On the recordMarch 1, 2011
Madam Speaker, if this wasn't such a serious subject that we're discussing here, the Federal budget and how we're going to fund it for the next 2 weeks, it would almost be funny. Almost every Member of the Democratic Party that has stood up and talked about this CR has said something like this--even the sponsor of this motion said something along these lines: Democrats know we have to reduce spending. Democrats want to reduce spending. Yet the very first time they have a chance to vote to reduce spending, reductions that the administration agrees with in its 2012 budget and eliminating earmarks, the Democrats vote ``no''? It's strange but true. In fact, instead of cutting spending, they propose to increase revenue. Or increase taxes. In this fragile economy with energy prices rising, we should be encouraging more energy and gas development and production in the United States. We need more supply, not less supply. This would reduce the supply. Oil prices are rising again; and with the wave of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, there are fears that we could soon see a return to $4 or $5 gas in the United States this summer.
