Kendrick Meek: “Members of the House, once again it is a wonderful day to be here in the House and share not only with my colleagues…”

“Members of the House, once again it is a wonderful day to be here in the House and share not only with my colleagues, but with American people, the issues that are facing not only our economy but our children's future. I guess I would have to start, since this is budget time and as we are here on the floor simultaneously, the Committee on the Budget is meeting to try to work out this $2.4 trillion budget that the President has sent here to the Hill. I must say to my colleagues that it is important on behalf of Americans, on behalf of working Americans, and on behalf of individuals that are unemployed in our country, that we make the right decisions not only for the future but for today. I can tell you that I am very, very concerned about the direction we are going in right now of Members just following this White House with what they send us. We are trying to do the same thing with what they send us, as we just rubber stamp it and send it through. We cannot allow that to happen. Under this budget, the reason we are in trouble today is it relates to just under 3 million jobs that have been lost and Americans out of work as we speak today. It is important for us to remember that we still have a health care plan that we have to put forth not only for Americans, but also to allow small businesses to be able to provide a health care plan for Americans who do not have it.”