[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H912-H913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              CONSEQUENCES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Chaffetz) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to comment about a growing 
concern among my constituents. They are concerned about our 
unwillingness to hold ourselves and others accountable.
  As the Senate debates the $1 trillion stimulus package, my 
constituents are begging us to consider the consequences. Every 
American knows about consequences. They pay them all the time. But 
they're beginning to wonder if Congress knows about consequences. The 
continued commitment to deficit spending exacts a huge price upon this 
country. Yet, it is not nearly enough discussion about the 
consequences.
  It's easy to ignore the consequences. It's easy to pretend they don't 
exist. It's easy to get caught up in short-term fixes that ignore long-
term results. But we weren't elected to do the easy thing. We were 
elected to make tough choices. We cannot be all things to all people.
  It's time to turn things around. If we're serious about change, we 
have to get serious about accountability.
  I'm concerned that Congress has been sending the wrong message to the 
American people. Consider what they see on a daily basis. They see Wall 
Street exploiting people, breaking rules and ruining lives. For the 
offenders, the consequences are minimal. But there is a price. The 
American people get stuck paying it.
  They see financial gurus allegedly ripping people off, and 
consequences are minimal. But there's a price and the victims pay it.
  They see tax evaders nominated to serve the highest offices in our 
government and, oops, there doesn't seem to be much after of a 
consequence. But there's still a price. The American government pays 
it, as we undermine our own credibility.
  Now the American people see a government spending trillions of 
dollars of borrowed money. Congressional leadership is telling them 
there won't be a consequence. But they know better, and so do we.
  We need to join the President's calls to raise our standards. In his 
inauguration speech, the President said, ``Those of us who manage the 
public's dollars will be held accountable, to spend wisely, reform bad 
habits and do our business in the light of day, because only then can 
we restore the vital trust between people a government.''

[[Page H913]]

  If we are truly going to restore that ``vital trust'' we must demand 
and expect accountability. We have to tell the American people the 
truth.
  The American people know what happens when you borrow too much. They 
know what happens when you spend too much. And they're worried. They 
should be. And so am I.
  Over the past 12 years our Federal budget has doubled and we are now 
more than $10 trillion in debt, with long term obligations close to 
$100 trillion. We are a Nation in debt. We have record numbers of 
individuals filing for bankruptcy.
  Where is the self-restraint, the personal pride, the honor that is 
our heritage?
  We haven't even passed the majority of the appropriations bills for 
Fiscal Year 2009. We are operating our government on an extension. Yet, 
the first priority of this Congress is to pass an emergency stimulus 
bill.
  Last week, all the House Republicans and some brave Democrats voted 
against this so-called stimulus. I was and am fundamentally opposed 
because it does not solve the underlying challenges eroding our 
economy. We all want our economy to thrive, but the bill currently in 
debate in the United States Senate does not make the fundamental 
changes we deserve and we need.
  The so-called stimulus was sold as a jobs bill. Tell me, how do the 
following expenditures drive our economy forward? $50 million for the 
National Endowment of the Arts, $150 million for the Smithsonian, $400 
million for global warming research, another $2.4 billion for carbon 
capture demonstration projects, $600 million for the Federal Government 
to buy automobiles, $650 million on the top of the billions already 
doled out to pay for digital TV conversion coupons, $1 billion for the 
follow up for the 2010 census. And the list goes on.
  We need a game changer. Massive spending bills do not represent 
change because it is merely more of the same. Setting aside money we 
don't have to pay for projects we can't afford is not change.
  The economic crisis we face provides a historic opportunity for us to 
show America that we get it.
  When I speak with business interests in my State, I hear the same 
request over and over, and it doesn't matter if it's a small business 
or a big business. From the sole proprietor who owns a graphics shop, 
to the trucker I spoke with that has 12 employees, to the medical 
device company that employs nearly 1,000 people in my district, the 
call is unanimous. They want us to demonstrate accountability. They 
want us to live within our means. They want us to quit borrowing from 
our enemies and taxing generations that are yet unborn.
  This country needs a game changer. Let us understand the 
consequences, and let us live within our means.

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