Steny Hoyer: “in February, the former majority leader in this House, Dick Armey, stated the obvious: ``I am sitting here and I am…”

“in February, the former majority leader in this House, Dick Armey, stated the obvious: ``I am sitting here and I am upset about the deficit, and I am upset about spending,'' said the former Republican leader. And he added, ``There is no way I can pin that on the Democrats. Republicans own the town now.'' Yes, they do, Mr. Speaker, the House, the Senate, and the White House. Yet, under Republican leadership this Congress has become a quicksand of ideology and intransigence that is swallowing up America's priorities and performing a disservice to the American people. The annual budget is a blueprint of our Nation's priorities and values. But with a Memorial Day recess approaching and the April 15 budget deadline long passed, House Republicans have tied the process in knots. They refuse to pay for tax cuts even as they have run up the largest budget deficit and deficits as far as the eye can see in American history. Republicans' intraparty bickering continues to get in the way of other priorities. In addition to the budget, two job creation bills, a tax measure for domestic manufacturing called the FSC/ETI bill, and a major transportation bill have been stymied, held up, not moving since last year. The transportation bill could create millions of jobs in a tough job market, and the FSC bill would end harmful European Union sanctions against struggling American manufacturers.”