NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “I know it is difficult for professional politicians to do this, but I would challenge Members on both sides who are…”

“I know it is difficult for professional politicians to do this, but I would challenge Members on both sides who are career office holders to leave the spin cycle in the laundry room. The fact is it is time, Mr. Speaker, for straight talk with the American people. And the fact is that we have made an important first step with this legislation. Is it perfect? No. Does everybody get everything they want? Absolutely not. But to try and keep scores, as if this were the partisan baseball game the other night, I just think is something we should leave alone. Because this is not a game; this is about living, breathing, working people. Like the working couple from Casa Grande, AZ, who sent me a letter via fax, the Wilkins family, Barney and Margie. They are schoolteachers. Their kids are B.J., Megan, and Molly. Barney and Margie work hard at teaching school. They are not rich although some people have estimates that say that their combined income would make them rich. In fact, they have a third job. They supply auto parts for vintage cars and go to vintage and classic car shows on the weekend. They write me and they say, ``Congressman, thanks for this 19th wedding anniversary gift.'' I do not mean to pick at their sentiment here, but this is not really a gift to them or a gift to the American people. Because the money that the American people earn is their money.”