Tom Rice

I want our carriers so competitive that we don't pay them anything.

I want to be talking about 1,000 American-flagged ships.

I truly believe that our regulatory morass is strangling commerce in this country, and it will strangle our entire economy if we don't get it under control.

I want to you stop that. I want to you change your mindset and start doing away with rules that are strangling our shipbuilding economy.

You know, this just appears to me to be absolutely absurd.

I implore you, let's stop ruling these people to death, get off their backs and let them do their business.

I absolutely agree with what Mr. McDermott said a minute ago, that the best thing we can do to resolve this situation is to provide jobs for people.

I have certainly seen the troubles that small businesses have with access to capital, and totally agree with you their primary source is the banks, and particularly small banks.

we need them to take risk if we are going to create these jobs and create this small business economy.

Like my colleague from Minnesota, I drive a Ford F-150.

Tax increases make us less competitive.

So, with the VMT, who--does anybody have any idea who is going to administer a VMT?

Certainly, you know, we have to invest in infrastructure. Our infrastructure is not keeping pace with the rest of the world, and it makes us less competitive.

But under a VMT, my rural area, some of the more poor areas in Illinois, where I serve, it seems like they would be subsidizing projects in more urban areas.

How are we going to do this in a national plan?

The economy is still in the dumps, dragging along. Unemployment is far too high. And taxing them any more in any aspect is not a good thing.

Democratic Senator Max Baucus was dead-on when he called the President's health care law a ``train wreck.'' Its effects are becoming clear and undeniable. It is stifling economic growth and job creation, premiums are skyrocketing, and…

As a taxpayer and a CPA for 25 years, I can point to numerous examples where the IRS is absolutely unresponsive and incapable of handling the job that it already has.

You seem to be a very forthright and competent guy. But man, you have stepped into a big mess here.

When you have got three of your top people either resigning or pleading the Fifth to avoid criminal prosecution in the last month, this thing is completely out of control.

This entity is completely out of control as far as I can tell.

Shame on us because that is exactly where I spent the last two days going around this capital with a Harvard professor, Michael Porter, who is an export in international competitiveness, and we have a lot of work to do.

Income tax, I think it hurts your growth. I think more and more studies are showing income tax hinders your growth the most of all taxes.

I really appreciate your being here and I have enjoyed hearing your success stories. They all center on a business friendly environment, lower taxes, lower regulation, good logistics.

Well, I appreciate your comments, Professor Porter.