Charles W. Stenholm: “I want to throw another category in the debate tonight that has not been mentioned, and that is the grandkids. We can…”

“I want to throw another category in the debate tonight that has not been mentioned, and that is the grandkids. We can all agree tonight that we need to do something for the workers. I certainly agree with most of the components of the tax cut, that it does something to provide jobs. But I hope the enthusiasm that I hear tonight from this side of the aisle will be here in February and March when we have to increase the debt ceiling from $5.95 trillion to $6.7 trillion. I look for the same enthusiasm as Members are showing tonight for spending this money, I look for it in February and March when we have to increase the debt ceiling. I agree with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds), it is not much fun being in the minority. I agree that the majority can do anything that it wishes to do, and the majority are doing it again tonight, as the majority has done time and time again this year, and then claim to have bipartisanship; but that dog will not hunt. The majority can do it, and I respect their right to do it. But I also expect the majority to come to the floor and be just as enthusiastic when they raise the debt ceiling. I want the majority to be just as responsible when they say to the people out there that we are trying to help tonight, the Social Security trust fund dollars are being spent for these purposes. What I ask for, and the Blue Dogs have asked for, is to please pay for it.”