DENNIS A. CARDOZA: “before I begin my presentation, I want to just say I cannot believe the comments from the gentleman who just spoke.…”

“before I begin my presentation, I want to just say I cannot believe the comments from the gentleman who just spoke. Today, the national debt stands at over $8 trillion. That is more than $27,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. This fiscal mess is a direct result of the policies put in place by the leadership of this Congress and the Bush White House. Our friends on the other side of the aisle want the members of the Blue Dog Coalition to join with them in their latest efforts to run the deficit even higher. Mr. Speaker, that will never happen. It is time for real reform, not more of the same. The Blue Dog Coalition has put forward a comprehensive 12-step program that would dig America out of its fiscal mess. Remarkably, our Republican colleagues have criticized the Blue Dogs for not supporting their sham reconciliation program, even though several of their original programs are put in the Blue Dog 12-step program. After refusing to reach across party lines to negotiate a real deficit package, the Republicans now accuse the Blue Dogs of partisanship. Are you all serious? My friends, you have abandoned fiscal responsibility and your way is not working. America has had enough. I have had enough. Each Member of Congress has a certain piece of these cuts that they hate the most, whether it be child support or Medicaid or food stamps. But ladies and gentlemen, for me it is personal.…”