Phil Gingrey

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I thank my colleague on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Dr. Burgess. I want to yield to another of my physician colleagues from Georgia, Dr. Tom Price, an orthopedic surgeon who represents the district adjacent to mine, the Sixth District of Georgia. Dr. Price is going to tell us a little bit about these 47 million uninsured, many of whom are employed and simply cannot afford what is offered by their employer, their portion of the premium, and many of them of course work for very small employers that can't afford to offer coverage at all. At this point, I am proud to yield to my colleague, the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, Dr. Tom Price.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank you. And I thank our side of the aisle for having the opportunity to speak to our colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats tonight, about a very, very important issue. The team that just spoke, Mr. Speaker, on the floor of this House about much of the spending and the plans and the too much spending, too much taxing, too much borrowing theme, which is absolutely what the American public, Mr. Speaker, needs to know about, including the plans and the spending and to have a comprehensive health care reform plan that we would vote on, we literally, Mr. Speaker, would vote on before this body and the other body goes on the traditional August recess. That is what, just barely a little more than 4 months away. And the big question is not do we need health care reform? I think my colleagues, and particularly my colleagues on this side of the aisle, who are doctor Members of this body, who are with me tonight to discuss this, the issue of health care reform, we do not disagree, Mr. Speaker, and my colleagues, that this needs to be done. Nobody, whether Republican or Democrat, whether majority or minority, would want to see 47 million people in this country to have no health insurance whatsoever, and maybe another 25 million that are underinsured. And, yes, indeed, it could happen to one of my adult children and their young families. They all have decent jobs, but one major illness away from being under-insured and possibly ending up in a bankruptcy court, facing foreclosure on their homes and these kind of crises that we all agree we need to avoid. So the reform of the health care system is not really a question of whether or not this side of the aisle agrees. We do agree. It is a matter, though, of how we do it and when we do it, and what we can afford to do. And I think that what the President has proposed so far is, just as we hear about his overall budget in a 10-year projection, and the numbers that we received over the weekend from the Congressional nonpartisan budget office, of unsustainable debt, deficits that will lead to possibly doubling of the national debt within 10 years. It is something that really has to be addressed. Well, Mr. Speaker, tonight, we are here with, I am leading the hour, but I am very pleased that some of my colleagues on the GOP Republican Doctors Caucus have joined with me. And I wanted to set the tone for what we will talk about during this hour, and that is about physician work force; and will we have the manpower, when those 47 million hopefully do have health insurance, and the under-insured are fully insured, where are we going to come up with the doctors, the health care providers, to be able to provide that care? Having a plastic card, Mr. Speaker, that says you are covered and you have access doesn't guarantee any individual that they are going to be able to have a provider who is going to see them. And my fear is that they will not be able to have that access, particularly if the majority is successful in their plans to have a government default option to go along with, let's say, Medicare and Medicaid and TRICARE and veterans' health care benefits and the CHIP program. It is just adding one more responsibility of the Federal Government to control all of health care, and that is really what we are going to talk about tonight. As I walked over here, Mr. Speaker--I was walking in the building, into this great Capitol House Chamber, the people's House--there was an emergency, and I saw physicians from the office of the House physician--paramedics, nurses--sprinting to the ambulance that is parked right outside this building for just such an emergency. I thought to myself, you know, thank God for the health care system that we already have. We definitely can improve upon that, and we will talk about that tonight, but thank God that we have that ability to respond in that manner. It makes me think, Mr. Speaker, of the tragedy that occurred up in Canada in regard to this famous actress--and I will not mention her name--the tragic death of that actress after what seemed like a fairly routine, snow-skiing fall in which she got up, dusted herself off and said: I am fine. I do not need any medical care. Let me just go back to my resort hotel room. I am fine. Of course, that is what she did, and we all know now that 2 hours later, when she began to get into trouble and, maybe, passed out and a 911 call was made, it was 4 hours later that she was finally seen at a major medical center that could respond to this subdural hematoma that she obviously had developed. By that time, she was brain dead, and a life was lost, not just a life of a famous person and a prominent person but a mother of young children and of a devastated family. So when we, Mr. Speaker, hear this talk about a single-payor system, of a government-run system not unlike the Canadian system--I am not necessarily picking on Canada. They are our good friends and neighbors to the north, but the same thing could be said, I think, about the system in the U.K. or in Taiwan or in any of the other countries that have a national health insurance, government-run program. If this accident had occurred, I think, out in Colorado in the United States, that young mother and famous actress would be alive today. So these are some of my thoughts as we begin to discuss. I