[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8437]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   DEBT LIMIT VOTE AS POLITICAL STUNT

  (Mr. CARNAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, last night our Republican colleagues 
scheduled an empty vote on the debt ceiling, a political stunt with no 
serious plan. Last week, the majority leader tried to use a natural 
disaster as political leverage in their ideological fight over the 
budget. And last month and again today, Republicans propose ending 
Medicare as we know it to pay for tax giveaways for millionaires and 
giant oil companies.
  I'm holding another town hall meeting tomorrow, telephone town hall, 
with my constituents to talk about these issues and what our national 
priorities should be. The Republican extreme ideological war is a 
disturbing trend, using national emergencies, the full faith and credit 
of the United States, and our seniors' health care as if they're 
bargaining chips. The American people and the Missourians I represent 
deserve better.
  It's time to come together like adults to find serious solutions to 
our complex problems. And it's time to stop threatening Medicare, 
important institutions, our national credit, and the national 
commitment to lend a hand to those in need, and especially those 
suffering through natural disasters. We can solve this without trying 
to scare markets or scare seniors. Let's get serious about reducing our 
deficit and growing jobs.

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