House Proceeding 06-24-09 on Jun 24th, 2009 :: 3:13:10 to 3:17:50
Total video length: 4 hours 55 minutes Stream Tools: Stream Overview | Edit Time

Note: MetaVid video transcripts may contain inaccuracies, help us build a more perfect archive

Views:21 Duration: 0:04:40 Discussion

Previous speech:

Next speech:

3:13:07 to 3:13:28( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: observatory. erbil congress passes designates funding. we have to be fiscally responsible -- the chair: the gentleman's time has expired. the gentleman from arizona. mr. flake: i'm a slow learner. let me remind the gentleman, this district, harris county, received $1 million when they aplide for the funding, before

3:13:10 to 3:17:50( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jeff Flake

3:13:29 to 3:13:50( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: the earmarks started, two years ago. last year -- three years ago. two years ago got $1 million earmark, one year ago got a $1 million earmark, and this year

3:13:51 to 3:14:13( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: asking for another $1 million earmark. yet we had a member from texas stand up and ask money to be moved to the predisaster mitigation account because he couldn't get funding in his district. because a quarter of the funding is gone before he applies. i already explained the spoil system that's here and nobody has taken me up on the offer,

3:14:14 to 3:14:34( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: i'll yield time to anybody that can tell me mother nature targets districts represented by appropriaters. >> i'll happily take your challenge and debate it with you. mr. flake: i know better. i urge adoption of the amendment. we have to be more fiscally responsible and have a system

3:14:35 to 3:14:55( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: at fema based on ris and merit rather than spoils. this is a system based on spoils right new. that's why the dppings of the amendment should be done. i yield back. the chair: the question son the amendment offered by the gentleman from arizona. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chair,

3:14:56 to 3:15:16( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: the noes have it. the amendment is not agreed. to the gentleman from arizona. mr. flake: i ask for a recorded vote. the chair: pursuant to clause 6 of -- clause 6 of rule 18, further proceed option the amendment of the gentleman will be postponed. for what purpose does the gentleman rise? mr. flake: i have an amendment

3:15:17 to 3:15:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: at the desk. with regard to hometown security. the chair: the clerk will designate amendment number two. the chair: part c, amendment number two, offered by mr. flake of arizona. the chair: pursuant to house resolution 573, the gentleman from arizona, mr. flake, and a member opposed will each

3:15:39 to 3:16:00( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: the chair recognizes the gentleman from arizona. mr. flake: this amendment would remove $10 million in funding for the national institute for homeland security based in some every set, kentucky and reduce the overall cost of the bill by a commensurate amount. this is not the first time i've brought this earmark to the floor. this earmark is always noticeable if for nothing else

3:16:01 to 3:16:21( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: than the cost compared to most earmarks in the bill. this is one of the largest eaarks we have in the homeland security bill year after year. this year it costs taxpayers $10 million and this would be the lowest delaffer amount the institute has received since its creation in 2004. according national institute for homeland

3:16:22 to 3:16:44( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: serity is an independent, nonprofit corporation designed to allow universities in kentucky to, quote, more effectively compete for research funds aimed at improving homeland security, unquote. it says the institute's end goal is to match up low sal universities with projects, then commercialize the resulting project. madam chairman, we all know congress has a problem with

3:16:45 to 3:17:06( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: spending overall. i mean, we have $7.87 billion stimulus pack. we had a massive omnibus appropriations bill. we've had numerous bailouts of private companies. now we're facing nearly $2 trillion in deficits just this year when i came to this body eight years ago, our total budget was

3:17:07 to 3:17:27( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: around $2 trillion. now we'll have a deficit by that same amount. yet here we are, funding a nonprofit organization, which again, according to its own website apparently would not exist without the assistance of congress. and it seems that the purpose of this center is to attract other earmarks.

3:17:28 to 3:17:48( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: it's an institute that seems to be -- to beget other earmarks. i simply don't think we can continueo do this. since it was created, the institute received $700 million in taxpayer funding, 2k4r0rs million in 2006 and 2007. $11 million in 2008 and 2009. when will this end?

3:17:49 to 3:17:51( Edit History Discussion )

Jeff Flake: when will we say enough is enough?