Maxwell Frost: “Well, Mr. Speaker, Republicans' shameful refusal to lead the House continues today. We are into the new fiscal year, and…”

“Well, Mr. Speaker, Republicans' shameful refusal to lead the House continues today. We are into the new fiscal year, and this House has still only passed 5 of the 13 appropriation bills. Now, Republicans have been turning back flips to try to shift the blame for their own shameful failures. They like to say it is the fault of the other body that the House has not done its work, but we all know how an appropriations bill becomes a law. The Constitution requires the House to pass it before the other body can. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing to stop House Republicans but themselves. And what is stopping them? Simply put, some Republicans are afraid to vote for the cuts in education, health care, and other priorities that most members of the Republican Conference seem to support. So Republican leaders have quit even trying to do the work Americans elected them to do. While House Republicans refuse to do their work, Mr. Speaker, millions of Americans would be happy just to find a job. After all, America is suffering through the weakest economy in 50 years, and a recent Gallup Poll found that 52 percent of Americans believe the economy is getting worse. Frankly, it is hard to argue with them. Long-term unemployment is at an 8-year high, and some 2 million Americans have lost their jobs. The Census Bureau reports the number of people living in poverty has increased, and the median household income has dropped.”