On the recordMarch 1, 2011
I thank the gentleman for yielding time and for presenting the Dicks substitute, which was not allowed to come to the floor, but nonetheless I salute him for his leadership in that regard. Madam Speaker, Members of Congress agree, I think, on two things today: that we must move this process forward so that government does not shut down, and that we must reduce the deficit. As we do that, we must create jobs and strengthen the middle class. That is someplace where we may have some separation, because as the distinguished ranking member, Mr. Dicks, has said earlier, in December of 2010, congressional Democrats and the President of the United States cut spending by $41 billion--$41 billion. On that day in December, only one Republican voted for those cuts--only one. February, 2 months later, Republicans passed a spending bill that does not create jobs but, in fact, has been said to destroy 700,000 jobs. That's approximately 100,000 jobs a week since we passed our 'cut it' bill. February 2011, Republicans passed the same spending bill that reduces U.S. economic growth by 1½ to 2 percent. Now some have questioned, Is it really as much as 700,000 jobs? Is it really as much as 1½ to 2 percent? But no one questions whether there will be job loss or whether there will be a slowing down of our economic growth among serious economists. We are going in the wrong direction. How fast may be the question. But we are going in the wrong direction.
