[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CHANGING THE STATUS QUO

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, earlier this week, Republicans showed 
we can change the status quo in Washington.
  The American people have made their position quite clear: Reverse the 
reckless spending and out-of-control expansion of government that 
Democrats have presided over during the past 2 years; stop growing 
government so Americans can grow the economy and the jobs that come 
along with that. Republicans made a small first step in that direction.
  Democrats have taken a different approach to these concerns. They 
have sat on the sidelines hoping the public's concerns would pass or 
hoping that if they made enough of a stink over small cuts, they would 
seem bigger than they are. In other words, the Democrats' whole 
approach is to see what they can get away with rather than to actually 
do something about the debt and jobs crises Americans want us to 
address.
  The White House proposal yesterday is equally unserious.
  House Republicans have proposed a plan that would reduce spending by 
$61 billion in this year's budget. Earlier this week, we voted on a 2-
week piece of that bill that reduces spending by $4 billion.
  The White House proposal, as outlined by the President's economic 
adviser yesterday, is to cut another $6 billion and call it a day. Even 
more outrageous, they say the proposal meets us halfway. I won't get 
into their tortured justification. Suffice it to say that Politico says 
it requires Americans to ``suspend disbelief.'' The Washington Post was 
equally unmoved by the White House logic. They said Democrats are 
disingenuous in suggesting they have worked hard to reduce spending, 
and they agree that calling the latest proposal an effort to meet us 
halfway is nonsense. That is the Washington Post. They agree that 
calling this latest proposal an effort to meet us halfway nonsense.
  So amid all the fanfare yesterday, what the White House is proposing 
is little more than one more proposal to maintain the status quo--to 
give the appearance of action where there is none. The latest proposal 
is unacceptable and it is indefensible.
  The American people are tired of hearing the same old talking points 
from our Democratic friends. They want action. In fact, they demand 
action. They want us to cut spending to help create a better 
environment for job creation. It is time for Washington Democrats to 
get serious.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. 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.

                          ____________________