call on my colleagues, the doctor colleagues, who are with me tonight. I want to ask my colleagues to focus their attention on this first poster. It is titled ``A Second Opinion,'' and then, of course, it is subtitled ``Strengthen the Doctor-Patient Relationship.'' That is what we want to do, and that is what we will talk about. With this second opinion theme, I think, most people associate a second opinion with a medical opinion, and understand that, when they go to the doctor, sometimes a second opinion is very, very valuable. In fact, I think almost always it is very valuable. So it is important when the other side of the aisle--when the majority party--says or some of their news media, coconspirators, if you will, who support a national health insurance program or any major issue that the majority party is promoting says, well, the Republicans, all they are is a party of ``no,'' they do not have another alternative. They are just saying, well, we are going to stand in the way of something that we do not like because the majority party has presented it, and this is all political. Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth, and that is certainly true in regard to the health care of this Nation. This second opinion theme could apply to energy; it could apply to what the previous team was talking about in regard to the budget and spending. We do have a plan on the Republican side on all of these issues and, if you will, a second opinion Republican plan on health care. So, with that sort of setting the theme, I want to go ahead and recognize my colleagues. I am going to first call on the gentleman from Pennsylvania, my classmate who has been with me here in the House--and we are now serving our fourth term--and that is Dr. Tim Murphy from the great State of Pennsylvania. Dr. Murphy, I would like to give you an opportunity to talk about some of the issues that you have been focusing on, not just as part of the Republican Doctors Caucus but since you came to Congress some 6\1/ 2\ years ago. I will yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Dr. Price, thank you so much. Mr. Speaker, I realize that we are running very close to that witching hour. Maybe I saved the best until last. He probably thinks that I'm shorting him on time because his LSU Tigers whipped up pretty badly on my Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Bowl game. That's is not the case at all. I'm proud to yield to the internist and gastroenterologist from Baton Rouge, Dr. Patrick.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation in Iraq, and to share a letter I recently received from his father, Robert Stokely. Robert's letter relates to a Department of Defense policy that directly affected his family, and most especially, Mr. Speaker, his son. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to read this letter, as I feel it is necessary for this body to fully understand this issue in order to protect the dignity of our troops. Robert Stokely is from Newnan, Georgia, my wife's hometown. And of course I represented that area and am very proud of the folks in Newnan. Mr. Robert Stokely writes: ``I was alarmed at the question asked by Ed Henry at President Obama's address to the Nation on Monday, February 9, 2009, i.e., allowing media access and cameras at Dover Air Force Base where fallen military personnel arrive on their final trip home to an honorable rest. I am also alarmed by an AP news article that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has ordered a review of the policy. Please take a moment and read my story of meeting my son, and hopefully you can have a vivid image of why it is important to keep the family first in this matter, for it is a very personal moment when a fallen hero arrives home. ``I met my son's body at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta on August 24, 2005 as he arrived from Dover. I went alone as a special privilege to take his body to the funeral home, where the family would then be the first to see the most striking, vivid image of a fallen loved one, the flag-draped casket. I rode in the hearse to take him on a 25-mile ride, covering the roads that Mike and I had shared so many days as a divorced dad and son going to and from visitation on weekends, holidays, and summers. It was a `last ride to take my boy home.' '' And this is in bold font, Mr. Speaker. ``I wore a favorite blue blazer, trousers, and a red and blue striped tie, for my son deserved my respect. As they uncrated his casket and draped the American flag over him, I saluted from nearby, tears streaming down my cheeks, as a number of busy U.S. Air cargo employees suddenly stopped in stunned silence, only then realizing what was taking place. ``I held my salute, poor as it was for an untrained civilian, until the flag was completely draped and the edges evenly cornered out. Then I stepped outside to call my wife, Retta, who loved him like one of her own. And as she answered the telephone, with tears still streaming down my cheeks and with a quiver in my voice, I said, ``our boy is home.'' Mike Stokely was age 23 when he was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. While the political debate about Iraq or any other war may be had in a free country like this, such as we enjoy, there is no debate that our military personnel engage in of the politics of when, where, or how long a war is waged. They have a constitutional duty to obey the Commander in Chief's lawful orders. Mike Stokely, and many others, did their constitutional duty, and in doing so, preserved our freedom. Mike, and those like him who haven't yet but will die for America, do not need to be a media spectacle at Dover Air Force Base. ``I was once asked what I thought the real cost of freedom is. There are many such costs, but for the Stokely family, and like many of us, the highest cost has been paid, a lifetime of love. ``Is it too much to ask, given what the fallen and their families have given America, for us to have that first moment of seeing the flag-draped casket to be ours and ours alone? Should we now be asked to give more so that something so private