On the recordOctober 5, 2013
I thank my colleague from Texas, and I appreciate you wearing our stripes on your tie today. That is apropos. Mr. Speaker, I would like to address all of my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, but more importantly, the American people, for they are the ones that we all need to listen to. They are the ones that will hold us accountable. We were sent here to represent the people. I represent approximately 700,000 citizens in north Florida's congressional district and had approximately 65 percent plus support of that district. One of the things I ran on was preventing the Affordable Care Act from being implemented, and I have voted to do all in my power to prevent this ill-conceived legislative malpractice of a bill from being a burden to the American citizens I represent. I also ran on the rule of law and the adherence to the Constitution. So when I hear my colleagues on the left--I mean, excuse me, to this side of the Chamber--say the Republicans want to shut down the government, I find it somewhat disingenuous. I am voting the way the majority of the people I represent have instructed me to do, as have my colleagues. Since we are the House, the people's House, we are the voice of the people. So when my Democratic colleagues say the Republicans want to shut down the government, keep in mind that it is the voice of the people that we represent whose voice you are hearing. That is the way a representative Republic works.…
