[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18568]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1210
                     A LOST OPPORTUNITY FOR REFORM

  (Mr. BLUMENAUER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. The agreement we are expected to vote on, perhaps as 
early as this afternoon, has many commendable and important items. 
Unfortunately, too many are short term; much is left out; and most 
important, we are losing an opportunity for reform.
  We cannot continue to have, by far, the world's largest and most 
expensive military, the world's lowest taxes, the most expensive and 
inefficient health care system, and continue to allow our country's 
infrastructure to fall apart all while America grows and ages.
  This agreement represents absolutely the least we could have done 
under these circumstances and tragically institutionalizes for the next 
Congress the madness of short-term frenzy around artificial deadlines 
that drives the American public crazy.
  Not only can we do better; we must do better. This flawed, partial 
plan is not just a lost opportunity; it represents a real setback.

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