Date: 2007-05-23
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

You have just known me longer. Thank you. Mr. MEEK. It is a pleasure to be here. We have been trying to get the three of us back together again. It is a good problem to have. We have a lot more on our plate now that the Democrats are in the majority. The other good part of our problem is that we have expanded the active members of the 30Something Working Group. with the Speaker that is in the chair this evening and a number of other Members. Mr. ALTMIRE. and we are really happy about that. But I am glad the three of us were able to come back together this evening to continue our effort to speak to both our generation and to the American people. the rest of the American people. about our concerns and the Democratic new direction that we have been successful in moving in since November 7th when we were victorious in the election and when the American people indicated to this Congress that they. wanted to move in a new direction. We struggled through the last number of years. Gradually. and unfortunately a cloud hung over this institution and this Capitol. a culture of corruption had developed. Mr. RYAN. and we just could not allow it to continue any longer. The American people were fed up with it. and that is why tomorrow we are going to be considering lobbying reform and ethics reform. so that we can inspire the confidence of the American people once again in their leaders. - both as individuals. because traditionally they have said to pollsters that they support their Member of Congress. they like their Member of Congress. but they cant stand. the institution. That is a sad state of affairs. We need to make sure that our institution. the one we are proud to serve in. is one that the American people can be proud of as well. There has been too much corruption here. unfortunately led by individuals formerly in the leadership in this institution on the other side of the aisle for far too long. and we need to. take some significant steps to clean it up. which is why we are going to be considering this legislation on the floor tomorrow. We also talked about during the campaign and leading up to. and now since NANCY PELOSI. our Speaker. took office. that we are going to implement the priorities that were important to the American people. including the minimum wage. We passed our "Six in 06" agenda in the first 100 hours that we were in the majority. The minimum wage was part of that. The implementation of the 9/11 Commission recommendations was a part of that. Making sure that we could repeal the $14 billion in subsidies that we gave away to the- oil industry under the Republican leadership. that was a part of that package. and anumber of other provisions. Our priorities since taking control of the House of Representatives have been a reflection of the priorities of the American people. We have been interacting with this President. which in my experience the only thing I can analogize it to. Mr. RYAN. is like trying to move an iceberg. This is a.person who occupies the White House now that seems to have no respect for the system of checks and balances. no respect for the fact that the Founding Fathers created three branches of government that were considered coequal. and that he was not elected king of this country. The Founding Fathers very definitely intended for us not to have a monarchy. not to establish a monarchy. and he doesnt get to just decide what is going to happen. particularly when it comes to war and executing the powers of the Presidency. He does have to have input from us. I can tell you from my perspective. I think from your perspective. Mr. MEEK. and Mr. RYAN as well. that this is the beginning of the end. The actions we have taken. insisting upon him not having a blank check and ending the blank check and the openended commitments that have been there. it is the beginning of the end.