Pat Tiberi

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the life and achievements of the late Command Sergeant Major Jake Brewer. Throughout the entirety of his life, CSM Brewer epitomized the American spirit and exceptionalism. He committed himself and his career to this nation. His love of country and pursuit of helping others made him a beloved figure around central Ohio. CSM Brewer, a two-war veteran who earned a bronze star for valor, served this nation valiantly during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II as a combat medic and was wounded fighting in Korea. His role in these historic conflicts represented a foreshadowing of his life's mission. Akin to the way he aided others on the battlefield in Europe and Korea, CSM Brewer went on to become a famed veterans' advocate in central Ohio. During his stellar career serving veterans, CSM Brewer held many influential positions and acquired many distinct honors and accolades. He was a state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and executive director of the United Service Organization (USO) of Central and Southern Ohio. Quite fittingly, the USO lounge at Port Columbus bears his name. Also, he helped construct the Military Veterans Education Foundation which assists in running Columbus' Veterans Day Parade and Armed Forces Luncheon. In my opinion, Jake was a human being of immeasurable quality, one who possessed a winning character and benevolent nature. I and many other Ohioans were proud to have known him. After 87 years of life, Jake Brewer recently passed away leaving a legacy of unwavering service to his country and to central Ohio. In light of his contributions and service, I believe he remains worthy of immense respect and admiration. He will be a sorely missed member of our community and his influence will resonate for years to come.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 523, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that Congressman Bill Pascrell and I rise on behalf of the Italian American Delegation to honor the 150th year of Italian Unification. On March 17th, 2011 the Republic of Italy celebrates their 150th year of unification throughout Italy and across the United States with a series of activities turning 2011 into an ``Italian Year.'' 150 years ago the Risorgimento gave birth to modern Italy, preserving the ideals of western civilization: the protection of the rights, freedoms, and liberty of individuals. Much of what we are as Americans and what we believe in has roots in Italy. As long time allies, we share a unique partnership in the arts, sciences and politics. Our friendship is strengthened through our common values and historical ties. It has been shaped through the ideas and contributions of great figures like Andrea Palladio and Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Gaetano Filangieri, Giuseppe Garibaldi and Abraham Lincoln. As co-chairs of the Italian-American delegation, we are proud to represent millions of Americans who like ourselves, are of Italian descent. Our ancestors have brought proud traditions of service with them to the United States. We still share those values today and with assistance from many Italian-American community organizations we continue to pass these traditions onto future generations. As President Kennedy stated during the Centennial celebration of Italian Unification, ``We have the old and the new bound together and inextricably linked, Italy and the United States, past, present and we believe, future.'' We proudly recognize and celebrate this 150th anniversary of Italian Unification and the continued friendship between the United States and Italy.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to recognize the efforts of the National Ground Water Association (NGWA), which is headquartered in my district in Westerville, Ohio. NGWA is sponsoring National Ground Water Awareness Week which began on March 6. Each year, this event puts the national spotlight on a critically important issue, the preservation and protection of groundwater for human and environmental purposes. National Ground Water Awareness Week is the pinnacle of NGWA's year- round effort to educate the public about proper groundwater and water well stewardship. For private household well owners, stewardship includes regularly testing their well water quality and treating it if necessary. An estimated 95 percent of America's available fresh water is in the form of groundwater. NGWA is a nonprofit organization composed of more than 12,000 U.S. and international groundwater professionals--contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers--is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA's vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water. Association members will be using Ground Water Awareness Week to participate in a variety of activities and events. I want to thank them for their efforts to preserve, protect and safely utilize this most valuable resource.