Orrin Hatch: “I rise in opposition to the Casey-Reid amendment. Over the past several days we have had the opportunity to publicly…”

“I rise in opposition to the Casey-Reid amendment. Over the past several days we have had the opportunity to publicly discuss and debate a number of serious flaws in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program and its proposed expansion. Perhaps the most egregious aspect is voting to spend more taxpayer dollars on an expanded domestic spending program of dubious value at the very same time our colleagues on the supercommittee are scrutinizing every penny of Federal spending in a bipartisan effort to get our Federal deficit under control. It makes me wonder whether this body understands the gravity of the deficit we are facing. As a country, we are simply spending more money than we have. If it continues we are going to be bankrupt. We will bankrupt our country and leave behind a grim future for our children and grandchildren. We will hear many of my colleagues talk about how important it is to spend this money, and I am sure a lot of them will feel good about their votes. But we all know the good feeling that comes from buying things we cannot afford is fleeting while the debt accrued hangs like a dark cloud over our daily lives. We simply cannot afford to continue to spend money our country does not have. This is why I, for one, am voting no. Despite my concerns, I am convinced that this amendment and bill will pass.…”