[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7159-H7160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TIME TO CORRECT OUR FISCAL COURSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, every day there is a head-spinning 
moment with someone who is willing to push the Presidential powers to 
the point of abuse.
  Trump is undermining freedom of the press with unprecedented attacks.
  He cast doubt on the integrity and competence of United States 
intelligence services.
  He has an administration that is manipulating the data of a dishonest 
agency evaluation of the impact of monuments status that protects 
hundreds of thousands of acres and endangered species like the 
magnificent sage-grouse.
  Today's outrage is a plan to use the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
funnel another $12 billion for a bailout of American farmers. You know, 
most farmers and ranchers don't want a government bailout. They would 
like to be able to farm. They would like to be able to market. They 
would like to be able to sell their products without the threat of 
Trump's trade war.
  Soon after Obama took office, inheriting the worst economy since the 
Great Depression, we have seen steady private sector employment growth 
for 9 consecutive years. Now, after inheriting a strong and growing 
economy, Trump and his enablers in the Republican Party are threatening 
this progress with a trade war that increases prices for American 
consumers, for American businesses, and is raising their costs.
  It is hard to keep track of everything. Trump is involved with an 
all-out war on the Affordable Care Act. After utterly failing in his 
promise--remember, he was going to provide better healthcare for more 
people at lower cost. Who knew healthcare was complicated. Instead, his 
administration is raising insurance costs for millions in the 
individual market while destabilizing insurance for the rest of us.
  There were promises of tax reform, making it simpler and fairer. 
Instead, we have hopelessly complicated the Tax Code. We have given 
massive tax cuts for many people who didn't need them. We are going to 
be watching for

[[Page H7160]]

taxes being raised on homeowners across the country over the next 10 
years.
  And, as a result of these actions for the budget and the taxes, we 
have doubled the budget deficit this year, with the prospect of 
deficits every year of a trillion dollars or more as far as the eye can 
see.
  After Republicans have cut over $2 trillion in taxes since 2001 for 
just the top 1 percent, what is the solution our Republican friends are 
offering to deal with the consequences? Look at the budget they just 
passed. Mr. Speaker, $2 trillion of cuts in programs for everybody 
else: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act.
  At some point, the public is going to catch on to what is happening 
to them. In fact, maybe they already are. Maybe that is the reason that 
the Republican tax cuts are less popular than Bill Clinton's tax 
increase.
  It is time that we take a step back, while we still can, and get back 
on the appropriate fiscal course. It does not mean trade wars and 
providing money for people who don't need it.
  Let's allow the economy to function without gimmicks and bailouts.

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