Tim Scott

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Congressman, the fact is simple. We could tax those over $100,000 a year 100 percent and we still simply could not close the deficit for this year. The fact of the matter is people talk about this government getting smaller, and the President's original budget spent $47 trillion in the next 10 years--an $8.7 trillion increase in spending. We're talking about a $2 trillion increase in spending in the next 12 months in taxes. We're not talking about reducing the size and scope of this government. We must get ourselves on a completely different trajectory. We must bend the trajectory back towards the American people, back towards the private sector, and eliminate the disincentive for growth in our economy called taxation. So to the extent that we can flatten the tax, spread the risk, we find ourselves in a more prosperous society with a stronger economy led by those folks in the private sector. Entrepreneurs have an opportunity to take those dollars and reinvest them in such a way to create more jobs. It is a simple formula. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Mulvaney).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let's just clear up a simple point here. The only specified savings in this budget are from raising taxes and cutting the military. If we really wanted to have an opportunity to make Medicare last longer, we could simply repeal ObamaCare, repeal national health care, and put the $800 billion back into Medicare.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield myself such time as I may consume, Mr. Speaker, and I just want to address a few points that Congresswoman Slaughter brought up. I have scoured the budget looking for this notion of a voucher system for Medicare. I've scoured the budget and simply cannot find anything that is, in fact, a voucher system. I have seen things about premium support. But let's just talk about Medicare for a quick second. $800 billion the President has suggested must come out of Medicare in order to pay for national health care. So we are going to take benefits from our senior citizens in an attempt to provide health care benefits for 19- and 20-year-olds. In fact, that $800 billion is one way to actually increase the cost to every senior citizen in our country. Increasing taxes by $2 trillion in the next 12 months is a wonderful way to make our economy stumble, and that's what the President has suggested. Finally, you cannot increase taxes on the very job creators themselves and then ask them to continue to create jobs. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. House Resolution 223 provides for a structured rule for consideration of House Concurrent Resolution 34. This rule makes in order every complete substitute submitted to the Rules Committee. Continuing a bipartisan tradition, we are making in order four Democratic substitutes and one Republican substitute, providing 4 hours of general debate, with ample debate on each substitute. This will allow the House to work its will and adopt a budget blueprint for fiscal year 2012. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill. The underlying legislation is our budget for 2012. Our 2012 budget is our blueprint for a strong and secure future for the next generation. Each of us is here today because those who came before us made amazing sacrifices for the next generation--us--keeping alive the American Dream. In the last century alone, our parents and grandparents have won two world wars, overcome the Great Depression, defeated communism, and created the most prosperous and vibrant society in the history of mankind. Today it is our turn. It is our turn to take a bold and necessary step to ensure that we pass on to our children this great blessing called America, and even a stronger America than the one we received from our parents. Paul Ryan calls his plan The Path to Prosperity. I call it leadership. It is what our country has been thirsting for. It confronts our problems head on, and it proposes reasonable and responsible solutions to get us back on track. Our plan creates jobs, real jobs, 1 million new jobs in America in the first year alone. It stimulates our economy, increasing our GDP by $1.5 trillion in the next 10 years. It protects and strengthens Social Security and Medicare. Let me say that one more time because so many people are trying to demagogue the issue: Our plan strengthens and protects Social Security and Medicare for the next generation of Americans. And it also reduces job-killing government spending by $6.2 trillion in the next 10 years. Yesterday, our President, he got on board. Two months ago, he gave us his 2012 budget, and now we have 2012 2.0, the second time around. But the plan hasn't changed much, sir. The plan is basically the same. So let's compare our plan in the next 10 years to President Obama's plan over the next 12 years. President Obama would add $4 trillion to our debt, leaving us at the end of the next decade with $26 trillion of debt, according to the CBO. Even our Democratic colleagues in the House agree, and they have presented a plan that breaks from their own President, cutting an additional $1.2 trillion off the deficit. The Republican budget cuts $6.2 trillion, bringing spending to under 20 percent of our economy. The Republican plan proposes specific and responsible solutions to strengthen Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid. The President talks very vaguely about a plan to cut waste and streamline Medicare and Medicaid, proposing to create yet another unelected