[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8009-S8010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      EXTENDING CURRENT TAX RATES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, we have a lot to do and not much time 
to do it in before the end of the session. The American people spoke 
loudly and clearly on election day. They want us to put aside the 
liberal wish list and focus on jobs. The most important thing we can do 
to create jobs between now and January 1 is to send a message to job 
creators that we are not going to raise their taxes. That is why I 
offered a bill back in September--S. 3773--that would make current tax 
rates permanent. This is the only bill that has yet been offered that 
would prevent a tax hike on anyone. In other words, nobody in America 
would get a tax hike at the end of this year.
  The White House didn't seem to like that idea. They said we should 
raise taxes on small businesses. But this should be an easy one. We 
should be promoting private job creation, not killing private job 
creation. So I look forward to hearing any ideas the White House has to 
achieve that.
  One thing we will need to do before we leave this year is to fund the 
government because Democrats didn't pass a single appropriations bill 
this year. So now we will have to mop up in the eleventh hour with an 
omnibus spending bill that covers all of it. This is one more sign they 
aren't learning many lessons from the election.
  If this election showed us anything, it is that Americans don't want 
Congress passing massive trillion-dollar bills that have been thrown 
together behind closed doors. They want us to do business differently. 
So I will not be supporting an omnibus spending bill. We have seen what 
happens when Democrats rush legislation and try to jam it through at 
the last minute, with no time for review or for the American people to 
learn what is actually in the bill. The ``Cornhusker kickback'' and

[[Page S8010]]

the ``Louisiana purchase'' are fresh on their minds.
  Americans want us to take our time and get things right, and they 
want us to spend less. The voters have spoken. We need to show that we 
heard them.


                        Terrorist Ahmed Ghailani

  Madam President, yesterday's acquittal in a Federal court of accused 
terrorist Ahmed Ghailani on all but 1 of 285 charges of conspiracy and 
murder is all the proof we need that the administration's approach to 
prosecuting terrorists has been deeply misguided and, indeed, 
potentially harmful as a matter of national security.
  You will recall that Attorney General Holder assured the American 
people last year that Ghailani would not be acquitted of the charges 
against him. Holder said back then:

       With his appearance in Federal Court today, Ahmed Ghailani 
     is being held accountable for his alleged role in the bombing 
     of U.S. Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya and the murder of 224 
     people.

  Holder also said back then that Ghailani's prosecution in civilian 
court would prove its effectiveness in trying terrorists who were 
picked up on the battlefield.
  At the time, most Americans wondered why we would even take the 
chance. Now they are wondering when the administration will admit it 
was wrong and assure us, just as confidently, that terrorists will be 
tried from now on--from now on--in the military commission system that 
was established for this very purpose at the secure facility at 
Guantanamo Bay or detained indefinitely if they cannot be tried without 
jeopardizing national security.
  When it comes to terrorism, we should err on the side of protecting 
the American people.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________