Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, the debate unfolding

over the budget is really one that has always been a part of our Nation's dialogue. Do we want a big government and high taxes, which infringe on our individual freedom, or do we want a limited government that lets the American people keep more of the money that they earn, which expands freedom?

Democrats have a budget that says loud and clear: big government spending is going to be alive and well-fed by massive borrowing and increasing taxes by $1.2 trillion. They will raise taxes not to pay off debt but, rather, to simply spend more money, mortgaging the future of our students, such as those at Timmerman School of Columbia.

Republicans have offered a budget that does the opposite. We want to cut spending, reduce debt, address short-term and long-term challenges, and provide more relief for American families and small businesses. Our budget is a clear sign of the confidence we have in the American people, not big government, to create jobs and put our fiscal house in order.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th and the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, sadly, one of the ways Democrats may choose to trim President Obama's massive borrow-and-spend budget is to sunset middle-class tax cuts. So, after looking over the budget that already borrows too much, spends too much, and taxes too much, they've decided that they will save money by taking tax breaks away from American families.

Republicans believe we should help American families and small businesses keep more of their own money so they can create jobs. We do not balance our budgets on the backs of the American taxpayer. We are promoting the ideals of limited government, being threatened by the massive growth of big government.

Our budget will address national challenges like affordable health care, uncertainty in our dollar and Social Security, as well as high gas and electricity costs. It is a budget that reflects the spirit of responsibility we are seeing from families all across America.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th and the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, when David Warren came to the Richland County Public Library (RCPL) in Columbia, S.C., in 1979, he brought leadership and vision that would expand and transform the library and reintroduce it to the Richland community. Since that time, the RCPL has grown in size and scope--including the construction of a 242,000-square-foot Main Library, the expansion of five and the construction of 2 new branches, an increase in the circulation of materials to 3.3 million and the library's collection to over 1.3 million pieces.

As executive director of the Richland County Public Library, Warren has been recognized across the country and internationally for his leadership and strength in library management. His reputation as an innovator has led to numerous appointments with local, state, and national organizations. Under Warren's leadership, RCPL was named the National Library of the Year in 2001, bringing positive national attention to the Midlands and South Carolina. His vision and ability to think outside the box has enabled RCPL to set a new standard for public library systems in South Carolina and the Southeast.

Named Librarian of the Year by the South Carolina Library Association in 1991 and Public Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Chapter of the American Society for Public Administrators for 1992/ 1993, Warren's leadership and commitment to his community has justly earned him this recognition and much appreciation from those who have benefited from his tremendous efforts.

I congratulate David Warren on his retirement and wish him many more years of success and service.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans are offering a budget that will move our country in a new direction of fiscal responsibility. It provides commonsense support for small businesses, which create the majority of jobs in America. It provides relief for American families. It keeps our promise to future generations by addressing entitlement spending so we do not go bankrupt in the future.

The Democrat budget, on the other hand, is a Washington-as-usual borrow and spending spree. It is no change. It raises taxes on American families and small businesses $1.4 trillion. It produces record spending levels and, not surprising, record borrowing.

Republicans are offering a smarter way forward, one where we limit spending, help small businesses create jobs, and control the debt that threatens the solvency of the dollar and Social Security.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, our Democrat colleagues have a budget which borrows too much, spends too much, and taxes too much. The Republican budget will do the opposite. It will curb government spending, create jobs, and control debt.

Our Republican budget sends a clear message to the American people that we understand the concerns with jobs we are all facing. We will share in those challenges and take responsibility for how we spend their tax dollars. When we find ourselves in a time of fiscal crisis, we are looking for ways to cut wasteful spending, pay off debt and secure future fiscal sanity.

Republicans are offering a budget that reflects, respects and supports the small businesses of America, one that makes the tough choices and keeps more tax dollars in the pockets of American families.

