Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation in Iraq, and to share a letter I recently received from his father, Robert Stokely. Robert's letter relates to a Department of Defense policy that directly affected his family, and most especially, Mr. Speaker, his son.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to read this letter, as I feel it is necessary for this body to fully understand this issue in order to protect the dignity of our troops. Robert Stokely is from Newnan, Georgia, my wife's hometown. And of course I represented that area and am very proud of the folks in Newnan.

Mr. Robert Stokely writes:

``I was alarmed at the question asked by Ed Henry at President Obama's address to the Nation on Monday, February 9, 2009, i.e., allowing media access and cameras at Dover Air Force Base where fallen military personnel arrive on their final trip home to an honorable rest. I am also alarmed by an AP news article that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has ordered a review of the policy. Please take a moment and read my story of meeting my son, and hopefully you can have a vivid image of why it is important to keep the family first in this matter, for it is a very personal moment when a fallen hero arrives home.

``I met my son's body at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on August 24, 2005 as he arrived from Dover. I went alone as a special privilege to take his body to the funeral home, where the family would then be the first to see the most striking, vivid image of a fallen loved one, the flag-draped casket. I rode in the hearse to take him on a 25-mile ride, covering the roads that Mike and I had shared so many days as a divorced dad and son going to and from visitation on weekends, holidays, and summers. It was a `last ride to take my boy home.' ''

And this is in bold font, Mr. Speaker.

``I wore a favorite blue blazer, trousers, and a red and blue striped tie, for my son deserved my respect. As they uncrated his casket and draped the American flag over him, I saluted from nearby, tears streaming down my cheeks, as a number of busy U.S. Air cargo employees suddenly stopped in stunned silence, only then realizing what was taking place.

``I held my salute, poor as it was for an untrained civilian, until the flag was completely draped and the edges evenly cornered out. Then I stepped outside to call my wife, Retta, who loved him like one of her own. And as she answered the telephone, with tears still streaming down my cheeks and with a quiver in my voice, I said, ``our boy is home.''

Mike Stokely was age 23 when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. While the political debate about Iraq or any other war may be had in a free country like this, such as we enjoy, there is no debate that our military personnel engage in of the politics of when, where, or how long a war is waged. They have a constitutional duty to obey the Commander in Chief's lawful orders.

Mike Stokely, and many others, did their constitutional duty, and in doing so, preserved our freedom. Mike, and those like him who haven't yet but will die for America, do not need to be a media spectacle at Dover Air Force Base.

``I was once asked what I thought the real cost of freedom is. There are many such costs, but for the Stokely family, and like many of us, the highest cost has been paid, a lifetime of love.

``Is it too much to ask, given what the fallen and their families have given America, for us to have that first moment of seeing the flag-draped casket to be ours and ours alone? Should we now be asked to give more so that something so private can be used to sell advertising, to ensure a media outlet's profitable bottom line? Black ink on the bottom line is usually a good thing, but it cannot be so when it comes at the cost of making a spectacle of our fallen, thus dishonoring their spilled red American blood. I hope your answer will be an unequivocal, unwavering, and unapologetic `no,' and that you will fight to keep the honorable sanctity of Dover rather than allow it to become a media spectacle.

``Please protect our fallen and their families and the privacy of Dover, for our fallen have given their lives to protect the lifetime of love you and your family and millions of other Americans continue to live and enjoy.

``Proud dad of Sergeant Mike Stokely.''

Mr. Speaker, the policy of allowing media to photograph these caskets at Dover Air Force Base is a serious issue for many families that have been struck with the tragedy of losing a loved one in battle. The brave service men and women on their final journey home have given their lives for our freedom. We must ensure that not only are their remains handled with the utmost respect, but that the wishes of their families are given the respect they so richly deserve.

Well, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding. And I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Pitts, for holding this hour-long discussion, Mr. Speaker, and my colleague, Representative Latta from Ohio, and others that have spoken. I appreciate the opportunity.

