Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, what a great day for America--a victory for the American people.

You know, last November the American people loudly demanded the repeal of ObamaCare, and today the House delivered.

Earlier today, I outlined why the American people were so opposed to this legislation. So tonight I thought I would remind my colleagues on the left as to why they rejected ObamaCare.

It was the employee mandate and the mandates on individuals that tax, penalize, and punish Americans who choose not to opt in to a government-approved health care system.

Maybe it was the $569 billion in new taxes or the $2.6 trillion cost or the $700 billion in deficit spending over the first 10 years this law is fully implemented, and who knows what after that.

More importantly, it violated our Constitution and our personal liberties.

So earlier today I asked my friends and folks back in the district who follow us on Facebook, the Georgians I work for and I represent, to respond to us as to how the legislation has already impacted them today. So we got a few of those responses; and, Mr. Speaker, I thought I would share some of those.

From north Georgia, Elisabeth in Rossville said her health insurance premiums have already almost doubled.

Jimmy in north Georgia said his health care premium is certainly more expensive.

Brian said his health insurance just went up by at least 8 percent, and the cost of his mother's Medicare part D coverage has doubled.

BJ in Calhoun, a health insurance agent, said premiums have risen, and companies he represents are reducing or eliminating commissions.

Then there is Jeremy in Ringgold. He was going to expand his business this year, but he was forced to put those plans on hold because of the costly and burdensome 1099 tax filing requirements that were required under ObamaCare.

It is because of these Americans that we not only repealed ObamaCare today but that tomorrow we will also vote on a House resolution directing the committees of jurisdiction to begin working on legislation through a transparent process--open to the American people--that will embody free market principles that, under many circumstances, will foster economic growth and private sector job creation; lower health care premiums through increased competition and choice; ensure patients have the opportunity to keep their health care plans if they like them; reform the medical liability system to reduce unnecessary and wasteful health care spending; remove barriers that prohibit health care plans from being purchased across State lines; provide the States greater flexibility to administer the Medicaid programs.

More importantly, it will be policy that empowers Americans with options instead of mandates coming from the Federal Government. Above all, our reforms will not infringe upon individual liberties.

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank those tonight who on Facebook responded to us in helping us start that round two of the ObamaCare debate.

Today, we voted to repeal. Tomorrow, we begin the work to replace with free market solutions.

Amendment 12: ``The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for President and Vice President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice President.''

Well, I thank the gentleman from Missouri. And you're right. I mean, today, what a breath of fresh air to hear the syllables of the Constitution recited from Members all throughout this body, leading into this topic and this discussion because we really want to address

spending cuts and the proper role of government. What better way to start it than reciting the Constitution today. And hopefully Members of this body listened and heard. They didn't get up and just read a sentence or two or an amendment. They actually consumed it in their mind and are starting to understand what it means. Because for too long, the Federal Government has been kicking the can down the road on spending. Saying, Oh, elect me; elect me, and we will cut spending. When you look at the data, it's clear: deficit spending has occurred at an average, just in the last fiscal year, of probably $110 billion a month deficit spending.

Right.

You are right. And that leads up to this discussion that we are hearing now in the media which I don't know where they've been over the last several months talking about the debt ceiling. Well, the reason we're approaching and about to pierce the debt ceiling is this deficit spending that has occurred from the previous leadership here in the House as well as the administration who is still there.

And as we approach this debt ceiling, we have got to push spending cuts more and more and more. And I'm thankful that I just was sworn in for the second time yesterday--

Well, thank you. But being appointed to the Appropriations Committee, it is clear, and I have made it clear to my constituents, that I am not going on as a spender. I'm going on as a saver. It seems for far too long Members would seek to be on appropriations because they wanted to spend money. Well, guess what. It's a new day, a new era. And it's a just fresh day when you have Members going on to say, Here is how we are going to save money. So what a great debate we are going to have in the next several weeks.

Oh, you are absolutely right. I think what we've heard about repealing ObamaCare--yesterday I introduced the legislation again to defund it, to take away all authorizing funds going to the legislation as well, which is another step forward. You know, why don't we defund some czars. That's a whole other discussion that we've all seen.

And then as we move back to those 2008 levels, and we might need to go even just a little bit further and begin cutting more and more and more, I mean, are the decisions going to be difficult? Sure, they are. But that's why your constituents and mine elected us to come here and make those tough decisions.

Yes, I would be happy to just add a little bit more to that.

I think a few approaches you could take when you ask the question, Is it duplicative? Is it occurring somewhere else? Is another agency or Department doing it? And that is after you've cleared the hurdle. Is it a role of the Federal Government in general itself? Then you could also ask, is it something you could devolve back to the States? Have we usurped the States in which I would think many Members of our conference here would probably agree. In some cases, the Federal Government has overstepped its bounds, and it's time to remove ourselves from the States and allow the States to take over.

But you know, from a business owner's perspective, what if you looked at the Department heads or the agency heads, and you said, You go back and you cut 25 percent and you bring back your recommendations; and then you show us a budget estimate with 20 percent cuts and then one with 10 percent, empower those agency heads to make those decisions, to analyze their Departments and come back.

While we're also on the theme of physicians, we're taking a surgical approach as well as pulling out those unnecessary programs. So that would be some approaches I would take.

With unemployment at what?

Well, thank you for yielding some time. And, Madam Speaker, this should be the final few minutes of my discussion as I am going to leave and yield to the gentleman from Utah. I sort of want to follow up on what he said. But before I do, I want to point out that the Republican Study Committee, which I believe all of us are members of and actively a part of, is putting together a rescissions plan which has $2.6 trillion in cuts identified already that would occur over the next 10 years and an amazing set of proposals that, to me, as we stand here today in the majority, John Boehner as our Speaker that we nominated, we elected, and we are still talking about spending being the number one issue. That's how committed we are.

Going back to the gentleman's statement, he was referring to the Constitution and the general welfare clause in the Preamble there. I thought I would bring up an interesting point, because it says to ``promote the general welfare,'' not ``provide the general welfare.'' An interesting distinction there. And what a notion we have taken from a central government role to want to provide for everyone.

But if you go one clause prior to that, it says, ``provide for the common defense.'' Not ``promote,'' but ``provide'' common defense and ``promote'' general welfare. Two distinct differences and clauses. And we have certainly mistaken that second clause there.

Clearly the word is provide for common defense.

The next phrase or clause is then promote general welfare. Not provide. Promote the general welfare.

You're right. I will wrap up with this, two quotes from two very different Presidents. Ronald Reagan once said: ``Revenue is not the problem; spending is the problem.'' We all know that. But then another quote is this: ``Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means the buck stops here. Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and our grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.''

``Americans deserve better.'' End quote. That was then-Senator Barack Obama on the Senate floor.

A big difference.

But he is absolutely correct that America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Mr. President, here is your opportunity.

I think the connection is in his quote--a failure of leadership.

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the DREAM Act. When I think back to the early days of our country and its inception and what we were founded on, it was on freedom, it was on liberty, it was on the opportunity to dream and to achieve a better future for one's self. That is what has made us great, and that is what has made us exceptional among all nations on this globe.

