:05( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: today in a sharp reversal under your leadership we use the tax code to rebalance the scales. we will use the tax code to strip away the outrageous benefits of these bonuses to some of the people who helped drive the economy into the ditch in the first place. we're helping protect taxpayers, get their money back, and i

0:27:06 to 0:27:10( Edit History Discussion )

Earl Blumenauer: hope, mr. chairman, sending a message on how the tax code will

0:27:11 to 0:27:32( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: be used under the obama administration and your work on ways and means to be able to help the american public as we move forward to protect and rebalance the economy. thank you, and i yield back. the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from texas. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for one

0:27:15 to 0:28:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Louie Gohmert

0:27:33 to 0:27:54( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: minute. mr. gohmert: here once again, we're going to hastily do something wrong. good intentioned. there's nobody in this congress that wants that money back more than i do. going back to september, going back to the stimulusspend louse, going back to the -- spendulous, going back to the omnibus we hastily went through this stuff. some of us said, don't go so

0:27:55 to 0:28:16( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: fast, we can make sure we got a better bill. we didn't do that. so here we a shred the constitution with an ex post facto law that says we'll go back and ta 90% of the taxes. we don't takbad law and make worse law shredding the constitution. you want to get it back, i want

0:28:17 to 0:28:37( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: more than 90%, i want 100%. you do that by forcing them into bankruptcy, going back, putting these preferences aside so we get 100% and we get more than just the bonuses in bankruptcy or receivership. that's constitutional. don't shred the constitution after we've already messed up by blowing aside the procedure and

0:28:38 to 0:28:58( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: doing the history -- hastily wrong thing to do the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: there's no constitutional challenge here, i can assure you, but one thing is clear. i may be supporting an inquiry as to who did the stimulus, spendulous, the people want to know. these guys have to get away with

0:28:40 to 0:29:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles B. Rangel

0:28:59 to 0:29:10( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: what they've done to our communities, what they've done to our homes what they've done to our pride, what they've done to our country, what they've done for the world. when the score is taken, it's going to be those who vote for the bill, and those who voted

0:29:11 to 0:29:32( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: against it. and that's it. you can go on with your inquiry this bill is abund -- abundantly clear. the question is, which side are you on? i yield one minute to the distinguished member of the ways and means committee from florida, representative meek. gentleman from florida is

0:29:15 to 0:31:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Kendrick B. Meek

0:29:33 to 0:29:53( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: recognized for one minute. mr. meek: mr. chairman, thank you so very much for bringing this bill to the floor. the bottom line is that at the top of this week, when we all learned what happened with the bonuses and all, the american people wanted to know what the congress was going to do as it relates to these taxpayer dollars that are being used for the bonuses. are you going to get our money

0:29:54 to 0:30:14( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: back? or are you going to file an inquiry. nobody called me, no one called my district office and said, congressman, please go to congress and file an inquiry about my taxpayer dollars. they're saying, get it back, get it back now. the other side is talking about the constitution and wrapping themselves in the flag, saying, oh, my goodness, we're shredding

0:30:15 to 0:30:35( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: the constitution. that's the pot calling the kettle black, as far as i'm concerned. the supreme court and courts throughout the land, there are unconstitutional measure that was been broughto this floor and that's up for the courts. as far as i'm concerned what we're being told, this is fine this language is in, i have the floor. this language is well into order

0:30:36 to 0:30:57( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: and we're going to pass this legislation. you have to vote up or down, you can't come with excuses, the bottom line is, we're getting the taxpayer dollars back. thank you so very much. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman will state his parliamentary inquiry. mr. gohmert: is --

0:30:58 to 0:31:00( Edit History Discussion )

Kendrick B. Meek: mr. gohmert: is it inappropriate and against the rules to ask

0:31:01 to 0:31:23( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: another member to yield? the speaker pro tempore: any member can ask another member to yield. mr. gohmert: further parliamentary inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his inquiry. mr. gohmert spst is inappropriate when somebody accuses me of being the pot calling the kettle black, of doing the very thing i accuse

0:31:15 to 0:32:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Louie Gohmert