can be used to sell advertising, to ensure a media outlet's profitable bottom line? Black ink on the bottom line is usually a good thing, but it cannot be so when it comes at the cost of making a spectacle of our fallen, thus dishonoring their spilled red American blood. I hope your answer will be an unequivocal, unwavering, and unapologetic `no,' and that you will fight to keep the honorable sanctity of Dover rather than allow it to become a media spectacle. ``Please protect our fallen and their families and the privacy of Dover, for our fallen have given their lives to protect the lifetime of love you and your family and millions of other Americans continue to live and enjoy. ``Proud dad of Sergeant Mike Stokely.'' Mr. Speaker, the policy of allowing media to photograph these caskets at Dover Air Force Base is a serious issue for many families that have been struck with the tragedy of losing a loved one in battle. The brave service men and women on their final journey home have given their lives for our freedom. We must ensure that not only are their remains handled with the utmost respect, but that the wishes of their families are given the respect they so richly deserve.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this majority mendacity bill, or maybe unrighteous indignation bill. You just heard it from the other side. They want to say to the American people that we are going to make everything all right by getting back with a 90 percent tax this $175 million. But what they don't say, Mr. Speaker, is how they are going to get back the $170 billion that was given to AIG in the first place, 1,000 times these bonuses. Yes, we are outraged over the bonuses; but on our side of the aisle, we are outraged over these bailouts and these giveaways, and there is nothing in this bill about getting the $170 billion back. Mr. Speaker, this is the Lenten season, so let me make a little analogy for my non-Catholic friends. This is like asking forgiveness for a mortal sin by saying one Hail Mary, one Hail Mary, this little bill to pass under suspension to get those bonuses back, when the real sin is the $170 billion that was thrown away on AIG.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. If the gentleman would yield just for a second on this point, and then I will yield back to my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Pitts. On this particular issue, don't forget, my colleagues, that at that so-called ``conference committee'' back in the fall when this economic stimulus bill, all the details were being worked out, the majority party was there in the dark of night. I don't know how many conferees from the minority party were there, but the administration was absolutely there when this provision, as my colleague said, was put in by the Senator from Connecticut, Senator Dodd, in regard to making those changes so that these employees of AIG could get these bonuses. But a representative of the administration, the new administration, the Barack Obama administration, Mr. Speaker, was in the room and knew exactly what was happening. And the second largest recipient of contributions, when he was in the United States Senate, from AIG was none other than Senator Barack Obama. I think it's very important that the American people understand these things and try to connect the dots.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. This is what we are talking about, literally, the money that was given to this company. I know, Mr. Speaker, the American people, when you explain that to them, they can understand it. And they say, well, now, wait a minute, this is an insurance company. I've got my life insurance, I've got my health insurance with Prudential or Provident or Aetna or any other. I mean, it's not like it was the only insurance company in the world. And this business of being too big to fail--because what they did is they, in these subsidiaries, they weren't just satisfied with making money off selling life insurance, they had to get into this business of selling these financial products, these credit default swaps and mortgage-backed securities and derivatives, things that the common man doesn't even know what you're talking about. But it's all about greed. And I am telling you, this business of bailing them out with our money, taxpayer money, Mr. Speaker, people like my constituents in the 11th District of Georgia who are struggling every day, some of them, through no fault of their own, losing their homes, losing their jobs-- particularly if they're in the construction business--can't get loans. And here this majority party is continuing to give this company--and I think my figure is right, Mr. Akin, that $190 billion will be the amount, the bailout money that, in the final analysis, we have given to--and maybe that's not the final analysis. Maybe we are going to say, oh, we are going to get the $170 million in bonuses, but we are going to give another $25 billion to this company. I yield back to my colleague.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Well, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for yielding. And I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Congressman Pitts, for holding this hour-long discussion, Mr. Speaker, and my colleague, Representative Latta from Ohio, and others that have spoken. I appreciate the opportunity. And Representative Akin just mentioned, my colleagues, that tomorrow we are going to have this bill under suspension that so-called ``gets our money back.'' It's telling the American public, oh, we are going to get our money back from these absolute scoundrels that got these bonuses--in some cases, $1 million, I think there were a couple of cases where people got $3 million, and in the aggregate, something like $160, $170 million. I will tell you, I would call those bills, the bill tomorrow, the ``unrighteous indignation'' bill, or maybe the ``majority mendacity'' bill. Because what this majority party wants to do, Mr. Speaker, is posture themselves like, oh, you know, we are going to go after the bad guys, when, as the Congressman just pointed out, when you connect the dots, when you follow the dots in some of those charts that were presented earlier and you see that we have actually given this insurance company, American International Group, $190 billion, that is over a thousand times as much as these bonuses. So the real issue, which they are diverting our attention from--they, the majority party--and don't want the American public to realize what they have done----

