I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Government Reform Committee, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).

In that event, I claim the time in opposition to the conference report. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XXII, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), and the gentleman from…

I yield myself 1 minute. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Maryland is recognized for 2 minutes.

I would inquire of the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) whether or not he is opposed to the conference report.

I yield myself 2 additional minutes. So with respect to SGR, ladies and gentlemen, we're playing a game, and the doctors all over this country and the Medicare recipients all over this country know we're playing a game. We're giving them…

I yield myself 2 additional minutes. Now, you will say to me, Oh, it's future Federal employees, so it doesn't really matter. That's $15 billion of the $134 billion that has been proposed. They've already paid $60 billion, $60 billion. And…

I yield myself 1 additional minute. Ladies and gentlemen, you are going to be able to recruit those folks only if you have a competitive workforce. Let me give you a figure that you might find interesting. There are 33,300 employees at…

The gentleman goes off in about seven directions on that question, in my view. What I believe is that it ought to be a consistent policy, as it relates to keeping taxes down on hardworking Americans, that we apply to the wealthiest in…

I appreciate the gentleman's answer. It doesn't surprise me, but he didn't answer my question. My question was: you amended your rules in this House so that the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts did not have to be paid for. I'm…

Your President, who you supported very strongly, of course, as I recall, when he wanted to raid the Social Security trust fund said there was no trust fund. Now, I believe there is a trust fund, and I think we have a moral responsibility…

What I was confusing was your rhetoric now and your rhetoric as it related to a bill that was longer in pages but had 10 times a greater period of time for debate and discussion, considered by an extraordinarily large number of committees…

I thank the gentleman for his comment. The gentleman has a habit that, frankly, disturbs me, I'll tell my friend. I didn't say that at all. As a matter of fact, my last comment was I think it ought to be paid for. Now, let me explain what…

Well, the gentleman has talked a lot but hasn't answered my question. And the question was a simple one: Do you believe the same principle applies to the '01-'03 tax cuts as applied to the middle income working people's tax cut that we're…

It's my understanding, Mr. Leader, this bill is over 1,000 pages long. It was marked up just shortly after it was introduced and finalized. Is the gentleman concerned by the length of that bill and the short time that Members have to…

I thank the gentleman. The gentleman says full time, but very frankly there wasn't participation by everybody in this full discussion. In fact, as I said last week and I will reiterate this week, because he hasn't changed his position, Ray…

I thank the gentleman for that information with respect to the two pieces of legislation and the suspension bills. If I might inquire, Mr. Leader, of the timing. The conference committee has met, as all of us know, a few times since being…

I don't necessarily think it needs to be paid for for exactly the reason you pointed out. What you pointed out was, you don't want to depress--either by increasing the taxes on small business, as you point out--we're not for increasing…

I thank the gentleman for that comment. I think the American people apparently don't think we're accomplishing that objective that you want to accomplish by virtue of their response to the polls about what they think of the job that we've…

I thank the gentleman for his comment. Am I to take it, therefore, he disagrees with Speaker Boehner when Speaker Boehner said, just a few days ago, We're not making the claim that spending taxpayer money on transportation projects creates…

I'm not playing gotcha. I want to figure out whether this is a jobs bill. We haven't had a jobs bill in over 400 days. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.

These are all scheduling questions. These are scheduling questions as to whether or not we're going to have legislation on the floor that can get us from where we are to where we want to be. The gentleman knows that the Senate has passed a…

I thank the gentleman for his recommitment to that proposition. Let me ask the gentleman, therefore, given the fact, am I correct that you do not believe the extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts need to be paid for? Is that still your…

I thank the gentleman for his comments. I am pleased to hear that. As the gentleman knows, Mark Zandi just a few days ago said that failure to extend the payroll tax and the unemployment insurance benefits ``would deliver a significant…

I am not objective with respect to this nominee. What you are going to hear from me is totally subjective.

Erin Conaton stands out from this group as a proven leader who has been especially adept at helping bring the Pentagon and Congress together on important issues.