[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 154 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8258-S8259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, congressional leaders of both parties 
will meet with the President at the White House today to talk about the 
work we have to do before the end of the year and, hopefully, about the 
things we can do together to foster the right conditions for businesses 
to start investing again and creating jobs.
  Americans are watching the economic drama that is playing out in 
Europe. They expect us to read the signs of the times and work together 
to make sure that we avoid a similar crisis here, that we don't walk 
right into the same problems through a lack of will or political 
courage.
  The American people expect us to put the national interest ahead of 
party interest. And, frankly, that is why it has been so distressing 
for many of us to watch our Democrat friends grope for a clear and 
unified position on whether or not to raise taxes in the middle of a 
recession.
  One would think that this issue would be simple and straightforward.
  Economists say that preventing a tax increase is one of the most 
important things Congress can do to help the economy. And the voters 
ratified that view earlier this month by sending candidates from both 
parties to Washington who vowed not to raise taxes once they got here.
  But our Democrat friends are apparently still reluctant to draw any 
clear lessons from the election. With millions of American households 
staring at the imminent prospect of smaller paychecks in just a few 
short weeks unless Congress does something, Democrats are still 
searching for a solution that enables them to benefit politically--
regardless of what it does to the economy or to families.
  Just take the latest proposal.
  Some Democrats now say they only want to raise taxes on businesses 
that make more than $1 million a year. Where did that number come from? 
Well, it turns out this figure has no economic justification 
whatsoever. Nowhere will we find a study or survey which indicates that 
raising taxes on small businesses with over $1 million in income will 
create jobs or help spur the economy.
  In fact, the author of this proposal freely admits it isn't an 
economic policy proposal at all, but rather one that was designed to 
provide better political messaging--an astonishing admission.
  Let us get something straight. Millions of out-of-work Americans 
don't want a message. They want a job. Millions of struggling families 
trying to make ends meet don't need the Democrat messaging to improve; 
they need the economy to improve.
  Selling bad economic policy to the American people is not an 
acceptable alternative to creating an environment that will put people 
back to work and help spur the economy.
  We have heard a lot of chatter here in Washington lately about the 
negotiations that are expected to take place on this looming tax hike 
in the weeks ahead--on how to prevent it. How about we start with this: 
the beginning and end of any negotiation shouldn't be what is good for 
any political party. It should be what is good for the economy and for 
the American people. An if we leave the politics aside, if we look at 
the facts, the answer here is simple: no tax hikes on anybody--period.
  So the question isn't what is best for the economy and jobs--the 
answer to that is obvious. The question is when will our friends on the 
other side get serious about either one.
  It has been reported that the author of the $1 million proposal ran 
it through a focus group to see how it polled. This is precisely the 
kind of thing Americans are telling us to put aside. The election was a 
month ago. It is time to move on. It is time to work together on the 
priorities Americans want us to address.
  Republicans have heard the voters loud and clear. They want us to 
focus on preventing a tax hike on every taxpayer, on reining in 
Washington spending and on making it easier for employers to start 
hiring again. That is why Republican leaders are reiterating our offer 
to work with anyone, from either party, who is ready to focus on 
priorities like these.
  The day after the election, the President acknowledged that ``the 
overwhelming message'' of the voters ``[was] that . . . we want you to 
focus completely on jobs and the economy.''
  That is the same message Republicans will bring to the White House 
today.
  And that is why there is no reason we shouldn't be able to reach an 
agreement on taxes soon.
  It is unclear how long our friends across the aisle will continue to 
resist the message of the election and cling to the liberal wish list 
that got us a job-killing healthcare law, a ``cap-and-trade'' national 
energy tax, an out-of-control spending spree, million more jobs lost, 
trillions more in debt, but not a single appropriations bill to fund 
the government or a bill to prevent the coming tax hikes.
  With just a few weeks left before the end of the year, they are still 
clinging to the wrong priorities--instead of preventing a tax hike, 
they want to focus on immigration and don't ask, don't tell--and, 
maybe, if there is time left, see what they can do about jobs and the 
economy.
  Indeed, their entire legislative plan for the rest of the lame duck 
session appears to be to focus on anything except jobs, which is 
astonishing when we consider the election we have just had.

[[Page S8259]]

  Republicans aren't looking for a fight. We are appealing to common 
sense and a shared sense of responsibility for the millions of 
Americans who are looking to us to work together not on the priorities 
of the left, but on their priorities. And those priorities are clear.
  Together, we must focus on the things Americans want us to do--not on 
what government wants Americans to accept. There is still time to do 
the right thing. The voters want us to show that we heard them, and 
Republicans are ready to work with anyone who is willing to do just 
that.
  I yield the floor.

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