[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20189-20190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND DEMONSTRATE 
              LEADERSHIP IN THIS TIME OF FINANCIAL CRISIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) for 1\1/2\ minutes.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, our Nation is facing the most 
serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. Where is President 
Bush? The Republican President is asking every hardworking American 
taxpayer to pay $5,200 to rescue reckless banks and incompetent 
financiers.
  If saving our economy demands such enormous sacrifices from the 
American taxpayers, then I urge the President to come before a joint 
session of Congress to ask the American people for their support. 
President Bush has an obligation to talk to the American people and 
their elected leaders. Only this President could explain why his $700 
billion taxpayer-funded rescue package

[[Page 20190]]

that calls for unprecedented government powers is needed.
  President Bush is in New York today speaking before the United 
Nations. Why isn't President Bush speaking to the American people and 
this Congress? This time of crisis is no time for the President of the 
United States to be abdicating his duty. President Bush needs to take 
responsibility and demonstrate leadership.

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