Frederica Wilson: “Today I rise to tell my fellow Americans that House Republicans have declared a war on the holidays. By refusing to…”

“Today I rise to tell my fellow Americans that House Republicans have declared a war on the holidays. By refusing to allow an up or down vote on the payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate, my Republican colleagues are putting lumps of coal in everyone's Christmas stockings, and taking away their Hanukkah gelt. We in Congress cannot in good conscience go home for the holidays until we ensure that our constituents can celebrate with their families instead of feeling like the Grinch stole all their presents. We have a measure in place which nine out of every ten Senators--both Democrats and Republicans--agreed to. We have a measure in place that the President, over his own wishes, has said he will sign into law. We have a measure that the majority of my Caucus is ready to support. Why are we waiting?! Mr. Speaker, today I urge to my colleagues to join me in support of a true payroll tax cut and unemployment extension. I urge them to join me in supporting the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3630. I urge them to join members of their own Caucus, and most of all I urge them to join the American public. We've been down this road before. What President Obama is for, the Republicans are against; and whatever the President is against, they are for. The Republicans are not looking out for the American people, Mr. Speaker--they are only looking out for their own selfish interests and for their stated goal of defeating President Obama in 2012.…”