Marshall Sanford: “I would just mention to Members that if Members believe in a ruling class, then they will vote against the amendment of…”

“I would just mention to Members that if Members believe in a ruling class, then they will vote against the amendment of the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Coburn). If Members believe in a government class, they will vote against the gentleman's amendment. What this is about is government making the choices. That is what he has raised. We have gone from removing barriers, which is supposedly what this original bill was all about, to subsidy, and Washington getting to pick the winners and losers. I think that is fundamentally against the idea of one man-one vote, equality in this country. I would go back to a point that was talked about earlier, which again, the gentleman's amendment, unfortunately, cannot get at, but it is a very important point. That is, if this bill goes through in its present form, then a number of categories that Washington has chosen can buy a house for half price, while the farmer in our home district cannot buy that house for half price, while the McDonald's workers in our hometown cannot buy that house for half price, while the person who cuts timber in our backyard cannot buy a house for half price, or somebody working in a grocery store, or somebody who works at the local nursery school, or somebody who works in construction, they cannot buy houses at half price. All of those are important parts of what makes up a local community. I think they have value, too. Without the gentleman's amendment, they are excluded.”