But make no mistake, this bill is not the American Dream. This bill is the amnesty dream. This bill will give amnesty to nearly 2 million illegal immigrants right away, while providing a pathway to amnesty to encourage millions more illegal immigrants to enter our country.

Adults up to 30 years old will now be eligible for amnesty as a result of this. If a person who illegally enters this country will receive amnesty through this bill, you can bet they will petition, because of this bill, to have their relatives join them. Illegal immigrants who have been convicted of less than three misdemeanors are eligible for amnesty through this bill. Lastly, anyone who simply applies for the program will have temporary amnesty.

Earlier we heard that this is not about illegal immigrants, that this is about undocumented persons. Well, that begs the question. If one is undocumented, how could you even verify their age or eligibility for this very program?

This is no dream. This is a nightmare. This is a nightmare for the taxpayers of our country. This is a nightmare for America itself. Besides the fundamental problem of rewarding and incentivizing illegal behavior, this bill worsens our debt and puts a further strain on American families.

Simply put, an open-door amnesty policy, with no spending cap, no limit in scope and a free invitation to all the Federal benefits of this country, adds up to a cost that our taxpayers cannot afford. I urge my colleagues tonight to vote for the American Dream by rejecting the amnesty dream.

Mr. Speaker, I hear all these grand arguments today about the majority party's tax cut bill when in fact not one American taxpayer's taxes will be reduced as a result of passage of this bill.

Let's be clear on what's at stake today: A vote for this bill is a vote to raise taxes on millions of American families and small business owners. The Democrat leaders argue that we have to raise taxes to reduce the deficit, but this is absolutely false. The burden to reduce the deficit should be on Congress and not on the backs of hardworking Americans. It is our job to make the tough spending cuts and restore fiscal discipline, not to make millions of businesses and families a scapegoat for our debt.

Keep this in mind: No tax increase has ever created one job. If America's private sector is going to create the jobs that we desperately need, Congress must stop the threat of new taxes, get out of the way, and let employers have some certainty for once.

So Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to respect the message of the American people from Election Day and let's reject this tax hike scheme.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished service of seven men from Georgia's First Squadron, 108th Cavalry of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in northwest Georgia.

On September 2, 2010, these men received the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medals with ``V'' Device for their personal valor and action in an intense firefight during Operation Brest Thunder. Operation Brest Thunder, an operation involving U.S. troops, French marines, and the Afghanistan National Army, was designed in order to persuade the citizens of Afghanistan that it was safe for them to participate in the electoral process in the dangerous insurgency area of the Shpee Valley and the Kapisa Province.

It was through their bravery and boldness during this operation that the following men have been recognized for their outstanding action. The Bronze Star Medal with ``V'' device was awarded to:

Captain Nathaniel C. Stone of Monticello, Georgia; Sergeant First Class Kenneth Brooks of Calhoun, Georgia; Staff Sergeant William Bookout of Villa Rica, Georgia; Sergeant Roger Mavis of Dallas, Georgia; and Specialist Christopher Lowe from Savannah, Georgia.

Receiving the Army Commendation Medal with ``V'' device were Staff Sergeant William Moore of Newnan, Georgia, and Specialist Justin Evans of Silver Creek, Georgia.

During Operation Brest Thunder, a large number of Taliban had entered the Shpee Valley in Afghanistan in order to reinforce insurgents already there. At the start of their mission, U.S. forces immediately took heavy fire from enemy forces in every direction.

After a fellow captain was mortally wounded, and the assisting soldier, Specialist Lowe, wounded and incapacitated, Captain Stone and Specialist Evans sprung into action. Captain Stone was dispatched to lead the Quick Reaction Force to evacuate Specialist Lowe and the fallen soldier from the battlefield back to the combat outpost. Meanwhile, Specialist Evans treated Specialist Lowe's wounds while staving off enemy fire.

Maneuvering under fire, Captain Stone and Sergeant First Class Brooks, the onsite commander, immediately assessed the situation and the course of action for evacuation. They soon realized that the only way to retrieve the casualties was to immediately employ their men to lay down fire at a tree line that had been the source of the heaviest assault.

Once their men were in place and able to begin an aggressive attack, Captain Stone, along with another soldier, sprinted approximately 50 meters up high ground towards the house where the casualties were located without regard for their own personal safety. Upon reaching Specialist Evans and Specialist Lowe, Captain Stone realized Specialist Lowe was losing a lot of blood and must be rapidly evacuated out of harm's way. Captain Stone sprinted towards one of the vehicles where Specialist Lowe was placed, while several rounds of enemy fire shot around him, skimming the top of his right boot.

And Captain Stone ran through enemy fire to ensure that Specialist Lowe received medical attention and that the body of his fellow soldier was retrieved.

This quick thinking and courageous action by Captain Stone and Specialist Evans, without regard for their own safety, saved Specialist Lowe's life and assured the retrieval of their fellow man. Throughout the duration of Operation Brest Thunder, Sergeant First Class Brooks, Staff Sergeant Moore, Sergeant Mavis and Sergeant Bookout endured heavy enemy fire.

These men led valiantly, calmly, and decisively. Although they were under heavy enemy fire, these men and their team pressed on and unfortunately sustained two casualties. However, they were able to maneuver their forces and hold overwatch positions until the Quick Reaction Force could respond to medevac any casualties and help neutralize the enemy threat. They simultaneously oversaw the defense of their combat outpost from heavy fire upon the return of their mission.

A few of these men have noted Operation Brest Thunder to be one of the toughest battles they have fought. But it is because of their strength of skill that a Taliban commander and almost two dozen insurgents fell, helping the United States and her allies grow stronger, protecting her from those who wish to do her harm.

The courageous actions of these men show their commitment to their mission, to each other, and to their country.

Madam Speaker, I have taken this opportunity to commend the heroic actions of these men. But I would also like to take this opportunity to thank them. I would like to thank these men for sacrificing their lives and their livelihoods for this country.

I want to thank their families for showing tremendous support, strength, and resiliency, and I want to be sure that they and their brothers and sisters all across the United States Armed Forces know that we at home are always thinking and supportive of them. Americans can sleep more peacefully, Americans can live their lives more freely knowing that soldiers like these brave men from Georgia's First Squadron, 108th Cavalry of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are out there fighting for our freedoms.

God bless them and their families, and may the Lord continue to bless this great and glorious cause called America.

Mr. Chairman, 46 days ago, I was sworn in right down here before the House, and since that time, constituents have asked, What has been the biggest surprise since your time being sworn in? And I will tell you what it is. I have seen it here today. I have seen it over the past several weeks, and that is the fear and the lack of trust in this leadership to allow their own Members to vote on amendments.

It is clear that there is bipartisan opposition to this measure. In fact, 88 amendments were offered. Only nine were accepted. No Republicans from the gulf coast region had an accepted amendment, and only two Democrats from the region had amendments accepted. Only 14 percent of the Democrat amendments offered were accepted, meaning a large, large portion were not; and only 4 percent of Republican amendments were accepted to even be voted on here today. That means that over 50 million American voices did not get their representation right here today because the amendments of more than 80 Members of Congress were ignored by this Democrat majority. There has got to be a better way, and maybe in about 6 months we will find out.

