[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 154 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11699-H11700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITED GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Pingree of Maine). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, today, during a rule debate, I voiced my 
concern over the breakneck increase in government spending in the U.S. 
I warned my fellow Americans that this reckless spending risked turning 
our country into a South American-style nation with a perpetually frail 
economy and government. One of my colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle retorted by highlighting the successes of nations such as Brazil 
or Argentina. That's very interesting.
  Shortly after our exchange, I read that Argentina recently enacted a 
press restriction law that serves to

[[Page H11700]]

muzzle media critics of the party of President Cristina Kirchner. It 
seems that the media was getting too aggressive in exposing and 
critiquing the ruling party's corruption. Sounds like a really great 
model for free speech and expression; right?
  I hope that the newly elected Congress of Argentina scraps this law, 
and that we, as Americans, realize the gift that our form of government 
is and work together to preserve it. And, contrary to the advice of my 
colleague, hopefully the United States does not use this country's 
success as a model for reform.

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