On the recordMarch 12, 2014
Before I yield to Ms. Lofgren, I would just like to comment a couple of things. Without disrespect to our Founding Fathers--I revere them all alike-- but Mr. Franks was talking about President Madison and the noble experiment and asked the rhetorical question, all people were equal under the law--except for African Americans who were slaves, people who couldn't pay a poll tax, and women. So let's get away from this homogenized perspective of the way the world was and try to get to the way the world should be. Daniel Webster has a quote up there, by bringing forth all of our resources, develop our resources and our land and its institutions, so that while we are here, we, in our day and our generation, may not perform something worthy to be remembered. Well, we are not doing that today. And the references to the IRS have been debunked. They were equally applied to people who used organizations, 501(c)(4)s, beyond their original purpose. It was not anything political. And that goes to show the basic nature of this, because it is another attack on the President of the United States. The President said: whenever I can take action without legislation. When he can take it without legislation, when he is permitted. With that, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren).
