Providing for Consideration of S. 627, Budget Control Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I must begin, Mr. Speaker, by asking, do you have the President's plan? Or perhaps, do any of the Democrats over there have the President's plan? I keep hearing that this plan is not a good one; it's not a compromise; it hasn't been vetted. I would like to see the President's plan. That way, I can sit down with a cheat sheet and compare the President's plan with the plan of Senator Reid, with the plan proposed by Speaker Boehner. There's nothing, nothing but silence.

How long has he been President? Nearly 3 years. He knew the debt crisis was looming out there. He knew that there would be a debate about the debt ceiling. Indeed, as a Senator, in 2006, Barack Obama voted ``no'' to a debt ceiling increase, citing lack of leadership. Well, surely since that moment in 2006, he knew he would have to be dealing with the debt ceiling. He knew Medicare needed reform. He knew that Social Security needed reform. He continued the war, which he campaigned against. He continued the Bush tax cuts, which he now cries is the whole problem, that that's why we're in this situation.

It's even more appalling, Mr. Speaker, when you read his statement, July 12, just a few weeks ago, ``I cannot guarantee that those checks''--speaking of Social Security checks--will ``go out on August 3 if we haven't resolved this issue because there may simply not be the money in the coffers to do it.'' That's what the President believes, but he has no plan? How can he face the seniors of the United States of America?

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. DREIER. I yield my friend an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. KINGSTON. How can he say to the seniors of America, I might not be able to pay you your Social Security, and then not offer a plan? Well, God bless the Speaker, and God bless the people who have, in good faith, engaged in this discussion and offered plans. Indeed, the Republicans have already passed one plan, Cut, Cap, and Balance. The Senate, in their cowardliness, tabled it, refused to even vote on it. In fact, this was the same Senate who rejected the President's budget 97-0. Today we offer a second plan. If the Democrats have a plan, let them put it on the table. If the President has a plan, let us look at it so we can compare.

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