[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 91 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S5052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THUNE AMENDMENT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, Democrats continue to argue among 
themselves about how much they want to add to the deficit. Yesterday, 
they unveiled their latest proposal, which would add another $50 
billion. And they are calling this an accomplishment--an accomplishment 
they reached not by making any tough choices but by shortening the 
length of time they would pay for programs they know they will end up 
extending anyway. Only in Washington would people boast about saving 
money they fully intend to spend down the road. And only in Washington 
would people raid a trust fund intended to pay for oilspill cleanup to 
cover completely unrelated spending in the middle of an oilspill. Let 
me say that again: Only in Washington would people raid a trust fund 
intended to pay for oilspill cleanup to cover completely unrelated 
spending in the middle of an oilspill.
  So Democrats can continue to play these games or they can join 
Republicans in voting for the Thune amendment later today. The Thune 
amendment would actually do the thing Americans want us to do right 
now; that is, lower the deficit and create real opportunities for job 
growth.
  Senators will have a simple choice today: They can either vote to 
reduce the deficit or they can lock arms with the Democratic leadership 
and dig an even deeper hole of debt, when most Americans think $13 
trillion is far too much already. If you are even remotely attuned to 
what Americans are asking us, this would be an easy choice. Our 
colleagues across the aisle have come down to the Senate floor over and 
over to claim the mantle of fiscal responsibility. Well, today they can 
prove it. Americans want us to show we are serious about lowering the 
debt. Senators will have that opportunity later today.
  So I ask my colleagues on both sides to join with me today and vote 
in favor of the Thune amendment.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.

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