And Representative Akin just mentioned, my colleagues, that tomorrow we are going to have this bill under suspension that so-called ``gets our money back.'' It's telling the American public, oh, we are going to get our money back from these absolute scoundrels that got these bonuses--in some cases, $1 million, I think there were a couple of cases where people got $3 million, and in the aggregate, something like $160, $170 million. I will tell you, I would call those bills, the bill tomorrow, the ``unrighteous indignation'' bill, or maybe the ``majority mendacity'' bill. Because what this majority party wants to do, Mr. Speaker, is posture themselves like, oh, you know, we are going to go after the bad guys, when, as the Congressman just pointed out, when you connect the dots, when you follow the dots in some of those charts that were presented earlier and you see that we have actually given this insurance company, American International Group, $190 billion, that is over a thousand times as much as these bonuses.

So the real issue, which they are diverting our attention from--they, the majority party--and don't want the American public to realize what they have done----

Well, reclaiming my time, you add three zeros to that. A million is six zeros. A billion, if I am correct, is a thousand million.

This is what we are talking about, literally, the money that was given to this company.

I know, Mr. Speaker, the American people, when you explain that to them, they can understand it. And they say, well, now, wait a minute, this is an insurance company. I've got my life insurance, I've got my health insurance with Prudential or Provident or Aetna or any other. I mean, it's not like it was the only insurance company in the world. And this business of being too big to fail--because what they did is they, in these subsidiaries, they weren't just satisfied with making money off selling life insurance, they had to get into this business of selling these financial products, these credit default swaps and mortgage-backed securities and derivatives, things that the common man doesn't even know what you're talking about. But it's all about greed.

And I am telling you, this business of bailing them out with our money, taxpayer money, Mr. Speaker, people like my constituents in the 11th District of Georgia who are struggling every day, some of them, through no fault of their own, losing their homes, losing their jobs-- particularly if they're in the construction business--can't get loans. And here this majority party is continuing to give this company--and I think my figure is right, Mr. Akin, that $190 billion will be the amount, the bailout money that, in the final analysis, we have given to--and maybe that's not the final analysis. Maybe we are going to say, oh, we are going to get the $170 million in bonuses, but we are going to give another $25 billion to this company.

I yield back to my colleague.

If the gentleman would yield just for a second on this point, and then I will yield back to my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Pitts.

On this particular issue, don't forget, my colleagues, that at that so-called ``conference committee'' back in the fall when this economic stimulus bill, all the details were being worked out, the majority party was there in the dark of night. I don't know how many conferees from the minority party were there, but the administration was absolutely there when this provision, as my colleague said, was put in by the Senator from Connecticut, Senator Dodd, in regard to making those changes so that these employees of AIG could get these bonuses. But a representative of the administration, the new administration, the Barack Obama administration, Mr. Speaker, was in the room and knew exactly what was happening. And the second largest recipient of contributions, when he was in the United States Senate, from AIG was none other than Senator Barack Obama. I think it's very important that the American people understand these things and try to connect the dots.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a very talented group of girls from Carrollton, Georgia. The Carrollton High School Girls Basketball team--or the Lady Trojans--defeated a very talented Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe team 51-31 to claim the Class AAA Georgia High School Association State title this weekend.

The Lady Trojans found themselves down at the half, 24-23. However, Carrollton's defense, led by Karisma Boykin--always helps to have charisma, Mr. Speaker--stole the show in the second half, keeping the explosive Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe offense scoreless in the third quarter and allowing only seven points in the fourth quarter. As they say, defense wins championships.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the other thing that wins championships, of course, is hard work and determination, and there was no shortage of that from Carrollton Coach Shon Thomaston and the Lady Trojans.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Carrollton High School Lady Trojans on their State championship, as well as all of their hard work that got them there.

I appreciate the gentleman yielding.

I am very happy to be here this evening to address my colleagues on this important issue of the Fair Tax and pay tribute to our colleague from Georgia, Representative John Linder. Representative Linder, from the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, is a long-term Member of this body, is former chairman of the NRCC, long-term vice chairman of the Rules Committee, and now a member of the Ways and Means Committee. And Mr. Speaker, he knows of what he says in regard to the Fair Tax.

