On the recordSeptember 27, 2010
I rise today to discuss what I consider to be a rather disturbing trend on the floor of the Senate. I am observing more and more the majority bringing legislation to the floor for political reasons, knowing it doesn't have enough votes to pass. Rather than working to address our economic woes in any kind of meaningful way, we instead find ourselves voting on what I would describe as ballot box topics designed to gain favor with select groups just weeks before the November elections. Is it any wonder that the American people continue to give Congress such a dreadfully low approval rating? Is it any wonder that the people of this country look at what is going on and have come to the conclusion that the problems they are facing every day are not being solved? Back in August, when I was going across the State, I did 14 townhall meetings, open events, where anybody could show up and offer their thoughts. What I heard over and over is that people are just exhausted, sick and tired of the games and the election year politicking that is going on, when we should be working to deal with the problems this country faces. You see, the people don't care who is scoring political points. They care about their jobs, they care about finding a job if they have lost their job, and they care about keeping food on the family's table. For all too many people in this country, they care about the fact that the job they once had may never come back. They want action.