The Democrat budget is the philosophy of massive borrowing and spending that threatens inflation and devaluation of Social Security.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Madam Speaker, born in Lexington, South Carolina, Meadowlark Lemon came from humble beginnings only to follow his love of basketball and entertaining to tremendous success as a member of the widely popular Harlem Globetrotters. The ``Clown Prince of Basketball'' as he is known has given of his time to not only entertain on the court but to serve his community off the court. Through his ministry program, Meadowlark Lemon is helping young people prepare for their future, learn the tools necessary to get a job, and have the confidence to compete and be successful in their own lives.

Role-models like Meadowlark Lemon play a vital role in our community because they embody the can-do spirit of the American Dream. They show the youth of today that no matter the circumstances, their lives are precious and filled with potential to make their hopes a reality. Meadowlark Lemon's story is a perfect example of someone who did just that and has chosen to give back to others.

I am grateful for his service and commend Meadowlark Lemon on his lifetime of success.

Madam Speaker, during this year's Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) convention, which took place March 4th to 8th in Birmingham, Alabama, South Carolina's own Lexington High School earned runner-up honors for their production of ``Scooter Thomas Makes It To The Top Of The World'' in the High School Theatre Festival. Three Lexington High School students won recognition for their roles in the production: William Vaughan won the Best Actor Award; Luke Whitmire won the Best Supporting Actor Award; and, Danielle Peterson won the Best Assistant Director Award.

In November 2008, Lexington High School took top honors at the South Carolina Theatre Association's festival which earned them a spot in the Southeastern Theatre Conference. The play, ``Scooter Thomas Makes It To The Top Of The World,'' written by Peter Parnell, tells the story of Dennis who travels to the funeral of his childhood friend Scooter Thomas and reflects on their relationship and the decisions they made growing up.

I wish to commend all the students involved in this production-- including Lachlan Medley, stage manager; Johnny Hawley, sound and light technician; Justin Hall, master set builder; Shelly Skelly, light technician; stage hands Elliott Carter and Bradley Cockrell--as well as their director and drama teacher, Leslie Dellinger. Congratulations to Lexington High School, under the professional leadership of Principal B. Creig Tyler, for their continued dedication and support of the arts and to the success of our students and community.

Mr. Speaker, according to a recent Rasmussen poll, two-thirds of the American people have more confidence in their own judgment than they do in Congress. I couldn't agree more, which is why I and many of my colleagues in Congress believe we can learn from the American people.

We can tighten our budgets when times are tough; we can cut out the things we don't need; we can make some difficult choices rather than mortgaging the future of the next generation and threatening Social Security. We should respect the fact that Americans know better how to spend their own money.

Congress doesn't need an expert economist to tell us how to be fiscally responsible. We have millions of American families, small businesses, and homebuilders all across this Nation who are fine examples of leadership and resolve. We should be promoting small businesses to create jobs, not tax their success.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, House Democrats today chose to introduce an unconstitutional joke of a bill in order to clean up the AIG mess Democrats alone created. It was a Democrat spending bill, Democrat language, and only Democrat votes that authorized AIG to hand out bonuses. Democrats wrote the bill alone, secretly, and yet they act surprised.

Republicans have offered a bipartisan solution to get 100 percent of the taxpayers' dollars back, not 90 percent like our Democrat colleagues seek. The American people deserve to have all of that bonus money back, money authorized and spent by Democrat leadership.

The American taxpayers are justly outraged that their tax dollars are lining the pockets of AIG executives. Republicans have a solution to fix this problem, but Democrats don't want to talk about it. Democrats don't want to talk about the mistakes that they have made. American taxpayers deserve better.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats have broken their promise not to raise taxes on 95 percent of Americans. Democrats are proposing to tax small businesses and everyone who plans to turn on a light, drive a car, or heat their home.

Under the Democrat budget, many small businesses will see their taxes go up. At a time when our economy is in trouble, this budget raises taxes on the one group that creates the most jobs in America.

But small businesses are not alone. Under the new Democrat cap, trade, and tax proposal, every household in this country would pay as much as $3,128 each year in higher energy costs. This would surely overwhelm any tax break they may be getting.

The President says this budget is not just about numbers on a page. I agree. There are real families and small businesses that will be hurt by the $1.4 trillion in new taxes this budget will create.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, it appears the latest definition of fiscal responsibility in Washington is just to raise taxes in order to raise spending. The Federal Government takes a larger and larger piece of taxpayers' wallets.

