I intend to keep talking about the AMT until this Congress actually takes action on reforming the AMT. Instead of taking action, Congress this session has done absolutely nothing, and the problem continues to get worse for at least 26…

My first point deals with a conscious decision to use a partisan process for bipartisan issues. What I find surprising is that we are taking up a package that, like the HIRE Act jobs bill of a few weeks ago, absolutely belongs to the…

That letter documents CBO's projections that health reform will result in at least $115 billion in additional spending beyond what was previously included in the total of last March. In addition, Douglas Elmendorf, Director of the…

I thank my colleague from Oregon for keeping up the fight. We have been at it for a long period of time. There has been a dry spell recently when this has not been a major issue. So we didn't feel, when there wasn't an interest in getting…

I find myself agreeing with the Senator from South Carolina. I find myself agreeing--I am glad my colleague Senator Wyden also agrees. I raise this point, and I raise it for a point of discussion and consideration, not to challenge the…

I think these are eight pretty good ideas for reducing budget deficits, and obviously you are going to inherit a big one.

We are on course right now, if we do not do something about it, to double our Nation's debt again by the end of this decade.

I am pleased to join my colleagues, Senator Casey and Senator Kohl, in submitting a resolution to designate May 24, 2010 as the ``Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day.'' The abuse of prescription narcotics such as pain relievers…

I want to start out with something that is familiar to all my colleagues, something that George Santayana said: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. As the Senate continues to debate the financial regulation bill…

In 1949, Congress enacted the Federal Housing Act, which provided Federal funding for slum clearance, urban renewal, and public housing. The act also expanded the FHA mortgage insurance program. To understand the origins of our current…

The current financial reform bill will not end the cycle of financial booms and busts. This cycle is not the result of green, or capitalism, or animal spirits, or irrational exuberance. Ultimately, it is caused by our failure to recognize…

But I think people ought to wake up to what is inevitable around here. When 3 or 4 years ago we had exactly the same substance up, it passed the Senate 84 to 13, I think, and through subterfuge, it was taken out in conference. The House…

I hope the Senate would give some discretion to the fact that when Senator McCaskill comes over, that she would be able to speak for 2 or 3 minutes on this issue so that people can hear from the other side of the aisle on the importance of…

Our amendment would correct serious problems in section 989B of the Dodd-Lincoln substitute. This section of the bill would change the way that five inspectors general are hired and fired. Currently, these five inspectors general are hired…

I rise to recognize the sacrifice of a brave young Iowan, LCpl Joshua M. Davis, who died from wounds he received while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was 19 years old. Josh's loss will be felt very deeply…

I wish to say flat out I do not accept the argument that Presidentially appointed IGs are always more independent. I think Senator McCaskill spoke on this point earlier when she was presenting our amendment. In fact, Presidential…

I think he referred to maybe 10 years that we have been struggling to get to what we are finally getting to today. In the past, we thought we had victories and they turned out to be hollow victories--maybe a little more openness but…

In 1972, the Iowa Legislature created the Office of Citizens' Aide to address instances of dissatisfaction with government agencies. In 1978, Bill Angrick became the State ombudsman at age 32, according to the Des Moines Register. Just a…

you have heard me say many times to my colleagues that the public's business ought to be public. I don't know why that does not apply to the Federal Reserve, at least on its regulatory activities when it gives out money. There are all…

last Tuesday, President Obama traveled to Iowa. He visited counties and towns that have been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn. While Iowa's average unemployment rate stands at 6.8 percent, Lee County's unemployment rate…

The board president of Western Iowa Energy in Wall Lake, IA, recently stated: Due to the continued lapse of the biodiesel tax credit, Western Iowa Energy continues to suffer from significantly limited sales and reduced sales forecasts. Due…

I would like to recognize the passing of a mentor to me and many other political science students over the years. Russell Marion Ross was a professor of political science for more than 40 years at the University of Iowa. He died on…

I have come to the floor to speak about a bill that Senator Baucus and I have introduced today. It's called the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010. The purpose of our bill is to help Haiti recover from the devastation it suffered in…

Last Thursday, I wrote Secretary Geithner asking why the Treasury Department allowed General Motors to use TARP money from a Treasury escrow account to repay its multibillion-dollar TARP taxpayer loan. This afternoon, I received a response…

the combination of those three things has worked to bring immigration down, illegal immigration down in the last 5 years.