Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I just got off a call with Carolyn Greco, a constituent of mine from Lumber City Borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Now, this young lady, who is now retired, has voted in every primary and general election since her 21st birthday; yet, she has never called an elected official before to voice her concern regarding legislation until this now so-called stimulus package.

When asked why, her response was somewhat heartening: ``I had faith in the system,'' a notion that she is now questioning for the first time in her life based on this legislation alone. Let me repeat that. She had faith in the system, a notion she is now questioning for the first time in her life based on the stimulus package alone.

Mr. Speaker, the more the American people have an opportunity to evaluate and dissect this massive spending measure, the more frustrated they grow. Does Congress need to act? Absolutely.

House Republicans stand ready to work with our counterparts across the aisle, if given the opportunity to sit at the table, to craft a package that creates and preserves jobs, invests in our roads and bridges, and offers tax relief to middle-class Americans and small business owners. I don't think you can find one person in this Chamber who believes that we should wait this out.

But this backroom deal is not what the American people want nor deserve. Yesterday the Secretary of the Treasury spoke about accountability and transparency. It is time for the House and Senate Democratic leadership to heed the Secretary's advice and instill that same transparency and accountability into the legislative process.

Mr. Speaker, for the past three decades, I have been working, prior to coming to Congress, as a health care professional. And the first rule you learn as a health care professional is ``do no harm.'' And as I look at this stimulus package, I find few good provisions that will fulfill the intent of an economic stimulus within the period of time dictated. Other provisions I find ineffective at best. And overall, I find this bill is harmful, harmful in the sense it will lead to a deeper and a worse recession through deficit spending which will lead to increased inflation, and it will provide a legacy for this Congress of a bloated national debt well beyond where we are today. It enhances and increases our foreign financial dependence. And it provides for non-stimulus, wasteful spending that will only detract from the true strategic priorities and the real needs that our country faces.

Mr. Speaker, there are 435 able-minded Members of this body. And while we all come from different corners of the country with differing opinions, and I do believe that is what makes us stronger, and unique backgrounds, this is the people's House where debate should be encouraged and thoughtful deliberation should be the standard. This backroom style of politics is not the change President Obama promised. And it is not the change the American people voted for in November.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the honor of attending Groundhog Day at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. And while we were all there to celebrate an age-old tradition, I was not surprised by what was on the minds of my constituents.

Like the rest of the country, Mr. Speaker, small-town, rural Pennsylvania is facing difficult times. But with that said, a great majority of the folks in the Fifth District of Pennsylvania are adamantly against this latest boondoggle that some are calling a ``stimulus package.'' Are there some worthwhile programs in this bill? Absolutely. But hardworking, Main Street Americans are looking for what I call smart government solutions, not the Big Government Washington- as-usual-style plan that was adopted by the House Democrats.

Smart government solutions put money back in taxpayers' pockets for

small business and middle class tax relief. Done correctly, investment in infrastructure and increased domestic energy production are smart government solutions. Mr. Speaker, there are 435 able-minded Members of the body. And while we all come from different corners of the country with different opinions and unique backgrounds, this is the people's House, where debate should be encouraged and thoughtful deliberation the standard. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, from what I have witnessed thus far, the people's representatives are not being heard.