[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21781-21782]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              THE BAILOUT

  (Mrs. BACHMANN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BACHMANN. Madam Speaker, over the weekend Secretary Paulson 
asked taxpayers to pony up an astonishing $700 billion to buy financial 
services sector debt on top of the existing bailouts that are already 
implemented this year. All told, that amounts to an astonishing $1.5 
trillion.

[[Page 21782]]

  Spending at this proportion doesn't just impact a fiscal year, it 
will impact generations of prosperity. We are told that the 
consequences of inaction, even of deliberative action, will be severe, 
but I am concerned that the consequences of hasty action could be just 
as dire. I have had hundreds of constituents call my office, as have my 
colleagues, over the last 2 days, asking this question. They are all 
expressing skepticism for this plan.
  They remain unconvinced, as I remain unconvinced, that they will get 
much result for their investment. We should not be in the habit of 
writing blank checks. We should not rush to take action in a week when 
the consequences could last several lifetimes, because the forgotten 
man in all of this is the everyday American taxpayer.
  It's with them in mind that we should fully focus on our 
responsibilities and not rush to judgment because of an artificial 
deadline.

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