0:31:24 to 0:31:45( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: others of doing, of asking the gentleman to yield so i can find out where he's coming from. the speaker pro tempore: that's not a parliamentary inquiry. mr. gohmert: so it's inappropriate to ask? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his inquiry. mr. gohmert: the inquiry is, am i allowed to ask someone to yield after they've called me a

0:31:46 to 0:32:05( Edit History Discussion )

Louie Gohmert: name. the speaker pro tempore: that is not a parliamentary inquiry. mr. gohmert: so you're saying you don't know whether i can ask the person to yield? the speaker pro tempore: whoever controls the time at the time is allowed, by house rules, allowed to determine who they will or will not yield to. mr. gohmert: so would it be

0:32:06 to 0:32:26( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: inappropriate to ask the gentleman who controls the time to specify how i am shreding the constitution when i say someone else is doing so. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman have anot parliamentary inquiry? mr. gohmert: i think you've taken care of that the speaker pro tempore: the

0:32:10 to 0:33:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Dan Burton

0:32:27 to 0:32:47( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: chair reminds the people in the gallery that they are guests in the house and any siphon approval or disapproval of the proceedings is in violation of the rules of the house. mr. camp: i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from indiana. the speaker pro tempore: the

0:32:48 to 0:33:08( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: gentman is recognized. mr. barton: the stimulus bill -- mr. burton: the stimulus bill was 1,100 pages. in the middle of that was a bill to allow bonuses to be paid, nobody on our side read the

0:33:09 to 0:33:29( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: bill, nobody on our side voted for it. nobody on your side read the bill. in my opinion, this is the way you cover up a big mistake made by you and the conferees. this should never have happened. now you're trying to do something that's of questionable constitutionality to cover up a big mistake. i don't know why you don't just own up to it.

0:33:30 to 0:33:40( Edit History Discussion )

Dan Burton: this is something that should not have happened. this is something the democrats, my good fr otrs, signed on to. it's a bill nobody read in this chamber we didn't vote for it,

0:33:41 to 0:34:02( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: now you're saying if we don't vote for this coverup you're coming up with, we're the bad guys. we're not. the american people won't be fooled by this. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: let me say to my friend that you have to look at me and read my lips, this issue

0:33:45 to 0:34:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Charles B. Rangel

0:34:03 to 0:34:23( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: was not before the conference committee. now it may have been on the other side. and after i say that, i am telling you that this has nothing to do with this being the right time to correct wrong. these people are getting away with murder. they're getting paid for destruction they've caed our communities.

0:34:24 to 0:34:37( Edit History Discussion )

Charles B. Rangel: and before we leave here, we have to decide not what th on the other side, because no one back home is asking about the conference report. they are asking, are these people going to take away

0:34:38 to 0:35:00( Edit History Discussion )

Danny K. Davis: bonuses that taxpayers, that they paid for. i recognize mr. davis, the gentleman from illinois. he might be in a bette to explain our position in the majority, mr. davis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois is recognized for one minute. mr. davis: mr. chairman, where i live on main street in america,

0:34:40 to 0:35:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Danny K. Davis

0:35:01 to 0:35:21( Edit History Discussion )

Danny K. Davis: if you get something that you didn't deserve, or if you get something that was unwarranted, you either give it back, or it's taken back. it's my position that these bonuses were unwarranted. if they're not going to give

0:35:22 to 0:35:43( Edit History Discussion )

Danny K. Davis: them back, then we're going to take them back and i know that the people in main will applaud us. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yield back. the gentleman from michigan. inquiry. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman will state his inquiry.

0:35:44 to 0:35:55( Edit History Discussion )

Danny K. Davis: mr. bu rangel made a statement, did he claim any time when he made the statement. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york is always charged his allotted time

0:35:56 to 0:36:17( Edit History Discussion )

when he's speaking. mr. burton: it was charged to him, the time. the speaker pro tempore: yes, the gentleman from new york and the gentleman from michigan, whoever controlled the time at the time, while they're on their time, they're on the clock for their time. mr. burton: ok, i thank you. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: at this time i yield one minu to the distinguished

0:36:18 to 0:36:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael C. Burgess: gentleman from texas. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. >> i thank the gentleman for the recognition. the president most recently in his inaugural address said, and i'm quoting, those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of