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the life and achievements of the late Mr. Alex A. Boudreaux. A member of World War II's illustrious Tuskegee Airmen, Mr. Boudreaux was also believed to be the nation's first black civilian air-traffic controller, dedicating three decades of his life to Port Columbus. Alex Boudreaux first fell in love with aviation while growing up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He left college after two years during World War II to join the Army Air Corps training program. After the Tuskegee program ended, Mr. Boudreaux received training in air-traffic controlling. Although he never flew with the Air Corps, he continued to pursue his passion for flying and earned his civilian pilot's license. Following the war he commenced working as an air-traffic controller at Rickenbacker Air Force Base and went on to serve Port Columbus for 30 years before retiring in 1977. Mr. Boudreaux acquired many distinct honors and accolades throughout his impressive time on this planet and always remained active in his community. He was a great supporter of numerous veteran organizations such as the Tuskegee Airmen Association and Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio. He also devoted much of his time to the Columbus Urban League, YMCA and Knights of Columbus. In 2007, he was among 330 Tuskegee Airmen presented with the Congressional Gold Medal from President George W. Bush. The story of the famed Tuskegee Airmen is one worthy of immense respect. The many tales of courage and patriotism exhibited by men such as Alex Boudreaux during America's efforts to defeat the Axis powers make up a truly remarkable contribution to U.S. history. Alex Boudreaux's commitment to his country, the famed Tuskegee Airman, and central Ohio was eclipsed only by his passion and dedication for his family. He left behind a loving family spanning three generations including four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. After 90 years of life, Alex Boudreaux recently passed away leaving a legacy of unwavering service to his country and to central Ohio. In light of his contributions and service, I believe he deserves great respect and admiration. He will be a sorely missed member of the central Ohio community and his influence will be felt for years to come.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the underlying bill today, which goes a long way toward job creation. Jobs, jobs, jobs. We heard about that in the November election. We heard about the fact that small business owners, in particular, were going to be hampered by a provision, by actually two provisions: one provision in the health care bill that appears that everyone now seems to be opposed to but that the majority voted for; and then another provision that appeared in a bill in September of 2010 that even went further than the underlying provision in the health care bill, which applied to folks who own rental property or to someone who has a vacation home or to somebody who has retail property that he's leasing out or to somebody who is leasing out a room in his home. Suddenly, now we're going to require them to 1099 folks as well. What an amazing provision that passed in September of 2010. The bill corrects that. The bill corrects both aspects. I heard this over and over during my campaign. Think about this: Bob Roach, an independent insurance agent, goes out to Staples and buys paper. He's going to have to 1099 Staples. He goes to a hardware store to fix something in his office. He's going to have to 1099 the hardware store. It goes on and on and on. When a law-abiding small business owner--maybe a sole proprietor--now is being made the person who has to go out and be an extension of the IRS, it is truly amazing. Then the pay-for is requiring people who get more than they're entitled to to pay it back--what a novel concept--with no penalties, no interest. Just pay back something that they're not entitled to. Now, I was talking to my immigrant dad and immigrant mom about this. My dad has a sixth grade education, and my mom has an eighth grade education. They were, first of all, quite surprised by the fact that a family of four, making $88,000 a year, would get a subsidy. My mom and dad dreamed of making $88,000. They never came close to it--but they're middle class, and they're not looking for a subsidy, and they certainly would pay it back if they got more than they were entitled to. Madam Speaker, this is about fairness. This is about jobs. This is about equity. This is about moving our economy forward. This is about law-abiding citizens not becoming extensions of the IRS. You're either for them or against them. I urge support of the bill.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize the life and achievements of Mr. Richard J. Solove. I was proud to know Richard Solove for more than 25 years; and I was proud to call Dick my friend. Richard J. Solove's name is well known in Central Ohio and in the health care community, but his incredible life story of generosity and compassion may not be as commonly known. The Ohio State University's renowned Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute that bears his name is where doctors perform groundbreaking research in the fight against cancer. Richard Solove was inspired by his father's battle with cancer and later his sister's to help bring about a cure for cancer and provide cancer patients with the very best care. A pharmacist by training, Mr. Solove had a vision to help create a state-of-the-art cancer research and care facility at his alma mater, The Ohio State University. His donation of $20 million, the largest private donation The Ohio State University Medical Center had ever received, is helping