Paul Tonko: “Representative Garamendi, you have highlighted in very stark contrast the difference in the thought process and the…”

“Representative Garamendi, you have highlighted in very stark contrast the difference in the thought process and the philosophy of what was then under President Franklin Roosevelt and what is now, and certainly what had happened during the Clinton years, which proved much more progressive in its nature. If we think of that quote of President Roosevelt where society needed to be tested as to whether or not they were going to add more, add to the abundance of those who have much, that was a tremendous litmus test. It was a challenge to this country to search deep into its moral compass. What you're highlighting here, Representative Garamendi, is that it's an ebb and flow. It's looking for ways to pay for tax breaks for those who are perched way on the top. Where you talk of that 95 percent, 98 percent of the growth of the economy going to the top 1 percent, that's unsustainable. When you think of the gimmickry that is going on, to be able to provide for the cost of such spending--because these tax breaks for those perched on the top is an order of spending--it's done through cuts to programs that speak to hunger, cuts that will impact seniors, cuts that will impact our very young, cuts that will impact our struggling families. There is no mistake between the correlation of tough times and those who are dependent on a number of Federal programs.…”