Mr. Speaker, I guess I rise at an appropriate time to follow the dialogue that we just heard.

It amazes me, as I'm here now on my 44th day in the House of Representatives, and it seems like on each and every day I've heard the other side of the aisle do nothing but blame a previous administration for the failings of today. It is my hope that at some point they will begin taking responsibility for some of the policy actions.

But what we're here to talk about tonight are positive solutions. We've heard a lot of blaming and name calling here over the past several weeks, and we're here tonight to talk about positive solutions to some of the difficult challenges.

So to the colleagues that were just speaking, we're here to call your bluff. You said come call your bluff, well, here we are, and I've got some good gentlemen that are going to join me. But what I want to start out with today is we're going to talk about the kitchen table solutions.

As you may have heard, we have had a program here where we've been actually going out and seeking solutions from the American people, not from our leadership, not from a political party, but from the American people; and it's called America Speaking Out. And there have been more than 12,000 specific ideas generated from the American people, more than 600,000 votes cast on these ideas as to what is most important.

And so the top concerns from the kitchen table all across America: number one, jobs--and I think we've been saying, where are the jobs? Number two, spending. Why isn't the Federal Government balancing their checkbook? And then health care, ObamaCare itself. So that's what we are going to talk about tonight.

As we move through this, I know we have some colleagues that are going to join me. My good colleague from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) is going to be with us and also Mr. Thompson from Pennsylvania. But first we're going to talk about the number one issue facing America: jobs, jobs creation.

We have a few quotes here. One--this is, I guess, just from last year, it says: ``Our stimulus plan will likely save''--``likely,'' key word--``save or create 3 to 4 million jobs. Ninety percent of these jobs will be created in the private sector and the remaining 10 percent in the public sector.'' But now the public sector has lost nearly 8 million jobs in the last 2 years; government has gained 656,000 jobs. So when our colleagues from the other side of the aisle stood here a minute ago and said jobs have been created, they were in fact true; but they were created in the public sector, not the private sector.

And then it also says estimated unemployment without the stimulus would be 8.8 percent this year. Well, with all of the stimulus bailouts, buyouts, Cash for Clunkers, you ring it all up, unemployment in May was 9.7; far exceeded their expectations. So obviously the plans are not working.

So what have been the job killers? Excessive taxation, insufficient liquidity, economic uncertainty, and red tape and government mandates. So over the last year we've seen nearly double-digit unemployment, the debt is continuing to grow, we've got a job-killing agenda, and according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses, one in six small businesses are concerned about the uncertainty of the future. Fifteen million people out of jobs, out of work right now, unemployment at its highest rate in 25 years, and the private sector, again, has lost 8 million jobs.

So we heard a minute ago, stimulus: that was creating all the jobs, that was going to take care of America. Well, I think about stimulus and health care and all that we saw last year, and it brought Americans to the National Capital last year. If you will remember, on September 12, Americans from all over this Nation rode on buses here, flew on airplanes to celebrate--was it to celebrate or to speak out against what has been done? And we all know the American people are not happy right now.

So what is coming up next? 2011, 5 months away, under the leadership here in Congress, we will see taxes go up on each and every American. We heard ``middle class tax cuts'' just a few minutes ago. There aren't going to be any middle class tax cuts; in fact, every tax rate goes up for every American all across the country in so many different ways. Every individual tax bracket goes up. We have a marriage penalty, the Child Tax Credit will be cut in half. It doesn't sound like a tax cut to me; it's actually a tax increase. And then farmers, small business owners will see their tax rate go up to 55 percent in the States. And then of course capital gains and dividend taxes will rise as a result of the leadership here in Washington.

So much to do, so much to do. The good thing is that we have positive solutions. That's what we are here to talk about tonight. I know my good friend, Mr. Thompson from Pennsylvania, is a good leader on job creation and is working hard in that area. I would love to have you join us, if you

would like, to share with us some positive solutions here to get Americans back to work. And does that include public sector jobs or private sector jobs?

Well, let's get to some simple facts, because you're right. America has been speaking out. The main thing they've been asking is: Where are the jobs?

Just in the last year, we know there have been 2.5 million jobs lost here in the United States. So, you know, I guess a great admittance to that is the fact that the Democrats were pushing through the expansion or the extension of the unemployment benefits. If, in fact, their policies were to work or were working, there would be no need to extend unemployment benefits. The truth is they had to extend them because their policies aren't working.

Let's get to some simple facts here real quick. I'm a finance major. You know, the problem is not that difficult. The challenges are certainly great, but the facts are simple. There is a commonsense equation here.

We have total employers in the United States of about 24 million. The unemployment rate is 9.5 percent. We have about 14.6 million unemployed Americans right now. So there is a simple equation, which is, if one in three businesses hired just one employee over the next year, the unemployment rate would be 4.4 percent. That gets it to reasonable, sensible, easy-to-understand ideas.

Here is the equation: If one in three businesses adds one new hire in the next 12 months, unemployment is down to 4.4 percent.

So the question is: How do businesses get to this point where they hire that next person? Right now, they're not doing it, and there is a reason for that. It is called ``uncertainty.'' It is the uncertainty of what is about to happen to them next--and I think we know the tax increases that are coming and things like that. It's certainly scaring businesses.

So what are some of the solutions?

I guess the broader solution is getting government out of the way of job creation and fighting the efforts here, you know, that we've seen as they're pushing through the largest tax increase in the history of this country, and it is coming in 5 months.

Yet today, here tonight, right before us, stood Members of the other party, saying, Oh, middle class tax cuts. That's not what is happening.

In 5 months, we will have the largest tax increase in the history of this Nation. We need to return to spending levels that were from the 2008 levels and then roll back taxes. You know, we often hear them say, Oh, those big corporate tax breaks. Well, guess who hires Americans? Businesses. Wouldn't it be sensible to relieve them of some of the tax burdens here in the United States instead of increasing taxes like they're going to do? Then, of course, there's rolling back the regulatory burdens that we see. There is so much to do, so much to do.

We heard them a few minutes ago say, Well, Republicans have voted against these job-creation packages. Well, I don't know that any of those packages have been successful, so it's probably a good thing that Republicans have voted against them.

The fact is they have a majority that is far greater than the Republicans. They can push through anything they want to push through, and they have certainly been doing that against the will of the American people.

Yes, sir.

Thank you for joining us.

I think we'd be going backwards a little bit. You're right.

I mean the fact is we need to empower the business community. We need to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit. We need to equip them with lower burdens of regulation, and we need to lower tax rates. We do not need to be creating jobs as a government. Instead, we need the private sector to be creating jobs. It's a zero sum game. There are only so many employees in the United States, and if more of them are shifting to the public sector, it is only taking intellectual capital and wealth out of the private sector.

I would love to turn it over to my good colleague from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).

