[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E46-E47]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the measures 
before the House today that will restore civility and fiscal 
responsibility to our work. These changes to the existing House rules 
are essential if we are to carry out the American people's wish that we 
govern wisely, effectively, and in a bipartisan way.
  With the votes before us today, Democrats who now find ourselves in 
the majority are reaching out to the other side of the aisle to assure 
them that we will not treat you as we were treated while we were in the 
minority. Through these changes we will make sure that 15-minute votes 
are not held open for three hours while votes are bought through arm 
twisting and legislative favors; that conference committees will be 
open to Republicans as well as Democrats; and that conference 
agreements cannot be circumvented through the addition of new language 
after they have been signed. Today we vote for the honesty and openness 
demanded of us by our constituents and expected in a civil, democratic 
society.
  Today we also vote for fiscal responsibility. For five long years 
now, this Congress has approved, and the President has signed, budget, 
spending, and tax bills that have turned an enormous surplus into 
staggering deficit, adding tremendous burden to our children and 
grandchildren.

[[Page E47]]

  As a member of the budget committee for the last two congresses, I 
joined my Democratic colleagues in calling for a return to the days of 
paygo legislation so that all new spending is offset by corresponding 
reductions or new revenue. It is fitting that in our new majority we 
take this up as our second order of business. May hardworking families 
across this Nation understand that from this point forward, Congress 
will spend your money wisely, using the same budget discipline that you 
employ each and every day in your spending decisions. The days of 
deficit spending are coming to an end.
  I thank Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, and our entire 
leadership team for bringing these issues to the floor and moving the 
110th Congress in a new direction. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to solve the challenges facing 
this country. The rules changes before us today will help us do that, 
and I urge everyone here today to vote in favor of titles 2 and 3 of H. 
Res. 6.

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