make his vision a reality. According to the Columbus Dispatch, ``Dr. Michael Caligiuri, director of the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center called Solove a hero for his passion, drive, tenacity, and vision . . .,'' while OSU President E. Gordon Gee said ``Solove was among the university's most-generous alumni and that he created an `enduring legacy' in working to find a cure for cancer.'' His generosity didn't end with the one-time donation; he gave a total of $27 million to the Medical Center. He served as the board chairman of the James Cancer Hospital's Research Institute Foundation from 1989-1994 and remained on the board until his death last month at the age of 85. Quite literally, thousands of lives have been touched by Mr. Solove. His commitment to fighting cancer nearly matched his devotion to Central Ohio. He had the foresight to envision the growth and expansion of this region back in the 1960s. Ending his career as a pharmacist, he began to develop shopping centers, office buildings and apartment buildings as I-270 was being built. Growing his business, R.J. Solove and Associates, and creating Columbus Realty Investments, his 500 employees now stretch across seven states. He played a major role in developing Central Ohio's economy, leaving his footprint on the region for decades to come. The son of Russian immigrants, a graduate of Columbus Public Schools and The Ohio State University, Richard Solove was also a son of Ohio. He lived the American dream and his legacy will be felt for years to come.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, I rise in favor of this bill to repeal the government health care law that was passed in 2009. This issue was front and center of my campaign, as I am sure it was in many of the campaigns of the people in this body today. Most of my constituents in central Ohio opposed the 2,000-page bill that became law, and are just beginning to find out what's in it. Sure, they knew about some of the good things like dealing with preexisting conditions, which most of us on this side of the aisle support doing something with as well. But they didn't know about the medicine cabinet tax, for instance. That's right, flexible savings account changes. No more over-the-counter medicines for moms who are buying that infant Motrin for their babies. And next year, a cap of $2,500 for that flexible savings account. They didn't know about the health savings account withdrawal tax that will impact many Americans across our country. A majority of my constituents want a patient-centered approach, not a government-centered approach; an approach where doctors and nurses are at the center of the process, not government bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. In addition, Madam Speaker, a third of my seniors who are on Medicare Advantage like the health care they have. Apparently, they won't be able to keep it under this provision of the law. So, today we have an opportunity, and the debate is over whether we change what we have, repeal it and replace it with something better, something that is patient centered and patient focused.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson and pray with all of us for them and their families. This senseless tragedy has struck at the very foundation of the United States of America, attacking a representative to Congress, a congressional staffer, innocent bystanders in front of a grocery store. But there were heroes who showed up that day: the intern, Daniel Hernandez, who came to Gabrielle Giffords' aid; the witnesses who immediately tried to help those who were injured; the civilians who bravely stopped the shooter from injuring and inflicting more harm on others; the emergency room personnel; the emergency personnel overall whose decisive action saved other lives. These are the true examples of the spirit of what America is all about. It's important to remember that this was an outrageous act by a deranged individual. Despite all the talk about tone and rhetoric, it's important to remember that we all on this House floor can disagree without being disagreeable. The fact is that as public officials, Madam Speaker, being accessible to the public is an important part of our jobs, and we cannot let this tragedy stop us from doing our important work. We are Members of the people's House, and the minute we start separating ourselves from the people is the minute that we weaken our Republic. The events in Tucson remind us how fragile our lives are. We pray again for the victims and their families, and we remember what really matters and that civility should rule the day.