commission to solve all of our problems. We don't need more unelected bureaucrats in Washington, sir, enlarging the scope of government. That's not real leadership. The President tries to tax our way out of debt, placing the burden on those earning more than $100,000. But the problem, sir, is a simple one. If we were to tax these individuals 100 percent of their income, we still cannot cover our deficits this year alone. As a matter of fact, to tax our way out of debt, we would need to increase taxes across the board on every man, on every woman, and on every business by 60 percent. You simply cannot tax your way out of this debt. Imagine the effects this would have on our economy. The President's budget cuts $400 billion out of our military. In the time that he has led us into Libya, in the time that we have two conflicts going on, it cuts $400 billion away from the men and women who are fighting for freedom, dying for liberty. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the underlying resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 223 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Whereas, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Cailley Factor captured the first-place award at the state math competition MathFest and was named a national champion of Le Grand Concours 2010 national French competition; and Whereas, eight-year-old Cailley Factor compares competing in math to sports competitions because both require the same focus in order to win; and Whereas, a consistently superior math student, she took the top honors last year in the first-grade division, and this year her brother Memorable Factor followed in his sister's footsteps when he took first place in the same competition; and Whereas, for the first time in the six years of MathFest history, siblings became state winners in the same year when she and her brother took top honors for their respective grade levels; and Whereas, this year she earned the highest score in the United States for Le Grand Concours competing in the more difficult 3A category because she won the 1A in 2008, and once again her brother followed in her footsteps and took the top honors in 1A; and Whereas, fluent also in Mandarin and Spanish, she loves to speak French and would like to visit there again; and Whereas, the national French exam, consisting of oral and written portions, is given by the American Association of Teachers of French to over one hundred thousand French students in all fifty states and abroad; and Whereas, this year's South Carolina MathFest was held in Columbia, and four thousand math students from around the state competed in the state's competition of the national math contest; and Whereas, a group of elementary educators created MathFest in 2001 to provide an extended math initiative that would motivate students, parents, and teachers to raise the standards and expectations in math; and Whereas, the founder of MathFest, Dr. Ron Boykins, hopes to generate enthusiasm for math in the elementary years in order to provide students with necessary skills to compete in middle and high school; and Whereas, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pleased that ability and diligence have brought this success to Cailley Factor, and they are grateful for the pride and recognition she has brought to her family, her home school, and her community. Now, therefore, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Cailley Factor of Charleston, SC and congratulate her for winning first place in the second-grade division at the state MathFest competition and for being named a national champion of Le Grand Concours 2010 French competition. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Cailley Factor.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, to recognize and honor Memorable ``Mem'' Factor of Charleston, SC and to congratulate him for winning first place in the first grade division at the State MathFest competition and for being named a National Champion of Le Grand Concours 2010 French Competition. Whereas, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Memorable ``Mem'' Factor took first place honors at the State MathFest competition and was named a national champion of Le Grand Concours 2010 national French competition; and Whereas, six-year-old Mem Factor's two favorite activities are math and basketball, and he thinks ``being good at math is really cool''; and Whereas, he had very big shoes to fill at MathFest because last year's first grade winner was his sister Cailley Factor, and for the first time in the six years of the competition's history, siblings became State winners in the same year when his sister took top honors this year for the second grade; and Whereas, his sister also won a national first place in the 1A category of Le Grand Concours in 2008, and ``Mem'' followed her once again in the 1A category for children in the first through third grades by winning it this year; and Whereas, also fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, he earned the highest score in the United States in his category and says he loves everything French, especially the food; and Whereas, the national French exam, consisting of oral and written portions, is given by the American Association of Teachers of French to over one hundred thousand French students in all fifty States and abroad; and Whereas, this year's South Carolina MathFest was held in Columbia, and four thousand math students from around the State competed in the State's competition of the national math contest; and Whereas, a group of elementary