[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H16840-H16841]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
   PRESIDENT BUSH IS OUT OF TOUCH WHEN HE SAYS THE ECONOMY IS STRONG

  (Mr. ELLISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, earlier this week President Bush showed 
us that his view of the economy does not match that of the overwhelming 
majority of Americans. That is when he tried to convince the Nation 
that the economy was strong for everyone.

[[Page H16841]]

  Does the President realize that on his watch, poverty has increased 
every single year, and that overall household income has decreased?
  Does the President realize that at a time when Americans have less 
money in their wallets, they are trying to squeeze every dollar to pay 
higher food, gas, education and health care bills?
  Madam Speaker, how bad does the economy have to get for the average 
working man and woman before the President realizes that there is a 
problem?
  This Democratic Congress is not satisfied with the status quo. Over 
the last year, we have made progress to ease the economic crunch for 
middle-class, working-class families. We have passed legislation to 
make college education more affordable, increased the minimum wage, 
addressed the subprime mortgage crisis, and cut taxes for middle-class 
families.
  We are proud of these accomplishments. We also realize that with most 
Americans struggling, this economy is just not working.

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