[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            DEBT NEGOTIATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Herger) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HERGER. Six days, Mr. Speaker. Six days until we exceed the debt 
limit, and we still haven't seen a plan from the White House. However, 
we have the first 2\1/2\ years of his administration as an example of 
the future he wants for America. The President's policies display his 
commitment to unchecked government spending. The President supports 
massive tax hikes on a Nation already enduring the worst jobless 
recovery since the Great Depression.
  The President is content to ignore our entitlement crisis. His 
actions over the last 2\1/2\ years have put this country in 
significantly worse shape than when he took office. We have seen a 
total failure of leadership from the White House. He threatened to veto 
the commonsense solutions of Cut, Cap, and Balance. The reason? By his 
own words, he wants a debt limit increase to carry him through the next 
election.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people have had enough. We need action, and 
we need it now. No more speeches, no more rhetoric. The American people 
deserve to know what the President's plan is. It's time for President 
Obama to come to the negotiating table and work with us. We're running 
a $1.6 trillion deficit, borrowing 40 cents of every dollar we spend. 
Without action, we will guarantee our children and grandchildren a 
future far less bright than the one our parents left us.
  Republicans are here, ready to make the tough decisions, cut 
spending, and reform the way business is done in Washington. We're 
ready with solutions that will turn around our debt crisis and begin 
getting America back to work. But these solutions will remain a fantasy 
as long as the President's focus remains on politics and reelection 
rather than the good of the American people. We have 6 days left. It's 
time to act.

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