Media

The last several weeks have seen a whirlwind of Presidential appointments and Senate confirmations to many of the federal government's top posts. While most of the President's nominations have survived the scrutiny, several others have turned belly-up during the process. Three individuals in particular, Tom Daschle, Nancy Killefer and Tim Geithner, have all been tainted by tax problems during the appointment process.

We are facing a global recession and a federal response is needed. But the so-called stimulus package that was recently passed busts the federal budget while doing next-to-nothing to truly stimulate our economy. Congress just spent 300 percent more on this legislation than was spent in all of World War II, and a staggering 1200 percent more than was spent during the New Deal. And while the legislation will create some government jobs, it does so at an outrageous expense to the taxpayer. In fact, for every job this stimulus package will create, the government will spend nearly $250,000.

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) made the following remarks on the House floor while calling for serious procedural changes to H.R. 1, the proposed economic stimulus package.

"Mr. COLE: Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend and distinguished ranking member of the Rules Committee from California for yielding.

Madame Speaker, I rise today to speak to H.R. 2 and the State Children's Health Insurance Program in general. Like many of my colleagues, I have been supportive of the underlying legislation. However, the way in which the underlying legislation has been brought forward under a closed rule is unforgiveable. This is simply just one more example of the majority taking away the right of the minority to offer any type of substantive amendment or change to the legislation.