Neal Dunn: “I have an overwhelming sense of deja vu. This is the third time the House has taken up a bill to help workers and boost…”

“I have an overwhelming sense of deja vu. This is the third time the House has taken up a bill to help workers and boost the economic recovery. Some of my colleagues in the opposition prefer platitudes and promises instead of action. They would rather talk about helping the unemployed and promoting economic growth rather than putting together a workable plan. Their motto ought to be ``Just say no.'' Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, wishing for a stronger economy will not make it so. Congress needs to act. Our constituents might justifiably wonder why we are voting on this bill a third time. They ought to know that 2 months ago the House passed a generous, fair-minded bill that provided $37 billion in unemployment coverage, health coverage for the unemployed, tax incentives for businesses, and tax relief for the middle-income families. But the other body objected. Why? We just recently heard it from the gentleman from California, because they said that tax relief would help the rich. What does that mean? The rich like the schoolteacher who lives in my district who makes $30,000 a year and cannot afford housing in her own district and drives an hour to get to work? She is in the 27 percent bracket; they do not want to lower it. Is she one of the rich they are referring to? The other body also objects to our health care provisions. Why? They did not agree with the way that we cover the unemployed. They would like to help the folks who work only for big business.”