Thank you for joining us on this late evening to talk about getting this country back on track.

Well, let's take a quick glance at where we are from a perspective financially, and then the positive solution of balancing the budget. Imagine that, balancing the budget, balancing the checkbook here at the Federal Government.

Well, here's the truth of where we are. And we heard earlier when our friends from the other side were talking about how good it was since the new administration has taken over. Well, here's some facts. The facts don't lie. I mean, the truth is that the deficit under this current administration and leadership has just blossomed tremendously since they've taken charge.

Now, we've heard a lot. In my 44 days, I've heard so much about President Bush, President Bush, the last 8 years, his administration. But you know what? I think they've had a little bit of amnesia, because they took the majority in 2006, swore in their Speaker in 2007, and look what happened. From that point forward, the deficit bloomed and unemployment increased.

It all works together simultaneously, but yet they want to look back over the full decade and forget that, You know what? They're responsible. They were in a governing position, and yet they don't want to accept the responsibility of governing.

So that leads us to where we are right now, at a point of lack of governing, because for the first time since 1974 no budget has been presented here. And the question is: Where's the budget?

And right here you can read the quote. It says, Skipping a budget resolution this year would be unprecedented. And we've seen a lot of unprecedented things over the last several months, but this, in itself, is unprecedented. The House has never failed to pass an annual budget resolution since the current budget rules were put into place in 1974. And that's reported here back in April.

But budgets are necessary, according to the leadership here. Steny Hoyer, our current majority leader, said, enacting a budget was the most basic responsibility of governing. That was the year they took over, the year they took over. And since then, look what's happened.

And then, of course, from the House Budget Committee chairman, if you can't budget, you can't govern. Right there it is.

Well, that leads us to today. I believe it's time to let the American people know that we have solutions to balance the budget and actually have a proposal in place, and that, I can tell the American people, hasn't got a hearing. I wonder why. I wonder why.

H. Con. Res. 281, which I know many of the colleagues here have signed on to it--I'm not sure if one would want to speak to it in its specifics, but it provides tax relief, returns to 2008 spending levels, makes no changes to the Social Security laws as they currently are, provides spending increases equivalent to the inflation growth in Medicare and Medicaid, requires each committee in this House to find savings equal to 1 percent of the mandatory spending, repeals the Troubled Asset Relief Program, TARP, repeals TARP, repeals ObamaCare, and then also provides medical liability reform, freedom to purchase health care across State lines, repeals Davis-Bacon, so many other things, great concepts there. And I'm sure you'd like to speak to some of those and the need, the importance of balancing the budget here in the United States Congress.

You know what's so exciting about this America Speaking Out program is that we're getting ideas from Americans that are sitting around the kitchen table and they're talking about what would they do if they were in charge. What would they do if they were making these decisions. As they're watching the TV, and oftentimes in disgust seeing what comes out of Washington, D.C. The ideas that they have proposed and the thousands of connections that have been made.

And I took that to my district and somewhat implemented a program much like that and developed an economic advisory council of business and community leaders from each and every county in my district to seek input from them to tear down that wall. Because for far too long Washington has not been listening. And so we just took that wall down and said, hey, we want your ideas so we can push them up and present them here to the full House as the ideas from Main Street itself, not from Capitol Hill. But we need the ideas from the hills of north Georgia, are where the ideas come from, and the hills from all over this great Nation.

But you know, balancing the budget is a great start. Every American family has to balance their checkbook. But yet right now, here, leading by example, a terrible example is a Federal Government that is so far outside of its bounds with deficit spending and increasing its debt, it's unsustainable.

So I guess the Republicans have a solution right here. House Concurrent Resolution 281 balances the budget, cuts taxes, and cuts spending, something that's unheard of here in Washington, D.C. When every State and local government all around this Nation's cutting spending right now, every family's cutting spending out of their personal budget, here on the Federal level we just keep spending, spending, spending.

Mr. Thompson, you looked like you had something good to add to the conversation here.

Let's stop there for a second. You're talking about the marriage tax. Now, those are the people, the wealthy married people or is that all married people? That's everyone, right?

And now the individuals with children are the ones getting the penalty here, the ones who are the wealthy, or is it everyone who has children?

It is everyone. So the fact that they stood over here, what, 40 minutes ago and said, oh, these are tax cuts for the middle class, that's not the case. The largest tax increase in the history of this Nation will occur in 5 months. But we have a bill that we've introduced, and I am sure y'all have cosponsored it, I cosponsored it, to block that, to block that tax increase, and to allow the taxes to remain at the level they are today. And of course we would want to see them lowered. But it's not a tax cut. We're just saying, hey, keep it at the level it is. Don't raise them. Because that's what they are doing. They're raising taxes.

Let me finish this balance the checkbook thing real quick, and we'll talk about confidence in a minute. So balance the checkbook. Republicans, we're saying let's cut spending. Let's stop this excessive spending that's going on here in Washington. We can do that by repealing the unused portions of the stimulus bill. They talk about how great it's been, the grand fanfare of the stimulus, when in fact a third of it hasn't even been spent, which means, again, it's not working.

We need to end the bailouts. And then of course the big one, repeal ObamaCare, which is a nearly $600 billion tax increase on all Americans and businesses all over the United States.

Billion, right, that's nine zeroes.

This is what Americans are saying right here. Americans did not go to AmericaSpeakingOut.com--and this is nonpartisan, it's confidential--Americans did not go to that Web site and say increase spending. They did not say increase the stimulus and do another one. They did not say continue the bailouts or keep ObamaCare. They actually said stop all this stuff. Stop it. That was America speaking out right here.

Thank you, Dr. Gingrey. You are absolutely right.

Now, let me summarize. We've been talking about solutions here tonight. First one we were talking about was job creation. Certainty was mentioned by Mr. Thompson there. Uncertainty being the problem; certainty being the solution. So some certainty would be let's pass this legislation that blocks the largest tax increase in the history of our Nation. Let's get some of this regulation out of the way. Let's empower the small business owners and just embrace and ignite that entrepreneurial spirit. The solutions to job creation.

The second component we were talking about is the spending and balancing the budget. It's time to cut spending. Let's say enough is enough here in Washington. All of America, all businesses, all State, all local governments are cutting spending, whereas here we are, we're raising spending. But we've even gone a step further, taken a bold step and said, we've got a plan to balance the budget here for the Federal Government.

And now the third category, which I think really involved the American people last year, not in a positive way because they weren't engaged in the process, because it was a process that was behind closed doors, but it raised the awareness of the abuse of the process and the abuse of the rules and abuse of the system right here, and that was health care.

As we've talked about America Speaking Out, repealing ObamaCare was one of the top items mentioned or indicated out of the--what did we say, nearly 12,000 respondents, 12,000 specific ideas and 600,000 votes cast for different ideas. We've got an interesting chart here, and this will be the debut I believe of it publicly to show the health care plan as passed, the health care plan as passed.