0:36:30 to 0:37:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael C. Burgess

0:36:40 to 0:37:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael C. Burgess: day, because only then can we restore the vital trt between a people and their government. i agree whole heartedly with the president's statement. if we expect the american people to trust the decisions we're making with their hard-earned money, we ourselves must be accountable. it is a fact that as members of congress, we are -- we earn a base pay. members of leadership earn an

0:37:01 to 0:37:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael C. Burgess: amount above that, a bonus a performance bonus. if this bill were under a rule, i have an amendment. the burgess amendment would tax that extra pay, the bonuses we give leadership, on top of their congressional salary. the democrats' leadership solution is to impose a huge tax on bonuses, but what about raising the tax on their own performance bonuss? again, mr. speaker, how can we

0:37:24 to 0:37:26( Edit History Discussion )

Michael C. Burgess: expect to be able to restore the vital trust between a people and

0:37:27 to 0:37:50( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: its government as the pres stated if we will not first hold ourselves accountable. i yield yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: may i inquire as to the time remaining on both sides. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new york has 7 3/4 remaing, the gentleman from michigan has 12 1/2 minutes

0:37:30 to 0:39:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Etheridge

0:37:51 to 0:38:11( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: remaing. mr. rangel: i'd like to yield to a distinguished gentleman from etheridge for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. heridge: i request permission to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. mr. etheridge: i thank t chairman for bringing this bill forward.

0:38:12 to 0:38:32( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: we are outraged as we should be. it affects every american. the fact that they're using public money to pay bonuses should enrage everyone. taxpayer funds should not be used to reward the individuals whose excessive risk taking caused the financial cris that has harmed the livelihoods of my constituents in north carolina,

0:38:33 to 0:38:54( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: people across america, and we ought to be outraged. we ought to be together on this. there shouldn't be a division on this issue. there's room for that on others. we should not reward wall street traders who have done this at the expense of people, not just on main main street, but people who live on rural roads across this country.

0:38:55 to 0:39:05( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: mr. speaker, you know, we voted for this package originally to put money in banks to lend to people to buy cars and save their homes and pay for college education. to do the things that make a

0:39:06 to 0:39:26( Edit History Discussion )

Kevin Brady: difference and help america grow. and here we are today taking care of the very scoundrels that got us into this mess. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. etheridge: i yield back, i urge my colleagues to vote for it. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: i yid one minute to

0:39:10 to 0:40:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Kevin Brady

0:39:27 to 0:39:48( Edit History Discussion )

Kevin Brady: wamedse committee, the gentleman from texas. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas is recognized for one minute. . >> when did the white house know about these bonuses and why didn't they stop them? the government owns a.i.g., for heaven's sakes. so don't tell me they couldn't have stopped them if they truly would have wanted them.

0:39:49 to 0:40:09( Edit History Discussion )

Kevin Brady: the bill before us today really is a diversion, an attempt to shift the blame from democrats who at the last momen got approval for into the stimulus bill. and our folks back home, the president has said honestly he didn't know this provision was in the bill. yet h own white house made the

0:40:10 to 0:40:10( Edit History Discussion )

Kevin Brady: request and they complied into

0:40:11 to 0:40:31( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: the bill. let's not cover up the truth here. let's get the real answers. that's what taxpayers i yield back. the sp gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: mr. speaker, i yield one minutar tur davis. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from alabama is recognized for one minute. mr. davis: thank you, mr. chairman, mr. speaker.

0:40:15 to 0:41:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Artur Davis

0:40:32 to 0:40:53( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: mr. chairman, here we go again, this congress is finally doing the right thing in a timely fashion, recovering ill-gotten gains, what do the american people do? they turn on the television and they hear us turn once again into a partisan controversy and effort to have blame on the other party instead of celebrating the ct we have a

0:40:54 to 0:41:14( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: chance to do something together as an institution. this is the heart of the problem, mr. chairman. there's so many people watching this broadcast now, listening to these proceedings, there are two sets of rules. one set of res for people trying to send their kids to college, who are trying to make a living but making sacrifices during this incredibly deep recession. another set of rules for these

0:41:15 to 0:41:36( Edit History Discussion )

