On the recordMay 21, 2012
I was not here to hear all of my colleagues' remarks. I know there is a lot of concern about the end of the year and what might happen to try to balance our budget and give us a solid platform on which this economy could grow. But one of the things that is holding us up is the Republicans' refusal to put any new revenues on the table. They have been adamant and wrong and hardheaded and stubborn. They have been very obstructionist in this way--by not being willing to put a penny of new revenue on the table. As a result, we have come to a standstill because the income coming into the Federal Treasury to support this government is at the lowest level since President Eisenhower was President. So they can come to the floor all day long and criticize the President, criticize the Democrats, but in the last 2 years Democrats have put over $2 trillion of cuts and reductions to some very important programs on the table. Some of us have even been willing to say, yes; we know we have to reform Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. We have also been willing to speak those words which are not easy. Yet not one single Republican leader, not one on either side, the House or the Senate, not one has come to this floor in public. Now, I have heard them say it in private. I have been in meetings when they have said it. But not one has come to this floor to say: We are willing to put revenues on the table so we can match the cuts and move this country forward.…
