Relating To Consideration Of H.R. 6111, Tax Relief And Health Care Act of 2006

RELATING TO CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 6111, TAX RELIEF AND HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - December 08, 2006)

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Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I am disappointed but not surprised that this is how we are ending the 109th Congress. Like I said yesterday, old habits die hard. Once again, we are here on the floor debating an omnibus bill, a smorgasbord, if you will, a bill which cobbles together several bills and other provisions that have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

This process is unfortunate. The Republican leadership is forcing a bill through this body today that includes tax extenders, Medicare payments, offshore drilling and an expansion of the D.C. school voucher program. It is a 279-page bill that is date-stamped yesterday at 1:39 p.m. I wonder how many people in this House, Madam Speaker, have actually had the time to read and research what is in this bill and how it will impact current policy.

I would say to my colleagues, don't be surprised if in a week or two you pick up your local newspaper and that there is a story about other goodies that are hidden in this bill that we are about to consider today. Sadly, that is what we have come to expect from this Republican leadership.

There are at least four separate bills included in these 279 pages, each of which does a variety of things. First, the tax extenders bill. The tax extenders provisions include things like the R&D tax credit and Work Opportunity Act, just to name a couple. These tax extensions happen every year, are generally bipartisan and noncontroversial, and could and should be passed on their own and considered in the Senate under regular order.

Second, this bill includes Medicare payments to ensure our seniors are able to receive the health care that they have come to expect. The Republican leadership and the Republicans on the Ways and Means committee have known for an entire year about the need to address these Medicare payment issues. They just didn't care enough to act. They should have written a bill and brought it through the committee through regular order, but they just didn't seem to care enough to get it done.

Third, and most problematic, is the offshore drilling bill that has been inserted in this tax bill. This bill passed the House earlier this year but failed to get out of conference, so instead of the Republican House and the Republican Senate doing their job and sending us a conference report, we get instead a bill stuck in with tax extensions and Medicare payments that allows for offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This bill is as far from a solid, comprehensive energy strategy as we can get, Madam Speaker, and yet another bow to the interests of Big Oil. And that comes as no surprise. That is what the majority has been doing for the past 6 years.

So let's be clear. Opening up these areas of the Gulf of Mexico will have no significant impact on oil and gas prices but it will benefit the oil and gas industry. This is the same industry that used a royalty relief loophole to swindle the American taxpayers out of at least $7 billion in royalties. And it is the same industry that received $7.5 billion in tax breaks in the so-called energy bill, all courtesy of the Republican leadership in this Congress.

Fourth and finally, Madam Speaker, we know there is an expansion of the school voucher program for Washington, D.C. Rather than advocate for more money to improve public schools, the Republican leadership has decided to divert funds to unaccountable religious and private schools. This is a highly controversial program that should not be stuffed in a catch-all bill as the Congress is trying to adjourn.

Madam Speaker, I support extending the noncontroversial tax credits and at long last fixing these Medicare reimbursement problems, but I cannot support efforts to open up offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico or expand the D.C. school voucher program. And I certainly cannot support the way the Republican leadership is forcing the House to consider this omnibus bill, under a closed rule, with no time for adequate review or amendment.

Madam Speaker, this is not the way the House of Representatives should be run. This is not the way we should legislate.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the rule and vote ``no'' on the bill.

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, just so I can correct the record, I should tell the gentleman from Georgia that the Cape Wind project has not been blocked. And, in fact, those of us in Massachusetts, in New England, understand the need for increased energy and right now are working with our Governor to try to find an adequate location for a new LNG facility.

So it is incorrect to say that that Cape Wind project has been blocked.

Our problem here is that the energy policy of this Republican leadership is like going to the dentist. It's drill, drill, drill, drill. Those of us who believe that we should be pursuing alternative, renewable, safe and clean sources of energy are frustrated that those on the other side are all talk and no action. We have an opportunity to end our dependence on foreign oil. We have an opportunity to create a whole new energy economy based on renewable energy sources, and we have not been given the help or the support from this Congress or from this President. So that is what we are frustrated about. And also the constant giveaways to the oil companies who have gourged and who have ripped off the American taxpayer. It is obscene that in the energy bill over $7 billion in tax subsidies and tax breaks have been given to the oil industry. We need to change our direction

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, let me close for our side here, once again reiterating that this is a lousy process, and that it is really unfortunate that the Republican leadership has decided to meld together provisions, some of which have broad bipartisan support, with a provision on this offshore drilling that is extremely controversial, that some of us believe will do great damage to the environment, and as my colleague from Florida has pointed out, poses potential risks for the State of Florida. This is not the way this should be done.

We should have a more open process. We should have regular order. We should have hearings. We should have committee markups. We should do this the right way. Unfortunately, a pattern has developed under this Republican leadership where process and rules haven't mattered, and that is, indeed, unfortunate. We need to do better, not just for the sake of this institution, but we need to do better for the American people.

I hope that in the next Congress that we will set a new standard, one that we can all be proud of, Democrats and Republicans together.

Having said that, Mr. Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to say that notwithstanding the fact that I think this is a lousy process, I have great respect for the gentleman from Georgia, who is departing from the Rules Committee. It has been a privilege to serve with him. I have enjoyed debating with him and listening to his perspective. There is not very much we agree on, but having said that, we have, I think, had a good relationship, a collegial relationship, and a respectful relationship. The committee will not be the same without his voice and without his insight, so I want to thank him.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge people to vote ``no'' on the rule and on the final bill because of the way it has been messed up.

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