[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       SMART GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the honor 
of attending Groundhog Day at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, 
Pennsylvania. And while we were all there to celebrate an age-old 
tradition, I was not surprised by what was on the minds of my 
constituents.
  Like the rest of the country, Mr. Speaker, small-town, rural 
Pennsylvania is facing difficult times. But with that said, a great 
majority of the folks in the Fifth District of Pennsylvania are 
adamantly against this latest boondoggle that some are calling a 
``stimulus package.'' Are there some worthwhile programs in this bill? 
Absolutely. But hardworking, Main Street Americans are looking for what 
I call smart government solutions, not the Big Government Washington-
as-usual-style plan that was adopted by the House Democrats.
  Smart government solutions put money back in taxpayers' pockets for 
small business and middle class tax relief. Done correctly, investment 
in infrastructure and increased domestic energy production are smart 
government solutions. Mr. Speaker, there are 435 able-minded Members of 
the body. And while we all come from different corners of the country 
with different opinions and unique backgrounds, this is the people's 
House, where debate should be encouraged and thoughtful deliberation 
the standard. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, from what I have witnessed 
thus far, the people's representatives are not being heard.

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