[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 26, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             BANK BAILOUTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express 
outrage, outrage at the information that has recently come to light 
about the AIG bailout. Though it may not be clear yet who should be 
held accountable, one thing is clear: The American people will not 
tolerate the use of taxpayer dollars for use in backdoor bailouts where 
the details are treated as classified, using methods typically reserved 
for matters of national security.
  Though some financial matters may require protection as a matter of 
national security, it does not appear that the AIG bailout rises to 
that standard. At a time when our Nation is actively engaged in wars on 
two fronts, and terrorists and traffickers are always looking for means 
to breach our defenses, such treatment should be reserved for documents 
pertaining to actual security threats.
  I opposed the Troubled Asset Relief Program from the very beginning 
because it focused too much on Wall Street and its executives and not 
enough on the problems that face working Arizona families. It does too 
little to hold accountable the banks and corporations that have 
benefited from billions in taxpayer dollars. The House Oversight 
Committee and the GAO are now investigating the entire AIG bailout. 
They should complete their work as quickly as possible so the results 
can be released to the American taxpayers.

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