Janice Hahn: “I thank my colleague from Florida for giving me this time. I want to encourage my friends and colleagues on both sides…”

“I thank my colleague from Florida for giving me this time. I want to encourage my friends and colleagues on both sides to defeat the previous question so that we can work together to pass a clean extension of unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut. You know, yesterday the House Chaplain began the day with a reminder that the holidays are a time of hope. And it is in that spirit of hope that Congress should embrace and put aside some of the politics that have darkened our recent discussions. {time} 1320 Last night my Republican friends passed legislation that, however well intended, has no chance of passing in the Senate. It did not receive my vote because, like many of my fellow Democrats in the House and the Senate, I don't believe that we should be debating controversial issues as part of those extensions. If you believe that building a pipeline through the United States is a good idea, let's have that debate. If you believe that the EPA shouldn't regulate emissions from certain industries and machines, let's have that debate. However, those issues cloud the need for extending unemployment benefits to those who can't find work. And it clouds the benefits for American families that would get an extension of the payroll tax cuts. I want to work with my Republican friends to get this done. I know I'm new around here, but I think that means putting aside these other issues to debate them on their own merits.…”