When you go around, and this is a reality in delaware as well as rhode island. You ask about the state department. Its trillions of dollars a year when in fact its a very small fraction. Now theyre beginning thoint that no, this is about something more fundamental. This is about the basic social contract that people have worked all their lives, paid into Social Security, will get Social Security benefits. This is about the social contract that if youve worked, youve paid into the medicare system, youll get medicare benefits. So now the storys shifted totally and now its all about negotiations, that we have not negotiated. Thats why they have to shut the government down and default on the debt of the United States. And the irony, of course, is that we have been indeed trying to go to serious negotiations about a budget for many, many months. Indeed, months ago, in march, as i recall, the senate, after taking 47 roll call votes, passed a solid, passed and sensible budget and asked to neg
A partyline basis. And now, my friends, they sowed the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind. So we need to repeal the Affordable Care act and we need to replace it. Because health care in america is still not satisfactory, nor have we fulfilled the needs and our obligations that we have to all of our citizens. The problems with the Affordable Care act are well known. A failed web site rollout that has hindered enrollment and the purchase of mandated coverage. As of december 17 only an estimated 440,000 835 people have ben enrolled for a health plan. Thats 6. 2 of the enrollment goal of seven million by march 31, 2014. Theres a destruct jiff tax on medical devices that encourages these businesses to move offshore. We have already seen medical Device Manufacturers leaving the United States of america, as they said they would if they were taxed to the point where they could not be competitive with medical devices that were manufactured in foreign countries. The disappointment for americ
When it came to building and maintaining Affordable Housing long before covid19. Back in 2020, a rhode island family earning the states Median Income couldnt afford to buy a home at the median price anywhere in the state. It has only gotten worse since then. Across the country, home prices have risen 13. 4 from last year, with the National Median price now at 416,000. In my state, the Rhode Island Association of realtors reports that the median price of homes sold in june 2022, reached an alltime high of 430,000. Thats 11. 7 higher than a year earlier. A large reason that homeownership is out of reach for Many Americans is that the inventory levels are so low. In recent months, sales have dropped as Interest Rates have increased, but nowhere near a balanced market. In a healthy Housing Market, there is usually 6,000 homes for sale at any given time. Right now our country hags less than a threemonth supply of homes and rhode island has less than a twomonth supply. As potential home buye
And then it would be the courts response ability and the courts ability to hold the government to account. To return toke former congresswoman harman and ms. Pell. The challenge of the authorization that authorizes secret activity, it almost seems like a contradiction. How do you address laws that we dont want to talk about in public . Democraticke a fully function and the government will fully comply, but how do you write about things that the government doesnt want to talk about . We can talk about the purpose of the program in the framework for the program. Certainly, i recall very specifically in the debate on the fisa amendments in 2008, that is what we did. Maybe members of congress for not paying much attention, but it was out there on the airwaves what the issues were. Certainly, the telephone metadata had been disclosed by the New York Times and then partially declassified by president bush in late 2005. There was conversation out there. Congress can do that and that should ha
Of the house of representatives. Pursuant to the order of the house january 3, 2013, the chair for now recognize members morning our debate. The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party having one hour. With majority and minority Leaders Limited to five minutes each. Note debate should continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the german from oregon the gentleman from oregon for five minutes. Unfair and often counterproductive. Invites tax engineering and is hugely expensive for those just trying to meet their obligations. Invasions we and lose billions of dollars of. Evenue that should be and providing for our families. While we may disagree with some fundamentals, it would be a mistake to begin with our area of disagreement. I commend the chairman for working to build common understanding on a path forward. But there is one area that has not been part of the tax reform discussion but is every bit as critical at solving our budget deficit. Thats to d