House Proceeding 09-25-09 on Sep 25th, 2009 :: 0:16:10 to 0:24:20
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0:16:06 to 0:16:27( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: reservatins about some of the procedure involving this bill. but because of the fact we discussed so much of that on the rule i choose to submit my -- the balance my statement for the record and revise and extend my remarks. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, so ordered. who seeks to yield time? the gentlewoman from florida. ms. wasserman schultz: madam speaker, i yield such time as

0:16:10 to 0:24:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: David R. Obey

0:16:28 to 0:16:48( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: he may consume to the gentleman from wisconsin, mr. obey. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from wisconsin is recognized. mr. obey: i thank the gentlewoman for the time. madam speaker, our principal obligation on this bill is simply to keep the government open. we've got enough problems in the economy right now without adding to people's uncertainty.

0:16:49 to 0:17:09( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: we had concluded that the least disruptive way to do that and the way with the least dey was to attach this continuing resolution to the one appropriation bill that was ready to be conferenced, the legislative branch appropriation bill. this is a relatively straightforward and unadorned

0:17:10 to 0:17:30( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: c.r. as far as funding levels are concerned. we're simply allowing agencies to continue fiscal 2009 levels with three exceptions. first, we are following the house's lead when it voted 388-32 to allow the postal service to cover a budget shortfall by postponing a

0:17:31 to 0:17:51( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: pa retiree health benefits. second, we're funding the census at a somewhat higher rate to allow it to ramp up activities so the 2010 census can proceed. the calendar is not going to change to suit congressional convenience. third, we're providing additional funding for the

0:17:52 to 0:18:13( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: veterans health care administration, the v.a. expects to cheat over six million patients in 2010, including almost 420,000 veterans of iraq and afghanistan. . the c.r. also authorizes other programs that would expire. child nutrition stop loss,

0:18:14 to 0:18:35( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: payments to our troops, and e-verify and other programs. as i said this is a relatively routine c.r. which keeps the government opened for the next 30 days. outside of those items, we make no policyjudgments. we change no existing policy except that in accordance with the house vote last week, we

0:18:36 to 0:18:56( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: also say no more funds for this 30-day period for acorn. there have been some objections by the minority to this process. procedurally outrageous because we are attaching the continuing resolution to a specific appropriation subcommittee bill.

0:18:57 to 0:19:19( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: this is certainly not out of the ordinary. in fact, in september of 2006, our friends on the her side of the aisle when they controlled this house attached the continuing resolution to the defense bill. i have the roll call on that if anyone cares to take a look at it. if you do, you would find out

0:19:20 to 0:19:40( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: that we are only two members of the other party who voted against it, and in the senate the vote was 1000 ---100-0 in support of it. there is no difference in what we are doing today but there is a difference in how we do t we

0:19:41 to 0:20:01( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: are up front with what ware doing. we included this action in the conference notes and voted on it in the conference. that was certainly not the case in 2006 when the action adding the c.r. was not flagged or noticed in any way during the conference or in the conference notes. i have a copy of those

0:20:02 to 0:20:22( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: conference notes here if anyone wishes to see them. so the action that was taken then was simply taken after the fact in contrast to our doing it up front in full view. so i believe that in comparison to that, this actions certainly totally transparent. now i need to take this

0:20:23 to 0:20:44( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: opportunity to note one oer point. until last night we were not in a position to move other appropriation bills because of a dispute between the house and the senate over how to deal with for-profit earmarks. as i think the membership knows, we have put in place significant reforms to the earmark process

0:20:45 to 0:21:05( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: in the last few years. when we took over control of the congress in 2007, we put in place a moratorium on earmarks for that year until we could reform the process and make it much less susceptible to wasting taxpayers' money. since then, included -- including this year's bills we

0:21:06 to 0:21:28( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: have cut the dollar amount of earmarks by 50%. we require every member to request earmarks publicly, ending the practice of anonymous earmarks in the house and to certify that they have no financial interest. this year we have gone one step further recognizing the potential for abuse in sole

0:21:29 to 0:21:49( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: source contracting, we insisted that all house earmarks designated for-profit enties must undergo a competitive bidding process. we still allow those entities to be named so we can help, for instance, small businesses get a foot in the door, so that they can be noticed by federal

0:21:50 to 0:22:10( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: agencies which al too often simply notice people with whom they are familiar in their inside processes. but we nonetheless require that those entities still submit a bid and compete in a fair competion. the senate did not do that this year, and up until last night was objecting to even allowing

0:22:11 to 0:22:31( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: the house to follow this poly. last night we reached an agreement that will allow us to proceed with house earmarks subject to that new policy. there is still one small area of disagreement that remains. ere are a number of small -- there are a small number of projects, approximately 5%, that have been included in both the

0:22:32 to 0:22:52( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: house and senate bills. until last night, the other body was refusing to allow those to be competed. under the agreement we reached this year and this year only, those projects will be dealt with according to senate policy. next year and thereafter they will be managed by house policy

0:22:53 to 0:23:13( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: so they, too, will subjected to competition next year. we reached this agreement because the other body insisted that because they had proceed all year under their policies, it was too late to change the rules of the game for them. we recognize that changing policies at this point would have been a procedural problem

0:23:14 to 0:23:34( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: for the other body. we do appreciate their agreement that starting next year we can all agree on how to handle for-profit projects and that they will be handled in accordance with the house procedures. this will enable us to now proceed to conference on a number of other appropriation

0:23:35 to 0:23:55( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: bills which have been passed by the senate. we have had a motion to go to conference on energy and water. we expect next week after two small matters are resolved to also be able to go to conference on the agriculture bill. and we hope that within a week we will be able to resolve a few

0:23:56 to 0:24:16( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: remaining differences on the homeland security bill and also go to conference on that and other bills as the senate grinds through them in their processes. so having reported that to the house, i would simply urge an aye vote for the legislation

0:24:17 to 0:24:20( Edit History Discussion )

David R. Obey: before us and to simply note