Jackie Speier: “I am here to speak about unemployment insurance and the extension of it to my Republican colleagues. But there is no one…”

“I am here to speak about unemployment insurance and the extension of it to my Republican colleagues. But there is no one over here to listen, so maybe they will listen to some renowned Republicans talk about what is really important. How about Newt Gingrich, who recently said, ``I think every Republican should embrace the Pope's core critique that you do not want to live on a planet with billionaires and people who do not have any food?'' Or how about John Feehery, a Republican strategist who said, ``What does the Republican Party actually believe in? What is its purpose? Is it just to have unbridled capitalism without any moral core?'' Mr. Speaker, this 50-year war on poverty has faced setbacks under the leadership of both parties, but the GOP-led House seems to be actively engaged in a war on the war on poverty. Congress' inaction has cut off 1.3 million people from unemployment insurance after Christmas and, unless renewed, will cut benefits for another 1.9 million who are eligible in 2014. Some of my colleagues across the aisle have claimed that this is just politics, that unemployment insurance was ``intended to be a temporary solution to a very temporary crisis.'' Well, here's a news flash. We have been in this crisis since 2008. This is not temporary. This is long-term and it is chronic, and it has been caused by the greed of billionaires of the likes that we have seen on Wall Street.…”