I think John is absolutely right. And I am just, as I say, proud to be here and be his colleague and to have an opportunity to weigh in, in support of the Fair Tax. My only regret--or one of my biggest regrets-- since I've been here is that when we had the majority on our side of the aisle, we lost the opportunity, didn't take the opportunity. It wasn't because of John's lack of ethics, however. And I think he is absolutely right; if we live long enough--Lord willing--we're going to see the elimination of the 16th amendment, and that is, obliterate the income tax and replace it with the Fair Tax. I think this country will be much more competitive.

I could stand here and take up the rest of the time, but I know my other colleague from Georgia is here and he wants to speak.

I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa for conducting this Special Order tonight. And I thank him for the time that he gave me to weigh in, in support of John Linder and the Fair Tax. And I yield back.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a talented group of girls from Floyd County in Georgia's 11th Congressional District. As we move towards March Madness in college basketball, the Georgia High School Association's state basketball playoffs are already underway. The Model High School Girl's Basketball Team--or Lady Devils--have soared to a perfect 30-0 record and are poised for a trip to the Georgia High School Association's Final Four tonight.

The Lady Devils' road to the Final Four has led them through a Region 7AA Championship and three rounds of State playoffs to send them to the semi-finals for the first time in over a decade.

Although many around Floyd County are riding high on the team's success, the girls of the No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Lady Devils are focused on getting back to work as they prepare for tonight's Final Four match-up against Henry County at the Macon Centreplex.

The Lady Devils are led by Coach Sally Echols, who actually played in Model High School's last trip to the Final Four in 1997. Echols has proved just as valuable as a head coach as she was on the court-- leading the Lady Devils to four straight Region Championships. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Coach Echols and the Model High School Lady Blue Devils for their success on the court as well as the hard work and determination that got them there. I wish them luck in the Final Four.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 64, urging the President to designate 2009 as the Year of the Military Family. It's going to be difficult to follow the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Moran, what he said out of compassion and love for the military families, but I will humbly try to do so.

Certainly, I would like to say a special thanks to Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member John McHugh, as well as to the members and the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, for the tireless effort in support of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are bravely defending us at home and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, today we rightfully take time to recognize the families of those brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our Nation. I stand here and I am thinking about so many families--moms and dads, brothers and sisters--of fallen soldiers in my State of Georgia, and of my district, the 11th Congressional in northwest Georgia. I am not trying to mention all of them, but they are definitely in my mind and in my heart.

For it is not just the members of the military who serve our country, but also their family members, who sacrifice so much in support of these heroes who, day in and day out, protect our freedom.

Mr. Speaker, the families of those who serve our country on the front lines deserve the admiration and appreciation of each and every citizen. These family members often watch their loved ones travel to faraway lands in support of a cause and an ideal so much greater than any one individual.

Indeed, the democracy on display here today with our presence in this Chamber is testament to the courage and valor of our Armed Forces. The support given to our servicemen and women by their loved ones is irreplaceable, as it's a foundation for the bravery inherent in those who labor steadfastly in the defense of liberty.

Any of us who have watched videos and movies about the Civil War and read some of those letters to home that the infantrymen would write, maybe right before a battle and they give their lives to their country, it is indeed moving.

So, let us now honor and say a gracious thank you to each and every military family, every member of those families, for the encouragement, love, and kindness they exhibit in supporting their precious loved ones as they serve a Nation that will forever be free because of their sacrifice. It is to the family members that we now say thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we are proud of all of our servicemen and women and are eternally grateful for their efforts in the Global War on Terror. Let us not forget the ones who have provided the closest circle of support for them wherever they may serve around the globe. I urge all my colleagues, of course, to support this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of my constituents, Sam Hogle from Marietta, Georgia, for achieving the highest honor for a Boy Scout, the rank of Eagle Scout.

As a Boy Scout myself, I know that achieving this rank is a significant moment in the life of any young man. However, in Sam's case, the accomplishment is even more inspiring because Sam was born blind. This circumstance could have added a significant obstacle to his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. However, Sam would not let it get in his way, calling his blindness an inconvenience, but not a disability that could keep him from achieving his dream.

