Providing for Consideration of H.R. 5850, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill and ask that finally we in this House turn towards the matter of such concern to the American people, and that is, the growth, incredible growth, in size of Washington and its government.

With 1.5 million votes cast, Madam Speaker, the YouCut movement continues to give Americans a vehicle to help put a stop to Washington's never-ending shopping spree. House Republicans have already offered more than $120 billion in commonsense budget cuts. Yet, week in and week out, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have voted against the will of the people and blocked these commonsense spending reductions.

Madam Speaker, maybe today is the day when that changes. This week's leading vote-getter is a proposal sponsored by Congressman John Linder of Georgia. It would save the taxpayers $1.1 billion by eliminating the advanced earned income tax credit, a program plagued by waste, fraud and abuse.

The idea was first put forward by our friends on the other side of the aisle, Madam Speaker, and for many of us in the minority, it was heartening to see our colleague in the Democratic Caucus embracing the commonsense spending cuts that this Congress so persistently refused.

Addressing our staggering national debt is not a partisan calling. It is a national imperative because our country stands at a crossroads.

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote to bring this week's YouCut proposal to the floor.

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