Michael Arcuri

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time yielded during consideration of this rule is for debate only. General Leave

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, my friend from California talks about what the Senate is going to do, as he often in Rules talks about what the President is going to do. The fact of the matter is that the Constitution calls on the House of Representatives to initiate any tax bills. That is what this is. I don't understand why he is arguing that we should wait and see what the Senate is going to do. This bill is generated from the House of Representatives, where it should be. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner). (Mr. TANNER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner).

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) 1 minute.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida, my colleague from the Blue Dogs, Mr. Boyd.

Mr. ARCURI. I will yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield an additional minute to the gentleman.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would like to let my friend know that I am about to withdraw this rule. So if he has any statements that he would like to make, I would like to offer him an opportunity.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to point out in response to my friend from Texas for his comments is that he said that when the Republican Congress came in during President Clinton's administration, it was all about balancing the budget. It may very well have been. I wasn't here at that point. It's just when I think about it, it's unfortunate that they forgot about that when President Bush took over the White House. Totally forgot about it. And in fact built up the largest deficits that we've ever seen in this country. And they had some other priorities, and that was giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, spending the surplus that we had on tax breaks for America's richest people, and that's unfortunate. Mr. Speaker, under the rules, I withdraw House Resolution 1516.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 1490 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All time yielded during consideration of this rule is for debate only. General Leave

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous materials into the Record.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1490 waives a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee. The resolution applies to any rule reported on any legislative day through September 27, 2008, providing for consideration or disposition of a measure to provide incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring provisions, to provide individual income tax relief, and for other purposes. I rise today in support of this rule because American families and small businesses need tax relief now more than ever. This rule will allow us to bring legislation to the House floor later today that will not only strengthen our economy by directing tax relief to middle class families and creating jobs at small businesses, but also will help to bring this country into a new alternative energy future that will help to create green collar jobs right here in America, jobs that cannot be outsourced to foreign countries or overseas. Since being elected to Congress, I have voted, along with this body, to cut taxes for middle class families and small businesses on at least 14 separate occasions. In doing so, this Congress has upheld its pledge to the American people, and I have kept the promise I made to my constituents to provide much-needed tax relief and incentives for economic growth. I know that there are many families and businesses in my district that are struggling in the current economic crisis. With talk of a $700 billion plan to bail out Wall Street, we cannot, in good conscience, fail to take action to help so many families facing the ever-escalating costs of gasoline and home heating fuel into this winter. This legislation we will consider provides tax relief and incentives to those who need them most at a fraction of the cost of bailing out the financial industry. This Congress has shown a strong commitment to the pay-as-you-go rule that we adopted last January. I applaud my Blue Dog Coalition colleagues for their outspoken leadership on the PAYGO consideration and the PAYGO issue. When I explain to folks back home what PAYGO is, I ask them a question: You have to balance your books each month, don't you? The individuals say, of course. They, of course, understand what it means to balance their books. They would not think of spending more than they earn. Businesses would not think of spending more than they earn. You have to ensure that you have enough income coming in to cover your expenses, and, of course, they respond with a nod of the head. They understand it. They get it. And then I say: Shouldn't the Federal Government operate in the same way when it involves spending your tax dollars? The legislation this rule will allow us to consider today will extend a number of critical tax relief measures targeted at middle class families and small businesses to improve the quality of life and strengthen our economy. Supporting this rule and the tax legislation we will consider later today is simple common sense. We can provide tax relief and incentives to middle class families, spur innovation, create tens of thousands of new green collar jobs, reduce our dependence on oil from hostile nations and reduce greenhouse gases--and we can do it all in a fiscally responsible manner. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of my colleague, my friend Mr. Sessions, if he has any further speakers. I am prepared to close.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, under the rules, I withdraw House Resolution 1501.

Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Kind.

Mr. ARCURI

Mr. ARCURI. No, we could not have done that in the Rules Committee.

Mr. ARCURI. We could not have just brought it up in the Rules Committee.

Mr. ARCURI. I think the question is what is your priority--

Mr. ARCURI. No, I do not.

Mr. ARCURI. I yield back the balance of my time and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. ARCURI. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.