Artur Davis: wall street geniuses w smart they figured out how to wreck a company so completely to almost wreck a national economy. that does take a level of skill i suppose to figure that out. how to be that bad at doing anything. we are recooping those ill-gotten gains and the american people ought to be glad

0:41:37 to 0:41:57( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: to see this prompt, decisive action. instead ty are hearing more partisan pack and forth. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: we've got the lakes, mr. speaker. at this time i yield two minutes to the from indiana. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from indiana is recognized for two minutes. mr. pence: i ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my the speaker pro tempore: without

0:41:40 to 0:44:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mike Pence

0:41:58 to 0:42:18( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: objection, so ordered. mr. pence: thank you, mr. speaker. like a majority of in congress last fall, i opposed this wall street bailout from the beginning. because i feared both the intended consequences and the unintended consequences that

0:42:19 to 0:42:40( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: would come and bring us to days like today. house republicans share the outrage of millions of americans that a.i.g. would use taxpayer dollars to award executive bonuses. but the plan brought to the floor today by the dimic majori is a actually questionable bill. it would enact a 90% tax on

0:42:41 to 0:43:03( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: a.i.g. employees, and the truth is it's a transparent attempt to divert attention away from the fact that democrats in congress and this administration made ese bonus payments possible. house republicans believe the american people deserve 100% of their money back. we have offered legislation that would deny one more dime of

0:43:04 to 0:43:24( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: bailout money to a.i.g. until they collect 100% of those bonuses back for the american people. but democrats have blocked the republican plan to the floor and the american people deserve to know, this entire outrage that's dominated the national debate this week could have been avoided. senator ron wyden, a democratic from oregon, offered a

0:43:25 to 0:43:45( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: thoughtful legislation in the so-called stimulus bill that passed the house. it was legislation that would have banned bonuses of this type, but to use his words, he said, it was unfortunate that it was stripped from the bicameral conference committee. he said, quote, we had an opportunity to send a well targeted message that would have communicated how strongly the administration felt about

0:43:46 to 0:44:06( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: blocking these excessive bonuses, but, quote, i wasn't able to convince them. senator dodd, the chairman of the bicameral conference committee, said the administration expressed reservations about the language. they asked for modifications. the truth is that democratic leadership in the house and senate were in the room when this language was struck that

0:44:07 to 0:44:12( Edit History Discussion )

Mike Pence: made these bonuses possible. the american people deserve to

0:44:13 to 0:44:34( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: they deserve it to be done in way that doesn't give offense to the constitution of the united let's do what's righ for the american people and let's speak the truth. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from new york. mr. rangel: i'd like to yield one minute to congressman polis from colorado. the eaker pro tempore: the gentle recognized for one minute. mr. polis: the power to tax is the power to destroy. and iill support destroying

0:44:15 to 0:46:05( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jared Polis

0:44:35 to 0:44:56( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: this creeping socialism imposed on us by the bush administration before it takes over our entire economy. executives and boards of private companies must know that to call in the federal cavalry means you'll be run out of town when you misbehave. businesses beware, you do not want the federal government or the american people owning your business. we will hunt down your executives with pitch forks.

0:44:57 to 0:45:17( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: we will subpoena -- pitchforks. we will subpoena your boards. we will make life miserable. and no, our cruelty will not be reserved just for your executives. your wkers bureaucratized, your conferences and travel canceled. i am proud to support this bill and hope that it serves as a siren call to executives, shareholders, and workers to

0:45:18 to 0:45:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: oppose nationalization of your companies. in voting for this bill today, mr. speaker, we are demonstrating that there is a fate worse than death and this is it. if your business might be too large to fail, then by all mens spin off divisions and downsize because too big to fail is object ject misery. the speaker pro tempore: the

0:45:39 to 0:45:59( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: the gentleman from michigan. mr. camp: i yield one minute to the distinguished gentleman from new jersey. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from new jersey is recognized for one >> thank you, mr. speaker. on opening day, january 6, our leader, mr. boehner, indicated that we would provide better solutions to the issues confronting the american people. obviously on a bipartisan basis

0:46:00 to 0:46:06( Edit History Discussion )

Jared Polis: congress wishes to address this issue and to address this issue as quickly as possible.