[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 5, 2011

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rules 
package proposed by the new Republican majority in the House.
  The very first vote in the 112th Congress reveals the extent of the 
Republicans' fiscal hypocrisy. The new House rules create a huge 
loophole that allows Republicans to pass billions in additional tax 
cuts without finding savings elsewhere in the federal budget. These 
rules are a major step backward in our effort to solve the federal 
budget crisis. No Member who votes for this fiscally reckless rules 
package is serious about deficit reduction.
  The public backlash against the new Republican rules started days 
before today's vote. In a December 29, 2010 editorial titled ``Deficit 
Hypocrisy,'' the New York Times said the new rules proposed by the 
incoming majority ``will codify the Republican fantasy that tax cuts do 
not deepen the deficit.''
  The bi-partisan Committee for a Responsible Budget expressed 
``serious concerns'' about the Republican rules package saying that 
``because many of these new rules would apply to only the spending side 
of the budget (replacing rules that applied to both the tax and 
spending side), this new rules package could actually weaken, rather 
than strengthen, our ability to deal with the debt.''
  By exempting the cost of tax cuts and the repeal of the health care 
reform law from budget restrictions, the Republican majority makes it 
clear that they embrace--not oppose--deficit spending. H. Res. 5 
enables Republicans to return to their discredited economic policies of 
the past decade that exploded deficits with tax cuts, two wars and a 
huge new prescription drug entitlement program all financed with 
borrowed money.
  What the Republicans do oppose and promise to cut are the investments 
that strengthen American communities and support the most vulnerable 
citizens in our Nation. Under the new rules, the American middle class 
will be forced to live with less while the wealthy and special 
interests have it all. In the weeks ahead, Republicans will target 
America's middle class with unsustainable cuts to education, 
transportation, public safety, clean energy and advanced research and 
technology. The Washington Post editorial board said that the rules 
reflect ``about as upside-down a set of priorities as can be 
imagined.''
  I reject the skewed priorities expressed in this rule package. I 
refuse to abandon America's families and communities when they most 
need the support of their government. And I will continue fighting for 
the federal investments our communities need to compete in the 21st 
century.

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