Steve Cohen: “This House is at an historic moment because we look at a possible shutdown of government, a shutdown of government that…”

“This House is at an historic moment because we look at a possible shutdown of government, a shutdown of government that you have to look and ask: Why may it occur? It's going to occur because we don't have a budget. And why don't we have a budget? Because we've got a great deficit. Why do we have that great deficit? Because the Bush tax cuts got rid of the Clinton excess we had. During Clinton's days, we had extra money. We balanced the budget. The Bush years: a deficit for the tax cuts, which have been extended with the majority of the Republicans and some Democrats, and two wars overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan that were off budget. And they have cost us much. In the future, we are going to see a political Armageddon here about this continuing resolution and the budget of this country. And the issue is going to be whether we deal with the superrich or we guarantee America's past and care for everybody to have opportunity and a chance; whether we care about the oil companies that make record profits and give them continued deductions or whether we care about people that need education and health care. Medicare is at risk, Social Security will be at risk, and there's no jobs plan been put forward by this Congress. And that's just the way it is. ____________________”