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Chairman, what an honor and privilege it is to be a Member of this House, and what an amazement it is to me to hear this debate that I have heard so much in the past. The road to prosperity is not through tax increases. The road to prosperity in America is not through class warfare. My mother and father came to an America, a United States of America, for a better life, for an opportunity--not a guarantee, an opportunity, for their kids to be successful, for their kids to do well and pay taxes and do well for their kids. When you're voting on a bill tonight that extends current tax rates, the current Tax Code that represents, Mr. Chairman, three-quarters of this bill, that represents three-quarters of the, quote, spending in this bill, and Members of this body say we have to borrow to allow people to keep the money that they earned, where have we come? My father was a steelworker who loved John F. Kennedy, who proposed similar types of tax increases. My mother was a seamstress. Neither graduated from high school. They don't believe in class warfare. Do they support all of this bill? Certainly not. Do I? Certainly not. But the question now, Mr. Chairman, is: Do we allow, on January 1, the largest tax increase in American history? That's the question. I didn't negotiate this bill. If I were king, I would have certainly negotiated it differently. Only in Washington, D.C., can people keep what they have today and not pay more taxes does it cost the government money. Think about the farmer who is sick, who is trying to plan his estate. And would I support permanency in the estate tax? Absolutely. And let's eliminate it. But if this bill doesn't pass, a $1 million exemption occurs for that sick farmer trying to plan his estate. Will he have to sell his land, Mr. Chairman? How about the single mom with two jobs trying to provide for her two kids? Her taxes will go up. How about the teacher and the police officer raising a family? The marriage penalty. How about the small business owner who pulled me aside on Wednesday and said: I can't even plan my business. I'd like to hire somebody. And you folks in Washington have known for how long that these tax rates were going to go up? Last year, the majority party had 60 votes in the Senate, had a clear majority in the House. You could have passed something. And here we are, 15 days before Christmas, and the Grinch is about ready to steal it for so many Americans who will see their taxes go up, Mr. Chairman, if this bill isn't passed. Now, there are a lot of things in this bill that I don't like. But the question today, Mr. Chairman, is: Do we let the perfect be the enemy of the good? I could sit up here and pick apart pieces of this legislation. But when three-fourths of this is the current Tax Code, three-fourths of this allows for the current rates to continue so taxes don't go up on millions and millions of Americans, Mr. Chairman, it really comes down to this simple logic: We cannot tax our way to prosperity. We cannot tax our way to fiscal responsibility. We must pass this bill and give 2 years for this Congress, this President, this Senate to come up with a better way, a more simple way to tax Americans; allow them to keep more of their money; provide for a way for capital to work in America's favor and allow America to be more competitive again, with a Tax Code that makes sense. But the question today is: Do we allow taxes to go up, or do we allow Americans to have some certainty for the next 2 years?

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as was just said, regulated investment companies, better known as mutual funds to most Americans and to us, are intended to provide individual investors the ability to invest easily and with low cost in a diversified pool of professionally managed investments, and they have worked. In fact, according to the Investment Company Institute, the largest trade association for mutual funds, as Chairman Neal said, more than 50 million American families currently invest in mutual funds. Most of the current laws that mutual funds have to deal with have not been comprehensively updated for more than two decades. In fact, H.R. 4337 would modify and update certain technical tax rules pertaining to mutual funds. These changes will allow mutual funds to better conform to and interact with other aspects of the Tax Code and security laws. As Chairman Neal said, we had a wonderful hearing where every single person who testified agreed to the changes in the underlying piece of legislation. It was passed in this House unanimously after that hearing this last summer. Every witness was supportive, and no opposition came before us with respect to the legislation. It was passed in the Senate last week by unanimous consent, with one change. My hope is today, Chairman Levin, Chairman Neal, Madam Speaker, that this House will once again vote for this underlying piece of legislation with the one change and send it on to the President. Let's make this change, and let's give American mutual fund investors some certainty into the future. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Bishop Hartley High School football team. I am proud to recognize a school that not only excels in academics but also distinguishes itself on the football field. The Bishop Hartley football team is the 2010 Ohio Division IV state champions. The Hawks' victory in the championship game capped a successful season. Led by head coach, Brad Burchfield, Bishop Hartley finished the season with a 34-13 win over Chagrin Falls, making this the Hawks' first championship win since 1986. The entire Bishop Hartley community should be proud of this momentous occasion. I offer my congratulations to Coach Burchfield, Principal Michael Winters, the Hawks football team, students and supporters. I know each one of them will treasure the memories of their championship season and I commend them for this truly great achievement.