Armed with this positive attitude and incredible determination, Sam has become an excellent student, an Eagle Scout, and an asset to his community.

Sam's Eagle Scout project shows exactly what kind of young man he is. For his project, Sam planned, raised the funds, and led a campout for visually impaired boys. He wanted these boys to learn that they could also enjoy the outdoors and experience the same kind of fun and learning that he has by being a Boy Scout.

For many of these middle school boys, it is their first campout. Sam's campout was extremely successful. The boys had a wonderful, wonderful time. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Sam Hogle on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 14, supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. I certainly want to commend my colleague from California, Representative Barbara Lee, for introducing this very important and very timely resolution.

As many of you are now aware, this week is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, and I would encourage everyone listening today and all Americans to take some time and reflect on this disease and its impact on our families, our friends and our society.

Representative Lee talked about her sister and what the family has gone through, and I think as a physician, although I am not a neurologist, I think she explained it, Mr. Speaker, perfectly in regard to her description of the disease of multiple sclerosis. I know to her disappointment it really hasn't changed much over the 10 or 15 years since her sister came down with the disease. It is still a diagnosis of exclusion. It is hard. There is no marker, there is no blood marker, and it is very difficult. So the points that Barbara Lee brought out are absolutely accurate and very informative.

Mr. Speaker, I have had no one in my family that suffered from multiple sclerosis. I have had some very close friends who suffer from it and are doing well. But as Representative Lee pointed out, it comes and goes. They have good days and bad days. One man, a great friend, is in a wheelchair and has been for many years, but he has had children and grandchildren. Another lady is a very good friend as well and she has had children.

But, again, this is a disease that can end up ultimately as bad as something like Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It doesn't often progress to that extreme degree, but I indeed had a first cousin about my age who died from Lou Gehrig's disease, so I am very much aware of this condition and very supportive of this resolution regarding multiple sclerosis.

MS and other chronic diseases like it, they change lives, and it presents significant challenges for those who suffer, for them and for their families, as Barbara Lee mentioned.

Mr. Speaker, MS is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system. Essentially MS heavily impairs and prevents nerve cells in the brain and in the spinal cord from communicating with each other. They just can't make that connection. So those symptoms that she described, from numbness in the limbs, loss of vision, and, yes, even eventually paralysis in some cases, are very unpredictable, and, of course, it can vary from person to person.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately for the 400,000 Americans living with MS, the cause of the disease, as I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, remains unknown. But I want to recognize and applaud the work currently underway at NIH, the National Institutes of Health, and other medical research institutions across the country to improve the lives of people with multiple sclerosis. There is little doubt that our collective resolve to find a cure remains undeterred, as demonstrated by this great resolution.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have had a major impact on their community.

Today, I rise to honor Marvin Williams of Rockmart, Georgia in Polk County. Marvin has demonstrated a passion for serving others both in his personal and professional lives. For over 30 years, Marvin has been involved in the educational system of Polk County. He began his service as a Special Education

teacher and in 1980, Marvin started his administrative career at Westside Elementary School. In 1999, Marvin Williams became Interim Superintendent for the Polk County School District and officially became the county's first African-American Superintendent in 2007. Marvin has also been a valuable addition to my 11th District Education Advisory Board, helping to advise me in improving our nation's education policies.

In addition to Marvin's commitment to the education system of Polk County, he also gives back to his community through his service as the Minister of Music at Thankful Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Superintendent Marvin Williams for his leadership and service to the people of Polk County and his commitment to the students in his district.

Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community.

Today, I rise to honor a family who has dedicated their lives to public service and the improvement of the community they call home. Bill and Faith Collins of Rome, Georgia are the perfect example of how one family can have a positive impact on the lives of countless others around them.

Bill Collins has served his community on the Rome City Commission for the past 11 years. As a Commissioner, Bill currently chairs the Public Works Committee and serves on the Transportation and Downtown Development Authority--working to improve his community's infrastructure.

