On the recordNovember 18, 2015
I have no clue why the esteemed Democratic leader objects. All I can say is that is an incredible insensitivity to working families. I have no clue. There is a family out there right now struggling, not sure if they can pay their rent or their mortgage. They are going to lose their car. Their children will go to school in old clothes and maybe hungry because the amount of money they earn per year is not enough. They look at people in Washington like a new version of ``The Hunger Games''--it is the Capital of this country, and all the riches of this country are brought here to the Capital for paintings of government officials, to be hidden away, while they struggle to make their mortgage, their car note, and to make sure their child is properly fed. That people in government would be insensitive to those families shows the problem. That people in Washington would be insufficiently aware that the average family is making $40,000 a year--the same as what one of these paintings can cost--and not care is an indictment of those who do not care. I regret that there is objection to this, but we will bring it up later. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.
