CQ Newsmaker Transcript

SPEAKER: John Boehner

BOEHNER:

Good morning, everyone. I think all of us realize that our nation is facing a serious economic crisis. And I think it’s wrong to deal with these challenges by mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren.

The World War II generation was known as the greatest generation. They were called the greatest generation because they met the challenges that America faced head on. These men and women made sacrifices to ensure that future generations of Americans could pursue the American dream.

But the budget that we’re considering in the House of Representatives does the opposite. It puts all the sacrifice on the backs of our kids and grandkids. It makes no tough choices, and it’s only tough on them. And it’s going to be tough on our economy.

With that type of spending, we’re going to see slow economic growth, and our ability to create jobs for Americans is going to be slowly, slowly diminishing.

Families and small businesses are hurting. And too many Americans have lost their jobs. But the budget before the House, I think, makes the economy worse and will destroy more American jobs.

If you just look at the spending in this budget, it’s staggering. And American families are making sacrifices. They’re tightening their belt, but Washington, clearly, is not.

It raises taxes on every single American who would drive a car, flip on a light switch, or buy an American-made product that uses an awful lot of energy. It will double our debt in five years, triple our debt in the next ten years.

In short, the Democrat budget spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much from our kids and grandkids.

You really do need to do something with that hair of yourself yours.

(LAUGHTER)

I couldn’t wait any longer.

(LAUGHTER)

Our budget solution introduced yesterday by Paul Ryan provides a better choice.

Well, he doesn’t have any hair.

(LAUGHTER)

And our budget proposal will curb spending. It creates jobs and controls the debt. And I think when you look at our plan, you’re see lower deficits, half the deficit proposed by the Democrat plan. An our plan has let debt; $3.6 trillion less debt than what we see being proposed by our colleagues across the aisle.

And so we’ve got an opportunity today to make the right choice, and I’m hoping my colleagues will support the Republican alternative and vote against this big spending plan proposed by the Democrats.

When it comes to TARP, the Toxic (ph) Asset Relief Program, it’s just out of control. No one -- and I mean no one -- has any idea of where the money is going or how much is left or where it went. And now, the administration is talking about coming back and asking for more money? Give me a break.

Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that found there’s only $32.6 billion left in the TARP program while the administration says they have $135 billion left. On Monday, this watchdog group told the Congress that there was no oversight of the program. There is zero transparency and no accountability.

And after all, we’re talking about hundreds of billions of taxpayer’s funds, and the American people have a right to know where this money is going.

So with that, I’ll answer your questions.

QUESTION:

Mr. Leader, I think...

BOEHNER:

Get a brush, will you?

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSS-TALK)

QUESTION:

The acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau said yesterday that he intends to count every illegal immigrant in the United States as well as legal citizens. Do you agree that they should be a part of the census? And do you believe that before the census starts, ICE and other federal agencies should take action to try to reduce the number of illegal immigrants...

BOEHNER:

I think that the Census Bureau -- the Census Bureau should follow the law. And the law is clear that every American is to be counted. And I’m not -- I’m not the expert on what the law says about counting of illegal immigrants, but they should follow the law.

QUESTION:

The president, again, in London today, (inaudible). I was wondering if you’ve seen any signs personally of an economic rebound? (Inaudible).

BOEHNER:

I’m looking, and I’m hoping, but I have haven’t seen one yet.

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE)

BOEHNER:

Well, when are we going to stop this? I mean, step back for a moment. Think about this. You know, the federal government -- the president decides to fire the chairman of GM. And then the administration comes out and says, well, now, we think we want to replace the board at GM. And then they come up with this idea that the federal government ought to provide these assurances, these guarantees on warranties for two companies.

Now, there are a lot of other auto companies that are out there. I’m from Ohio. Honda has a very big presence in Ohio. I’ve got a lot of employees who work for Honda and suppliers to Honda. And all of these actions that get taken are going to have a reaction in the marketplace.

And this is what no one’s considering. The effect of this on other auto manufacturers and those who would work for them. I just think that enough is enough. Yesterday, we have another bill coming through here -- two bills -- that seek to try to put the federal government in charge of deciding what salaries of employees ought to be.

This is -- this is just out of control. And somebody’s got to just say enough is enough.

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE).

BOEHNER:

I have no idea. They just shouldn’t do it at all.

Yes?

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE).

(LAUGHTER)

BOEHNER:

You mean other what’s wadded up in the back of your head?

(LAUGHTER)

It looks so nice (inaudible) hanging down. It looks like you got up a little late and decided that, you know, I just wadded up the back (inaudible).