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, with great pleasure I rise to recognize the distinguished career of my constituent, Major General Gregory Wayt on his upcoming retirement from the Ohio National Guard. The inception of the National Guard dates back over 370 years. Since its origin as colonial militias, the National Guard has protected our nation, has participated in every armed military engagement, and has responded to natural disasters and local emergencies. Guardsman, activated by the state or federal government, respond to protect our citizens. This commitment by National Guardsmen has been vital to the security of our country and the preservation of our liberties. This incredibly important branch of our armed forces' dedication to freedom and safety extends not only to our citizenry but to many around the world. Major General Gregory Wayt has served in the United States armed forces for 35 years. Throughout his career, MG Wayt has earned many accolades and achievements for his supreme leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to the guard. Since his appointment as Adjutant General of Ohio's 17,000 guardsmen and women in 2004, the Ohio Guard has received national recognition for its professionalism and for the commitment of its war fighters. Truly, they have lived up to their motto: ``When called, we will respond with ready units!'' The success and outstanding reputation of the Ohio National Guard reflects MG Wayt's caliber of leadership. His long and illustrious career serving our great state and nation will be remembered. I am proud to recognize the achievements of such a fine American. Once again, congratulations to Major General Gregory L. Wayt on his retirement from the Ohio National Guard. He has left an outstanding legacy. On behalf of the citizens of the 12th Congressional District of Ohio, please accept our gratitude for many years of service and sacrifice.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the retirement of Mr. John Callender from the Ohio Hospital Association. His August 30, 2010 retirement marked thirty years of service. John is a native of St. Joseph, Michigan and a graduate of Michigan State University. Prior to his work at the Ohio Hospital Association, John worked at the Health Care Financing Administration, within the Department of Health and Human Services for ten years. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1977. During his tenure, the Ohio Hospital Association has benefited from John's hard work and institutional knowledge. He oversaw activities for all fiscal matters affecting Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance. John was also responsible for maintaining professional relationships with Congress and the executive branch, managing the Hospital Care Assurance Program, the Data Services Program, and chairing the Ohio Hospital Association's Center for Education. He served as chair of Ohio Hospital Capital, OHA Solutions and the Ohio Health Council. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the American Society of Association Executives. I am honored to have this opportunity to recognize John for his dedication and achievements during his thirty years of service. I wish John and his wife, Betty, all the best. I am confident John will continue his good works and find happiness in the years ahead.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. TIBERI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. TIBERI. I thank the gentleman from Tennessee as well for being here on the floor to recognize that 50 years ago, in fact, this week, President Eisenhower signed into law legislation that created real estate investment trusts, or REITs, as the gentleman said, which are investment vehicles that have allowed millions and millions of Americans expanded opportunities to invest in commercial real estate. Mr. Speaker, while we take for granted that middle class investors and middle class Americans across our country have the opportunity to invest in commercial real estate, it is important to note that prior to 1960 it was only large financial institutions and wealthy Americans who had the means to do so. Over the last 50 years, REITs have greatly expanded that opportunity by allowing investors of all income levels to buy publicly traded, regulated shares of these commercial real estate investment vehicles. REITs haven't just allowed middle class Americans to diversify their investment portfolios. They have also helped build our local communities--a true win-win situation. Indeed, over the last five decades, these investment vehicles have helped finance important commercial real estate projects in every one of our congressional districts across our country--from hotels to shopping malls, to hospitals, to office parks. In fact, in my congressional district, I am honored to have a number of important entities that are REITs, that truly people in our district don't even realize are real estate investment trusts, which, collectively, employ thousands of central Ohioans. Fifty years after enactment, REITs remain an important part of our Tax Code. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill with Congressman Levin and Congressman Camp, the lead sponsors; and I am pleased to be part of this resolution of recognizing their 50-year anniversary. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the creation of real estate investment trusts and congratulate the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts on 50 years of service to their membership. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) opened the door for all investors to participate in large-scale commercial real estate investments. Prior to the passage of tax law in 1960 that provided for the establishment of REITs, this opportunity was generally available only to large financial institutions and wealthy individuals through direct investment in the real estate. Today, REITs own approximately $500 billion of commercial real estate assets and 132 REITs are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Last year, REITs paid out approximately $13.5 billion in dividends. This access to publically traded and regulated securities has expanded investment and diversification opportunities for millions of Americans and provided more options as they plan and invest for their retirement security. REITs have become an important piece of the U.S economy and investment markets, and I congratulate the industry on their 50th anniversary.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure I rise to recognize the 100th birthday of the Ohio Association of REALTORS (OAR). Home ownership stands as a hallmark of the American way of life, and, for millions of working families throughout this nation's history, owning a home comprises a large part of achieving the American dream. At the core of this promise is the industry which helps make this dream a reality. Realtors serve a vital role in the healthy propagation of homeownership; therefore, those who contribute to the furtherance of this profession are deserving of our thanks and recognition. The Ohio Association of REALTORS was created to help protect the investment Americans place in their homes, and for 100 years this fine organization has served with distinction. Where homeownership flourishes neighborhoods prosper, as residents are more civic-minded, schools stronger and streets safer. For 100 years, the Ohio Association of REALTORS has worked to emphasize the value of home ownership and other property ownerships as well as property improvement across the state. Moreover, the OAR actively promotes a sense of civic responsibility and volunteerism with its over 35,000 members, while also pushing members to adhere to the National Association of REALTORS' stringent Code of Ethics. Through commendable love of our community and fidelity to their craft, OAR serves a vital need in the state of Ohio. Therefore, in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Ohio Association of REALTORS and in honor of all those individuals who serve their community as a realtor, I am proud to offer this recognition. As a former realtor, I am especially pleased to honor this fine organization for its service to our great state and the realty community.

Mr. TIBERI

Mr. TIBERI. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. TIBERI. Just last week, back in central Ohio, as we were home during the Memorial Day recess week, I convened a meeting--and I'm a former Realtor, a recovering Realtor. We had real estate folks on the commercial real estate side. We had small businesses. We had business or building managers, building owners and managers and bankers in the meeting. To your point, they said that the commercial real estate market, if Congress doesn't deal with this issue soon, is going to make the housing meltdown look like minor league compared to what could happen on the commercial real estate side, not just in Ohio but across the country. This is happening very, very soon. As we deal with this financial regulatory bill that is coming soon, which is in conference committee today, that could actually add to this problem by restraining credit and by creating a bigger problem with respect to access to capital. In this Congress today, with the majority, we are really heading for a disaster of epic proportions if we don't deal with this. So I am pleased that Representative Minnick is on the case. I am pleased that you are on the case, and I hope that some folks can get to the leadership on the Democratic side to actually do something about this before it is too late. I yield back.

Mr. TIBERI. Well, I thank the gentleman. You know, the bottom line is there are a lot of people in our State that are hurting. There are a lot of people in Ohio that would like a job. There are a lot of people in Michigan that would like a job. Looking back over the last year, we have spent a lot of time on energy and cap-and-trade and health care and stimulus. And the bottom line is, ever since we spent that time, more and more people in Ohio and Michigan are out of work. We have record unemployment, record unemployment going back to when I was in high school back in the early 1980s, with no end in sight. And then, on top of that, we have tax increases coming. We have spending out of control. We have spending that is higher than I've ever seen. Even the high spending that we thought we saw a couple of years ago is minor league compared to the spending today. And Americans are getting it. And all the time that we've spent on the legislation that you've talked about that is not really important in people's lives is starting to penetrate to the American people, to Ohioans and to Michiganders, that we need to be tackling some of these tough issues. How do you tackle these tough issues, sir, without passing a budget? And that's the bottom line.