At a time when American families and small businesses across our country are making tough decisions, Washington is borrowing more money. Never mind that tax hikes during a recession would only prolong the downturn or reduce job creation made in a recovery. This is the taxpayers' money, it does not belong to the government.

Let's take a lesson from the American taxpayer and promote tough decisions here that will reduce spending and not mortgage our children's futures. This spending will mean a $9,014 principal obligation, along with adjustable interest, beginning now for every person 21 years old or younger.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday The Post and Courier of Charleston, South Carolina, editorialized the following: ``President Obama's decision to abandon the national nuclear waste disposal site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is a breathtakingly irresponsible dismissal of a vital project on which billions have already been spent. It extends a security risk at dozens of temporary waste disposal sites around the Nation and threatens to cripple the future nuclear development needed to advance national energy independence.''

The editorial continues to say, ``For South Carolina, it raises the likelihood that vast quantities of nuclear waste at the Savannah River site will simply remain there indefinitely. Congress should repudiate the administration's decision.''

That is sound advice. Nuclear energy is clean energy. It has provided my home State over 50 percent of our electrical power for over 30 years and will continue to be an important part of our Nation's energy infrastructure.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Madam Speaker, yesterday Congress passed a housing bill that lacked a basic protection for American taxpayers. Republicans offered an amendment that would have prohibited anyone from receiving assistance under the bill if they misrepresented or lied about their income when applying for a mortgage. I had offered a similar amendment last week, but the majority refused to even consider it. They refused to apply this commonsense measure of protection for taxpayers who have already seen trillions of their dollars spent to bail out irresponsible behavior.

As a former real estate attorney, I have seen the tremendous benefits of homeownership. I have also seen the tragedy of foreclosure. No one is advocating that we do nothing. But it appears the good intentions have gotten in the way of good solutions, such as a $15,000 home purchase tax credit proposed by the Homebuilders Association and Realtors Association. We have to stop rewarding bad behavior with the money of those who played by the rules.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.

Madam Speaker, poet and capitol tour guide Albert C. Caswell has penned a number of heartfelt tributes, and recently, he wrote a poem about radio broadcaster and American legend Paul Harvey. Mr. Harvey passed away on February 28th after a life and career that spanned over nine decades. His voice and the kind and commonsense message it brought to us all will be cherished and sorely missed.

Good Day . . .

(By Albert Carey Caswell)

Good day . . .

Goodnight . . .

Rest, you American Icon . . . to heaven take flight . . .

The voice of The Heartland, a sheer delight . . .

``Hello American's'' . . . Paul, oh how we miss you this

night . . .

That voice . . .

Your smile, and your style . . . burning bright!

The stories, The glory, of tales told each night . . .

Warming our hearts, playing their parts . . . reinforcing in

our souls all that is right!

An America Man, with his tales of the heart that which so

stand . . . bringing his light . . .

Behind the microphone, with him we were never alone . . .

Like a best friend, as our hearts he did own . . .

Telling his stories, of faith and hope and glory . . .

bringing us home . . .

As good as it gets!

As his life was a championship . . . of what is so right . .

.

Married for 75 years, great American Values here . . .

Oh how we miss him this night . . .

And now ``The Rest of the Story'' . . .

Surely, this Man's soul was bound for glory . . .

As Heaven he's found . . .

Good Day!

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be an original cosponsor of the Secret Ballot Protection Act, a piece of commonsense legislation introduced last week. This bill preserves the right of every worker to a secret ballot election when deciding whether or not to join a union.

We can all agree that intimidation and coercion have no place in our working environment, and should not be a part of a worker's decision to join or not join a union. After all, Americans have the right to elect their representatives here in Washington by secret ballot. Why should the decision to elect representation in the workplace be any different?

The Secret Ballot Protection Act would guarantee the fundamental right of privacy, a vital part of our Nation's founding principles. It would protect American workers and American industry from the powerful special interests here in Washington. It would promote jobs in America.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th.