[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2831]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PLAYING BY THE RULES

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, later today the House of 
Representatives will take an important vote. At bottom, it is a vote on 
whether lawmakers in Washington should continue to be exempt from the 
rules.
  Over the past 2 years, millions of Americans have lost jobs and 
homes. Tragically, many have stopped looking for work altogether. They 
think the situation won't improve. When one considers how Democrats in 
Washington have responded to this historic jobs crisis, it is no 
wonder. For 2 years, Democrats in Washington have pushed one proposal 
after another that has kept the economy from growing and stifled the 
creation of good private sector jobs. They have tried to tax energy 
consumption. They have picked winners and losers in industry. They have 
handcuffed small business owners with a mountain of stifling 
regulations, including a health care bill that nonpartisan experts 
predict could lead to hundreds of thousands of more lost jobs. Earlier 
this month, at a time when economists say rising gas prices could delay 
an economic recovery even longer, Democrats proposed--get this--a 
change in the current tax laws that would amount to a new tax on 
everyone who drives a car or truck in America--a minivan tax.
  While the American people have been begging lawmakers to remove the 
burdens of government so they can do the work of growing the economy 
and creating private sector jobs, Democrats in Washington have been 
focused single-mindedly on growing government instead. In order to do 
it, they have basically exempted themselves from the rules. They have 
said that while the rest of the country has had to tighten its belt in 
a down economy, Washington can continue on its spending binge in order 
to grow the government. They have said that while American families 
have had to pay off their credit cards, Washington can continue to rack 
up debt. They have said that while most Americans struggle to make ends 
meet, they don't have to. That is what this afternoon's vote in the 
House is all about.
  This bill should not be controversial. It has only become 
controversial because Democratic leaders in Congress have resisted 
every effort--every effort--to rein in their spending bills. This bill 
proposes to cut spending for the next 2 weeks by $4 billion, and they 
have fought it tooth and nail. They refuse to admit that Washington has 
a spending problem. But the verdict is in. For 2 years, Democrats in 
Washington have spent trillions more than we had in the Treasury. And 
if expanding the size and scope of government was the goal, it was a 
big success. But if helping the economy and helping people find jobs 
was the goal, it has been a disaster. What has $3 trillion more in debt 
gotten us? Three million more lost jobs.
  Tonight's vote is an opportunity for House Democrats to admit the 
status quo isn't working. It is a chance to take a small first step 
toward growing the economy and helping create jobs. Then, later this 
week, Democrats in the Senate will have the same opportunity to show 
that they get it. Americans are watching. They want us to acknowledge 
that we need to play by the same rules they do. They want us to tighten 
our belts, too, and show we are in this together.
  Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from California.
  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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