Sam Brownback

With the strong support of President Obama, I believe we can pass this bill and get working Americans some relief from mounting pocketbook pressures.

I hope you really watch this, and I am certain you will because these numbers are gargantuan and you know they are gargantuan.

It really looks like, to me, we are creating a government bubble.

Given the severity of the economic downturn that we face, and efforts already under way to try to offset the downturn, it is absolutely clear to me that the last things we want to do is raise taxes and add uncertainty to the economic and…

Every time you turn on the light switch, you will pay a tax.

And we can do this and the ATM still works when people step up to the ATM, or the credit card still functions across the society?

too big to fail has failed.

And this is even with all the money that the Federal Government has put into these big banks, we still have a solvency problem?

the government's response to date has served to increase confusion in the marketplace rather than to restore order.

I just want to make sure that we are on this point, that this isn't further disruption in a weakened economy that we already have.

The rub for me--I am sorry to cut you off, but time is limited--the rub is, people say that will take the economy on down further.

You don't believe this will tank further the United States economy at this point in time?

the idea of what we have pursued, that too-big-to-fail has failed.

heads we win; tails the taxpayer loses.

Basically, I mean, you are saying we should treat them the same way we do banks across the rest of the country.

My constituents and, indeed, most Americans, find this situation intolerable.

we need to allow a means for allowing big institutions to fail and a system where you could do that.

Do you believe we still have a solvency problem today?

I don't think it is appropriate for today's circumstances. I don't think it is working, and I don't think it is going to work.

Do you believe it is the route out for the U.S. economy at this point in time?

My hope is that there will be other members and groups looking in and tuning in to this, because we have got a huge problem and I don't think we are yet headed in the right direction to fix it.

It seems like to me it would be a great time for us to hold a hearing with the regulators, and maybe some of the builders or financial institutions, and quiz them at length.

I think it is an excellent idea, and I look forward to working with the Ranking Member in putting that together as quickly as possible.

the budget that we are currently considering, by initiating a move toward socialized health care and taxes on carbon emissions, will ensure that 100% of Americans can expect to pay higher taxes in the future.

I was noting--one of the staff members was saying to me that the historical experience has been that the faster and deeper the job losses, the quicker the recovery, has generally been in history.