It was approached or presented as a plan that was patient friendly, right? Isn't that what it's called, the Patient Protection Act? This is the ObamaCare health care plan in a schematic of what occurred out of the 2,000 pages of legislation. They're still today figuring out that portions of it were in there that they never expected or knew were in there, including new additional taxes.

But let me point out as we discuss this, and I know, Doctor, you've probably got a lot of insight into it because we do have an alternative plan. We had one then, it was presented then, but it's still in committee right now.

But let me point out to those watching. Here's the physician at this point. Here's the patient down here at this point, and all of this government is in between. How is that better for the American patient, for the young boy

that's needing care? How is this better for that young single mom who's just trying to get care for her child? This is not better. This is a mess, a governmental nightmare right here, and this is as it's passed and has been signed into law, the Obama health care plan.

You're right. This is the doctor. There's the patient. You would think the patient and doctor would be in the center, right? That should be the center of this diagram, but it is not. It is this newly empowered Secretary of the Health and Human Services that is in the center of which all of this spirals off of, and all of this is documented and all the code sections are outlined on here how it was created, and it indicates new mandates, new taxes, new programs, new processes. All of this is in this new health care plan that is going to be a mess for Americans right here.

The great thing is, though, that as we stand before America tonight, we don't stand here without an alternative, without another idea. We come before America boldly with another alternative, and the first step, in my opinion, is we have to defund this mess. Let's just put the brakes on it. We don't need another, what, $600 billion in new taxes. We need to defund this, and we have introduced legislation that is H.R. 5882, which each of you are probably cosponsors of and I'm the sponsor of the legislation to just defund it altogether, and let's start over because the process was broken. The policy is flawed.

Let's get a patient-centered, patient-driven health care plan in place of which we've got good alternatives. Would you like to share a little bit about the proposal that's out there, or do you have some ideas yourself?

You are absolutely right. So you presented a solution. H.R. 3400 would be the Empowering Patients First Act. We have talked about deauthorizing the funding for this mess here, and you talk about surgically removing some items here. I mean, this is a mess.

You wonder why this component would be in a health care proposal. The IRS, the Internal Revenue Service, is part of a health care plan; although, I think we all know that the American people do not want to have to go through this maze in order to get their health care taken care of here in the United States.

We have a couple of opportunities. One, H.R. 5882, for those whom are viewing this tonight, could encourage their Members to sign on to, and that would not allow any funds to be authorized or spent towards this here. Then there is the Repeal It proposal that repeals this altogether, and there are two of those out there. There is a letter or petition to have one voted on here on the floor, and that's H.R. 4972, by Mr. King. That's the Repeal It legislation.

Then you have spoken about the alternative, the replacement. So you have defund it, repeal it, and then replace it with H.R. 3400, which is a free market, capitalistic solution to health care for Americans to allow them to be empowered, empowering them.

Would you like to add some more to this? I know we are getting close here before we need to stop sharing the truth here.

Last August, the American people were pretty upset about that. They were fired up 1 year ago as the leadership of this Hall went out all across America and avoided town hall meetings because they could not defend this 2,000-page spaghetti plate here of mess, because the American people know that the government taking over their health care is not the best option. The best option is the patient, the individual that is being empowered.

Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I want to thank you for joining me tonight, because here at this late hour here on the east coast, we are standing before the American people presenting alternatives, solutions to these challenging days.

We started off by talking about the economy and jobs and job creation, and that's empowering the private sector, not empowering government, creating certainty in the marketplace as opposed to the uncertainty that is out there today by standing in the way of the largest tax increase in the history of this Nation, which is about to be unfolded here in the next 5 months. And then also the reduction of capital gains. The reduction of the corporate tax rate and just igniting that entrepreneurial spirit once again to allow that entrepreneur, the American business owner, to dream, and to dream big and to go work hard.

Then next we talked about spending and spending cuts, balancing the budget. Very difficult items here on the Federal level, it would seem by the majority party. But, instead, we have proposed positive solutions to balance the budget like has never been seen before.

Then lastly, the health care. And all of this comes as a result of America Speaking Out, the Web site in which 12,000 responses were given and over 600,000 votes were cast on different ideas and concepts. Listening to the American people about jobs and the economy, about spending, about balancing the budget and the health care proposal, which leads us to defunding it, repealing it and then replacing it with a patient center, patient-driven concept that provides affordability, portability, and accessibility to Americans.

But this is not a time in which we stand and point fingers as we have heard over the past several weeks. My 44 days being here, the other side has pointed fingers back, back in time. But we are not here to do that. This is not about Republican and Democrat. This is about America right now and this is about getting our economy back on track. It's about creating the confidence once again in the marketplace and then providing true health care solutions.

So I appreciate my colleagues in joining me tonight on this late hour. I know it means a lot to your constituents that you would do that and that you would be working at this late hour in the evening because you know how important it is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who was a champion from my home State of Georgia.

It has been 10 years this week since the passing of Senator Paul D. Coverdell, and I am proud to honor the life, the work, and the spirit of such an influential man today.

Described by his colleagues as a ``soft-spoken workhorse,'' his strong passion for his country was shown throughout his distinguished public service in the United States Army, the Georgia State Senate, the United States Senate, and as Director of the Peace Corps.

Senator Coverdell was a devoted hard worker who was a pioneer for the conservative movement in Georgia. Some might say he was a ``pillar of the community,'' but that is an understatement. He was the foundation upon which the pillars were built.

As a key figure in the establishment of a strong Republican Party in Georgia, he was the first Republican since Reconstruction to be reelected to the United States Senate. He was notorious for his ability to work on both sides of the aisle. He saw ways through the bitter partisanship, and he was one who was well-liked and respected by all of his colleagues.

Apart from being a brilliant man in his work, he was also a humble and kind man, characteristics that helped in the advancement of the cause that he fought for. As a testament to his humble and gentle nature, I will share with you a story about Senator Coverdell and a special friendship that he developed that would change his life.

While vacationing in Maine in 1978, Senator Coverdell decided he would look up the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, George H. W. Bush. He simply found his address in a phone book. He went to his home. He knocked on his door and he introduced himself. He introduced himself to the man who would later become the President of the United States. The pair became the closest of friends over the next 14 years, and they helped each other in many different ways. When George H. W. Bush was elected President, Senator Coverdell sent him a letter that read, ``If I can help, I'd like to help.''

It was at this time that the 41st President then appointed Senator Coverdell as Director of the Peace Corps.

Five years after his death, at the dedication of the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Georgia, President Bush said of Paul Coverdell, ``In the Washington world of bitter partisanship, Paul was, indeed, a voice of reason, always reaching out, always putting the good of the country first, always finding solutions where others may try to find blame or an issue to use as a political weapon. He was successful in bringing together people across the political aisle. I've heard it said that, to the end, Paul Coverdell was the great unifier, and so he was.''

Senator Coverdell's legacy is particularly important to me as I am the first graduate of the Coverdell Leadership Institute to be elected to the United States Congress.

Senator Coverdell founded the Coverdell Leadership Institute to support the Republican Party in Georgia through the building of the farm team through the Republican Party. At the time, Georgia was not far removed from being a single-party State. No Republican had served as Governor since Reconstruction. Senator Coverdell began working with current and future Republican leaders, training them in the practical aspects of politics and government service to ensure that, going forward, there would be a bipartisan presence among Georgia elected officials.