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Well, reclaiming my time, you add three zeros to that. A million is six zeros. A billion, if I am correct, is a thousand million.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a very talented group of girls from Carrollton, Georgia. The Carrollton High School Girls Basketball team--or the Lady Trojans--defeated a very talented Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe team 51-31 to claim the Class AAA Georgia High School Association State title this weekend. The Lady Trojans found themselves down at the half, 24-23. However, Carrollton's defense, led by Karisma Boykin--always helps to have charisma, Mr. Speaker--stole the show in the second half, keeping the explosive Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe offense scoreless in the third quarter and allowing only seven points in the fourth quarter. As they say, defense wins championships. Mr. Speaker, we all know that the other thing that wins championships, of course, is hard work and determination, and there was no shortage of that from Carrollton Coach Shon Thomaston and the Lady Trojans. Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating the Carrollton High School Lady Trojans on their State championship, as well as all of their hard work that got them there.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. I appreciate the gentleman yielding. I am very happy to be here this evening to address my colleagues on this important issue of the Fair Tax and pay tribute to our colleague from Georgia, Representative John Linder. Representative Linder, from the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, is a long-term Member of this body, is former chairman of the NRCC, long-term vice chairman of the Rules Committee, and now a member of the Ways and Means Committee. And Mr. Speaker, he knows of what he says in regard to the Fair Tax. I think John is absolutely right. And I am just, as I say, proud to be here and be his colleague and to have an opportunity to weigh in, in support of the Fair Tax. My only regret--or one of my biggest regrets-- since I've been here is that when we had the majority on our side of the aisle, we lost the opportunity, didn't take the opportunity. It wasn't because of John's lack of ethics, however. And I think he is absolutely right; if we live long enough--Lord willing--we're going to see the elimination of the 16th amendment, and that is, obliterate the income tax and replace it with the Fair Tax. I think this country will be much more competitive. I could stand here and take up the rest of the time, but I know my other colleague from Georgia is here and he wants to speak. I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa for conducting this Special Order tonight. And I thank him for the time that he gave me to weigh in, in support of John Linder and the Fair Tax. And I yield back.

Mr. GINGREY

Mr. GINGREY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a talented group of girls from Floyd County in Georgia's 11th Congressional District. As we move towards March Madness in college basketball, the Georgia High School Association's state basketball playoffs are already underway. The Model High School Girl's Basketball Team--or Lady Devils--have soared to a perfect 30-0 record and are poised for a trip to the Georgia High School Association's Final Four tonight. The Lady Devils' road to the Final Four has led them through a Region 7AA Championship and three rounds of State playoffs to send them to the semi-finals for the first time in over a decade. Although many around Floyd County are riding high on the team's success, the girls of the No. 2-ranked and unbeaten Lady Devils are focused on getting back to work as they prepare for tonight's Final Four match-up against Henry County at the Macon Centreplex. The Lady Devils are led by Coach Sally Echols, who actually played in Model High School's last trip to the Final Four in 1997. Echols has proved just as valuable as a head coach as she was on the court-- leading the Lady Devils to four straight Region Championships. I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating Coach Echols and the Model High School Lady Blue Devils for their success on the court as well as the hard work and determination that got them there. I wish them luck in the Final Four.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 64, urging the President to designate 2009 as the Year of the Military Family. It's going to be difficult to follow the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Moran, what he said out of compassion and love for the military families, but I will humbly try to do so. Certainly, I would like to say a special thanks to Chairman Skelton, Ranking Member John McHugh, as well as to the members and the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, for the tireless effort in support of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who are bravely defending us at home and abroad. Mr. Speaker, today we rightfully take time to recognize the families of those brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of our Nation. I stand here and I am thinking about so many families--moms and dads, brothers and sisters--of fallen soldiers in my State of Georgia, and of my district, the 11th Congressional in northwest Georgia. I am not trying to mention all of them, but they are definitely in my mind and in my heart. For it is not just the members of the military who serve our country, but also their family members, who sacrifice so much in support of these heroes who, day in and day out, protect our freedom. Mr. Speaker, the families of those who serve our country on the front lines deserve the admiration