Appropriations & Budget

Madame Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the rules package proposed by the new Republican majority in the House.

The very first vote in the 112th Congress reveals the extent of the Republicans' fiscal hypocrisy. The new House rules create a huge loophole that allows Republicans to pass billions in additional tax cuts without finding savings elsewhere in the federal budget. These rules are a major step backward in our effort to solve the federal budget crisis. No Member who votes for this fiscally reckless rules package is serious about deficit reduction.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3082, a continuing resolution that would fund federal government operations on a temporary basis through March 4, 2011. Regrettably, one of the last votes of the 111^th Congress has become the first vote of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Congresswoman McCollum Rejects Tax Cut Compromise

Mr. Chair, last night, I voted against a fiscally irresponsible $858 billion tax cut package. Every penny of this budget-busting bill will be borrowed--much of it from China--and the burden placed on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

Congresswoman McCollum Rejects Billions in Tax Cuts for Wealthy
This week, President Obama and Congressional Republicans negotiated a deal on extending the expiring Bush-era tax cuts and unemployment benefits. Unfortunately this agreement means that America's wealthiest individuals not only get an additional tax cut, but they also get a break on the estate tax adding $125 billion to the deficit. The total cost of the Obama compromise plan will add $900 billion to the federal deficit over the next two years.