Bill's wife, Faith, has committed much of her life to ensuring that the children of Rome receive the best education possible. As a long- time member of the Rome City School Board, Faith has made improving the quality of education for Georgia students her mission.

I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Bill and Faith Collins-- a true public service family--for their commitment to improving their community.

Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community.

Today, I rise to recognize John Mayes of Rome, Georgia. John has been a dedicated public servant for the people of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia for the majority of his adult life. John is a three-term member of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, and

he currently serves as the chairman. He is also the current Chair of the Floyd County Public Works Committee.

In addition to his commitment to improving his home county, John also dedicates much of his time to strengthening the health care community in Floyd County, serving on both the Floyd Medical Center Hospital Authority and Management Board and the Floyd County Board of Health.

Despite his heavy involvement in county and city government, John still finds time devote to philanthropic activities, founding Camp Uncle John, a private retreat designed to reach out to area youth, and serving as the director of community organizations such as the YMCA.

In 2007, John Mayes was honored by Rome residents for his selfless community service with the prestigious Heart of the Community Award.

I ask my colleagues, please join me in thanking John Mayes for his service to the people of Rome and Floyd County and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have had a major impact on their community.

Today, I rise to honor Allen Poole of Buchanan, Georgia in Haralson County. Allen Poole has selflessly served his community and the State of Georgia throughout his life. For more than 18 years, Allen Poole served and protected his community as a Georgia State Patrol Officer. While with the Georgia State Patrol, Allen was assigned to the Honor Guard and also served on special security details for governors and presidential nominees.

After retiring from the State Patrol, Allen became the first African American ever elected to the Haralson County Board of Commissioners, where he has been appointed Chairman. Currently serving his second term as Commission Chair, Allen continues to work to improve his community while serving as a wonderful example of a dedicated public servant.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Chairman Allen Poole for his leadership and service to the people of Haralson County and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community.

Today, I rise to honor Lee Rhyant of Marietta, Georgia. For the past nine years, Lee has served as the Vice President and Site Manager for one of Marietta's most important and largest employers--Lockheed Martin. During his tenure at Lockheed, the company has continued to prosper--providing thousands of jobs for 11th District residents.

In addition to his success in the business world, we should all strive to emulate Lee Rhyant's thirst for education and learning. Lee holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bethune-Cookman College, an MBA from Indiana University, and has attended London School of Business, MIT, Harvard, General Motors Institute, and the University of Michigan.

Lee and his wife, Evelyn Ingram Rhyant, have raised two wonderful sons--twins actually--who have followed their parent's example of hard work and have both become fine physicians.

Given his involvement in the business community of Cobb County and his active role as a wonderful father and family man, it is hard to believe that Lee has much time to devote to anything else.

However, despite his busy schedule, I could stand here on the House Floor for hours listing the different organizations to which Lee generously donates his time--including the United Way of Cobb County, the Atlanta Area Boy Scouts Council, the Board of Directors of Bethune- Cookman College, and the Safe America Foundation to name a few. Lee Rhyant is truly community service personified.

I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Lee Rhyant for his hard work and dedication to improving the lives of the people of his community.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with House Republican Conference standards, and Clause 9 of Rule XXI, I submit the following member requests for the record. These projects were appropriated funds through H.R. 1105, the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Requesting Member: Congressman Phil Gingrey

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: Agriculture/Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service/Education & Research

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Georgia

Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 1464 Perry, GA 31069

Description of request: This bill includes $346,000 in funding for the Georgia Cotton Commission to continue funding of its CSREES special research grant, which was funded at $494,000 in FY 2006 and $371,000 in FY 2008. The special research grant will fund valuable research on cotton insect management in the Southeast, where cotton pests are one of the primary causes of cotton yield loss and quality damage. Investing in this innovative research will help further protect our cotton crops, the environment, and our farmers' investment.