and appreciation of each and every citizen. These family members often watch their loved ones travel to faraway lands in support of a cause and an ideal so much greater than any one individual. Indeed, the democracy on display here today with our presence in this Chamber is testament to the courage and valor of our Armed Forces. The support given to our servicemen and women by their loved ones is irreplaceable, as it's a foundation for the bravery inherent in those who labor steadfastly in the defense of liberty. Any of us who have watched videos and movies about the Civil War and read some of those letters to home that the infantrymen would write, maybe right before a battle and they give their lives to their country, it is indeed moving. So, let us now honor and say a gracious thank you to each and every military family, every member of those families, for the encouragement, love, and kindness they exhibit in supporting their precious loved ones as they serve a Nation that will forever be free because of their sacrifice. It is to the family members that we now say thank you. Mr. Speaker, we are proud of all of our servicemen and women and are eternally grateful for their efforts in the Global War on Terror. Let us not forget the ones who have provided the closest circle of support for them wherever they may serve around the globe. I urge all my colleagues, of course, to support this.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize one of my constituents, Sam Hogle from Marietta, Georgia, for achieving the highest honor for a Boy Scout, the rank of Eagle Scout. As a Boy Scout myself, I know that achieving this rank is a significant moment in the life of any young man. However, in Sam's case, the accomplishment is even more inspiring because Sam was born blind. This circumstance could have added a significant obstacle to his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. However, Sam would not let it get in his way, calling his blindness an inconvenience, but not a disability that could keep him from achieving his dream. Armed with this positive attitude and incredible determination, Sam has become an excellent student, an Eagle Scout, and an asset to his community. Sam's Eagle Scout project shows exactly what kind of young man he is. For his project, Sam planned, raised the funds, and led a campout for visually impaired boys. He wanted these boys to learn that they could also enjoy the outdoors and experience the same kind of fun and learning that he has by being a Boy Scout. For many of these middle school boys, it is their first campout. Sam's campout was extremely successful. The boys had a wonderful, wonderful time. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Sam Hogle on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 14, supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week. I certainly want to commend my colleague from California, Representative Barbara Lee, for introducing this very important and very timely resolution. As many of you are now aware, this week is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, and I would encourage everyone listening today and all Americans to take some time and reflect on this disease and its impact on our families, our friends and our society. Representative Lee talked about her sister and what the family has gone through, and I think as a physician, although I am not a neurologist, I think she explained it, Mr. Speaker, perfectly in regard to her description of the disease of multiple sclerosis. I know to her disappointment it really hasn't changed much over the 10 or 15 years since her sister came down with the disease. It is still a diagnosis of exclusion. It is hard. There is no marker, there is no blood marker, and it is very difficult. So the points that Barbara Lee brought out are absolutely accurate and very informative. Mr. Speaker, I have had no one in my family that suffered from multiple sclerosis. I have had some very close friends who suffer from it and are doing well. But as Representative Lee pointed out, it comes and goes. They have good days and bad days. One man, a great friend, is in a wheelchair and has been for many years, but he has had children and grandchildren. Another lady is a very good friend as well and she has had children. But, again, this is a disease that can end up ultimately as bad as something like Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It doesn't often progress to that extreme degree, but I indeed had a first cousin about my age who died from Lou Gehrig's disease, so I am very much aware of this condition and very supportive of this resolution regarding multiple sclerosis. MS and other chronic diseases like it, they change lives, and it presents significant challenges for those who suffer, for them and for their families, as Barbara Lee mentioned. Mr. Speaker, MS is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system. Essentially MS heavily impairs and prevents nerve cells in the brain and in the spinal cord from communicating with each other. They just can't make that connection. So those symptoms that she described, from numbness in the limbs, loss of vision, and, yes, even eventually paralysis in some cases, are very unpredictable, and, of course, it can vary from person to person. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately for the 400,000 Americans living with MS, the cause of the disease, as I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, remains unknown. But I want to recognize and applaud the work currently underway at NIH, the National Institutes of Health, and other medical research institutions across the country to improve the lives of people with multiple sclerosis. There is little doubt that our collective resolve to find a cure remains undeterred, as demonstrated by this great resolution. Mr. Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have had a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to honor Marvin Williams of Rockmart, Georgia in Polk County. Marvin has demonstrated a passion for serving others both in his personal and professional lives. For over 30 years, Marvin has been involved in the educational system of Polk County. He began his service as a Special Education teacher and in 1980, Marvin started his administrative career at Westside Elementary School. In 1999, Marvin Williams became Interim Superintendent for the Polk County School District and officially became the county's first African-American Superintendent in 2007. Marvin has also been a valuable addition to my 11th District Education Advisory Board, helping to advise me in improving our nation's education policies. In addition to Marvin's commitment to the education system of Polk County, he also gives back to his community through his service as the Minister of Music at Thankful Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Superintendent Marvin Williams for his leadership and service to the people of Polk County and his commitment to the students in his district.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to honor a family who has dedicated their lives to public service and the improvement of the community they call home. Bill and Faith Collins of Rome, Georgia are the perfect example of how one family can have a positive impact on the lives of countless others around them. Bill Collins has served his community on the Rome City Commission for the past 11 years. As a Commissioner, Bill currently chairs the Public Works Committee and serves on the Transportation and Downtown Development Authority--working to improve his community's infrastructure. Bill's wife, Faith, has committed much of her life to ensuring that the children of Rome receive the best education possible. As a long- time member of the Rome City School Board, Faith has made improving the quality of education for Georgia students her mission. I ask that my colleagues join me in thanking Bill and Faith Collins-- a true public service family--for their commitment to improving their community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I want to continue recognizing African Americans from throughout Georgia's 11th Congressional District who have a major impact on their community. Today, I rise to recognize John Mayes of Rome, Georgia. John has been a dedicated public servant for the people of Rome and Floyd County, Georgia for the majority of his adult life. John is a three-term member of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, and he currently serves as the chairman. He is also the current Chair of the Floyd County Public Works Committee. In addition to his commitment to improving his home county, John also dedicates much of his time to strengthening the health care community in Floyd County, serving on both the Floyd Medical Center Hospital Authority and Management Board and the Floyd County Board of Health. Despite his heavy involvement in county and city government, John still finds time devote to philanthropic activities, founding Camp Uncle John, a private retreat designed to reach out to area youth, and serving as the director of community organizations such as the YMCA. In 2007, John Mayes was honored by Rome residents for his selfless community service with the prestigious Heart of the Community Award. I ask my colleagues, please join me in thanking John Mayes for his service to the people of Rome and Floyd County and his commitment to the betterment of his community.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Well, reclaiming my time, of course the amount of money, I think, that we were spending in this bill, just in the omnibus, was $410 billion, but I think that it's something like $300 billion additional. Anyway, overall, it brings it up to 80 percent. You know, you wonder. We heard from the President last night in his semi State of the Union Address, and he talked about, you know, fiscal responsibility in this budget that he's going to present to us on Thursday for 2010 and how it's going to be very fiscally responsible and belt-tightening. He has an opportunity, colleagues--doesn't he?--to veto this omnibus. This is his first opportunity. What can he say? I mean we were criticized by the Democratic--now majority--when they were in the minority. President Bush didn't veto one spending bill, and on many occasions what came out of the Congress was a plus-up from what former President Bush had asked for. So the argument was, if you Republicans are fiscally responsible, why wouldn't your President veto this spending bill? In the first place, why did you plus them up? Here the Democrats said, ``Well, you bring us in, and we're going to change all of that.'' Here is the very first opportunity. Well, I challenge President Obama: Veto this sucker. Send it back, and say, ``You know, we don't need an 80 percent increase in discretionary spending.'' As you've pointed out, Mr. Akin, much of that spending will be there 10 years from now.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Akin, thank you. I just wanted to add to what Dr. Broun was saying as to that continuing resolution amendment. In other words, let's just stay at 2008 levels, the ones that we showed in the blue on this chart. Let's just stay right there. Dr. Broun was explaining that amendment. In that amendment, if we did that--and I'll ask Dr. Broun or I'll ask Representative Akin--how many earmarks would be in that? I'll go ahead and answer that before I yield back my time. The answer is it would be a big nada, zero, none. There would be no earmarks. Now, some Members don't ask for earmarks. I've probably got six or eight earmarks. I have, you know, transparent, light of day, good things for my district that have been vetted thoroughly, but that would wipe out all of my earmarks, and those other 7,500 or 9,000, whatever the number is, I'm fine with that, and I think my constituents, in the interest of fiscal responsibility, would be fine with it as well. So I think that's a point that we needed to make, and I yield back.

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Joe the Plumber is not a socialist either. It's all about that income redistribution. You remember that phrase?

Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. If the gentleman would yield.