[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 17 (Thursday, February 4, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H558]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 POPULIST CAUCUS BLUEPRINT ON RECOVERY

  (Ms. SHEA-PORTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a founding member of 
the Populist Caucus to urge my colleagues to support the plan to create 
jobs and rein in Wall Street. We must end these big corporate bonuses 
to executives at financial firms that were bailed out by the taxpayers.
  Just yesterday, it was reported that AIG is spending another $100 
million in bonuses. The people who helped to get us into this mess 
should not be rewarded while their companies still owe money to the 
American people.
  That is why the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4426, the Wall 
Street Bonus Tax Act. This bill would tax the bonuses of the bailed-out 
companies to help small businesses by providing direct lending and 
other financial assistance.
  In addition, the Populist Caucus is supporting H.R. 4191, the Let 
Wall Street Pay for Restoration of Main Street Act. This bill would 
create a small transaction fee on certain trades--not the small trades 
of individual investors or retirement accounts--and it would use those 
funds to support job creation and to pay down the debt.
  Madam Speaker, Wall Street has gone right back to their old ways, but 
small businesses and families are still suffering. Wall Street must now 
help small businesses and workers. These bills would help, and I urge 
my colleagues to support them.

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