Requesting Member: Congressman Phil Gingrey

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: CJS/DOJ/COPS Law Enforcement Technology

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Cobb County Government

Address of Requesting Entity: 100 Cherokee Street, Suite 450; Marietta, GA 30090

Description of request: This bill includes $675,000 for Cobb County, GA to establish an interoperable communications system. Cobb County has been actively working to establish regional interoperability to improve communications and responses to natural or man-made disasters, including threats from terrorism.

Funds for this project will be used to establish microwave connectivity, link systems together and upgrade the radio system's operating platform so that all systems are functioning at the same system level. A wide area network will enable responders from numerous agencies in the metro Atlanta region to coordinate responses and assist with major crises and disasters, both natural and man-made, including small plane crashes, multiple vehicle accidents, chemical spills, tornadoes, and acts of terrorism.

Requesting Member: Congressman Phil Gingrey

Bill Number: H.R. 1105

Account: CJS/DOJ/OJP/Edward Byrne Discretionary Grants

Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Inner Harbour

Address of Requesting Entity: 4685 Dorsett Shoals Road; Douglasville,

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Missouri yielding. And I will say that every night is doctors night.

It's always fun to be on the floor, of course, talking about issues like this. It's so important to the American people. And of course I know you've been talking about the economic ``spendulous'' bill that's already passed, already signed into law by President Obama.

And now today, of course, we vote on this omnibus bill, I think nine categories of spending. They were sort of left over, wasn't it, from 2008, from the last Congress, the last fiscal year. This should have been done and completed by October 1st. The end of the fiscal year was September 31, 2008. And here we have these nine spending bills that we throw into one big package, makes it extremely confusing.

So it is important, I think, for Members to come to the floor, Mr. Speaker, to explain to both Republicans and Democrats, really what we did here today.

And, of course, this bill passed. It certainly didn't pass with our vote and our support. And the thing that I want to point out--and maybe you've already said this, but if you have, it's okay, because we can't say it often enough. The fact that, without considering the economic stimulus package, the trillion dollars that's going to help the economic recovery bill, without considering that, we have increased discretionary spending over 2008 levels.

And I have a chart to show it. We have increased discretionary spending by 7\1/2\ to 8 percent. And I'm pretty sure I'm right on this, Mr. Speaker. This was the largest increase in discretionary spending since the Carter administration. We have not had an overall 8 percent increase in discretionary spending in recent years, certainly not ever during the Bush administration, during his 8 years.

If the gentleman would yield.

Mr. Speaker, the story is much worse. We are at 8, 8-0. 8.0 percent is bad enough as I tried to point out, but let me actually show this chart that I will hold up to my colleagues. I thank my physician colleague for helping me with the poster.

This in the blue shows the amount of spending for each one of these categories in this omnibus bill--Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Energy, Water, Financial Services, Interior, Legislative branch, Labor- HHS, State, Foreign Ops, and Transportation-HUD. This is in the blue-- what we had spent in billions in fiscal year 2008. This is already enacted. The red is what we did today. Let's just take these nine categories and look, Mr. Speaker, very closely. On Agriculture, we increased spending over '08 by 45 percent, Commerce and Justice by 41 percent, Energy and Water by 151 percent, and on and on and on.

You might say, ``Well, wait a minute now. You just said the overall increased spending was 8 percent.'' What we need to understand is, in this economic stimulus package, much of that money was in these categories that should have been enacted under regular order. When we do these appropriations bills and we go through subcommittee and committee in regular order, that money--much of that--was in these different categories that had nothing to do, really, with job creation or very little to do with job creation. When you add that money out of the economic stimulus package to these categories, it's not 8 percent. I say to the gentleman from Missouri it is 80 percent--8-0 point, 80 percent.

If the gentleman would yield, with that number, if you put them end to end, that could go from Pearl Harbor to Wake Island.

Well, reclaiming my time, of course the amount of money, I think, that we were spending in this bill, just in the omnibus, was $410 billion, but I think that it's something like $300 billion additional. Anyway, overall, it brings it up to 80 percent.

