[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THRUST FOR POWER

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, political liberty is founded on economic 
liberty, and history teaches that liberties are attacked during a 
crisis. The White House Chief of Staff has said never pass up an 
opportunity inside a crisis.
  Secretary Geithner wants Congress to give the executive branch 
authority to seize any financial institution in America. It is an 
awesome power that will be quickly abused after just one Federal 
Reserve Board vote among all Presidential appointees. No judge would 
rule. No vote of the Congress would happen. This is a historic lunge 
for power.
  Americans, remember, it was government agencies, Fannie Mae and 
Freddie Mac, that caused this crisis. I am from Chicago, and I know 
about government abuse and corruption.
  We should reject Geithner's opportunistic thrust for control or rue 
this Congress when it gave only one branch of this government such a 
corruptible economic authority.

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