Unanimous-Consent Request--S. 3981

Floor Speech

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, there are a couple ways we can help people who are currently looking for work. One is by extending unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work now 99 weeks. This is what the extension is about: for those who have already----

Mrs. BOXER. Is there an objection?

Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, as I have just heard from my colleague, would the Senator agree to include an amendment that has been proposed by Senator Brown that would offset the cost of the bill with unspent Federal funds, the text of which is at the desk? Would the Senator include that amendment that has been proposed?

Mrs. BOXER. Absolutely, I would not agree to that modification. It goes to the very point I was making. They want to give tax breaks to millionaires and not pay for it, but they are forcing cuts in other jobs programs here. It would only make a worse recession and I object and I yield the floor.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.

Mr. BARRASSO. Thank you, Mr. President. So I do object

to the motion by the distinguished Senator from California.

As I was saying, there are two ways to help those who are looking for work and one of which is to improve the economy. We can do that by giving some certainty--certainty--to people who provide jobs, who build businesses, who create opportunities, the job-creating sector of this country. We can do that by giving them certainty regarding what their tax rates will be come January 1. Right now there is an incredible amount of uncertainty.

The second way is to deal with the unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work now 99 weeks because that is what this is about. These are people who have been collecting unemployment benefits for 99 weeks. I will tell you, there are people across the Nation having a tough time due to this poor economy. I wish to see the economy improve.

The national unemployment rate in October was 9.6 percent. Today's front page of USA Today says: ``Jobless data could break '80s record''--a record from the 1980s. ``November was likely 19th month above 9 percent.''

Mrs. BOXER. Will the Senator yield for a question--please, a very quick one?

Mr. BARRASSO. Yes, Mr. President.

Mrs. BOXER. I thank the Senator so much, and he is my friend.

I just want the Senator to understand this extension is not for anything beyond 99 weeks. Believe me. It is up to 99 weeks. We do not have any extension beyond 99 weeks. I just wanted my friend to know that.

Mr. BARRASSO. Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the comments of the Senator from California. Senator Brown, who occupies the desk next to mine, was on the floor talking about this just 2 nights ago and does want to work to extend unemployment benefits and to do it in a way that is paid for. That is why I came to offer the amendment to the Senator from California to say: Well, let's do it but do it by paying for it using unspent Federal funds, the text of which is at the desk.

We need to pay to extend this. But what we need to do is stimulate the economy because of what we see on the front page of USA Today about ``Jobless data could break '80s record'' and ``November was likely 19th month above 9 percent.'' We need to give certainty to business.

My colleague from California made comments about a letter signed by 42 Republican Senators. In fact, I did sign that. All the Republican Members of the Senate signed it. In the first paragraph it says:

President Obama in his first speech after the November election said ``we owe'' it to the American people to ``focus on those issues that affect their jobs.'' He went on to say that Americans ``want jobs to come back faster.''

That is why 42 of us signed the letter. Let's focus on that. Let us get that done. Let us provide that certainty. If after that is done the majority party wants to go and address the issues of don't ask, don't tell, wants to talk about the DREAM Act, talking about incentives for illegal immigrants with college education, if they want to talk about issues of firefighters joining unions, fine. But let's get to the fundamentals of what the American people want to have dealt with. That is why I was happy to offer an amendment to my colleague from California to say pay for it, and then we can move on. Because businesses need that sort of certainty.

I heard her many comments about taxes, and I believe you should not raise taxes on anyone in the middle of economic times such as these. My colleagues on this side of the aisle all agree and there is actually bipartisan agreement that you should not raise taxes on anyone in the middle of economic times such as these.

The newest Members of the Senate--and since the election there are now three new Members who have been sworn in; two on that side of the aisle, one on my side of the aisle--are unanimous in saying one should not raise taxes on anyone during these economic times.

Senator Manchin from West Virginia said: ``I wouldn't raise any taxes.''

Senator Coons from Delaware said: ``I would extend them [the tax cuts] for everyone.''

So when I look at this and also see statements by Joe Lieberman from Connecticut, Senator Ben Nelson from Nebraska, Senator Jim Webb from Virginia, Senator Evan Bayh from Indiana, Senator Conrad from North Dakota, it is a growing chorus of Democrats saying: One should not raise taxes on anyone during these economic times.

We need to give certainty to the job-creating segment of this Nation. We need to do it in a timely manner. With it only being 4 weeks until the end of the year and people wanting to know what is going to happen with their taxes, I think the best thing this body could do is to provide that certainty.

So with that, I notice a number of colleagues who are waiting to speak and I yield the floor.

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