You know, you wonder. We heard from the President last night in his semi State of the Union Address, and he talked about, you know, fiscal responsibility in this budget that he's going to present to us on Thursday for 2010 and how it's going to be very fiscally responsible and belt-tightening. He has an opportunity, colleagues--doesn't he?--to veto this omnibus. This is his first opportunity. What can he say?

I mean we were criticized by the Democratic--now majority--when they were in the minority. President Bush didn't veto one spending bill, and on many occasions what came out of the Congress was a plus-up from what former President Bush had asked for. So the argument was, if you Republicans are fiscally responsible, why wouldn't your President veto this spending bill? In the first place, why did you plus them up? Here the Democrats said, ``Well, you bring us in, and we're going to change all of that.'' Here is the very first opportunity. Well, I challenge President Obama:

Veto this sucker. Send it back, and say, ``You know, we don't need an 80 percent increase in discretionary spending.'' As you've pointed out, Mr. Akin, much of that spending will be there 10 years from now.

Mr. Akin, thank you. I just wanted to add to what Dr. Broun was saying as to that continuing resolution amendment.

In other words, let's just stay at 2008 levels, the ones that we showed in the blue on this chart. Let's just stay right there. Dr. Broun was explaining that amendment. In that amendment, if we did that--and I'll ask Dr. Broun or I'll ask Representative Akin--how many earmarks would be in that?

I'll go ahead and answer that before I yield back my time. The answer is it would be a big nada, zero, none. There would be no earmarks.

Now, some Members don't ask for earmarks. I've probably got six or eight earmarks. I have, you know, transparent, light of day, good things for my district that have been vetted thoroughly, but that would wipe out all of my earmarks, and those other 7,500 or 9,000, whatever the number is, I'm fine with that, and I think my constituents, in the interest of fiscal responsibility, would be fine with it as well.

So I think that's a point that we needed to make, and I yield back.

Well, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Again, I would just make the point that the President is a fantastic speaker, and he absolutely can talk the talk as good as anybody, certainly as any President whom I can remember going way back to JFK. Yet he has not had the opportunity to prove that he can walk the walk. I hope he can. I don't have any reason to think that he can't, but he does have an opportunity--doesn't he, my colleagues?--with this omnibus bill that was passed on the floor of this House today. President Obama has an opportunity to show that he can walk the walk.

Now, if he's not willing to veto this, what possibly could be his excuse? Would he say, ``Well, you know, this was something that happened in 2008'' or ``this was a fiscal year 2009 budget, and it really is leftover business, and it's not my problem. It's somebody else's problem''? You know, that would be like an off-duty fireman walking in the streets of New York, coming upon a fire and having a hose there and a truck and saying, ``Look,'' you know, ``I'm not on duty. It's not my responsibility, and I'm not going to put the fire out.'' Hey, he's the fireman and chief. It's his responsibility to put the darned fire out, and he has got an opportunity to do it. He needs to walk the walk.

Mr. Speaker, all is not well. And we're not talking about our physical health here, but we're talking about our economic health. And, indeed, it will lead to poor physical health because people will be so frustrated and anxious and depressed.

One of our colleagues on our side of the aisle, a gentleman from Kansas, Todd Tiahrt, I spoke to Representative Tiahrt earlier today, Mr. Speaker, and he asked me if I would like to sign on to a bill that he is going to introduce in the next couple of days that said, look, we're not going to have any more stimulus, any more emergency bailout, rescue packages, whether we're talking about General Motors or Chrysler or AIG or Bear Stearns or Bank of America--you know, I could go on and on.

Todd Tiahrt is a strong fiscal conservative, and I said, ``Man, I'm so glad you're doing that,'' because, as the gentleman from Missouri was just saying, the one thing the stock market hates is uncertainty. And we have had nothing but uncertainty since the beginning of this 111th Congress, and they don't know what to expect. So people keep thinking, well, am I going to buy a Bank of America stock at $4 a share when, the next bit of bad news comes out of Washington, it will be $2 a share? And that's exactly what's happening.

So I say ``hurrah'' to Todd Tiahrt, and I hope his bill will see the light of day

Joe the Plumber is not a socialist either. It's all about that income redistribution. You remember that phrase?