(LAUGHTER)

For those of you that don’t know about me and ponytails, males get it -- males get it just as bad as females. I’m sorry.

(LAUGHTER)

You can ask your question. You started it.

QUESTION:

I did.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION:

(Inaudible) World War I (inaudible) make some tough choices (inaudible) elaborate on what are some of the (inaudible) the Republicans (inaudible) the choices that the American people are going to have to make and sacrifice that (inaudible) are going to have to make given our (inaudible) situation?

BOEHNER:

Well, I think if you look at the Republican budget where, you know, we basically freeze domestic discretionary funding, we’re going to have to make some real choices in terms of what’s going to get funded and what isn’t. How many -- how many bugs do we need to continue to do research on? I’ll just give you an example. All right?

You know, do we really need to have this swamp mouse control program out in San Francisco that, my guess is, will be fund under the stimulus bill. You can go down a long list of choices the Congress is going to have to make under our budget.

That’s why the American people sent us here; to make the hard choices on their behalf. There are no hard choices that are going to come as a result of this Democrat budget because, when you keep spending money you don’t have, you don’t have to make the tough choices.

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE).

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION:

Back in 1932 and ‘33, the Congress took (inaudible) to the (inaudible) 15 percent pay cut. This Congress has not taken a pay cut and you’ve done a -- they’re freezing their salary beginning next January. That’s not what you’re sacrificing (inaudible) people are losing their jobs. Should Congress (inaudible) even though it would be symbolic and a very small amount of money?

BOEHNER:

Listen, these are issues that, as you well know, get highly charged in a political environment. I think Congress took the appropriate step to freeze our pay. And I think it was appropriate, and we’ll deal -- we’ll deal with -- we’ll deal with the next budget when we get there.

QUESTION:

You lost 600,000 jobs (inaudible) why aren’t you all (inaudible) pay (inaudible)?

BOEHNER:

I understand.

Yes, sir.

QUESTION:

(Inaudible) Speaker Pelosi about (inaudible) energy bill, and she said that they will ensure that (inaudible) consumers in whatever eventual energy proposal will come out.

BOEHNER:

Safeguards. You mean like they’re not going to raise taxes to anybody? You know, listen, this proposal is going to cost of average family $3,100 per year. And it’s higher if we flip on a light.

You know, in Ohio, our electricity rates go up at least 50 percent the day this bill passes, 50 percent. And it could go as high as 100 percent increase because a lot of electricity generated in Ohio comes from burning coal, in a clean way, I might add.

And so if you drive a car, you’re going to pay higher taxes as well. And -- but it’s not just about the cost. Think of the millions of American jobs that are dependent on a lot of energy use. The products they made, they make today will be a lot cheaper coming from China, India, South Korea, countries that don’t have this onerous tax.

What do we say to those millions of Americans who are going to lose their jobs? My home state, my own district, AK Steel, you know, they make steel. When you make steel, you release carbon dioxide into the air.

This national energy tax will put them out of business. It’s 2800 people in my district that will lose their jobs because the steel they make will cost too much for American auto manufacturers. They’ll just buy it from China, South Korea, India, and other countries.

QUESTION:

But is there a compromise? There is a number that you would be OK with?

BOEHNER:

Oh, yes. I’m only for losing 1 million jobs. Or I’m only willing to raise taxes on people $2,000 a family. No, there’s no compromise. You can’t -- you can’t -- in the middle of a recession, you can’t throw a wet blanket on a weak economy. You’ll smother it.

And that’s what this proposal will do.

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE).

BOEHNER:

Well, I guess you’ll have to ask the senators. It’s of little value here in the House because the majority sets the rules and can do whatever they want. But when it comes to the Senate, it has a big impact.

And, you know, if you’ve looked at reconciliation and how it’s been done over the years, you know, it’s been done to move packages that control spending and reduce taxes. It’s not really been used to move a giant new government program whether it be something like health care or the international energy tax.

Yes, sir. Last one.

QUESTION:

(OFF MIKE).

BOEHNER:

That’s a good thing. I feel better already. Thank you.

QUESTION:

(Inaudible) a response to anything that’s going on in the House today or (inaudible) administration (inaudible) back up to where it was (inaudible).

BOEHNER:

I’m just glad it’s up. I can’t tell you why it’s up. And as you can tell, after being here six consecutive weeks, the numbers are getting drawn out, stretched out. That’s why I’m trying to be humorous today to my friend who needs a brush and a friend who needs some hair.

(LAUGHTER)

Bye.

CQ Transcriptions, April 2, 2009

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List of Speakers

REP. JOHN A. BOEHNER, R-OHIO, HOUSE MINORITY LEADER