Date: 2011-11-17
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Then let me just add a few more points to my commentary on this. Let me just say that in my district in Texas. more than 190.000 people live below the poverty line. And I want to take Mr. JACKSONS commentsI will say that he took the words out of our collective mouths in the Congressional Progressive Caucus that this issue of poverty is really unspoken. but is in need of raising the ante. And its the highest rate in 17 years. The thresholds proposed in H.J. Res. 2 are completely unrealistic. Even during Ronald Reagans Presidency. before the baby boomers had reached retirement age. swelling the population eligible for Social Security and Medicare when health care costs were lower. Federal spending averaged 22 percent of GDP. We dont have that low number that was offered in the Judiciary Conmittee. but it is unrealistic as this country grows. My friends. the country has gotten larger. We cant have the same percentages that we had under President Eisenhower. Only 5 years in the last 50 has the Federal Government posted an annual budget surplus. All of the years the government has been in a deficit. We must contain it and restrain it. We must raise money. We can do that. Weve just got to move the various ghosts of tax pledges and other thirdparty restraints away from the Halls of Congress and move the blocker of doing intelligent work. and that would be a balanced budget amendment. So I believe it is crucial. as this debate goes forward. that we understand the Constitution and the American people understand that you pass a balanced budget amendment and you give up the vote that you cherish every 2 years. when you vote for a Member of Congress who is allowed to vote for or against. who will stand on the floor of the House and advocate. under the Constitution of the United States. the authority of this House of Representatives to institute taxes through the discourse of debate and the appropriate use of those taxes to raise up the general welfare of the American Government and people. With that in mind. I would beseech of you. as I close. to be able to truly understand the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. Allow me to read this into the RECORD: We the people of the United States. in order to form a more perfect union. establish justice. insure domestic tranquility. provide for the common defense. promote the general welfare. and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. I beg of you. my colleagues who will vote tomorrow. have this Constitution in your hand. Posterity can come through the reasonable work. Posterity can come through the thanking of the supercommittee for its work and moving beyond the supercommittee into 2012. Begin to analyze the needs of the American people and vote for revenue and vote for belttightening. Dont take the Constitution and shred it tomorrow. voting for a balanced budget amendment that no Founding Father saw fit to implement. and throwing Americas children. veterans. returning soldiers. and seniors into the Federal courthouses of America and depending upon the Federal court system for justice. We can do justice tomorrow. We can join with the Congressional Progressive Caucus long range. but we can do justice tomorrow and reject the balanced budget amendment on behalf of the constitutional rights of the people. and on behalf of the people of the United States of America. I am happy to yield control of the remaining time to the gentleman from Illinois.