On the recordDecember 20, 2011
In just over 2 weeks, Americans who are fortunate enough to have work will get their first paycheck of 2012, and the paycheck will be lower because there's a tax increase. The question before the country today is: Should we stop that, yes or no? In 11 or 12 days, a senior will go to see her doctor, and there's a very high risk that the doctor will not see that Medicare patient because the doctor has seen a 27 percent cut in what the doctor has been paid. {time} 1000 The question before the country is: Should we stop that, yes or no? In just over 11 days, over 2 million Americans will see their unemployment benefits expire and they will have virtually no income to pay any of their bills. The answer is: Should we stop that, yes or no? Now, the other body has taken up a bill that gives us the answer. The taxes would not go up on the middle class, the senior would be able to see their doctor, and the unemployment benefits would not expire. Eighty-nine Members of the Senate voted for this. The President of the United States said he'd sign this. Virtually every Member of the Democratic side of the House is prepared to vote for this. But this is not on the House floor today. Now it's just fine for a Member to say, yes, I support this compromise or, no, I don't support this compromise, but it is an abrogation of the basic duty of this House not to take a vote on it. The choices ought to be, yes, we support the bill, or, no, we don't support the bill.…