Today, I am especially grateful to Senator Coverdell for starting this forward-looking program that continues to be relevant and impactful today, 10 years after the Senator's death. That is certainly a life to be proud of.

From the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences at my alma mater, the University of Georgia, to the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps headquarters building here in Washington, D.C., to the Coverdell Leadership Institute, itself, and many

other honors in between, Senator Coverdell's great legacy lives on. I ask that his life be remembered today.

Sure. I am from Georgia's Ninth Congressional District, which is north Georgia, north Georgia mountains, a beautiful part of the State.

Yes, Blue Ridge. The city of Blue Ridge is part of the district. And I live in the small town of Ranger, a little bitty town, a little farm community.

To the Chattooga River.

Yes, that's not far away at all, you're right.

Well, what you're addressing is free market capitalism. We know it works, and America was founded on that. And the fact that the administration today continues this crazy level of spending and then blames businesses for not hiring--and we've heard about hope and change and saved and created jobs, all these different theories out there. But the one theory we know they're using right now is that Keynesian theory of economics, and that is, the infusion of money through the government into choices of their own.

So they're spreading that wealth that we all know that they said they would not do, but spreading wealth. And where does that money come from? Where does that wealth come from that's being spread? It's coming from the citizens of the United States, the taxpayers themselves, the small business owners.

So if we're going to turn this economy around, we've got to apply a new theory of economics, the supply side theory of economics--free markets, capitalism, competition, all those things that just energize the economy. That's what I look forward to, a new governing majority here in Congress that is going to bring free market and capitalism back to the United States.

Was that in 2010? It sounds like today, doesn't it?

You know, it's interesting you bring that up because that's what we're dealing with here in the Congress. What the Senate is voting on, whether today or tomorrow, is the extension of unemployment benefits, right?

If the policies of the Obama administration were working so well and if they were saving and creating so many jobs, then why do we need to extend unemployment benefits? Doesn't it seem like an admission to the fact that it doesn't work, that they are failed policies?

You hit on the solution, which is, if we empower the American people--empower the taxpayer, empower the business owners--they will drive us through these tough economic days without any problem because of that entrepreneurial spirit, that ``can do'' spirit, that grit, that willingness to dig deep and to work hard. We know that has pulled us through so many challenging days. You know, what we've heard for the last couple days--I've heard and I'm sure you have--is the Democrats blaming a previous administration over and over and over.

They failed to take responsibility for the fact that they took the majority in 2006, that they swore in their very own Speaker in 2007 and yet failed to take responsibility for the actions with the unemployment and with the job losses that we see today. Just blame it on someone else, a previous administration.

Well, let me ask you this.

Well, where does spending originate? We have branches of government, right? We have three of them.

I believe spending and allocation of appropriations originates in the House of Representatives, not in the executive branch, but in the House of Representatives.

If I might interject real quick here, and I'm going to have to leave the conversation in a few minutes, but what we've seen for over 12 months now is unemployment at, what, 9.5 percent, and we've heard a lot about saving and creating jobs. We've seen a lot of bailouts, buyouts, stimuluses, cash for clunkers, financial reform, TARP 1, 2, and I'm sure there will be many more. The fact is they're not working.

But we're going into January of this year and taxes are going to go up on every citizen of the United States. Every tax bracket will be raised. Capital gains will go up. The dividend tax will go up. Inheritance tax goes up. The marriage tax goes up as well.

And I'm curious, how does this administration, how does the leadership of this House face the American people this November and say that is going to create jobs, that's going to get you back to work? Taxing you more to fund failed programs of the last 12 months is going to get you back to work. I don't know how they're going to do it.

But I'm going to stand before my constituents with a positive message and let them know that there are men like you and me and others in this Chamber that are going to stand up daily and stand up and put forth positive solutions to get this country back on track. And we're going to get it back on track, but it's going to take a lot of work, and it's going to take pushing government out of the way and empowering the American people to once again dream and dream big.

Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to urge Democrats to hear the voice of the American people as they ask, where are the jobs? There is no budget, there is still no plan to create jobs to get this economy rolling again.

The Democrats have got to stop their crazy out-of-control spending and get serious about job creation. This will happen through the expansion of the private sector and not through the expansion of government.

We have got to encourage small businesses, not penalize them with more taxes and regulations. House Republicans have offered commonsense solutions to get our economy back on track. Rolling back taxes, cutting spending, cutting the deficit and the debt, removing regulations and balancing the budget, these crucial actions must happen to get this House in order and get Americans back to work.

So, Mr. Speaker, the American people want to know, where are the jobs? I want to know where are your solutions? We have offered ours.

Madam Speaker, last week during the July 4th recess, I had the privilege of announcing my Economic Advisory Council as I toured each county in Georgia's Ninth Congressional District. During this time, business leaders in all 15 counties I represent took time from their busy day to join me to discuss ideas for job creation.

Do you know what was unanimous from each of these business leaders? It was stop the crazy spending that's going on here in Washington and start sending clear signals that Washington is serious about creating jobs through the expansion of the private sector and not expansion of government.

This starts with lowering taxes and stopping the runaway debt. We must stop cap and trade, repeal ObamaCare and get our house in order. In fact, Congress should block all tax increases, freeze discretionary spending to at least 2006 levels, and stop all proposed regulations that have any negative economic impact.

In other words, the business community in my district is saying loud and clear, ``Washington, you're not helping. Get out of the way and let the free market work.''

I couldn't agree with them more.

It's great to join you tonight on this discussion. I think it's the number one discussion going on across America right now, and that's our economy, how's it going to get back on track.

And we've seen 15, 16 failed months of economic policy coming out of Washington, DC right here. And as I spent my time on the recess, and I had the opportunity 31 individual times to speak to various groups on those 12 days, I can tell you the economy is on the tops of the minds of the people.

Thirty-one separate addresses or speeches over 12 straight days.

But I can tell you, it's the number one topic on the minds of north Georgians, is how to get this economy back on track.

But what astonished Georgians so much was that just 4 days before July 4, the day of independence, the day of celebrating independence from tyranny and bondage of years ago, 4 days before that, $167 billion of indebtedness was created on 1 day here because of the Federal Government. That's the numbers, 1, 6 and 7, with 9 zeroes behind it, a phenomenal amount, nearly $1,500 per person here in the United States just on 1 day.

No, just on 1 day. That was June 30, June 30 of this year alone, which was more than the deficit of 2006 altogether.

And you look at the stated budget of the State of Georgia, the annual budget is about $17 billion today. So almost 10 times the budget of the State of Georgia for an entire year was borrowed in 1 day here for the Federal Government.

So Georgians want to know how are we going to get back on track. So I spent part of my time this week on what I was calling my Economic Advisory Tour. We decided we're going to tear down the walls that we see here in Washington where Washington is not listening to the constituents. Instead, we're going to open up communication. Instead of Washington pushing down ideas on job creation on the private sector, why don't we get the ideas from the business leaders themselves, the risk-takers, the entrepreneurs, the ones that have the vision and the dreams themselves.