Mr. TIBERI. Well, I thank the gentleman from northeastern Ohio and the Cleveland suburbs in Lake County for organizing this hour today, and I think you've really hit on some of the important points. When you kind of go back over a year ago when the stimulus bill was passed by the majority, the Speaker said that unemployment wouldn't go above 8 percent. Boy, it would be nice to see unemployment at 8 percent in Ohio at this time, wouldn't it? It would be nice to see unemployment at 8 percent in my district. It would be nice to see 8 percent unemployment in your district. It would be nice to see unemployment even close to 8 percent nationally, and we don't see that today. In fact, as someone who has a father factoring the last time unemployment was above 8 percent, which was in the early 1980s--he lost his job and lost his pension, and we lost our health care--it's kind of deja vu all over again. Rather than try to focus on those issues, we have spent a whole lot of time on issues that don't employ people, that don't make a difference in people's lives. Maybe they are important, but not as important as dealing with the nuts-and-bolts issues that you've talked about tonight. I mean, if you can't budget, you can't govern, one man said, who is now the chairman of the Budget Committee from South Carolina. If you can't budget, you can't govern. Maybe you've already said this, but, since 1974, the House has never passed a budget. This year, the Democratic majority is not going to pass a budget in this House of Representatives. If you can't pass a budget, you can't govern. By the way, for the 6 years that I was in the majority here, we didn't have a 78-Member majority like the Democrats do today. This is unbelievable. I was knocking on doors in my district in central Ohio and in Columbus on Saturday. Americans are mad and they are struggling. They are scared and they are concerned. Those who have the ability to expand their businesses--and there are some employers, job creators who have the ability--are frightened. They are frightened. I don't know if you talked about this before I came. They are frightened at the prospects of higher taxes. They are frightened at the prospects of more regulation. So what are they doing? They are kind of retracting and are not doing what they could be doing, which is creating jobs, obviously. Rather than being on the floor here to honor somebody who is going to have a courthouse named after him, which might be worthy, let's focus on these issues that you've talked about that are vitally important. We have an election in 5 months. Between now and then, nobody who I talked to in central Ohio who is a job creator, who is an entrepreneur, who is a risk-taker, is willing to take that risk based upon what they see coming out of this Congress. So the gentleman from northeastern Ohio is correct in saying that it is not the roadmap that we need to be on to make our economy better in the greatest country in the world. We have too much debt, too many taxes, and too much spending. What we need to be doing is just the opposite of what the majority is doing today. I yield back.

Mr. TIBERI. Well, I thank the gentleman for yielding on this matter and for bringing this up because we've spent a lot of hours on issues right behind you that are not life-or-death issues. Just a couple weeks ago, we spent less than an hour on an issue that deals with tax increases for people who own partnerships. Quite honestly, the way the majority sold it was we're going to tax people who are hedge fund partners. Yet the reality is, if you look at what the Congressional Budget Office said, in going back to your point about commercial real estate, the U.S. Conference of Mayors expressed grave concern about what the majority Democratic Party was doing with respect to carried interest. Real estate partnerships are the most impacted group, and we're going to take their real estate partnership and go from 15 percent to ordinary income. So, next year, which is what you just said based upon the tax cuts expiring, the marginal rates going up, the rate increase and the payroll tax for health care, you're going to see a huge increase in people who invest in our cities, in commercial real estate. At the same time that this problem is going to occur that you've already explained, you're going to see tax increases from 15 percent to over 40 percent for some people. What the Conference of Mayors understands, which is not exactly a conservative group in any way, shape or form, is that, if you're going to increase taxes on people who invest in our cities from 15 percent to over 40 percent, they're not going to invest in our cities. This is a huge impact, even before those tax cuts expire at the end of this year. What will happen next year is we're going to see capital gains rates go up. We're going to see dividends go up. We're going to see marginal rates go up--close to 40 percent for the top tax group. As the gentleman from northeastern Ohio knows, before all of these tax rates go up, we have already seen 53 percent of Americans today pay Federal income tax. There are 47 percent of Americans who don't, and that is going to get worse when these tax cuts expire. So you are close to a situation where you have more people actually in the wagon than are pulling the wagon rather than people pulling the wagon than are in the wagon. This is not a good situation for America. My mom and dad came to America for a better life, for the American Dream, for an opportunity, and that is slowly slipping away for so many people under this Democratic majority where it's class warfare every step of the way. When these tax cuts expire, it's more of that class warfare--the haves versus the have-nots--and it's a bad, bad recipe for the future of America if we continue this class warfare argument, whether it's on income, whether it's on capital gains and dividends, whether it's targeting the job creators and the entrepreneurs versus the people in America who aren't.