James Traficant: “$217 billion is being invested in America, not overseas. To put some perspective on it, our trade deficits with China in…”

“$217 billion is being invested in America, not overseas. To put some perspective on it, our trade deficits with China in the next 6 years will exceed $300 billion. Now let us call it like it is. Everybody is talking about pork. I was called the king of pork on ISTEA because I got five bridges funded. One of those bridges collapsed last week. One of my constituents almost got killed. Thank God, no one got killed in my district. They do not call that bridge pork today. Now let us put the hay where the goats can reach it. To all of these political purists in the Congress, here is how they would have it: We would fight to get the money for the States. The local politicians would have press conferences and announce the projects. Then they would brag how they got the money and that there was no Federal money in it. And then they will run against us. Beam me up. I do not apologize. In 1986, I passed the amendment that increased the minimum allocation to donor States. And last year in Ohio, 28 major projects, I did not get one of them; and we are the most deserving. I do not apologize for any damn thing. They can call me anything they want on this House floor, but if we do not take care of our district, no one is going to take care of our district. Stand up today, and you fight for your district. That is what it is about. This is not the Rotary, my colleagues.”