And so we had a great tour this week. And we came up with a simple formula. We're not that far away. In fact, we have, what, in America, 17 million Americans without a job, 27 million businesses all throughout the Nation; and we know all those businesses want to expand, succeed, have a profit because we believe profit's a good word here in the Republican Caucus.

But you have 17 million unemployed. You have 27 million businesses, so the formula is simple. If just one business out of every three would hire one person in the next 12 months, unemployment would be cut in half. And you know what? I didn't say government.

And we didn't say if government would hire one more American. We said the private sector. So the question comes down to this, and this is probably what would be a great discussion tonight is, Why? Why are businesses in north Georgia and all across this Nation saying, you know what? I'm not going to hire somebody right now, even though I want to. I want to expend my business. I want to see my profits grow, my sales increase. I want to invest in capital, but I'm not right now.

Wealth redistribution.

If I remember right, what, about 700,000 temporary workers for census data gathering, which already a third of them have been laid off.

If I could expand upon that, because you make an interesting point. Because what I have started to understand, just from talking to business owners, is that the labor pool is a zero sum game. You are either in the private sector or you are in the government sector, one or the other. And so as the government sector expands, you are actually drawing intellectual capital and wealth out of the private sector all together and expanding the governmental sector. So the inverse of that would be if we want to shift some intellectual capital and wealth back to the private sector, we must shrink the governmental sector.

I guess to illustrate that point even more clearly, let's assume government is the solution here. And we hear a lot of people say government's the solution. So why don't we make every American a government employee? Why wouldn't we do that if everyone could have--

But they say that's the solution, to expand government. That's what creates jobs. So why don't we do that for everyone?

It doesn't work. Why? You are right. The answer then is the private sector.

Right. Eight failed years, if I remember right.

So if you go back to your other graph that talked about employment and the growth of employment, or I guess in our case what we are talking about is the growth of unemployment today, you would see it probably correlates with that deficit spending.

Yeah.

We did. And I know we are moving to solutions here.

It's easy to look back and sort of, I guess, bash the policies of the last several months, but what's important right now as a Nation is looking for leadership. I mean there has been a lack of leadership coming out of Washington for some time now. The Nation's looking for leadership. They're looking for a vision. They're looking for a plan. And what we have discovered is it's about certainty in the marketplace. When the marketplace has a little bit of certainty about what's going to happen in the future, that creates confidence. There is no confidence in the business marketplace.

So your first point up there is excessive taxation. The one thing that is certain right now is that because of inaction right here in Congress because of the Democrat leadership, taxes will go up this January of 2011. Capital gains will rise. Dividend tax will rise. Every income tax bracket will rise. The death tax will rise. The marriage penalty will rise. All of those will rise. So if we want to bring some confidence back to the marketplace, we would make those tax cuts permanent, wouldn't you think?

You know, that's a favorite Georgia Bulldogs statement.

Now, if I remember right, a couple years ago we heard a lot about hope, a lot about change. Taxes were not going to go up on the middle class if I remember right. But if I look at your charts, it's clear that the taxes are going to go up on not just the middle class, but every class. Everyone will pay taxes, regardless of where they are on the economic spectrum whatsoever. And as a result, businesses will not hire as many individuals because their taxes are going to go up. And if businesses aren't hiring individuals, unemployment continues to rise. Unemployment continues to rise, it impacts everyone throughout this Nation. Again we are back in this crazy cycle.

So the solutions aren't reform and takeover of various industry in this Nation. In fact, it's just the opposite, because in the 15 counties that I spoke to this week, they said, Look, just get out of our way. Let us once again be creative, come up with the ideas to dream and to expand my business. But don't put that next regulation, don't force health care upon me. Don't increase taxes right now at all. Instead, let us, the business owners, the entrepreneurs, the risk-takers, the ones who are willing to risk it all and work the hardest here and put it all on the line, allow us to do that without government interference.

It seems that there was a report put out by the Heritage Foundation that indicated that America is now classified for the first time as ``mostly free,'' I believe, given their ranking system. And that would be a great illustration. I don't think most Americans realize that America is second highest in the world when it comes to corporate tax rates, behind Japan, that all of these other nations that you have on this chart have lower tax rates than the United States of America. And we wonder why jobs go overseas to other countries.

Well, it explains exactly what we need to do. You're right. It's counterintuitive, but it works. Just as if that were to work, then the opposite must be true if you increased taxes. That means your revenue decreases. There is a great illustration in the State of Georgia. They're trying to increase the tobacco tax in order to fill a budget hole. But prior to that, the administration here had raised tobacco taxes. And as a result of the raise of tobacco taxes from the Federal level, income of the State tobacco taxes had decreased by 20 percent.

They were proposing to increase the tax on tobacco. Then they looked, and they looked at what had happened just prior to that. And it was the year before, and it was the administration here that actually raised taxes on tobacco. And as a result of that, the revenue for the State of Georgia actually declined 20 percent. Without the State of Georgia raising taxes, the Federal Government raising taxes, but the State of Georgia's taxes that they would normally collect from tobacco actually declined by 20 percent. This shows that when you increase taxes, you actually--productivity or consumption, all of those things, decrease and therefore it's more damaging to the economy.

Is there such thing as a happy socialist? I mean, help me with that.

It's that print, spend, and borrow mentality down here.

What you were referring to a minute ago, there's a line of demarcation that I refer to as the tipping point that occurs. And whether it's an economy or anywhere else, there is a great book written on that very subject matter of how that occurs throughout time in various ways.

So what we need to do right now is look for solutions that tip the other way. I think we Republicans are certainly the ones for less taxes, less government, personal responsibility, and it's those positive solutions that I think Americans are looking for right now. They're looking for that glimmer of, I guess, sunshine out there that says we're going to get through this.

I'm telling you, we are going to get through this. We're going to get through this as Americans together working hard, once again, dreaming and not being dependent on the Federal Government to be the solution.

Those taxes are only on Big Business, right, that wouldn't impact the consumer? That seems to be the argument that is put out there, but we all know that it's not Big Business that pays taxes. It's not the corporations that pay taxes. It's all passed down through the consumer through the cost of any goods and services as any other cost would be in a service or in a product.

But I've been here 30 days. Thirty days I've been sworn in here as a Member of Congress.

It is an honor to represent Georgia's Ninth Congressional District. I tell you, in Georgia what an incredible State. I know your State is great as well. But we have 13 Fortune 500 companies, three Fortune 100, the world's busiest and largest airport, the fourth busiest port in the Nation, an incredible university system and so much when it comes to entrepreneurial sprit.

But a great State, so much to work with there, but there's that uncertainty that lies out there.

So in my 30 days here, the House voted on TARP II--of course, I opposed that--the expansion of unemployment benefits to a far-reaching amount, and then the war supplemental budget which was 61 percent un- war related, and it goes one thing after another, whether it is financial reform or whether it is this reform or that reform, just in my 30 days. So there is a little bit of certainty out there in the business community.

