On the recordSeptember 20, 2012
I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, 102 days from today, every American who pays income taxes will face a substantial tax increase; 102 days from now, the estate plans of small business people will be blown asunder because of the changes in the Tax Code that will automatically occur; 102 days from now, workers at defense plants, medical research institutions, and other very important functions in our country will lose their jobs because of an across-the-board spending cut called a sequester. The response of the majority to this looming problem is to leave town. Now, I must confess that, given the majority's propensity to end the Medicare guarantee and provide tax cuts to millionaires, perhaps them leaving town does have a certain appeal. But under these circumstances--where there is a significant problem in our country, where farmers all across the country have no idea under what rules they will be running their farms and their businesses because a farm bill that received broad support from Democrats and Republicans on the Agriculture Committee has not made its way to the floor--in light of all this trouble, amidst all the stress of the American economy, the plan for the majority is to leave town tomorrow until after the election. This is irresponsible in two ways. First, I think we have a duty to act before the election so the voters of this country can assess where we stand and whom they want to have represent them in the years ahead.…
