Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 692, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Speaker, colleagues, good morning. It's great to be with you.

As you may recall from our last report to Congress, the Association has put some energy and focus into the question of bipartisanship. Everything we do at the Former Members Association is done in a bipartisan manner. Our leadership is comprised equally of Republicans and Democrats. Our delegations are led by bipartisan teams of former Members of Congress, and our projects involve both Republicans and Democrats equally. We truly are a bipartisan organization where Members from across the political aisle come together for common purpose.

We have found that, for a number of reasons, this type of bipartisan interaction has become more and more difficult for current Members. This development has many causes, many of which are beyond the control of today's Members.

Our association, therefore, has created a new undertaking, the Common Ground Project, with the purpose of finding ways in which Democrats and Republicans can work together for the good of this country. The origin of the Common Ground Project can be found in our Conference on Bipartisanship which we hosted last year at the National Archives in partnership with the Bipartisan Policy Center. Three panels examined our current political discourse, how bipartisanship--or the lack thereof--has influenced our political decisionmaking process, and the way the media influences this Nation's political climate. The concluding panel looked at concrete steps we might take to foster a more civil relationship across the aisle.

Following the conference, we invited our membership to cosign a letter to all candidates for congressional office in the 2010 midterm elections. In the

letter, we asked for a focus on issue rather than divisive demagogy, and I am happy to report that over 150 former Members immediately signed the document.

Next, we decided to put some thought and effort into a structured program that could serve to foster a more civil and productive political discourse in this country.

Our idea is to create an outreach modeled on our very successful Congress to Campus program. Via a Congress to the Community Project, we hope to reconnect America's voters with their political process and encourage a respectful and productive debate on the many issues that we face.

For example, a bipartisan team of former Members will have town-hall- like discussions focused on the budgetary process and deficit reduction. We will go into the community and bring different political points of view to the electorate, invite the voters to participate in this debate, and find some common ground. We will also find ways of bringing current Members into the conversation, and we will create opportunities for current Members to get to know their colleagues from across the aisle a little bit better. It is my hope that when we return to the House Chamber for our report next year, we will be able to describe the first successes of this new undertaking.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

President Obama, why aren't you serious about securing the border? Why do you consult with Latino celebrities like Eva Longoria to get their take on immigration reform? Why do you bring up immigration reform again and again when you know there will be no reform until you secure the border?

You said the other day in Texas that Republicans wouldn't be satisfied unless you built a moat with alligators. You know what, Mr. President? A moat might not be a bad idea. And I wonder how many of these alligators it would take to secure the border?

But what will satisfy most Americans is if you'd get serious about securing the border. What will satisfy most Americans is if you'd quit campaigning on this issue and finally govern on it.

But, heck, if it will take introducing legislation calling for moats and these gators to get you to be serious about securing the borders, Mr. President, I'm game.

Mr. Speaker, what are they afraid of? What are my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, afraid of?

Let me second my colleague from South Carolina, respectfully. It is about raw, gutter politics. Respectfully, my colleague from Maryland talks about standing up for every child, helping every child.

What are they afraid of? Why won't they help every single child?

And it is politics. My colleagues on the other side can dance around any rationale they want to dance around. The evidence on this issue, we're beyond it. We are beyond having to debate empowering parents. We're past that.

So what, respectfully, on the other side of the aisle, is causing my colleagues to be against empowering--and I'll emphasize the word ``every''--every parent?

Respectfully, no.

My colleague from South Carolina respectfully said raw, gutter politics because my colleagues on the other side are scared to death of offending the teachers' unions.

And ladies and gentlemen and Mr. Speaker, the teachers' unions are scared to death of this scholarship program because, look out, if this scholarship program demonstrates success, and it has, it will be modeled all over the country, and that, respectfully, is what scares the teachers' unions, because they don't want kids to be able to escape.

And my colleagues on the other side will answer to what they want. That's the politics that we're talking about.

We're talking about power. The power should go to the parent, plain and simple, every parent. Charter school, public school, home school, private school, you name it. That's where the power should lie.

I rise today in support of amendment No. 104.

You know, we have spent the past few days talking about billions here, billions there--real programs, real people. But the American people have got to be shaking their heads.

We are broke. We are $14 trillion in debt, and we know it's more than that. By 2014, in interest on the debt alone, we will spend more than we will on all non-discretionary spending except for defense. By 2014, every citizen in the United States will spend $2,500 just to pay interest on the debt.

I appreciate the leadership the Republican leadership has provided in being as bold as they can be on necessary, important spending cuts; but

my colleagues, we've got to have faith in the American people. They are ahead of us on this. They are ready. This is one of those rare moments when the American people are asking us to be bold, when they are asking us to go one step further.

I have a brother who has been in the financial services industry for 20 or 30 years. He sent me a text last night, which read: Keep the cuts coming, baby.

The lack of leadership the White House is providing on this issue is stunning. You have to lead. The American people are ahead of us. To get back to real FY08 spending levels, to actually get $100 billion in cuts, my colleagues, don't be afraid of that. That's what the American people want.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Act.

I commend the Republican leadership for simplifying this process by drafting a two-page, stand-alone bill for repeal. It will be very clear, Madam Speaker, to the American people where we stand on repeal.

During this past campaign, I, like a lot of candidates, spoke to small businesses every single day. There is a reason why 90 percent of small business men and women in this country support repeal. From the billions in taxes, to the needless paperwork, to the burdensome regulations, to the 1.6 million estimated job loss, small business men and women are adamant that we need to repeal.

Finally, Madam Speaker, our opposition last year said that if you like your plan, you can keep it. To date, there are 222 organizations, including some of ObamaCare's biggest union supporters, who have received waivers. Why? Why, Madam Speaker, if the law was so worthy, would there be a need for waivers?

I apologize. I snuck up on you there.

I rise today to support H. Res. 22 in the House. We were elected this past fall to do what we said we were going to do: To lead by example when it comes to spending and tightening our own belts. Following through on this key pledge that we made in the Pledge to America I think is vital. We're taking the first step before we ask others to tighten their own belts, and it's important to understand this is a first step, hopefully, in an ongoing effort to continue to cut costs.

This will impact each and every one of us, and I think it's very important to the American people that they see we are talking the talk and walking the walk.