The certainty is that something's going to come down from Washington that's going to put another burden on them, another tax on them and it is killing job creation today. It's time to change that certainty around and say you can be certain that coming out of Washington it's going to be less taxes, less government, personal responsibility, and liberty and just for all. Let's get back to free markets and capitalism.

You're right, and it's great, and that's what we've got to get back to is allowing the freedom to succeed and the freedom to fail, wouldn't you say? I mean, that is a freedom as well. Not government bailouts and government taking care of businesses that make poor decisions or take a risk that just doesn't work out, for whatever reason. But, you know, when we think about where we are going in the future--and I think we've got a great future--we just have to be positive. We have to come up with positive solutions and solutions that aren't the government being the solution but empowering the private sector.

We've come into a new era I believe, and I believe it's coming. I would like to say the sun is setting on an era, and that's the era of the champions of government, that the sun is setting on that and now a new dawn is arising and that is going to be the champions of the taxpayer.

So as we move forward through these next weeks and this great recess, I think America is waiting for this Congress to take a recess so that they will stop passing policies that are damaging to small businesses and elect a new governing majority here coming up soon and we have positive solutions that just reduce the business owners and, once again, empower them to be the job creators instead of empowering government to be that.

Right. And I believe Bastiat over 150 years referred to that as ``legalized plunder'' in the book, ``The Law,'' where he knew that anyone that was taking without permission and giving to someone else was plunder. And in the case of taxation here in the United States and the raising of taxes that we're going to see in January 2011 just due to the inaction of the leadership here in Washington, that is an increased legalized plunder that is going to occur.

When you think about it, imagine if you had the opportunity to implement the policies that you felt were best to get jobs moving forward here in this Nation. If it was me, I would say, let's empower the private sector. Let's allow them to be the job creators, not government. Let's reduce the tax burden. Let's start with the capital gains tax, the corporate tax rate, as well as many of the other tax rates involved in there. But then not only reduce taxes, cut spending. You have to cut spending in association with those tax cuts. In addition, we need to cut it beyond because of the spending level that we're currently on. But when you think about spending, everyone around here says, well, you can't cut spending. And you have to ask the question: Are we running at an efficient level here as government? We know the answer. The answer to that is no. In my opinion there are no sacred cows. It is time to cut government and cut it and cut deep when it comes to cutting government. Americans all across this Nation are cutting their budget, and there are a lot of important things in their budget. I believe it's time for the Federal Government to cut their budget tremendously, reduce taxes, reduce the regulation, and let the private sector once again flourish.

If you had to simplify that for the American viewers out there, and I see that says about 91 percent of our debt as a percentage of GDP. How would you simplify that in terms of the average household at home and they have income coming in, their pay as it relates to debt?

You're saying that 91 percent of that goes to debt; that income has to go to debt.

If the liability was called in at that point. It is a liability of 91 percent.

That's right.

I've only been here 30 days and I can tell you, this government is way too big. It does not run efficiently. There are many tasks that it should not be involved in whatsoever. We've seen those pass this House just in my few short weeks of being here. As I think about where we're going and I think about the solutions that we're all seeking, the Economic Advisory Council that I've put together across the 15 counties of the Ninth Congressional District is going to be one of the most dynamic councils I believe we have ever seen, because these are the business leaders, those that are on the ground hiring and making decisions for their business, that are making tough decisions; what to cut out of their budgets, what hours are they going to operate, what supplies are they going to buy. And we're asking them that question, What is keeping you from hiring that next employee? Because it goes back to that, if one out of three businesses would just hire one person in the next 12 months, unemployment would be cut in half. That's how close we are.

So what is it that the government is doing to prevent you from hiring that next employee? I am excited that soon I will be bringing back what I believe are going to be some powerful recommendations to the House of Representatives right here and say, From the Ninth Congressional District, from the business leaders in north Georgia, here's what they say needs to be done in order to get this economy back on track.

There are great talents and opportunities in Georgia. And as I know we are wrapping up our time probably here, and as I sort of close out, it goes back to that zero sum. It is a zero sum game when it comes to employment.

You are either expanding the private sector, or you are expanding the governmental sector. And I believe our objective, and I am glad that you are of like mind with me, that as we consider the deliberations over the next several weeks, that those who are watching tonight know that there are two men, plus more here, who really want to see the private sector expand, and expand through innovation and the excitement of the idea.

So I sort of liken it to the flame. There is that entrepreneurial flame out there. It has been dampened. It has been dampened quite a bit over the last 15-16 months with the policies coming out of Washington, and I believe it is our objective and I believe we can do this.

It is time to once again fan that flame and get that dampened spark flamed back up and get that entrepreneur fired back up about that American dream that you just spoke of.

I will close with this story, because my son who is 10 shared with me the greatest illustration last year. We were debating allowances. We were talking a dollar for this task and a dollar for that task. And he stopped me and he said, dad, if you give me a dollar to do something that I should already be doing, doesn't that just take away from what mom can buy groceries with? Wouldn't it be better if I made something and sold it and added to the family?

I mean, what a phenomenal example from a 10-year-old boy who understands productivity and wealth accumulation. That is something that excites me, that that young generation gets it.

Mr. Speaker, Americans are overtaxed. The Tax Foundation estimates that it took American workers over 3 months this year to pay their share of local, State, and Federal taxes, and this Congress has raised taxes over $500 billion on the American people so far.

You know, enough is enough. We need to reduce spending and then focus on reforming the tax code with a fairer, simpler system. That's why I have cosponsored H.R. 25, the FairTax. The FairTax eliminates income taxes, estate taxes, capital gains taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple retail sales tax. Workers will keep 100 percent of their paychecks, and a new set of winners and losers will be there. The winners being the taxpayers, and the losers being the government.

The FairTax is common sense and abolishes the IRS, making April 15 just another day on the calendar, and maybe one day, we can pass a suspension to recognize that great accomplishment. Lower taxes, less government, and personal responsibility--that's a recipe to getting this economy back on track.

Madam Speaker, in Georgia's Ninth Congressional District, there is the small town of Ellijay. It is known not only for Colonel Poole's barbecue and as the apple capital of Georgia but also as the home of the McCutchen-Poole Small Business Coalition. The reason is that community leaders like Colonel Oscar Poole and Joe McCutchen are committed to creating an environment where small business can thrive. However, taxation and regulation are stifling small business expansion.

Throughout my legislative career, I have focused my efforts on removing these unnecessary barriers in order to unleash America's entrepreneurial spirit. As a small business man, I know that cutting spending here in Washington, eliminating the capital gains tax and reducing the corporate income tax, along with empowering the private sector, is the way to create jobs and to get Americans back to work.

Stimulating the economy must come from expanding the private sector, not by expanding government. We have a 16-month track record of failed economic policies, and they continued once more here today. We should be encouraging small businesses, not penalizing them with higher taxes and more regulation.

So I hope you will join me. Let's empower the taxpayer. Let's provide tax relief, not tax creep.