educators created MathFest in 2001 to provide an extended math initiative that would motivate students, parents, and teachers to raise the standards and expectations in math; and Whereas, the founder of MathFest, Dr. Ron Boykins, hopes to generate enthusiasm for math in the elementary years in order to provide students with necessary skills to compete in middle and high school; and Whereas, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pleased that talent and hard work have brought this success to Mem Factor, and they are grateful for the pride and recognition he has brought to his home school and to his community. Now, therefore, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Memorable ``Mem'' Factor of Charleston, SC and congratulate him for winning first place in the first grade division at the State MathFest competition and for being named a national champion of Le Grand Concours 2010 French competition. Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Memorable ``Mem'' Factor.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia, my cousin, Mr. Scott.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Guinta).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 129 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lungren).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Nugent).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 129 provides for consideration of H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011. If you are looking for a prime example of government regulation which, first, is an unnecessary intrusion on small businesses, second, enlarges government bureaucracy at the expense of taxpayers and entrepreneurs, and, finally, creates a mountain of mind-numbing paperwork which has the net effect of killing jobs, then look no further. Section 9006 of the health reform bill does all of that by requiring businesses to report every expense that they incur over $600; not just wages to their employees, but even for payments to other businesses and for merchandise. Imagine, if you will, a small business that picks up a couple of dozen doughnuts from Krispy Kreme on a weekly basis. At the end of the year, they must send a 1099 to Krispy Kreme. Think about a small business owner, as I have been for the last 14 years, who buys stamps from the post office, and now you have to send a 1099 to the U.S. Post Office. What about if you buy a printer for your office or blinds for your office? Here comes more, another mountain of new paperwork. So now you're spending tax time preparing 1099s for Krispy Kreme, Office Depot, Walmart, Costco, Starbucks, and the list goes on and on. It's one thing for a large corporation with an in-house tax department. It's another thing completely for a small business which spends an average of $74 an hour--that's $74 an hour--on tax compliance, the most expensive paperwork burden that the Federal Government imposes on all small businesses. Then, to make matters worse, last year the President signed the Small Business Jobs Act, which expanded this onerous 1099 requirement to anyone who rents out property. How did this happen? Well, after the bill has been passed, we are learning more about it. We had a Congress that passed a bill through backroom deals shielded from the public view without reading them. The American people have seen what's in this bill, and they don't like it. They don't like it one bit. That's why they sent all of us to Congress, to repeal, to defund, and to dismantle the health care reform. My Republican colleagues voted to repeal this bill 245-189, with a 49-vote greater margin than the original vote to pass it. That is also why two Federal judges have already ruled that national health care reform is unconstitutional. And I am proud to be handling this rule on the House floor. H.R. 4 will remove an unnecessary burden from small businesses, so that instead of creating 1099s for their expenditures, they can create W-4s when they hire new employees. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot today about the cost and about taxes, about tax increases. We must be working from very different mathematical systems. They keep saying that we are raising taxes, and there is nothing further from the truth than the statements I have heard from the left. You have consistently posed a question that all of America needs an answer to: Is this in fact a tax increase? Well, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, this is in fact a net tax cut of over $20 billion over the next 10 years, and it will reduce the deficit by $166 million over the same period of time. Let's also keep in mind that these cost savings come from the government recouping money that the recipients should not have gotten in the first place. That is not a tax increase. Let me say it one more time: that is not a tax increase. If we were looking for the way to actually get rid of this problem, there is a simple way to do that: let's repeal the entire health care law. Because the problem that we see today comes in the package of the health care law itself. So consistent with reality is the fact that the Democrats have put us in this position. So we are working in a bipartisan fashion through the 1099 repeal to eliminate this problem. Finally, we should all bear in mind that while this resolution is a closed rule, the opposition was offered an opportunity to submit a substitute bill. They declined. We have also expanded debate to 2\1/2\ hours.

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rigell).

Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada, Dr. Heck.